An Empire Unseated
Contents
Chapter 1
The Imperial Court
Chatter filled the air as the large group of courtiers and officials filed out of the throne room. The afternoon sun burned down mercilessly on the roofs, streets and open squares of the capital, and its inhabitants now retreated into the shade of their homes or the many public gardens all over the city, before they would resume whatever busyness they'd have to attend to in the evening.
Lesánō followed his fellow officials down the hallways to the way through the palace garden connecting the main building to the compound of the courtiers. The procedures of the day had exhausted him, and while he appreciated the honor his position in court brought him and his family, he still couldn't help but feel tired by the endless bickering and rivalries between the ministries and naràsšé. Taxation, troop movement, even the language used in imperial edicts and announcements, everything seemed to evolve into the center of another squabble bogging down the machinery that was the imperial administration. He frowned as he thought of the large pile of proposals and petitions from both his ministry as well as his own fief no doubt waiting for him in his quarters. He played with the thought of skirting his responsibilities for the day. He was very certain, however, his aide wouldn't let him.
The group had reached the compound and slowly dispersed, as everyone headed down towards their respective homes. Lesánō only barely managed to surpress a sigh of relief as a servant let him into the large house reserved for his use whenever he was at the capital. He moved to the inner courtyard sitting down next to the small pool which made up the center of his private garden. The shade of the trees planted next to it and the water provided much needed cold, and slowly he drifted of to sleep.
The voice of his aide woke him from his slumber. "My lord." Somewhat disoriented Lesánō looked up. In front of him stood a young noble dressed in fine, wide robes, similar to those he wore. "I suppose you have correspondence you need me to do, yes?" Fìrnu nodded. "I am afraid so, my lord" his aide answered with a hint of a smile. Lesánō sighed. "Well, if you must. Would you please put them up in the study? I will be there momentarily." Fìrnu performed a slight bow. "As you wish." From his seat he watched his aide walk away. For a moment he felt regret for the missed rest. Then he stood up and followed his companion into the study.
"…and furthermore, Tǎmar domain requests additional funds to increase the numbers of the provincial forces" Lesánō looked up from the letter he had been signing. "Denied until further notice. If nirùj Wēna' wants some more money he should start contributing. Anything actually pleasant or will we be continuing the line of troubles and demands?" Fìrnu allowed himself a hint of smile. "Interesting would be a more fitting moniker. A missive from her Excellency." The lord burrowed his brows. "Prime Minister Tánarè?" "Yes. You might want to read it right away." Lesánō nodded and motioned his aide to leave.
The sun slowly turning towards the eastern horizon. Lesánō pulled the cloak tighter around him. He manouvered through the growing crowd. Merchants of all kinds reopened their stands while their customers streamed into the streets to handle whatever dealings had to be made. The noble pushed himself through the crowd then turned into a small alley through one of the residental quarters. He hurried further down until he reached a small buidling not unlike the other houses lining the street. He knocked. A servant opened and ushered him inside. He was led into a small room. Its interior, while quite simple, had been prepared and decorated to serve as a more or less proper greeting room. The servant led him to a fine wooden seat and motioned him to sit; as soon as Lesánō had sat down another servant brought a cup of cold tìvun. Taking a sip, he settled in to wait.
Finally, the door opened and a woman with long gray hair entered the room. Lesánō handed the cup to the servant standing next to him and stood up bowing to his host. "The grace of Ferànō be upon you for granting a roofless wanderer a seat at your table." She returned the bow. "May the Livegiver grant you peace and may the Livetaker bring just punishment on those who mean you harm." She ushered him into the prepared dining room and let him to his chair. He duly waited until she had seated herself before sitting down as well. As soon as they had taken place servants began to swarm around them carying all sorts of fine food and drink. Tánarè spread her arms. "The Livegiver has granted us our breath that we may bring order to the world that the void in its endless hunger may never devour it. The Livegiver and the Livetaker under the just eye of Tìshun have given to us this meal that we may keep our strength to preserve creation. In eternal gratitude we accept their grace and honour their names." Then she took a bite from the plate in front of her. "It is safe and well done", she proclaimed. "You may eat!"
Lesánō put down his spoon. He bowed his head towards his host. "I thank you for this fine meal, Your Excellency." Tánarè nodded back. "Thank you for your kind words." "I don't think you have invited me to exchange pleasantries, right?" Her smile became a bit too wide. "Yes, of course. There is an important matter which I wish to discuss with you in private." He leaned forward. "You have piqued my interest, Your Excellency." She raised a hand. "First of all, we are in private. I think we can do away with the formalities. Second, the topic I am about to discuss is... delicate. If publicized it may very well cost us our positions if not our heads. I have to be sure of your discretion." Lesánō 's eyes narrowed. "Very well, I will keep my silence about our meeting. So then, tell me!" The prime minister offered a short, satisfied smile. Then, her face hardened. "His Divine Majesty has ruled the empire with wisdom and foresight. Sadly, he has done so for over 500 years. During that time, nearly all his children died. The one surviving son is a drooling imbecile, who can't even dress himself much less keep the empire intact. All other candidates are children or disgraced. While I pray for the Livegiver to keep His Divine Majesty in her eternal graces, we both know that he cannot last much longer; his declining health is witness to that. If we are to preserve the status quo then fast action is necessary!" "So, what do you think should be done?" "It is obvious, isn't it? We need to swap heirs." "Which poses the question of legitimacy. Whom do you have in mind any way?" Tánarè nodded. "I am thinking about Tasērè . Yes, I know she is a child", she added in answer to a raised eyebrow. "She is younger than my Nesàrè , barely eight!" "Yes, I know", she conceded. "But she shows just the right amount of potential for taking up the throne. As soon as she grows out of her kímurrìdrunī her government should run itself, just as it does for His Divine Majesty." Lesánō took a deep breath. "She will need a power base amongst the lords to get there. But even further, replacing the heir will set a bad precedent." Tánarè nodded. "True, but that is nothing we can't deal with. Your domain is the richest of the empire, both in wealth and population. You joining me will help to convince many of the nirùsšé to follow our lead. Those who cannot be convinced can be coerced, by force, if need be." She made a pause. "We would need to legally back up our actions." His ears twitched. "You are not thinking about designating a Protector, are you?" "I'm thinking about making you Protector." He shook his head. "Aside from my personal thoughts about this plan of yours, you do know that there was a very good reason for leaving the position empty? Giving a nirùj , no matter whom, access to the full might of the imperial system will tear apart the status quo. If you want to guarantee a civil war then that would be the correct course of action!" "It is risky.", she agreed. "However, there are ways with which we can circumvent that risk. We'd have to either name the weakest or the strongest lord 'ìšur, either to have the position be de facto symbolic or so powerful that the other lords wouldn't dare to resist. We need to create someone for the provinces to rally around thus the logical course of action would be to elevate you, my dear Lord Lesánō." The room fell silent for a moment. Then Lesánō spoke. "Your offer is... tempting. However, I find it difficult to decide know on a matter which will no doubt shape the empire for millenia to come." Tánarè nodded. "I understand, but I must ask you to make your decision as soon as you can. If we are to move, we must begin preparations soon, before others take their chance." "Yes, I understand." He leaned back and closed his eyes. "It is still a decision I don't want to make on the spot." "Are you asking for time?" "I am. A day or two, nothing more." "Two days, not one more! I understand your concerns, however as I said, time is of the essence to us!" Lesánō nodded. "That is acceptable. I will send you are trusted servant with my answer." "As long as he really is trustworthy! I will be waiting for it." He bowed his head.
Slowly, the western sky brightend. Lesánō paced through his study, Tánarè's proposal still going through his mind. Going through with it would be nothing short of open rebellion against the status quo which had carried the empire for over 100 decades, with a civil war the likes the empire hadn't seen since the end of the old line of 'ìdrunōkìšrunǐ himself. He sat down at his desk and looked out of the window. Outside, the first līmmu had awoken and started to sing. He sighed. Tánarè was right about at least one thing: Succession was problematic; the last thing Kashar needed was a simpleton on the throne. Lesánō shook his head. Not getting any sleep wouldn't make the decision easier. He stood up and left the study.
His seat in the council chamber was awfully uncomfortable. Of course, it was designed to be; they were to be alert during sessions after all. Between his lack of sleep and yesterdays proposal the feeling had increased tenfold. Lesánō found it difficult to control his body language. Not for the first time today he wished for his wife's advice. He furrowed his eyebrows, trying his best to pay attention to Lord Keméranō's report about taxes and tributes coming into the capital. How would Tánarè make sure the streams of revenue wouldn't simply dry up, were she to go through with her plan? Even if he would put his domain and its considerable amount of trade with the rest of the galaxy behind her it would still not be enough to run the imperial machinery; and that was if the trans-galactic trade routes wouldn't simply change their path. We are too dependent on a loose group of warlords to continue believing in the status quo! Through the corner of his eye, he glanced to the emperor overseeing the session from his throne. Of course, his presence was purely ceremonial, demanded by laws which no one had bothered to change for hundreds of years. Still, the white-clad figure sitting above them motionless, like the statues of his predecessors in the Great Temple, was inspiring a sense of awe in him only someone bearing a divinely granted office could. What kind of hubris had befallen them thinking they could defy the wishes of a god made flesh? Lesánō felt the need to swallow.
What are we thinking?
- - - - - Explanations - - - - - -
naràj - fiefdom, roughly equivalent with duchy
nirùj - duke
tìvun - similar to coffee, usually drunk cold
Feràno - Goddes of travelers and hospitality
kímurrìdruni - tunic usually worn by children
'ìšur - mil. leader of all levied forces in the realm
līmmu - small, flying mammal-like animal
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