Chapter 8
Prince Kalizan lay reclined on the couch of the marble terrace. The spot, overlooking a gorgeous landscape, was the most glorious view from what was until recently his fathers' country palace. The fresh, clean air relaxed him, even as his doctor performed his daily examination.
His physician's assistant read off the ruler's blood pressure numbers. Kalizan saw the doctor's mouth tighten, but the older man said nothing, just brushed his eyes briefly at the assistant, signaling him to leave. Once the extra pair of ears was gone, the doctor sat down on his stool with a tired sigh, and proceeded in taking the Prince's pulse the old fashioned way.
"Ralant,"- the doctor was one of very few who could refer to Kalizan by his first name, " I know you did not go to the meeting yesterday afternoon. I clearly remember demanding that you not attend." The doctor's eyes remained pinned on his watch. He relinquished the Prince's wrist and directed his imploring eyes into Ralant's.
" Aran, I had t..."
"No, Ralant. No. You did not. Your blood pressure is atrocious. I do not dare calculate how much it has risen."
Ralant said nothing. A bit ashamed, he put his eyes to his hands in his lap and prepared for the coming lecture.
"It's been four years now," Aran began, his tone dropped—pleading. "Four years I have kept it from killing you. You know summer is the dangerous time. Three months, Ralant, just three. The rest of the year the disease is much more dormant, but for this short time, you must be careful. You must rest. I ask so little, but this is everything. One bad decision and it would overtake you. One sleepless night, one day with drained energy, and it would seize you. Try as I might, there would be nothing I could do."
The Prince looked at his friend with a blank expression. Aran drilled his blue eyes into Kalizan with an unmistakable purpose of saying, "This is not a joke, I'm not making this up." Ralant turned his gaze back to the scenery as Aran finished up on him, administering his daily medication. They parted without words and Ralant was immediately in the company of his second in command as the doctor left.
" Ah, Deraloy, what good news do you bare today?" Ralant had now acquitted the couch and was sitting at his desk with Deraloy standing in front of it.
" It would be a stretch, sir, to call it good news." Deraloy spoke of the capitol still being a disaster zone. The people, who had been thrown back to the dark ages with most utilities knocked out, were not revolting, but instead, shamefully trying to pick up the pieces. The major section of the capitol that was bombed was far from being cleared and crews were working constantly. Ralant Kalizan listened with interest, but no surprise.
" In short, sir, the people need help. They need explanation."
" Then help them!" Kalizan nearly shouted, getting to his feet. "Money is no longer an issue and I have no wish to break the people even before a new government can firmly seat itself. But, Deraloy, by no means will they be given explanation—yet. This is my reign, not his. I will not indulge their need for soft words and actions."
Deraloy smiled. " Prince Kalizan, I assure you, no part of your father's rule shall ever be brought into consideration. We are strong, and we can only get stronger. But let us examine history. You have put these people into shock. They have gone from your father's weak gentleness, which controlled an economy content to just stay healthy, to you—a ruler of insight, opportunity and ambition, who will not merely be healthy, but conquer and thrive.
"For them, this is the most drastic change that could be made. I have no doubt, my Prince, that they will come to love you, respect you, and thrive with you, but if we try to change all these things too fast, there will be revolution. And even this peaceful society could arrange revolts that would be unstoppable."
Prince Kalizan considered this for a long while. He stood from his desk and walked back to the balcony to stand in the breeze, his under rank behind him. Finally, Ralant nodded his head.
" I want more of our men down there today, helping. Offer more relief money, whatever you need to wipe this tragedy from their eyes quickly. We have so much to be, Deraloy," Ralant strained. " We must prove it to them."
Deraloy bowed deeply and prepared to leave. Kalizan gently caught his arm.
" Did they... find his body?" Ralant asked quietly, child-like. His eyes held concern the prince couldn't fight. His commanding officer simply shook his head. Kalizan turned away.
" I'm sorry, father," he muttered to no one in an unsteady voice. " I'm sorry you couldn't see the future my way."
Prince Kalizan lay reclined on the couch of the marble terrace. The spot, overlooking a gorgeous landscape, was the most glorious view from what was until recently his fathers' country palace. The fresh, clean air relaxed him, even as his doctor performed his daily examination.
His physician's assistant read off the ruler's blood pressure numbers. Kalizan saw the doctor's mouth tighten, but the older man said nothing, just brushed his eyes briefly at the assistant, signaling him to leave. Once the extra pair of ears was gone, the doctor sat down on his stool with a tired sigh, and proceeded in taking the Prince's pulse the old fashioned way.
"Ralant,"- the doctor was one of very few who could refer to Kalizan by his first name, " I know you did not go to the meeting yesterday afternoon. I clearly remember demanding that you not attend." The doctor's eyes remained pinned on his watch. He relinquished the Prince's wrist and directed his imploring eyes into Ralant's.
" Aran, I had t..."
"No, Ralant. No. You did not. Your blood pressure is atrocious. I do not dare calculate how much it has risen."
Ralant said nothing. A bit ashamed, he put his eyes to his hands in his lap and prepared for the coming lecture.
"It's been four years now," Aran began, his tone dropped—pleading. "Four years I have kept it from killing you. You know summer is the dangerous time. Three months, Ralant, just three. The rest of the year the disease is much more dormant, but for this short time, you must be careful. You must rest. I ask so little, but this is everything. One bad decision and it would overtake you. One sleepless night, one day with drained energy, and it would seize you. Try as I might, there would be nothing I could do."
The Prince looked at his friend with a blank expression. Aran drilled his blue eyes into Kalizan with an unmistakable purpose of saying, "This is not a joke, I'm not making this up." Ralant turned his gaze back to the scenery as Aran finished up on him, administering his daily medication. They parted without words and Ralant was immediately in the company of his second in command as the doctor left.
" Ah, Deraloy, what good news do you bare today?" Ralant had now acquitted the couch and was sitting at his desk with Deraloy standing in front of it.
" It would be a stretch, sir, to call it good news." Deraloy spoke of the capitol still being a disaster zone. The people, who had been thrown back to the dark ages with most utilities knocked out, were not revolting, but instead, shamefully trying to pick up the pieces. The major section of the capitol that was bombed was far from being cleared and crews were working constantly. Ralant Kalizan listened with interest, but no surprise.
" In short, sir, the people need help. They need explanation."
" Then help them!" Kalizan nearly shouted, getting to his feet. "Money is no longer an issue and I have no wish to break the people even before a new government can firmly seat itself. But, Deraloy, by no means will they be given explanation—yet. This is my reign, not his. I will not indulge their need for soft words and actions."
Deraloy smiled. " Prince Kalizan, I assure you, no part of your father's rule shall ever be brought into consideration. We are strong, and we can only get stronger. But let us examine history. You have put these people into shock. They have gone from your father's weak gentleness, which controlled an economy content to just stay healthy, to you—a ruler of insight, opportunity and ambition, who will not merely be healthy, but conquer and thrive.
"For them, this is the most drastic change that could be made. I have no doubt, my Prince, that they will come to love you, respect you, and thrive with you, but if we try to change all these things too fast, there will be revolution. And even this peaceful society could arrange revolts that would be unstoppable."
Prince Kalizan considered this for a long while. He stood from his desk and walked back to the balcony to stand in the breeze, his under rank behind him. Finally, Ralant nodded his head.
" I want more of our men down there today, helping. Offer more relief money, whatever you need to wipe this tragedy from their eyes quickly. We have so much to be, Deraloy," Ralant strained. " We must prove it to them."
Deraloy bowed deeply and prepared to leave. Kalizan gently caught his arm.
" Did they... find his body?" Ralant asked quietly, child-like. His eyes held concern the prince couldn't fight. His commanding officer simply shook his head. Kalizan turned away.
" I'm sorry, father," he muttered to no one in an unsteady voice. " I'm sorry you couldn't see the future my way."