Six - Destroying The Cancer

Hello again. Hope you guys are enjoying the story. Seriously guys, I could use reviews, even if they're bad.

So here's the new chapter, and this one mainly has Emily in it.

Have fun!

Four days passed since The Whaler attack, and Anna Maria's unfortunate death. A funeral was held in the courtyard, and all the maids and servants, a few guards and court officials attended it along with The Empress and her protector. Piero and Willow were also present.

From what they knew, she was a widow without children, so there was no family from Anna Maria's side.

The court had discussed the matter repeatedly for four days, but in vain. Nobody could pinpoint to anything, because most of the details were vague. Corvo had told them about the whaler, but left out the part about the note. By the end of the meeting on the fourth day, they had all decided to send a unit of guards and a unit of overseers to the assassin headquarters in the flooded district.

They would be sent after two days, when all the necessary equipment and material was prepared.

Corvo was not satisfied with the plan, but there was nothing much they could do to stop their attacks, except increasing the security, which he knew all too well was of no use. He did not really care how many aristocrats died, because they were a hinderance to the society.

By the end of the fourth day, as usual, Willow was tired. She walked up to her room silently, looking at the blood stains on her sleeve that a weeper had left. She went up to her bedroom, keeping the door to the planning room open. She lay down on her bed without changing, and turned to lie flat on her stomach, one hand hanging from the edge, her fingers touching the furry brown carpet on the floor.

Her eyes were open, and were gazing at nothing in particular. She was thinking about her mother, remembering the moments she had spent with her.

Her mother's name was Teigan Ride, and from what Willow could recall, she had always faced the society's distaste because of being a single mother. Willow was nine years old when her mother was killed, and she could still see the scene in her mind, how their house, a small two storied building, had been silent and peaceful, and all of a sudden, how the peace has been shattered forever, like the broken bits of a mirror which could never be put together again.

She could feel the warmth of her mother's body as she lay in the arm chair, legs propped up onto her mother's lap, a little blue flame burning in the fireplace. She could remember slipping into sleep, listening to her mother singing a lonely yet beautiful song, a song that always seemed to echo in the rooms of the house.

And then a bunch of angry men had barged in, and the next moment she had been pulled away from her mother's lap, thrown onto the floor, an angry lady from the mob holding her back as they dragged her mother out. She could almost see her mother looking back at her, trying to get out of their grip to embrace her child, and she could almost feel the pain that had stung her throat when she screamed to her mother.

Willow slowly sat up, and her eyes travelled to the door. It was wide open, and she could see the gloomy planning room, with the golden lamp switched on.

And then she saw it.

A dark shadow, a tall form lingering in the far corner of the planning room, turning to her. It moved, and slowly floated along the wall. Her heart kept banging against her chest, and in a few seconds, it vanished.

She got up and shut the door, because she knew who that was.

She removed her shoes and lay back on the bed again, thinking about the elixir, the plague, the whalers and her mother.

Corvo watched Emily as she walked to the breakfast table. Her behaviour in the past four days greatly troubled him, because she never smiled. When she did, it was empty, meaningless, like she was trying to humour him out of affection.

She took the knife in her hand, and the fork in the other, showing perfect table etiquette, which was rare. A maid bowed her head and settled the napkins on her table. Four maids stood around the long table, and Corvo stood right beside Emily's seat.

"Excuse us, please," Emily spoke, looking at the maids.

One of the maids looked up at her apprehensively, and Emily's face changed. Her eyes looked like they were spewing fire, and her lips pressed into a straight line. Immediately the maids walked out of the room, their heads lowered.

Corvo looked back at Emily.

'I thought you liked their company,' Corvo said.

'Not every second of the day,' Emily muttered, cutting herself a little flat bread and taking in some curry. 'Sometimes they're annoying. Especially when you're not around.'

'I'm sure they mean well.'

'Maybe,' Emily mumbled. 'But Corvo, they don't make me feel like an Empress. They make me feel like a spoilt brat. Like an irresponsible child. Did you see how that maid almost questioned my order now?'

Corvo said nothing, and looked away. 'Emily, I know you're . . Disturbed . .'

'Thats not it, Corvo,' she said, putting down her fork and knife. 'I have been seeing it since they put me on the throne. They don't take me seriously.' She looked up at him. 'And I have tried being soft on them, listening to them, taking their advice, but the problem is, they don't just give advice. They decide it among themselves, and its like I'm just there to announce the decision.'

Corvo pulled out the chair beside Emily, and sat down on it, looking at her.

Her eyes were desperate, begging for help. 'I hate that. And you must know better than everyone else, that they only take decisions that will favour the rich people,' she continued, staring into his eyes. 'Not the poor ones.' She looked ahead slowly, and her eyes suddenly changed to two dark brown slits, like she was determined to do something, determined to bring down a wall.

'And if its that way for long,' she mumbled, 'The Plague will never end.' She looked back at him, her face gaunt. 'Do you know Lord Berthold from the court?' She asked.

Corvo nodded. He had seen him court, always dressed in all his glory, and whenever Corvo had seen him outside of court, when Berthold was leaving the tower, he always had a different woman waiting for him in his metal coach, and some of them were just plague survivors. He was the kind that preyed on poor people and plundered whatever he could find. His contributions to the treasury weren't that great either.

'Day before yesterday,' Emily said, 'I heard him speaking bad things about you. That you deserved to be in Coldridge prison because you . .' Emily looked like she had swallowed poison, and was trying to get it out. 'Because you . . You slept with -'

'Emily-'

'-with mother and-'

'Stop,' Corvo raised his voice, and Emily simply looked at him, her eyes glassy.

Corvo stood up, and wiped his face with his hands. 'You know better than anyone, that I would never -'

'I know!' Emily exclaimed, closing her eyes. ' I'm just hurt and angry because they even dare to speak like that, in our place. And you know what he said before Anna Maria's funeral?'

Corvo looked down at her, suppressing the sudden rage that was forcing him to cut Berthold's throat.

'He said, "Why does that old hag need a funeral? She's already burnt to a crisp!"' Emily gulped. 'And he was laughing.'

She took the glass of juice in her hand and finished it in a few seconds. 'People like him are so many in this city. And they'll plan another epidemic, or a war, something that will get them back into business if The Plague ends.'

Corvo's eyes moved to the wall behind Emily, at the portrait of Jessamine on the wall.

'That's exactly what Empress Jessamine said,' Corvo mumbled loud enough for Emily to hear.

'Mother . . Was worried about the same thing all the time,' Emily said. 'But she was patient. She complied with them, at least until they supported the Treasury, because we needed the money. What do you think, Corvo?' She asked, turning to him.

Corvo looked at her and sighed. 'Emily . .you know I can't speak to you about such things. I can't argue about political things, definitely not with you. That's against my duties.'

'Alright then.' Emily took a deep breath. 'I've made a decision. And I'm determined to keep to it, forever,' she looked at Corvo, her face giving away her tension and anxiety. 'Will you support me?' She asked humbly.

'Emily,' Corvo said, stroking her hair. 'I will always support you, no matter what decisions you take. And I will always be there for you.' He leaned forward and gently kissed her on her forehead, and Emily immediately threw her arms around him. He kept stroking her hair, but his heart was faltering, racing forward through a million questions and fears as to Emily's decision, whatever it was.

'Can you inform the court that I'll be late by a half an hour today?' She asked, her face on his shoulder. 'I need to check on a few things.'

When Emily entered the court, it was nine. A few of the court officials gave her distasteful looks, but she ignored them. She sat down on the throne, and after the formal announcements and reports had been made, she looked around at all their faces.

From a chair in the right corner of the room, a skinny, tall man stood up. His face was thin, with cheekbones so high that they made dark shadows on his face even in the brilliant light of the Court room. His eyes were thin and green, and on the whole, his face looked like that of a fox's, and his dull red hair contributed to that. He looked as cunning as a fox, and he didn't make an effort to hide his confidence.

'If I may, Your Highness,' he bowed a little. 'I have a . . . A proposition for You, and the court.'

'Regarding?' Emily asked, and her voice was loud, bold. It reached the far end of the room flawlessly. A glint of surprise flashed in the standing gentleman's voice.

'The Whaler's attack that took place four days ago, Your Highness,' he said. Emily gave a nod.

Corvo watched him carefully as he walked past the line of chairs, and to the pedestal in the centre of the room, which faced the throne, and was at a lower level than the pedestal that hoisted the throne.

'I, Lord Earnest Lacquert,' he spoke in a louder voice, 'Have thoroughly gone through the reports and events of that day. I have, in my mind, suspicions on several personalities in this Tower, who could be involved in this incident.'

Chatters passed across the room like a wave, but soon faded when the Royal Spokesperson stood up from his seat at the corner of The Empress' pedestal, and yelled, 'Silence, please!'

'You may all be wondering, why I suspect people from within the tower, while there are plenty of sources that could be threatening us from the outside,' Lord Lacquert continued. 'My reason is simple. The fact that there were twenty five weepers locked in the tower was known to no one else outside the tower. And the other reason, is in fact, obvious.' He stopped to study the faces of everyone, even Corvo's. All of them were listening intently to him, and although Corvo did a good job of hiding it, he was paying total attention to Earnest.

'The key to the laboratory, and to the room within it holding the twenty five weepers, was in the possession of a rather unimportant person that has been residing in this tower for five days.'

A new sound echoed in the room, the sound of an elderly gentleman clearing his throat too openly, as if asking for attention. From the centre of the line of chairs on the left, another nobleman stood up, an older man with whitish hair, and a tall, lean stature. Lord Kingsley.

Corvo looked at him, his eyes narrowing.

'You think that fact has not crossed our minds, Earnest?' He asked, looking at Lord Lacquert. 'Surely you do not take us to be worthless idiots, do you?'

Earnest paused for a few seconds, like he was actually thinking about it. Corvo clenched his fists.

'No,' Earnest finally replied. 'I don't. But I do think this is a very serious matter, and every fact or doubt should be discussed and verified well, no matter how unusual the possibility may seem.'

'What is your point, Earnest?' Lord Kingsley asked, impatiently.

'I'm getting to it,' Lord Lacquert said, and looked back at the court. 'The lady in possession of the keys was Miss Willow Ride, The Royal Physician's own apprentice, as you all must be aware. She has been in service for three years, but six days ago, that is, exactly one day before the weepers incident, she was granted permission by His Excellency, Anton Sokolov to stay back in the tower until they finished their experiments. She was given The Safe Room, and lives alone in that four roomed house on the roof.'

Corvo gritted his teeth, trying his best to hide his anger. He knew it all too well that Willow had not been involved at all.

He then relaxed his fists and jaw, and remembered the mysterious note, the hesitation she had shown when he spoke about it. For a few seconds, he considered the possibility.

'I have met and spoken to Miss Willow Ride,' An old noblewoman stood up from the chairs. 'She is a well trained, dedicated woman who does nothing but her duties. The Royal Physician himself has admitted to a few of us on a dinner, that he had never had a student as good as her. He believes that the young lady is only second to The Piero Joplin himself!'

'Now, now,' a third voice rang through the room - a grumpy, rippled voice of a vile man. Lord Berthold stood up from his seat in the front. 'If she is indeed as brilliant as they say, why have we never heard of her inventions? Or any of her written works?' He laughed to himself, adjusting his vest, and then stroking his thin grey hair. 'We all know Anton Sokolov does not judge his female servants based only on their efficiency in their duties.'

Corvo moved. He had stepped forward menacingly, but he held himself back. He took a deep breath and looked at Emily. Her face was gaunt, her back straight as she listened to them.

'She is too young, and still under training,' The noblewoman spoke.

'Young?' Lord Berthold scoffed. 'She is a good thirty, My Lady. How is that young?'

'Well, definitely younger than you!'

'Calm down, ladies and gentlemen,' Lord Lacquert spoke. He cleared his throat and resumed, looking at Emily, 'There is more, Your Highness. When the suspicion first showed up in my mind, I had a look into Willow Ride's history, and found out that she was orphaned at the age of nine. Her mother was, well . . Single, unmarried when she delivered. She was killed, but the details of death I do not know. Willow grew up in an orphanage, and I have noticed that most of her history is blank.'

'Earnest,' The old noblewoman spoke, 'I do not see why you mention personal life. You cannot prove anything based on the fact that she was an illegitimate child!'

'Why not?' Earnest asked. 'Some of the most dangerous and important people were orphaned as a child. According to the science of -'

'Complete your proposition, please,' The Royal Spokesperson demanded impatiently.

Earnest nodded calmly.

'So, My point is that we should put Willow Ride to a light questioning by The Overseers. I only mean to take every possibility seriously. I for one, think that there is no harm in simply questioning and verifying the facts, is there?'

Chatters passed across the room, and Lord Berthold walked to the pedestal, and bowed low to Emily. Emily simply looked at him, and her look was so cold that it wiped away the smirk from his eyes.

'I have some information too,' he began, walking slowly to the pedestal as Lord Lacquert stepped down. He stood on it, and looked around. 'As Earnest has already so clearly stated that it is best for us to consider every possibility, I have one too, and it coincides with Earnest's. May I, Your Highness?'

Emily nodded once.

Berthold cleared his throat and spoke, 'I suspect Willow ride too, but also think that she was not alone. That if it was indeed her, there has to be a few more people involved, that may have definitely helped her. I suggest that we also put these people to questioning along with her.'

He stopped for a few seconds, looking at Emily.

'I suspect Corvo,' he said, looking directly at him. Corvo's expression didn't change, he simply stood as he was, and only his eyes were positioned on Berthold.

'Nonsense!' Someone exclaimed from the chairs. 'On what basis?!'

'Well,' he continued, a small smile twisting the corner of his lips as he looked at Corvo. 'I have heard the sparks of a rather interesting rumour from my servant, that The Lord Protector was seen visiting her twice, on the day before the attack, and on the day after.'

Corvo simply looked at him, hiding his anger. Emily was silent, as silent and cold as a grave.

'Now why would The Lord Protector, whose only duty and goal in his lifetime is to look after the Empress, visit another young lady at midnight, in secret?' He questioned.

The Royal Spokesperson looked at Corvo. 'Is that true?' He questioned.

Corvo scanned the faces of all the people in the court, except Emily's. He stepped forward, and said, in a calm but firm tone, 'It's true.'

Whispers and chatters burst across the room, but Emily still didn't look, or didn't speak.

'Plotting something with your accomplice, were we?' Berthold questioned, flashing a sick grin.

'I assure you, ladies and gentlemen,' Corvo spoke while the room turned silent again. 'My service to Her Highness, Emily Kaldwin is as true and sincere as it was to The Late Empress, Jessamine Kaldwin.'

'From what I hear, Corvo,' Berthold spoke, 'Your service to The Respected Late Empress exceeded its limits, did it not?'

Corvo looked directly at him, clenching his fists. 'I accept to The Overseers' questioning and interrogation. I am not involved in any of these matters.'

'Now that you mention it,' Lord Lacquert stood up again. 'Nobody has seen that Whaler except you, My Lord. I do find that fact disturbing,' he said, looking at Corvo.

'Well, if it wasn't for plotting,' Berthold continued, 'Why did you go to that young lady's chambers, Corvo?'

'It's a personal matter,' Corvo answered firmly.

'Spit it out, Lord Protector. There are too many accusations on you to let you keep anything personal!' Berthold demanded. 'We don't care who you sleep with, but we don't want -'

'Enough!' Emily exclaimed, partly rising up.

'We don't want our Empire to fall lower!' Berthold finished, ignoring Emily. 'And if you -'

'Silence!' The Royal spokesperson rose from his chair, glaring at Berthold. 'Do not speak another word, William,' he warned. 'You dare to defy The Empress?!'

'Lord Berthold,' Emily spoke, her voice firm, but cold. She stood up gracefully and put her right hand in her left palm, and held her hands at her vest's height, the way Anna Maria had taught her.

She scanned the whole court, and wasn't surprised to find a few of them losing interest as they looked at her.

'Lord Lacquert,' she spoke, looking at him. 'I will have Miss Willow Ride interrogated in the safe room itself. And The Lord Protector will be put to questioning too, again in the safe room. I will be there while they are questioned, and you will also be joining me.' She said, and he bowed low in acceptance. Emily looked at Berthold.

'Come here, please,' she said to him, showing her palm to the stairs of her pedestal. Berthold bowed, lowered his head and bent down on one knee on the stairs. 'Yes, Your Highness?' He asked, looking up at her.

She slapped him.

The sound seemed to echo in everybody's ears, and Corvo looked at her, bewildered. Berthold held his head low, his cheek turning a bright red.

Everyone's breath was held in their throats, and nobody even breathed a whisper.

Emily kept staring at him coldly as she snapped her fingers at The Royal Spokesperson.

He walked up to her, bowing low. A maid from behind her throne brought her a tray with papers on it, on Emily's gesture. Emily took them in one hand, and handed it over to The Royal Spokesperson. He bowed again, and walked to the foot of the pedestal.

'Do not forget your place,' She said aloud, looking at Berthold, but the message reached everybody's ears.

The royal Spokesperson read out what was written in the papers, and as they heard it, all their faces went pale, and Berthold's was white.

It was an account of all his crimes, his cons and frauds, which came to the bottom line that he had caused a great loss to the economy.

He was arrested immediately, and dragged to the prison.

Corvo looked down at Emily.

'I know I asked for half an hour,' she said. 'But it took the officer an hour to get the papers together. Lord Berthold hid his crimes well, but not very well.'

She smiled - a true, innocent smile.

Corvo walked hastily to Emily's room, ignoring the fact that she was asleep. The interrogation of himself and Willow Ride was scheduled for tomorrow afternoon, and it kept bothering him too much. If what Earnest Lacquert had said was true, and Willow's history and the details of her mother's death were really clean, then he could relax, but he knew that the Overseers could dig it out. Just as the Heart had said to him - They always find the guilt they seek.

Even if that panned out well, there was the matter of the diary that Willow had with her, with all the notes of Hypnotism. The Overseers would definitely check her room, and if they found it, she would be hanged.

He was about to knock on her door, and stopped. Emily didn't know Willow well. He couldn't ask her for a blind favour and have the interrogation called off. That would fall hard on Emily.

He drew back his hand and took a deep breath.

He walked back to his chamber and closed the door. He pulled out the drawer of his study and grabbed a paper and pen. He bent over the table and hastily scribbled on the paper until he was satisfied with what he had written. He folded it up and stuffed it in the pocket of his black robe.

He grabbed a small piece of telegram paper and scribbled a tiny message on it. Then he called one of the guards and summoned the messenger, and had the telegram sent to Captain Geoff Curnow.

He then went to his bed, and lay back, closing his eyes.

That's it for this chapter. Hope you liked it! Leave a review for me, right down there. I really need to know how it's been so far, and I need suggestions and encouragement. Please tell me what you think of this chapter, and if going ahead with the more of the court dealings in this story is okay.

Thank you for reading!

P.S: LOVE the AC Unity trailer. If you haven't watched it yet, you should. It looks so amazing! I'm not sure I'll get it though. For now I have my eyes on Watch Dogs.

xoxoxo