Chapter 28 Softening the blow

Dawn over the city of Archadies. It had been only a month ago when the news of the 8th fleet arrived at the capital. The entire city was declaring this a day of remembrance, and all around it's streets came the wailing of families who's brave boys had never returned. Even the usual bustling air traffic had stopped in memory of the fallen, as long as any record could be found never had Archadia lost so many at once. From his great office, the Emporer Gramis was sitting in his chair looking down at his weeping city. Of course he himself had joined in when the news came but now all his tears were dried up, and all he could do was stare down at his suffering people with no way to stop the pain. He didn't even notice Larsa walk through the door.

"Father." He asked hesitantly. The Emporer quickly composed himself into his usual cheerful appearance.

"Larsa my boy, what brings you here?" He said beaming. Larsa cleared his throat.

"Well, I've been thinking about the situation with Rozaria." Gramis couldn't hold back a grin. Larsa was direct and to the point, like Vayne yet unlike.

"What of it?"

"Well, the whole affair started a month ago when the destruction of the 8th fleet, it left a hole in our defences. And with that the resistance forces are massing behind Rozaria."

"Hmm?"

"Well, without the aid of the resistance Rozaria would be unable to invade, their forces simply are not enough. Gramis laughed.

"A well thought out analysis as always, however you seem to be overlooking that we have no influence over the resistance whatsoever." Larsa pressed on.

"The majority of the resistance are Dalmascan, and as a result they will follow Lady Ashelia anywhere and to any end."

"And you're saying we can convince the princess of Dalmasca to hold the resistance back?"

"Precisely." The Emperor raised an eyebrow, Larsa would not propose such a thing if he thought it couldn't be done but all the same. Larsa seemed to sense this and swiftly continued.

"I am aquainted with Lady Ashelia and if I find her I can certainly say there is a chance, please father. If this war starts, there will be many more days like this." Gramis didn't need to look down at the streets to remind him.

"Take your guard with you," He said sternly. "I don't want anything to happen to you." Larsa beamed.

"Thank you father." He said bowing and turning to leave the room, he stopped however and turned back. "Oh and Father, the senate has called a meeting after dinner, they need you there.

Gramis replayed the conversation over and over in his head as he sat at in his uncomfortable chair, wearing his itchy robes of office, in the dusty echoey room where the senate insisted on holding their meetings. Honestly why couldn't they just get a conference room and be done with it. But something Larsa said that afternoon worried him, and it wasn't the innevitability he would ditch his guards like he always did. If this agreement went well he knew that peace would be almost certain, Dalmasca would be restored and an ally of Archadia and concequently the rebellion would be without leader and disbanded. There was however one big flaw in the plan, and unfortuanately it was all his fault.

"The Rozarian Empire assembles a vast host under the guise of training excersises." Droned the current speaker. "It is our belief that they wait for the proper pretext, the sooner to make their strike on Archadia."

"The loss of the leviathan and her fleet at such a time, is a grievous blow, were Rozaria to invade the battle would be hard fought. Had lord Vayne not deployed the fleet so capriciously, we would not find ourselves in such perilous circumstances."

"Lord Vayne will be made to answer for his actions." Gramis let his forhead fall into his hands.

"Typical senators." He muttered. "Always looking for a scapegoat when they should be looking for a solution to the problem." The speaker turned to him

"Excellency. Thought he is your son, justice must be served." The Emperor chuckled softly.

"A convinient thing, justice." He said aloud. "And now I must make a choice between my throne, and my son." There was murmering throughout the room.

"A most lamentable situation for us all." A frail man said awkwardly.

"For lord Vayne perhaps, but lord Larsa will be a fine emperor." Gramis shook his head, here they go again. The only reason they wanted Larsa on the throne was so they could manipulate him.

"Larsa adores his brother and is yet young." Gramis told the man sternly. The man smiled back, like a snake.

"He may be young now but will not remain so forever. He already busys himself unravelling Vayne's tangled skein." Gramis could not help but smile back, Larsa was growing up very quickly it seemed. A little to quick for these old goats to keep a leash on him. "After all." The senator continued. "Was it not Vayne who put his two older brothers to justice once before?" Gramis leaped to his feet, his chair clattering to the floor.

"How dare you!" He bellowed. "I told..." But he got no further, the effort of getting up so quickly caused a tremendous coughing fit. The senator seemed to get some sort of pleasure out of watching his challenger writhe. After ten minutes Gramis had recovered enough to speak.

"You will pay for this." He choked through gritted teeth.

"You need not concern yourself, as long as the senate watches over her Archadia's future will ever be assured."

I am back. It took a while to get all my summer stuff out of the way but now I am ready to write all summer.