Karis ignored the man’s spluttering. “You heard me, Lord Quillan. Your services are no longer needed. You may retire to your house here on the Throne World or on your homeworld. But your position on the council has been filled by another.”

“Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.” The now former Minister of Engineering bowed stiffly. He withdrew from Karis’ chambers.

“That is three.” Karis sighed. “It is a good start.”

“A very good start, Your Imperial Majesty.” Imre had witnessed the interview with the lord and was now pouring Karis a glass of wine. “Do you have others waiting in the wings for replacements?”

“I have been considering two others, but I am not completely sure of them.” Karis frowned. “I still have not found replacements for the other two transportation ministers. Finding members of my nobility with the kind of knowledge those two men have is very difficult.”

“No, I understand that quite well, Your Imperial Majesty.” Imre’s eyes widened. “Do you think Tamas would be of some use in this?”

“Actually, he might.” Karis brightened at this. “Send for him, would you, Imre?”

“Of course, Your Imperial Majesty.” Imre pulled out his pad. Karis was very appreciative of having a valet. He remembered how, in the beginning, he’d been resistant to having Imre as his chief servant but now he couldn’t see his life without him. Imre had become that indispensable.

A short while later, Tamas arrived. “Your Imperial Majesty, you have something you wish of me?”

“A simple task, Tamas.” Karis knew he was stretching the rather limited resources of his grossly understaffed investigation bureau to the limits already. “Nothing like the other project I have you working on.”

“What can I do for you, Your Imperial Majesty?” Tamas looked at him inquisitively.

“I need to replace two of my transportation ministers, but I am having a hard time finding younger members of the court who have any knowledge of the transportation business.” Karis laid out his issue for the man who was technically his investigation minister and could have sat on his council if he was so inclined.

“And you wish me to do some digging into the backgrounds of the younger members of our court to find some who might fit your needs.” Tamas smiled. “That is indeed far easier than searching out information on Vasco’s perfidy, Your Imperial Majesty. I can put a few of my analysts on that and have a report to you in a couple weeks.”

“Thank you, Tamas.” Karis realized he could probably have Tamas do all the work for him. “Can you also check into the backgrounds for the rest of my ministers? I’ve already replaced my Minister of the Exchequer, my Minister of Engineering, and one of my Ministers of Transportation. I have one in mind for my Minister of Public Affairs and one in mind for my Minister of Education, but I am not completely sold on either of them. If you could see if you can find me replacements for the rest of the council as well, I’d appreciate it.”

“I can have a dossier for the best possible replacements for your standing council members on your desk in two weeks, Your Imperial Majesty.” Tamas was very confident of his answer. “And I can do it without alerting your current council members that I’m in the process of looking into this for you.”

“Excellent.” Karis was very pleased with this turn of events. “The last thing I need is a string of assassinations because I have begun actively replacing people.”

“I will set some of my best analysts on this, Your Imperial Majesty.” Tamas was already thinking ahead and that made Karis happy.

“Thank you, Tamas.” Karis gestured and Tamas bowed and headed out. “Imre, I am going to go check on my ladies and my sons. Unless I have something else I need to be doing?”

“Not until this afternoon, Your Imperial Majesty.” Imre looked at his schedule. “You have the audiences then.”

“Damn those blighted things,” Karis muttered. He got up and made his way to the courtesan wing.

Sayana, Marin, and Angharad were all feeding their sons while Renate was reading and Zarina and Ji-Hye were playing a game. Zarina and Ji-Hye didn’t have their sons, but they were wearing the earpieces he’d had Arken give them to hear if their sons started fussing in their rooms. Renate was rocking Jair while she was reading. The women looked up as he came in.

He held up his hand as they all started to rise. “Do not get up, ladies.” He smiled. “Three of you are busy, and the rest are relaxing. I do not want to interrupt. I came to see how you were doing and how the boys were.”

“We’re doing all right, Your Imperial Majesty.” Marin was the usual spokesperson of the group and today was no different. “The boys do little but eat and sleep right now. The doctors say they’re all progressing as expected, and they’re putting on weight properly.”

“I am glad to hear that.” Karis watched them all for a moment, trying not to pay close attention to Sayana and Ethian.

Sayana finished feeding Ethian and burped him. “Would you like to hold Ethian, Your Imperial Majesty?”

“I have never held a baby before,” Karis admitted. “If you will recall, I simply looked at the boys after you had them.”

“It is not that hard, Your Imperial Majesty.” Arken came out of his office.

Sayana fixed her dress and brought her son to him. “You have to support his head. See how I’m holding him?”

Karis hesitantly took Ethian into his arms. Sayana helped adjust his grip a little and then Karis looked down into his youngest son’s face. Ethian blinked sleepily at his father. “He is still so small.”

The women all laughed. “He’s barely a month old, Your Imperial Majesty.” Sayana’s voice bubbled with amusement. “He’s going to be small for a while yet. He’s within the proper size for his age, according to the doctors.”

Karis held him for a few minutes and then passed him back to Sayana. “Thank you, Sayana.” She smiled and took Ethian into her room. She returned without him, hooking the earpiece over her ear. “Is there anything you ladies need?”

“Better tasting food?” Angharad laughed. The women all laughed with her.

“Is the food that bad?” Karis asked.

“The doctors have us on a specific diet to help with milk production, Your Imperial Majesty.” Marin burped Fallon. “It is all very healthy, but not always the best tasting. We eat it because we know we have to. It would just be nice to have something that tasted good occasionally.”

“It does get a little tiresome to eat healthy all the time.” Renate appeared to be unhappy with the food.

“If the doctors say you have to eat it, it must be important.” Karis wanted to keep his ladies happy, but if it was medically necessary then he didn’t want to interfere too much in it.

“We know it is.” Ji-Hye sighed. “We’d just like a little more variety in our diets, like there used to be.”

“At least we’ll be given some variety at high feasts. The doctors can’t dictate what we eat then.” Zarina pointed out the fact that the winter festival was coming up soon to the ladies.

“Yuck, do you have to remind me those are coming up in a couple months?” Sayana made a face.

“You do not like the high feasts, Sayana?” Karis was amused by this.

“I hate wine, Your Imperial Majesty.” Sayana’s expression grew even more disgusted. “The food is usually decent, though occasionally there’s something that I don’t like. I’ll still eat it because Lord Arken insists on us eating everything we’re given. It’s the wine I have a problem with. I have yet to find a variety that I enjoy. It’s bitter and nasty and I personally think it’s the vilest thing on the planet. I drink enough to get by and then drink as much water as possible when I get back to the wing to make up for the fact that I’m usually quite thirsty by the end of the feast.”

“I have been drinking it for so long that I no longer notice the flavor.” Karis hadn’t really thought about his first experience with wine in years. “My mother started me on it shortly before I left the courtesan wing. I suppose if you did not grow up on it, it can be overpowering.”

“The rest of us are fine with it.” Marin giggled at Sayana’s expression. “Though we have been instructed to drink it sparingly at the high feasts while we’re breastfeeding because the alcohol will transfer through the breastmilk to our sons. It’s just something Sayana has never gotten used to.”

“I never thought of that, the transferring through the breastmilk.” Karis frowned. “I will make arrangements for something else for you to drink during the winter festival. I don’t want you to take in anything that could harm our sons.”

“I’d normally object to that.” Angharad glanced up at him. “Because I enjoy the wine. But I don’t want anything to hurt Rhys, so we do appreciate it, Your Imperial Majesty.” She shifted Rhys around and fixed her dress before burping him.

“Your Imperial Majesty, may I have a word with you?” Arken asked.

“Of course, Arken.” The two retreated to his office. “What is it?”

“The doctors are very insistent that the women eat only the nutritious things they provide, but I reluctantly got them to agree that once in a while a treat would not be harmful to them so long as it did not contain any of the items they listed as being toxic to the boys.” Arken nodded to a list on the pad on his desk. “I am having a hard time getting the cooks to agree to send anything but the prescribed foods up because they say what I am requesting is too expensive.”

“What are you requesting?” Karis was amused that his cooks would think anything was too expensive.

“Desserts, Your Imperial Majesty. Just once a week, but something sweet for the ladies to enjoy.” Arken showed him the request he’d sent. “I am not asking for chocolate because I would never convince Sayana to eat it. She is allergic to it. But cake, pastries, other sweets like that. Nothing too extravagant, but something nice for the ladies.”

“And the cooks are saying they are too expensive when I can just as easily order those things for myself if I wish?” Karis was startled by this. “I will have a word with the seneschal and the head cook. I do not see why my ladies cannot have sweets once a week as a treat when they are required to eat things that probably are not all that pleasant at every meal.”

“The ladies would appreciate it greatly, Your Imperial Majesty.” Arken seemed relieved that someone was going to take care of it when he was being ignored.

“I will go address that now, before lunch, so you can arrange your schedule with the kitchen.” Karis left the courtesan wing and returned to his chambers.

“Was your visit a pleasant one, Your Imperial Majesty?” Imre asked as he walked in.

“It was. I even got to hold one of my sons.” Karis sat on the couch. “Imre, have the head cook and the seneschal report to me immediately. There is a matter I wish to discuss with them.”

“Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.” Imre sent the requests.

It took almost half an hour for the seneschal and the head cook to arrive. “Your Imperial Majesty, how can we be of service?” the seneschal asked as the two men bowed.

“Gentlemen, it has come to my attention that you are depriving my courtesans of something that Arken has requested, and I want to know why.” Karis’ tone was cold.

“What is it that he is saying we are depriving the courtesans of that he has requested, Your Imperial Majesty?” The head cook seemed confused. “We have fulfilled what the doctors have asked of us.”

“Arken has requested a small treat for the ladies once a week and has been told it is too expensive?” Karis prompted.

“Oh that.” The cook waved his hand dismissively. “It is too expensive to waste such fine dishes on the courtesans, Your Imperial Majesty.”

“I do not see it that way. You will fulfill Arken’s request, and you will do it on his schedule.” Karis gave the man a hard stare.

“What request is this, Your Imperial Majesty?” The seneschal was genuinely confused. “I was not made aware of any new request from Lord Arken.”

“He wishes desserts to be sent to the courtesan wing once a week.” Karis repeated Arken’s request. “Nothing made of chocolate, but other desserts to be enjoyed by my ladies.”

The seneschal looked furiously at the cook. “There is more than enough money in the budget to accommodate six desserts for the courtesans.”

“That is not what Lord Vasco said.” The cook looked aggrieved.

Karis sat up straight. “You are taking orders from Vasco? A man who holds no authority over my household?” His tone had gone from merely cold to dangerously angry in a matter of seconds.

“He was speaking for Her Imperial Majesty, Your Imperial Majesty.” The cook shrank back. “He said so.”

“Vasco and the empress hold no authority over anyone in my household.” Karis was all but snarling at the man. “I am the ultimate authority. If there is ever any question about anything you do not go to them, you come to me. Do I make myself clear?”

“Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.” The cook turned pale. “Lord Vasco said he spoke for Her Imperial Majesty, and that she spoke for you.”

“The only one with any authority to speak for me is Imre.” Karis gestured at his valet. “And he will not speak for me unless the directions come from me. I suggest you cease following any directions given to you by the empress or Vasco, or any of the other council members for that matter. If Arken sends word for something, you may be sure that I approve of it and have no problems with it.”

“Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.” The cook bowed. “I will speak with Lord Arken about the schedule and what he’d like for the desserts for the courtesans at once.”

“Excellent. I trust we will not have any further incidents of this nature. If we do, I will be finding myself a new head cook.” There was a threat implicit in his words that the man would have to be an idiot to miss.

“I will be most assiduous in remembering your orders, Your Imperial Majesty.” It seemed the man did understand the meaning

“I will endeavor to see where else Vasco and the empress have inserted themselves into the running of the Imperial household and oust them immediately, Your Imperial Majesty.” The seneschal was very upset about the situation. “I will not tolerate such interference in the orderly running of things.”

“Thank you, seneschal.” Karis knew the man would be very thorough. “If you find anything else, please be sure to bring it to my attention.”

“I will, Your Imperial Majesty.” Karis dismissed the two men.

“Do you think they’ve insinuated themselves elsewhere, Your Imperial Majesty?” Imre was concerned.

“I do not know, but if they have, the seneschal will find out and remove their hooks.” Karis rubbed his forehead. “I am very tired of those two.”

“Your Imperial Majesty, with the winter festival coming up in a couple months and your Minister of Public Affairs not speaking to you, what do you want to do about it?” Imre asked.

“I will have to plan those two weeks without her, won’t I?” Karis groaned. “Unless Tamas can find me a replacement for her.”

“He said he would have a report for you in two weeks.” Imre glanced at the schedule again. “I would give it at least that much time and then see where you are. If you can replace her, I would do it and then plan the event. If you can’t, then I would work with her aide to plan the event.”

“Right. In the meantime, I should see what has been left for me to do this morning and get that done.” Karis looked for his pad.

“Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.” Imre handed him his pad. Karis set to work. He found it much easier to work without his council. There were no arguments, no one trying to maneuver things to suit their desires, no one countermanding his orders. He didn’t need his council for everything.

Karis worked straight through his lunch and then went and held audiences. He cut them short, knowing he had too much paperwork. He did feel somewhat sorry for those individuals who’d waited six months or more to see him, but he was simply overloaded with work right now. Imre caught his attention two hours after the audiences ended.

“What is it, Imre?” Karis looked up from the petition he was reading.

“It seems Lord Vasco wishes a word with you, Your Imperial Majesty.” Imre had a very bland expression on his face. “He is most insistent that he be allowed to speak to you.”

Karis sighed. “Tell him to make it quick. I am very busy.”

“Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.” Imre opened the door and spoke to someone in the hall.

“Your Imperial Majesty.” Vasco bowed when Imre showed him into the room. “Perhaps I can help you with the recalcitrance of your council. If you would reinstate me, I could talk to them and persuade them to work with you again.”

“I do not need them, Vasco. I have proven that, and I continue to do so.” Karis didn’t look up from his pad. “I will not be reinstating you to the council as I do not need you there either. You are not a minister. You hold no official position. Therefore, you are not an integral part of the council.”

“Perhaps Your Imperial Majesty would reconsider if it meant protecting the lives of your courtesans?” Vasco was grasping at vapor and Karis knew it.

“Vasco, that is an empty threat, and we both know it.” Karis finally looked up. “You do not have the money to hire assassins. The council refuses to loan you any money. My Minister of the Exchequer has already reported to me how you have tried twice to manipulate him as you did Otto, and it has not gone well either time for you. Now, take yourself out of my rooms and go find something useful to do. I have retired you from the council permanently. Accept it and move on with your life.” He gestured and Vasco was escorted out.

“I don’t think he appreciated that, Your Imperial Majesty.” Imre watched Vasco go.

“I know he did not.” Karis grimaced. “But his threat is an idle one unless he can convince someone to provide him with a significant sum of money. Lynet is out of the question because he cannot speak with her. The other ministers will not deal with him. His wife certainly refuses to give it to him. He is defanged for the time being. I will start worrying again when he has access to money.”

“Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.” Karis resumed working and put Vasco out of his mind.