Ethian was a walking bundle of nerves. He was the last of the princes to turn eighteen, and now it was time to make the announcement to the court about who was going to be the crown prince. “Ethian, will you sit down? Or if you cannot sit, will you at least stop pacing? You are making me nervous, and I am the most relaxed man here,” Meinard snapped.
“You are not about to get a galaxy sized target painted on you,” Ethian snapped back.
“Ethian, it will be all right. Nothing is changing.” Fallon tried to sound reassuring. “They have been targeting you for the last year.”
“They have been splitting it between all of us, Fallon.” Ethian turned to the one brother who understood him the best. “Yes, the focus has been on me, but they have targeted all of you as well just in case. Now all assassination attempts are going to be focused on me. I already hate being an Imperial prince. This is not going to make me want to do this job any more than I already am.”
“You do know your mother felt the same way,” Adjira commented from where she sat. The five princes felt a special connection to Ethian’s scholar teacher. She was his aunt, but she had connected to all the princes and even though she was no longer going to be teaching Ethian, she was still on retainer waiting for Kaelea to be old enough to need a scholar teacher. The princes’ infant sister was loved by everyone in the Imperial family.
“I know.” Ethian fiddled with one of his pieces of jewelry. “She told me while she was pregnant with Kaelea she was terrified for herself and for Kaelea.”
“You’re going to be fine, Ethian.” Adjira gave him a significant look. “If your mother, who has way less training than you do, could survive the assassination attempts while pregnant, I think you’ll manage.”
“It is not a matter of surviving them, Aunt Addie.” Ethian sighed. “It is the fact that they are happening in the first place. I have come to accept that I do not have a choice in this Imperial prince business. I never had a choice. Mother and Reynard were training me for this from the time I was an infant pretty much. I still do not see what good I can do as crown prince that I cannot do as an ordinary prince.”
“You’ll find out from the Imperial scholar that’s going to take over your teaching after the announcement.” Adjira shrugged. “I don’t know enough about Imperial politics to say anything on the matter. Well, current Imperial politics, at least. I can teach you history all I want. It’s the current affairs that you need to know now, and that’s not something I can teach you.”
“All right, it’s time.” Reynard came into the room. “Keep your expressions neutral. Do not show fear, anger, excitement, whatever emotions you may be feeling. Save that for being back here.”
“Yes Reynard.” Ethian schooled his expression into the neutral mask he’d perfected over the last two years. Around him, his brothers were doing the same thing. The Imperial guards were waiting for the princes as they left their common room, and they escorted the five Imperial princes to the throne room.
Karis and Sayana were already there. Sayana looked a little pale but was sitting calm and serene on her throne. Karis was seated looking every centimeter the regal emperor. Ethian wondered idly if he’d ever be able to pull that kind of look off. Maybe when he was as old as his father. He silently sent a thought into the stars that he’d have time to develop the skills he needed and that no one would assassinate his father too soon.
Soon the throne room filled with all the nobles from the upper court and as many of the lower court nobility as could squeeze in. Karis let them stew for several minutes before raising his hand for silence. It took a few moments but eventually the silence was deafening.
“Eighteen years ago, I death locked the name of my heir.” Karis’ voice carried to the farthest corner. “That way if everything went wrong, there could be no dispute who would succeed me on the throne. Even after my sons disappeared, I did not change the name. As I found my sons, the name remained the same. It has not changed in eighteen years. Who I married has no bearing on who I have named as my heir because at the time I named him, I was still bound to Lynet and never even dreamed I would be able to wed Sayana.” There were a few whispers but mostly people remained silent. “The crown prince is my son Ethian.”
“The young man does not seem surprised by the announcement,” someone called.
“My sons have known for the past year who was going to be the crown prince.” Karis let his gaze sweep over the crowd. “They have had time to come to accept it. However, just because Ethian is crown prince does not mean I am casting off my other four sons. All five of them will continue to be educated as Imperial princes, and the four remaining princes will have positions in the government reflective of their strengths.”
“Not to mention you need spares in case someone assassinates Prince Ethian,” someone muttered. It was just loud enough for everyone to hear but quiet enough that no one could tell where it came from.
“I will take it personally if the assassination attempts on my sons continue.” Karis’ voice was cold. “I have already dispatched four lords for their parts in assassination attempts. I would recommend considering if you wish to find yourself added to that number.”
“What about your daughter, Your Imperial Majesty? What role will she play?” someone else asked.
“Kaelea is still an infant. Her role in court has not been explored yet. As she gets older, we will find someplace for her as well.” Karis seemed unconcerned about his daughter’s position.
After a few more questions were tossed out, Karis dismissed the court. The princes returned to their wing and changed out of their formal clothes. “Last day of freedom.” Meinard stretched. “What do you want to do before we have to start our new schedules?”
“I am going to go practice vibroblade techniques.” Fallon headed for the practice room. “I need to do something physical.”
“I think I will do the same.” Ethian thought something physical sounded like a good idea right about now.
“I am going to read that new book on military tactics that just came out.” Hanzo grabbed his pad and curled up in his favorite chair.
“Jair, want to wrestle?” Meinard asked with a grin.
“Only if you promise not to cheat this time.” Jair laughed.
“I never cheat. I only utilize my resources.” Meinard returned the jibe with an innocent look on his face. They all laughed, and the other three princes followed Fallon into the practice area.
After three hours of his world being narrowed down to the automaton and his vibroblade, Ethian felt a little better. He was getting tired, so he switched off his blade and stood up. Fallon was watching him. “Feeling better?”
“Yeah. I needed that.” Ethian mopped the sweat off his face with the towel his brother handed to him.
“Father wants to talk to all of us. He said not to interrupt you, but he has been waiting for the past two hours.” Fallon looked amused.
“You should have killed the automaton.” Ethian felt a little awkward making his father wait so long.
The two brothers walked into the common room of the wing. Karis smiled. “Feeling better, Ethian?”
“Much better.” Ethian gave him an embarrassed look. “But you could have interrupted me.”
“I know that look. You had to sort some things out. Sometimes doing something purely physical is what you need. I train so I knew what you were doing.” Karis shrugged. “I canceled the audiences for today, so I had the time.”
“I hope no one had anything important to present.” Ethian knew his father seldom canceled the audiences.
“They rarely do.” Karis shook his head. “It is mostly complaints, and today I am certain I would have had marriage offers for you and I am not even considering you getting married for several years yet.”
“No thank you.” Ethian echoed his father’s movement. “I do not want a wife until I am closer to thirty at least.”
“Good idea. You have too much to learn to deal with courting a wife.” Karis nodded his approval.
“Now that you have officially announced Ethian’s place as crown prince, have you figured out where you are going to put us?” Jair asked.
“Not yet, Jair. I expect you are going to tell me where to put you.” Karis regarded his sons closely. “You are going to have two years with the Imperial scholars, but that is not going to dominate all your time. You will spend your mornings with your scholars and your afternoons with me. You will sit in on the audiences, join me in my meetings with lords, we will discuss statecraft and your ideas for how the empire should be run. I will see where you fit in from those conversations and when the time comes, I will move you into those places.”
“What about Bryn?” Meinard asked. Of all the princes, Meinard was the only one who had any kind of relationship outside the family. He was attached to a lord’s younger daughter, and it was getting serious.
“Once you have established where you are going, you will marry her and take her with you.” Karis didn’t seem too worried about it.
“You are not going to make me give her up?” Meinard was worried about it and had no problem voicing his concerns.
“Of course not, Meinard.” Karis smiled at his usually easy-going son. “I believe, as does Sayana, that if you two have remained so close for the better part of a year, it is not going to break any time soon. We will still make time for you to see her. We will excuse you from court to have private dinners with Bryn, chaperoned by Adjira so you are not completely alone.”
“Any chance I get to see her, I will take it.” Meinard was obviously relieved.
They chatted with their father for a little while longer, before Karis left to work on his paperwork. Ethian went in and showered and then grabbed his pad and went out and sat down. He pulled up a book and started reading.
“Ethian, come and play with us.” Jair gestured to the game board. Meinard and Fallon were setting it up. Hanzo looked up from his book, shook his head, and returned to his book.
“I would rather read,” Ethian began.
“You are going to let our last day of leisure waste away reading?” Meinard put his hands on his hips. “You are not Hanzo. You have a life outside of books, Ethian.”
“I have a life outside of books.” Hanzo didn’t look up from his pad. “I simply choose to ignore it for the most part because I prefer to read.”
“Come on, Ethian.” Fallon’s voice was quiet but persuasive. “It will not hurt to play one game with us.”
Ethian took his pad back into his room and joined them. “All right. I will play one game.”
“Excellent.” Meinard rubbed his hands together. “We will get you having so much fun you will not want to quit playing.”
“You have not managed that yet, Meinard.” Ethian grinned at his exuberant brother.
“Watch me.” Meinard grinned back.
They kept Ethian playing and laughing until their servants all arrived to remind them they needed to get ready for court. Ethian made a face. He didn’t want to go to court, but it was a requirement of being an Imperial prince, especially tonight after the announcement.
Ethian allowed Timur to help him dress and style his hair. He’d started letting it grow out a little so he could look more like his father, though he remained clean-shaven. He didn’t see the appeal of facial hair though Meinard and Jair were both now sporting neatly trimmed beards like their father’s. Ethian knew he looked identical to his father, barring the black hair, darker skin, and green eyes he’d inherited from his mother, so he didn’t mind doing some things to enhance that resemblance.
“There you go, Your Imperial Highness.” Timur gave one final tug of his shirt. “You’re all set.”
Ethian fastened his vibroblades in place and headed out to the common room. Fallon and Jair were already out there. Hanzo and Meinard were still getting ready. “I am not looking forward to the inane comments we are likely to get at dinner tonight.” Fallon looked over his shoulder at Ethian. “Is there a reason you are wearing grey and silver?”
“Timur picked it. Not me.” Ethian protested his innocence.
“It’s the only formal outfit he hasn’t worn half a dozen times already,” Timur said by way of explanation as the servants headed out.
“It looks good, it just seems a bit dark.” Fallon frowned.
“Mother often wears midnight blue.” Ethian felt compelled to point out the fact his mother wore darker colors than him. “That looks black in shadow. I do not think this will be a problem.”
“Fair point.” Fallon inclined his head in acknowledgment.
The other two came out and the Imperial guards arrived. There were a few more of them than usual and Ethian realized something must have happened. The princes exchanged looks but allowed the guards to lead them to the great hall.
Karis and Sayana were waiting for them. Their guards had also increased. Sayana was sporting a nano bandage on one cheek. “Mother?” Ethian looked at her with some concern.
“It should dissolve momentarily.” She didn’t seem concerned. A few seconds later the bandage dissolved leaving a thin red line that faded even as Ethian watched.
“What happened?” Fallon asked.
“We were attacked on our way back from checking on Kaelea.” Karis rubbed his leg. “I was stabbed in the leg and Sayana took a cut down the cheek. It was not deep, so they put a nano bandage on her and a regenerator on me. Demetrios has our attackers in with the psychics and is pressing them for information.”
“Do you think it has to do with today’s announcement?” Ethian asked.
“Yes, I do.” Karis sighed. “I am certain there is going to be an increase in assassination attempts on me again. It is so much easier to get your way if there is an inexperienced emperor on the throne, so they are going to try to put you in my place.” Ethian’s expression must have shown his feelings. “Do not worry, Ethian. I have doubled the guards on all of us, Sayana is armed as am I, and no one ever expects us to fight back. That has saved our lives every time.”
“Do you think they will try to harm Kaelea?” Hanzo asked.
“Arken has doubled her guard, and he is scrutinizing every servant who enters.” Sayana spoke reassuringly to the princes. “Everything she is fed is scanned, and Tremere will be circulating in court tonight to try to catch any hint of hostility towards her or the rest of us.”
The Imperial family was let into the great hall, and they took their seats. The rest of the court took their seats and the meal began. The guards scanned everything that was placed in front of the Imperial family. They scanned their dishes before the food was ever served to make sure no one had slipped in and poisoned the utensils.
“Your Imperial Highness, how does it feel knowing you are the crown prince?” a courtier asked.
“I have known for the past year,” Ethian replied noncommittally.
“Does it bother you to know you are more important than your brothers?” the courtier persisted.
“I am no more important than any of the others,” Ethian told him coldly.
“You are the crown prince. You outrank all of them.” The courtier was aghast at Ethian’s answer.
“My sons do not see that any are above the others.” Karis inserted himself into the conversation. “Even now. I am fully in support of this.”
“Of course, Your Imperial Majesty.” The courtier turned to his neighbor.
They finished their meals and allowed the servants to carry the dishes away. They sat around and listened to the gossip of the courtiers. It was apparent who was lower court and who was upper court. The members of the lower court were trying to catch up on the day’s news, and those who hadn’t been able to squeeze into the throne room were just now finding out that Ethian was the crown prince.
Some courtiers from the upper court came and spoke with Karis and his family, some priming Ethian to try to sway him to their side on matters. He deferred them to his father as soon as they started that, and they left disappointed that they couldn’t gain his favor. A courtier brought his sixteen-year-old daughter up to the table. “Prince Ethian, may I present to you my daughter, the Lady Zulema?” he began.
“I will stop you right there, my lord.” Ethian held up his hand as he’d seen his father do. “I am not interested in marrying until I am closer to thirty. I will not ask such a charming young lady to wait so long for me to make up my mind. Might I suggest a lord of the court? She may find someone more amenable.”
“Of course, Your Imperial Highness.” The lord bowed. He took his daughter off. She looked more annoyed than disappointed, and Ethian had the feeling that the young lady hadn’t expected to be presented to the crown prince that evening.
Finally, Karis rose and held out his hand to Sayana. That was the princes’ cue to leave. They rose as well and left the great hall. The guards sorted themselves out and one group followed Karis and Sayana back to their chambers and the rest followed the princes back to their wing.
“I am so tired.” Jair yawned.
“I am too.” Hanzo rubbed his eyes.
“I am too anxious to sleep.” Ethian wanted to pace but knew that would annoy his brothers.
“Take one of your pills,” Fallon instructed.
“I am just going to wake up in a few hours.” Ethian knew he wasn’t going to have a good night.
“That is still a few hours of sleep you will not have if you do not take one,” Fallon told him.
“You have a point.” Ethian sighed. “I will take one.”
“Can I get one of your pills?” Meinard asked. “Otherwise I am not going to get to sleep tonight either. I am practically vibrating as much as a vibroblade.”
“Of course. Let me go get them.” Ethian went into his room and grabbed his bottle of pills. “Remember, make sure you are lying down because in fifteen minutes, you are going to be out. And do not take these dry. Remember what happened the last time you did.”
Meinard winced. “I will ask Amin for a glass of water.”
Ethian went into his room and called for Timur. “Timur, will you please get me ready for bed and then bring me a glass of water?”
“Of course, Your Imperial Highness.” Timur helped Ethian get ready for bed. Timur disappeared before reappearing with a glass of water. “The Imperial guards insisted on scanning this.”
“Expect to have everything scanned for a while, Timur.” Ethian gave his servant a sympathetic look. “We are on high alert again.”
“I see. I will let the others know that as well, Your Imperial Highness.” Timur sent the message through his pad. “It could get very annoying very fast if we’re not expecting it.”
“Understandable.” Ethian took the sleeping pill and drank the water. He handed the empty glass to his servant and dismissed him before going to bed. He closed his eyes and waited for the pill to kick in. Fifteen minutes later, he was able to drop into an uneasy sleep.
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