Julien
The Golden Throne rose before him. Currently unoccupied. Yet the presence of its occupant constantly reverberated up and down the throne room. Even without them there, what the throne represented made their presence felt.
The Throne Room was open for visitors today. The Emperor was not there. Attending matters of state or some such. Visiting with the people on his own. Julien wasn't exactly sure. Yet the throne room itself was left open. Few was the opportunity where the people could visit the center of the Orlesian Empire.
And not be on official business. Cowering as the Emperor, or one of his advisors, passed judgement upon them. Deciding the fate of individuals…from time to time, or the entire course of hundreds of thousands of people across many nations.
The chair was mostly symbolic these days. The ruling member of Orlais spent only a fraction of their day to day life sitting in it. Governing or otherwise. But it was a good symbol.
"You would look good sitting on the throne." The Count de Montbelliard said finally.
Julien smirked, "And you would make a good Grand Duke." He cast the man a side long look.
The Count blinked back at him. "I do not have a military mind, I am not a cheveliar… that was always more you are of expertise."
"I cannot be my own Grand Duke," he chuckled.
"No, but you can be someone else's Grand Duke I suppose."
He frowned, then shook his head, "No, I would not want that. It didn't work so well with Gaspard. Following him. Now look at where things are." He shook his head again. "We need to take back Orlais. Once and for all. And restore her for her own glory. Orlais for the Orlesians. To rule ourselves, and maybe, take on the rest of the Empire."
Some people were beginning to congregate around him. An older couple…but in Orlais anyone could be trinkets for the Game, accessories for someone else's family, even maybe not Gaspard. Information could be powerful in anyone's hands.
"Come, let us not discuss this here, and let's take this conversation…elsewhere."
They made for the side of the room. Moving out of the que which was beginning to form behind them. Julien took the Count by his shoulder.
"I must confess, why Alain de Valmont? Some of his positions are worrying. He could be a thorn in our side."
Julien nodded slowly, "I agree. He is an odd one. But he is a patriot at the end of the day. And he provides our cause some legitimacy. We need that in our own struggles in the game. Especially with the position open in the Council of Heralds. We need a voice in that body. And, with his ties to the dead empress we should be able to bring in some of her jilted allies."
"Who will know that you waged war against Celene, joining Gaspard in his rebellion." Montbelliard pointed out.
Julien blinked innocently, "Indeed? I can come up with a million of excuses of why I switched my allegiances, or why I have been duped. They will believe me because they must believe me, and I doubt they will really complain too much after we have seized the Council, and taken the throne for ourselves."
The Count sighed, "On another subject…your plan to take down the Inquisition. It's ambitious…some might even say too much so. A lot has to go right."
"It is still coming together," Julien tugged at the bristle of hair sprouting from his chin, and then grinned wolfishly, "Besides my dear friend, fortune favors the bold, fortune favors the bold." He clapped him on the shoulder.
Kara
The reflecting pool of Orlais was bright this time of year. The sun was shining up out of its depts. And hitting Kara full in the face.
Yet she couldn't help get lost in the watery depths. Thinking. Reflecting. Waiting.
The fate of Empires tended to dance around her. Orlais was one such example. Shortly after taking the Keep, Emperor Gaspard sent a rider to Skyhold. She hopped into her Eluvian and made the trip to Val Royeux in a few days. Not knowing what to expect. But still hoping to serve the long term interests of the Inquisition.
And the people of Thedas. She thought.
She heard a pair of hoofing steps behind her. Running and pounding off the stone of the walk.
Turning her head she saw a runner coming up behind her. Dressed in a moderate example of an Orlesian Civil Servant.
"Inquisitor!" He gasped grabbing at his knees and taking a minute. "Maker the Emperor had no idea you were in the city! He sent me to find you as soon as he knew. At once…at once he said!"
Kara sighed, and then she smirked. "Take me to your leader." She gestured.
The man left. At a distinctly slower pace than he came to get her. Allowing Kara to follow him. Though the pace was still quite brisk.
He led her through the perimeter gate. Guards looked at her on the left and the right. But let them pass without further comment.
Instead of taking the path up to the Imperial Palace they turned right at the fountain. And walked on for a few minutes. Passing a mini lane of trees which were in full bloom. Her eyes started to itch and water.
Finally her guide turned around at a major intersection, by another fountain.
"He will be in the third building on the right. Towards the main hall."
Kara nodded her thanks, before spinning on her heals and moving off. Finding the right building easily enough and then entering it, there was a large anteroom. Which positively spoke of its coziness. It reminds me of my home in Ostwick. Kara thought, suddenly getting misty eyed as a full bout of nostalgia hit her.
Damn, I actually miss the place. She had not been back since she had become Inquisitor.
"Inquisitor." Someone announced behind her.
She spun around, to see Briala approaching her. Dressed in a flowing sky blue gown which pooled over the floor and in her full Orlesian mask.
"Ah Briala, come to give me some pointers on what I will face?"
Her mouth twisted under and around the perimeter of her mask. "Maybe. He will want to talk to you about our taking of the Keep."
"Oh? Any problems?" Kara pressed.
She bit her lip, "No not precisely problems. But you have caused…a stir at court. This is now the third Fort the Inquisition has occupied within Orlesian territory."
"Indeed," Kara nodded, "Anything else?"
Briala frowned, again her mouth pulling down dramatically. You'd think someone at court would be more experienced at hiding her emotions…or is she playing me?
"Just be careful, Inquisitor?"
Kara grinned, "I always am careful when it comes to Orlesian nobility. And you, are you sure you want to risk being seen with me, in public?"
Briala laughed airily. "Let them wonder, I am after all a free elf, perhaps the only one who truly is in the entire Orlesian Empire….good day to you Inquisitor."
"And you." Inquisitor Trevelyan murmured, before heading through the anteroom and into the next room.
Which was far smaller than the anteroom itself. And far more cluttered. It looked like an office. Ornately decorated, but an office none the same. One desk against the far wall, and a dozen or so knick knacks spread throughout the room.
You have really let yourself go Gaspard.
And there sitting behind the desk was the man himself. In all of his bearded glory. Yet his beard looked much longer then Kara had remembered it all those months ago.
His hands were folded one on top of the other.
"Inquisitor Trevelyan, when I sent my rider to Skyhold last month to find you I would have assumed it would have been at least a month. Color me shocked when it took you a mere four days." Gaspard started, then waved to a chair in front of the desk. "Please, Inquisitor, have a seat."
"Thank you Emperor." She pulled the chair out before sitting at it, crossing her legs in front of her.
He sighed for a second, "You have put me in an awkward position Madame Trevelyan. Seizing another one of our Keeps. The Council, many in court, and others have been most…displeased about your recent actions."
Kara grunted, leaning forward. "We have seized Keeps in Orlesian territory before, and we are currently occupying them."
Gaspard waved his hand and scoffed dismissively, "Please. The Dales, an outpost in the Western Approach? They are far too distant and unimportant to be noticed. You took them off our hands. The Inquisition did us a favor. But Val Chevin? Val Chevin is practically in our backyard. It is virtually in the Heartlands. And is very important."
"So important that you left it and its people to their fate?"
Gaspard laughed, bitterly, and gave her a sad smile. "Inquisitor I am sure Briala has told you the situation within the Empire."
She nodded.
He got up, pulled on his shirt line self-consciously, and made his way over to a small window. "The war, despite the fact that many people, especially here in the Capitol did not feel its effects. The Great Families of the Game treating it as a mere curiosity…it nearly bankrupted us. It left us without a purpose. And it left my appointment as Emperor bitterly contested…maybe a sign to others that they can get away with it?
"Both sides conscripted peasants for their armies. And put their sons, both lesser and greater on the front lines. We gave them swords, and put them at the throat of other Orlesians. We taught them they could be mighty, and that political change could come from the tip of a sword. Now…now we don't have enough money to support them. To take care of their needs." He grumbled himself into silence.
"And so they are rebelling." She finished the thought, watching him.
He snorted, "Yes many are, and at least twenty groups have formed in the last two months. Some of them are very…organized. The keep you took in Val Chevin were run by one of them. And as long as the rest of the nobility is protected behind their estates with their loyal soldiers which they can pay, then they could care less. Not until their positions are more secure."
"You sound as though you don't like the nobility," Kara murmured around an amused half smile.
He laughed, "As it so happens it is one of the reasons I started the war, because I despised the game." He turned back to her and sat down.
"Sounds like you are suffering a situation of your own making."
He smiled, "I suppose I did sow this particular whirlwind of which I reap…but now the Inquisition is throwing the apple cart into an uproar."
Kara cocked her head at him. "I don't understand, if the nobility is not concerned about a peasant uprising then why would the Inquisition send their skirts into a bunch?"
Gaspard's grin wavered for a second, it still played across his face, but it waned significantly. "There have been several, uprisings, as you put it, throughout Orlesian History. They have not been successful. The Empire goes on much as it has for the last eight hundred years. We do not fear peasants, even armed and organized, not really. But a foreign power? With an army? And an unknown but rumored influence over the Orlesian throne? That is enough to give the stodgiest noble bed wetting nightmares."
"I didn't know you disliked the nobility so much."
He chuckled, "It is one of the reasons I attempted to seize the throne. Politicians and academicians bickering and fighting at one another instead of doing what is right…instead of taking any action at all."
"And to restore Orlesian Supremacy in the South." Kara demurred.
He laughed, "Indeed. I just never considered…the financial arrangements of such things. But thanks to the efforts of the Inquisition we have peace, peace in our time."
Kara nodded, and stretched out. "Then you must know why I did it. The Inquisition was in a position to act, and it did. People were suffering. Their property was being stolen, they were dying. Someone had to act, and the Orlesian throne…either unwilling or unable…didn't. No one was. I would be more than happy to return the Keep to you, but only in the future…just consider this one less thing you have to worry about."
Gaspard scoffed, "And will the Inquisition police all of Orlais?"
"Do you really want to find out?" Kara asked.
Gaspard nodded, accepting it in good stride. "Thank you, Madame Inquisitor. It is what I thought, and I agree. I just needed to make my politician's concerns well known."
"And they are, good day Emperor." With a polite bow she got up, and left the room. Onto her other errands she wanted to run in the capitol.