Karis went into the courtesan wing. Sayana was napping. He decided to go down and announce his plan to the women on his own. They were reading and he slipped into Arken’s office without them noticing. “Your Imperial Majesty, I did not expect to see you down here.”
“Arken, I am telling you now what I am about to announce to the women.” Karis fixed the courtesan master with a serious look.
“What is that?” Arken asked.
“I am afraid we are going to be without Tremere for a while, Arken.” Karis looked out at the courtesans. “I am sending the women back to their academies.”
Arken stared at him for a moment. Then he gave a relieved smile. “That will please the ladies to no end, Your Imperial Majesty. They will miss their sons, but it will mean they do not have to commit suicide, a fact that they have been discussing endlessly.”
“It was Sayana’s idea, and I agreed with her. We are doing it quietly. My council knows but I am not going to bother telling my court until after they are gone.” Karis knew Arken would see the wisdom in that. Having his court go nuclear over the breaking of tradition was not what Karis needed right now.
“They will be sorry not to see their sons at the high feasts anymore, but it is for the best.” Arken glanced out the door as well.
“I plan on allowing them a full day with their sons before they leave.” Karis gestured to the holo camera on Arken’s desk. “I will permit them to take holo stills of the princes, and my sons to have holo stills taken of their mothers, so that they always have something to remember them by.”
“Your Imperial Majesty, that is very generous of you.” Arken was delighted with the thought of what he was doing.
“I feel it is something important for the women and my sons.” Karis knew Sayana had a holo still of Ethian, taken by Reynard before they left Covus. It had helped her during the year she hadn’t been allowed to see him. He felt this would be something his ladies and his sons would find as useful as she and Ethian had during their separation.
Arken and Karis walked out into the main room. Marin was the first one to notice them. “Your Imperial Majesty.” She was shocked by his presence. “Has something happened? Is Sayana all right?” The others put aside their pads as well.
“She is fine. She knows I am here.” Karis smiled reassuringly at the women.
“Why are you here, Your Imperial Majesty?” Zarina asked.
Karis’ smile grew. “I have decided what I am going to do with you ladies. I do not want you to spend the rest of your life bored and alone, with only the poison to look forward to.”
“That is the fate of an Imperial courtesan, Your Imperial Majesty. We know this.” Ji-Hye was serious as she spoke.
“Sayana and I feel we need to change that. Arken will be contacting your academies to let them know you are being returned to them.” Karis waited for it to sink in.
It took a moment for his words to register. “You’re going to let us retire to our academies? Without the poison?” Renate was the first to realize what he’d said.
“Yes, Renate.” Karis nodded. “We are sending you home to your academies to retire without the poison.”
“Our sons?” Ji-Hye looked at him anxiously. “Will we at least be allowed a holo still of them?”
“I will be granting you a full day to say your goodbyes.” Karis saw the delight on their faces. “You will be escorted to the princes’ enclave to spend the day with your sons. You will each be allowed to have a holo still of the other.”
“A whole day with Fallon?” Marin practically glowed. “That will be wonderful, Your Imperial Majesty.”
“To see Jair again.” Renate clasped her hands and stared up at Karis. “I would be very grateful for the chance.”
“I will leave it to Arken to arrange with your academies to return all of you for retirement.” Karis looked towards Arken. “Once that has been taken care of, I will set up the day for you to spend with your sons. Then Tremere will begin returning you one by one to your academies.”
“Thank you, Your Imperial Majesty.” Even sharp-tongued Zarina could be at a loss for words it seemed.
Karis chatted with his courtesans for a few more minutes and then left. Imre got his attention. “Durden says the fast packet is here with Lady Darja and Lord Magni, Your Imperial Majesty. He wants to know what you want done with them.”
“Put them in the cells for now. I know we have room. I moved several people out. I will hold a public hearing soon to sentence them.”
“Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.” Imre sent the message.
Lunch was served and Ardatha went in to rouse Sayana. She came out yawning. They ate and discussed the upcoming audiences.
Demetrios arrived as they finished. “I know you’re getting ready to leave for audiences, Your Imperial Majesties. But I thought you would want my report.”
“Did you ever get anything on the assassins who attacked my sons?” Karis gave him his full attention.
Demetrios grimaced. “We finally broke the psychic shielding on the assassins this morning, Your Imperial Majesty. We were able to get the images of Lord Haik Sternberg and Lady Sakina Anthonsen from their minds. I’ve already sent guards to collect them.”
“Those are two of my high lords. I see them sitting at the high table every night.” Karis was now very angry.
“That’s why they were able to afford psychically shielded assassins, Your Imperial Majesty.” Demetrios’ reasoning made sense.
“It seems I will have to resort to more executions than I wanted to.” Karis was not happy about that.
“More executions?” Sayana was startled by that.
“I can overlook some things.” Karis grimaced. “If not for the warmasters, the boys would have been killed. Darja and Magni were also brought in this morning. It seems I am going to have to execute several people to make a point.”
“I know you don’t like doing that.” Sayana put a hand on his arm.
“Yes, but in order not to seem weak I will have to.” Karis sighed. “I will have to make their deaths public as well. This is one of the burdens of being the emperor. I do what is necessary, not always what I want.”
“That is the burden of any ruler, Karis.” Sayana spoke with real sympathy.
“I know it is, my heart.” Karis knew she understood him better than anyone.
Ardatha and Imre got them changed and they went to the audiences. Lord Joab stepped forward. “Your Imperial Majesty, you will return my daughter to me at once,” he demanded.
“I will not. She is guilty of treason, and her fate will be revealed to the court when I hold her and Lord Magni’s hearing before everyone.” Karis remained calm though he was privately very annoyed with this man.
“You are just going to imprison them anyway.” Joab was dismissive of Karis as he spoke. “My daughter does not deserve to be imprisoned just because she protested your marriage to that whore you chose.”
Karis felt his temper flare. “Lord Joab, you are under investigation for treason as well as your children. There is only one fate for traitors in my empire. I will formally announce that fate at court.” He waved his hand and Joab stormed off.
He listened to a few other petitions, but ended the audiences after he was sure there wasn’t anything pressing he needed to address that day. They made their way back to the suite and got changed. Sayana settled in and started on the paperwork. Karis brooded for a while.
“Karis, the paperwork isn’t going to finish itself, and you know Imre will be upset if you try to stay up past midnight.” Sayana got his attention. “Don’t let that loudmouth get to you.”
“It is the fact that Darja’s father decided to demand her release.” Karis knew that wasn’t it.
So did Sayana. “I think you’re more upset by what he called me.”
“There is that.” Karis sat fuming.
“Didn’t you ask Demetrios to look into him?” Sayana asked.
“I did. I should ask him what he found out.” Karis looked over at Imre.
“I’ll request his presence, Your Imperial Majesty.” Imre pulled out his pad.
“Thank you, Imre.” Karis picked up his pad and tried to work.
Demetrios arrived a short while later. “You have a question for me, Your Imperial Majesty?”
“What did you discover about Lord Joab Falk?” Karis asked.
Demetrios pulled up his pad and tapped a few things. “He was one of the primary sources of funding for his children’s insurrection, Your Imperial Majesty. He did not bring his world into it, but he was very much in support of their actions.”
“Send the guards to pick him up.” Karis now had someone else to execute, a fact that made him even angrier.
“Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.” Demetrios left and Karis stared into space. Sayana put a hand on his arm.
“It is all right.” Karis touched her hand. “I am not looking forward to what I have to do. I know I have to do it. I know it is what people expect. It does not make it any easier.”
“Don’t linger on it.” Sayana gestured to his pad. “Focus on what you can do right now.”
“You are right, my heart.” Karis picked up his pad. “We have paperwork to finish. Imre, I think Sayana and I will have a private dinner in our suite tonight. Please pass this along to the princes.”
“Of course, Your Imperial Majesty.” Imre tried to send the message, frowned, and then left the room.
“He does so much for you.” Sayana watched him go.
“I would find it difficult to manage without Imre.” Karis glanced at the closed door. “He and Adem do everything for me.”
They worked together until Imre and Ardatha brought in their dinner. They ate and resumed their paperwork. It only took them a few hours to finish it. Sayana flashed him what she’d done, and he went over her notes. He sent the paperwork with her notes on it directly to the lords without adding his own comments because she found everything objectionable that he would have.
Karis wrapped an arm around her shoulders. She laid her head against his shoulder. “I did go in to see the ladies while you were laying down earlier. They are pleased with our plan.”
“I’m glad.” Sayana did sound pleased.
“I have tasked Arken with contacting their academies and letting them know they are coming home.” Karis laid out his plan. “Once that has been arranged, I will give them their day with their sons. After that I will have Tremere start taking them back.”
“I hope the academies don’t give Lord Arken any trouble.” Sayana sounded concerned.
“That is why he is the one doing the calls.” Karis pointed out. “So he can deal with any trouble.”
Sayana picked up her pad. “I think, since we’re finished with work, I’ll read for an hour and then go to bed. I’m tired tonight.”
“Can I perhaps persuade Your Imperial Majesty to go to bed early this evening?” Imre looked at him hopefully.
“Yes Imre. I will go to bed early.” Karis sent out the summons to court for the next morning after his council meeting. “I think I will read for a little bit though.”
“Of course, Your Imperial Majesty.” Imre looked pleased.
Karis read for an hour and then decided he would go to bed. Sayana got up and went into the bedroom, followed by her servants. “Imre, would you please bring me a glass of water?” Karis set his pad down.
“Of course, Your Imperial Majesty. I take it you’re ready to retire for the night?” Imre looked at him inquisitively.
“I am. I know I will not fall asleep easily tonight, so I am going to take one of my pills.” Karis was tired but knew his mind would be working on the next day’s events until he got no sleep at all.
“I’ll be right back, Your Imperial Majesty.” Imre tapped the button to call Adem and Lucan. “They can get you ready for bed in the meantime.”
Adem and Lucan arrived and got Karis dressed for bed. Imre returned and handed him a glass of water. Karis took one of his sleeping pills and handed the empty glass back to Imre. His valet turned out all the lights as Karis climbed into bed with Sayana. He wrapped his arms around her and let himself drift off to sleep, the scent of her hair lingering in his mind.
The next morning, he woke to find Sayana gone. He smiled. She had always been an early riser, and nothing seemed to be able to stop that. He got up and walked out into the main room. Sayana was reading.
“How are you feeling this morning, my heart?” Karis asked.
Sayana looked up from her book. “I’m fine. Ready for breakfast.”
“Let me get dressed and we will have Imre and Ardatha bring it in for us.” He looked at Imre, who followed him into the bedroom after hitting the button to call the other servants.
Adem and Lucan arrived, and Imre supervised Karis’ morning routine. Once he was dressed, Imre and Ardatha went to the kitchen and brought up their breakfast. They ate and discussed the day’s upcoming court session. Sayana looked ill at the thought but agreed she would be there to stand by his side.
The council meeting was brief, and the ministers all agreed he was doing the right thing. Karis returned to his chambers so he and Sayana could change into formal attire. The state crowns came out of the vault. “This is entirely too uncomfortable.” Sayana stared at her reflection in distaste.
“That is why I so rarely wear it.” Karis sighed. “I am supposed to wear it to court every night and to every high feast. Imre can talk me into it for the high feasts and important events like this. That is it.”
“Can we not wear something less painful?” Sayana asked.
“I have threatened to have something designed that was more comfortable for years, my heart.” Karis sighed. “Each time my court goes nuclear.”
“Well, they can throw a fit. I will not be wearing this going forward.” Sayana glared at him. “I will have something designed that suits me and is less awkward and uncomfortable.”
Karis gave her an amused smile. “You already scandalize my court by just being my empress, my heart. I do not think you could do any worse than by changing the state crown.” They made their way to the throne room and took their seats on the thrones. The princes soon joined them. Then Karis nodded and the court was let into the throne room.
Once everyone was gathered, and were silent, Karis ordered the three prisoners be brought in. Darja, Magni, and Joab were dragged in. Darja and Magni looked a little worse for wear as they’d come straight from the front lines. Joab glared at Karis. “I demand you release us immediately, Your Imperial Majesty. This farce has gone on long enough.” Joab tried to sound intimidating, but his voice came out a little shaky.
Karis ignored him. “Lord Joab, Lady Darja, Lord Magni, you stand convicted of treason. Your sentence is death.” There were some murmurs because the court was used to Karis simply imprisoning people.
“We have done nothing wrong.” Darja glared at him. “You betrayed the empire by marrying that whore. You should have married a woman of good breeding and nobility such as me.”
“Your actions prove you are neither of good breeding nor nobility, Lady Darja,” Karis told her. “As your sentence is death, I will be handing you straight to the executioner after we are finished here. If you have any defense of your actions, other than claiming I should have married someone other than the woman I chose because you say so, I am willing to hear it.”
Magni just glared at Karis. “No one at court wants a whore on the throne as empress,” Joab began.
“I said any defense but that one, Lord Joab.” Karis cut him off. “Your feelings are not shared by the majority of your fellow lords and ladies. Indeed, most joined in celebration of my marriage to my empress. A select few may also be unhappy with the situation. If they resort to violence or assassination attempts, they will meet the same fate as you three.”
“Your Imperial Majesty, what of Lord Haik and Lady Sakina?” someone asked.
“I am sure you saw the edict that was published. They will be executed as well for their acts of treason.” There were murmurs at that pronouncement as well.
“This only proves your weakness.” Joab sneered at him. “You execute without proof.”
“I have proof, Lord Joab. I will make it available for anyone who asks.” Joab stared at him, his sneer gone, face blank with shock.
No one else spoke for a moment. “Your Imperial Majesty,” a different lord stepped forward. “Forgive me, but this is unusual for you. You are not usually a proponent of execution.”
“I am very tired of people targeting my family, Lord Manoj.” Karis recognized one of the more prominent power brokers. “Perhaps if I start removing enough of you, the rest will finally get that message.”
Manoj bowed and stepped back. No one else spoke. “Does anyone else have anything to say in defense of the traitors?” the seneschal asked. The court remained silent.
“So be it.” Karis motioned with one hand, and the Imperial guards came forward and led the prisoners away. “I meant what I said, lords and ladies. Either stop targeting my family or that –.” He pointed to the trio being led out. “–Will be your fate.” He stood, held out his hand for Sayana, who rose and took it, and left the throne room. The princes filed out as they left.
They changed and ate lunch. Sayana poked at her food and Karis watched her with some concern. “Is something wrong with the food, Your Imperial Majesty?” Ardatha asked.
“No, I just don’t have an appetite right now,” Sayana told her.
“My heart, I know you do not feel like eating but you should try,” Karis urged her.
“My stomach is in knots, Karis. If I force myself to eat, I will just vomit in the end.” Sayana put her fork down and picked up her glass of juice. She sipped it and put it down. “Not even that is helping. I’m sorry. I’m not sure what I want right now.”
“Perhaps a cup of tea, Your Imperial Majesty?” Ardatha suggested. “That might help soothe you.”
“Yes please, Ardatha.” Sayana looked pleased with this idea.
Sayana had her tea and was finally able to eat. After lunch, they began work on the paperwork, Karis sending some to her that he felt she would be able to take care of. He was beginning to be very glad for her help. It took some of the burden off his shoulders. Not a lot, but enough that he didn’t feel as overwhelmed as he usually did.
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