-Grief is the Price, Part 7-

"They have arrived, Your Eminence." Flik reported as she closed the door to my temporary office behind her.

"And?" I prodded, "Do they plan to give them up?"

Before the meeting to hammer out the latest imperial decree, I had issued summons for all the representatives of the Maarin Republic. Politicians, administrators, court officers, it did not matter what position they held if they could be described as a representative of any function in the republic they were called on.

Specifically, I wanted their high-ranking military officers that led them during the coup, their generals and a so-called Grand Marshal. That title hadn't existed the day before my father was killed, so I was oh-so very curious to find out when it came about and why.

My guard-captain shook her head, "It doesn't appear they have. I'm still learning the Maarin's grade insignias, but the highest ranking looks to be a Major-General."

"Can't be helped then." I shrugged, "I had hoped they would come willingly. But if we have to dig through the entire Maarin district to find answers, that's what we'll do. Here's hoping they up at least a handful of guilty collaborators, otherwise…"

"Grand-Sentinel Mitchell has reported in already. They are ready to immediately move on the Maarins on your command."

Flik jerked an arm to her chest in salute as I stood.

I returned a weak smile. "Let's go see the fools. I think Aisling had some of their nobles imprisoned for a week."

Hopefully, somebody bothered to allow them a shower beforehand.

My guard knights escorted me back to the same mess hall-turned-meeting room, now rearranged to feel as judicial as it could be.

"All rise and render salutations!" A knight at the doors shouted into the room on my arrival, "Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Airis Vanixi, is entering."

Every crimson-clad knight inside snapped to attention together, while the attendants or other non-duty personnel stood and bowed.

The Maarins acted in chaos. Some only stood, others bowed, and a minority refused to do either.

I scanned the crowd before sitting, mentally noting the names and faces as best I could. I trusted that Hanna had her own agents somewhere keeping tabs as well.

It wasn't like we were going to terrorize these people for refusing to acknowledge me, but it didn't look great to act so combative during what was effectively a prisoner exchange.

The Maarins would turn over their criminals and in turn we'd release the parties we had detained.

Only a fool would antagonize me if they were innocent, so it stood to reason these sour-faced Maarins were the ones being traded.

I sat on the throne-like chair at the head of the room.

"Be seated. We'll move this along quickly, so pay attention." I motioned for Flik, who was acting as my adjutant for this meeting, to begin.

On her orders, the doors at the end of the hall opened, and a large group of Maarin prisoners entered under guard.

They were an assorted bunch of people we had taken during the initial city assault, found operating within the Renaultian or Vanixian districts, or who had disrupted our own operations somewhere in the city. Additionally, they had all been investigated thoroughly and found to be guiltless in the coup d'état machinations.

Those who did have ties were still locked away, and we would never acknowledge to the Maarins that we had them already.

Better for the conspirators to have hope than to flee.

"I am prepared to release all of these individuals." I began, "However, I am not here to bargain with your government. You will turn over those involved in the insurrection that took place the morning of the seventeenth Sagitt'æni Ix. Politicians who colluded with the Renaultians, officers who led forces into Vanixian territory, and commanders who gave those officers their orders."

The gathered Maarins shifted under pressure, and the prisoners murmured between themselves.

"This is a unique olive branch, valid right now and in this moment only," I continued, "If you fail to produce these criminals, then we will keep these prisoners, arrest all of you here and now, and turn our idling war engines on the Maarin district. Your choice."

I motioned to Flik, and she had the prisoners escorted out of the room again.

See, they're alive and well. Now, make your decision.

A few loud-mouthed delegates made a fuss about how crudely I was handling things.

"There isn't enough time to come to a consensus!"

"How can you ask that we sell out our people without due process?"

"This is an abuse of power!"

So many voices, and yet none of them were about what I wanted to hear.

I looked at Flik, and she stomped her foot.

CLANG. CLANG. CLANG.

Metal rang and silence followed as the guards around the room clapped their weapons against their shields.

"You do not need a consensus. You no longer have any authority in the eyes of the Empire. The Triumvirate Republics are simply a conquered nation state. The Maarin Republic is being given a last chance to show where they stand in the coming age."

Thirty or so minutes passed before I pressured the members to give their answers. They had decided to elect a council of representatives for themselves, a group of gray-haired nobles.

"Well, it seems you were given more than enough time; forming an entire council. So, let me hear your answer."

Will you turn over the guilty, or force a fight in the streets and die like dogs?

"The people of Maar are of one mind, we—"

"Objection!"

Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.

Objection…? What am I, a magistrate?

A young man in a carrot-colored suit stood with his hand extended out toward me, "I implore you for a moment of your time, ah, Your Majesty."

He awkwardly struggled to be respectful at the end, bowing his head.

Something about him was familiar—not his face or unconventional fashion sense, but his magicka signature.

I had encountered him once before.

In the southern reaches of the city, after I was displaced by Renault's magick, I got into a fight with three so-called roses. Though I only noticed him through MAGICKA SENSE at the time. We hadn't actually seen each other's faces, at least I didn't see his.

A mountain of a man stood with him and had started squaring up with my knights, who also leapt into action.

"Leave them be," I ordered the guards to stand down, and took the moment to inspect the two men's status in greater detail.

- - - - - -TARGETS- - - - - -

[ARKLEN FENIKS] HEALTH: (320 / 320) STAMINA: (150 / 150) MAGICKA: (445 / 445)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

[SVIATOGOR] <The Hawkshield> HEALTH: (525 / 525) STAMINA: (680 / 680) MAGICKA: (65 / 65)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

House Feniks was one of the few surviving houses from the Commonwealth, and the once-masters of the city of Nolinsk.

"You may approach. The both of you." I approved the man's request, including his companion to avoid unwanted drama between the knights.

"I am Arklen, heir apparent to House Feniks, and truly honored to make your acquaintance, Your Majesty."

Arklen bowed in a poor attempt to mimic a Vanixian mednoble greeting.

"Oh?" I questioned, "But have we not met once before?"

The crease of his practiced smile twitched.

His companion whipped his head to stare, eyes wide.

"Hah–hah," Arklen laughed nervously, "Surely I would remember such a moment. I believe this is the first time."

"Perhaps it was another vigilante of the night I encountered. There have been many Maarins who absconded before our forces caught them. Though few who did so after tracking down a trio of Renault's agents."

Arklen remained stone-faced, "It must be so. I certainly wouldn't be a party to such a thing. Svia here accompanies me everywhere I go—this is your first time meeting Her Majesty as well, isn't that right, Svia?"

The giant man eyed his ward suspiciously, "It is indeed, young hawk. I find myself interested in hearing more of this story from Her Majesty."

"No, no, we couldn't possibly take up such an important figure's time when clearly it is about another fellow."

"Yes, clearly," I stifled a laugh, "Now, young heir to House Feniks, what is so important that you interrupted those old men before they gave me an answer."

"Ah, yes. My apologies. I simply fear that those old men will damn my people to the darkest hells. My family has the information you seek; meticulously collected, organized, and packaged for immediate delivery."

Sviatogor's expression remained relaxed, as this little disturbance had been planned.

So much for unanimous.

You think he's telling the truth?

I tossed the question to Ruin, whose presence I had felt creep in, silently judging since the kid had broken the Maarin ranks.

HARD TO SAY.

COULD BE ONE OF THOSE INSTANCES WHERE HE BELIEVES HE'S TELLING THE TRUTH BUT THE INFORMATION HE'S PEDDLING ISN'T WORTH A DAMN.

I glanced at the gathered Maarins. If my guess was right, Arklen had just stopped their representative from telling me the formal equivalent of 'eat shit'.

"When could I expect such a fine tribute to reach my hands? You see, I have some very talented couriers preparing a similar consignment."

Arklen let out a relieved sigh, then caught himself as he let his mask drop, "Sorry. I heard ill rumors that Your Majesty was a tyrant that could not be reasoned with. Obviously, they were false. Just as I claimed, I can have this information in your hands this very moment."

"If the requital is right."

I was experienced in this sort of exchange, nobles trading favors for favors.

"We ask for nothing you were not already gifting. House Feniks simply wants the gift delivered to them instead of sharing it."

Names and evidence of the guilty, in exchange for every prisoner we had.

A mountain of debts owed and favors to be returned. House Feniks could keep those in opposing positions imprisoned or even use them as bargaining chips.

Luke had suggested a similar process, but without a clearer picture of Maarin politics we would likely incur more hate and very few gains.

Flik's voice tickled my ears, relying a dossier of information on Arklen's family—presumably being repeated by her from an SI-Minervia agent. She confirmed their 'good standing' according to the Seekers.

I smiled.

"House Feniks' heraldic charge is a Firehawk, is it not? I like to believe in the whims of fate, and our families' kindred coat-of-arms can't be mere happenstance. What do you think about doing some work for me? I have a fascinating document I'd like to show you ahead of those conservatives out there."

"I live to serve, Your Majesty." Arklen smiled, knowing his trade had been approved, "Would it be possible for my aide to accompany me? He worries terribly when we are apart."

I motioned for my army officers to hold the meeting in place.

The doors opened, and a contingent of fully outfitted, black-armored knights from Julius' Scarlet Wing entered. They barred the doors and intimidated any dissenters back into their seats.

My guards rallied around me and my two guests.

"I apologize for the sudden alarm," I said to Arklen, "We just can't have anyone leave until you and I finish our chat. Knight-Captain, have these two gentlemen escorted to a more suitable location. I will join them after my scheduled appointment."

"By your command, Your Eminence."

"Oh, and Magister Arklen," I added, "Do have that gift of yours ready by the time I arrive. I'll be with you in about an hour, I trust you won't grow bored."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Hikita and I walked side-by-side down the hallway that led to the prison.

"All things settling in fine for your sister and nanny?" I asked, knowing the answer already but trying to lighten the mood.

We were headed to interrogate some Renaultians together. A strange idea for a mid afternoon hangout, but necessary since the new prisoners allegedly had details on the shadow kingdom Renault had built on paper.

"Zieta hasn't had issues, at least not ones she has shared. The staff treats us well, and the younger knights approach me like I'm a heroine from a fantasy story."

"You are a hero," I countered, "You might not feel like one, but your actions saved thousands by speeding along the war. How about your sister's condition? Any news?"

"Hakaze hasn't woken yet, but the healers gave us positive word last night. She's showing signs of movement. I still find it a little awkward…"

Having her memories stolen and forgetting about having a sister must be hard. If my memories of Rias were taken from me and I found out about it a decade later, I'd probably feel the same.

"Ah, yeah," I muttered, fishing around in my pockets, "I found this. Well, Ruin picked it up with you, but we got busy and it ended up forgotten."

I handed Hikita the sealed golden locket they found in the lab.

"Renaire probably didn't intend for me to hang onto it. I'd wager that your magick is the key to opening it."

She stopped walking, holding the locket in her hands. A flash of violet spread through her fingers, and a very slight clicking noise accompanied the face coming loose.

Inside was an undamaged, unfaded photo of Renaire and two little blonde-haired girls, all three of them having the same radiant, glowing blue eyes.

Hikita clutched in to her chest.

"You two will be fine. Worry about those awkward feelings later."

Next chapter will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.