"A revolt?"
"Yes, my Empress. Kamarov, as you know, is not a member of the Tyvian royal family. Their bloodline died out years ago when the last king was forced to abdicate for refusing to swear loyalty to the Crown. Many Tyvians feel that, while you are their ruler, the man who rules in your stead is nothing but a pretender and an insult to Tyvian pride."
"So what has become of him?"
"We aren't sure. Without the Office of the Royal Spymaster-Corvo could hear the contempt in his voice-we have no way of knowing what the situation is. For now, we assume that Karamov is under the protection of the White Legion, but they alone will not be enough to ensure his survival. We must send aid at once."
General Howe jumped in. "We've assembled a fleet of five ships, with as many men as we can muster. It's not much, but even a fraction of Dunwall's might should be enough to force these rebels to surrender. Just give the order, Your Highness."
Emily thought it over carefully. She knew the weight of this decision.
"General, keep the fleet ready, but I do not give you permission to sail to Tyvia."
"Your Highness, this rebellion must be suppressed before it spreads to the rest of the Empire! Serkonos, Morley, even Wei-Gon; none of them are under our direct control. If the local authorities lose the trust of the people, then they will turn on us!"
"General, are you questioning me?"
"No, Your Highness. Your orders are mine to carry out. I will transmit these instructions to the fleet." With that, he departed.
Wainwright started to sweat. Small, dark patches could be seen under the folds of his coat.
"Your Highness, I understand that you are wary of any action that smacks of tyranny, but in the face of the Empire's survival, this is not the time for such meaningless concerns. Your mother would have already..."
"Wainwright, my mother is no longer the Empress. If you do not agree with my decisions, that is your right. But you will not challenge my authority. And you will never speak of my mother in such a disrespectful manner."
Wainwright was silent. With that, Leona spoke up.
"Impressive, Your Highness. But if you will not send General Howe and the fleet, then how do you propose we settle this matter?"
Emily turned to face her father.
"We know nothing of what's really happening in Tyvia. Is the king even still in command? What are the rebels' intentions? Perhaps there is no need for force. If we can handle this diplomatically, it would send a far stronger message to the other provinces than the sharp edge of a sword."
"Do you propose sending a spy, Your Highness? Someone to determine our response?"
"Yes, Leona. And that spy will be my father."
"Your Highness, the Royal Protector is not to leave Dunwall unless he or she is by your side..."
"Leona, my father brought the men who killed my mother to justice and ensured that those who would have stolen my throne from me were dealt with. Without him, I would not be Empress. There is no one else I trust more to complete this mission. And while he is gone, Alexi can serve in his stead."
"Captain Mayhew? She's inexperienced. I'd rather you let Ramsay handle such an assignment."
"We can discuss this later, Leona. Right now, I want a ship and crew prepared to travel to Dabokva. My father will be aboard it, as an official representative of the Crown. And I want Sokolov to join him."
"The former Royal Physician?"
"He's a Tyvian by birth. Having someone of his stature by my father's side will make his work that much easier. If what I've heard is true, the Tyvians don't like having foreigners lecture them."
"I'll make the preparations at once." She turned to leave, but then stopped.
"Actually, Your Highness, there is one thing we know about the rebels. Someone in Karamov's court managed to send word before we lost contact with them."
"What is it?"
"We know who's leading this revolt. Andrei Barakhin."
"General Barakhin? I thought he was on leave."
"He was. His involvement shocked us. A soldier of the Crown, especially one as brilliant and well-trained as him, engaging in treason? Whatever this rebellion is about, Your Highness, it is vital we know. I hope your faith in the Royal Protector is not misplaced."