Chapter 8: Zorzal el Caesar
"Why have the gods forsaken me?" Emperor Zorzal groaned.
The golden laurel reef sat atop his light blonde hair for less than a week, and yet it weighed down on him like a boulder. How had his father endured its burden for so long? The bickering of several dozen different voices shouting over each other around him. With a deep breath, Zorzal opened his eyes once more and took in the vast white chamber around him.
He sat atop a furnished throne with the Imperial standard behind him, flanked by a squad of Praetorian guards. Beneath him sat rows of middle-aged to elderly men in rich white togas and colorful robes draped around them. The various members of the Imperial Senate cried out until their words became nothing but noise to Zorzal.
"We must raise more legions at once and drive them back through the gate!"
"Are you mad? We must make them our vassals and incorporate their might into the empire through a political alliance!"
"How can you talk about them when orcs are prowling on the borders of my region!"
A small part of him wished he could send all of the senators into the fields as farmhands so they might be of some use to him and the people. Just then, a warm hand with a wedding ring on it took his and held it firm. Zorzal turned to the throne beside him and saw her. A young woman with fair skin, bright rose eyes, and long snow-white hair comforted him with her presence. A yellow dress complimented her beautiful figure but did not conceal the pair of white rabbit ears sticking from her head, marking her as a demi-human.
"Want me to slit their throats?" She whispered into his ear and earned a chuckle from the Emperor.
"Perhaps, but now, when you're holding Claudia."
Zorzal reached down and stroked the soft cheek of a baby girl who lay fast asleep, wrapped in a blanket in the Empress's arms. Hints of light blonde hair grew from her head, matching Zorzal's, and she breathed peacefully into his hand. Watching her made the Emperor forget about his troubles.
"She's beautiful, just like her mother."
Zorzal kissed the woman's cheek, but she puffed up her cheeks and muttered. "Yeah, but can't one of our kids be demi-human like me?" She grumbled and stroked her daughter's heads as if wishing a pair of bunny ears were there.
"Afraid that's not how it works, Tyuule."
"Humph, well, we're going to keep having kids until I have one that takes more after me."
"Your terms are acceptable." Zorzal chuckled.
More shouts from the senators made Claudia stir, and the baby started to cry. Tyuule held her closer and gently rocked the baby while trying to assure her she was ok and not to cry. A fire lit inside Zorzal. Unable to contain it, he stood up and bore down upon the senators with his fiery red eyes. Zorzal towered over the politicians and his own guards. He stood six foot three inches, an unnatural height for his people, with broad shoulders to match.
"Enough, my daughter is trying to sleep." Despite only reaching twenty-eight years of age, Zorzal's voice boomed with authority over the older men who went as silent as a crypt before him. "Good, now that we are in order, we can handle this crisis like civilized men. Senator Cassius, you may continue."
"Thank you, your majesty." A gray-haired man with a pot belly protruding from his toga stood up and cleared his throat.
"We should approach further conflict with these invaders cautiously. If the survivors of Alnus Hill are to be believed, they possess strange magic and technology of a quality we cannot match in our current position-"
"Which is exactly why we must strike them now before they gain more ground and-" Another senator cut in but stopped when Zorzal turned his eyes upon him.
"As I was trying to say. Given the disparity between our magic and technology, it is my position that we should seek to make an alliance with these 'Aciemes' people and learn their secrets."
"Senator Cassius's position is put to the flood. Senator Albus, now you may speak." Zorzal said.
"Senator Cassius would have us all but kneel before the invaders. If we do not drive them from our lands, then at best, they will supplant us as the dominant power over time. Worst case, they keep pushing before we can react and overrun us now."
Zorzal felt his muscles tighten as the thought of unknown soldiers rampaging through the empire ravaged his mind like a plague. He glanced back at Claudia, who, at last, fell back asleep and tightened his fist.
"Senator Albus's position is put to the floor. Senator Atticus."
The youngest senator, who appeared perhaps thirty-five, bowed as he stood up.
"My fellow senators. I do not doubt the danger of these invaders, but as it currently stands, the threat of the orcs is not dealt with."
"Be careful, senator." Tyuule growled.
"I meant no disrespect, Your Majesty. Emperor Zorzal won a glorious victory against them." Atticus hastily added.
Zorzal let out a deep sigh and nodded. "Continue, senator."
"Yes, well. We do not fully know what these invaders are capable of-"
"They have Princess Pina." Albus interrupted.
"We are aware!" Zorzal snapped, and Albus hid behind two other men.
"This is precisely why hasty military action against this Reich Empire is foolish while they still hold so many prisoners and the town of Italica, especially when we do not know if they can be reasonable. Orcs, however, are not reasonable. This we know."
Many nodded, including Tuka, who held Claudia tighter.
"For this reason, I motion that we negotiate a peace with the Reich and use the time to deal with the orc threat."
"The motion is put to the floor. The senate will now vote."
Each proposal was stated, and the senators cast their votes, which ended indecisively. Zorzal took another deep breath and stood tall once more.
"Because the senate is not able to find a majority, as Emperor, I shall split the vote. We will deal with the orcs first and send an ambassador to negotiate with the Reich."
Over half the senate applauded, but the faction led by Albus grumbled. At least until Tyuule shot them a warning glance. Senator Atticus approached Zorzal and bowed.
"If it pleases, your majesty. I will gladly act as ambassador to the Reich."
"Granted. Now then, to other business. We must recoup our losses at Alnus hill. More legions must be raised, and our vassals must provide more troops." Zorzal said.
"Can the treasury bear such a burden?" One senator asked.
"Levy a new tax-" Another started.
"No new taxes." Zorzal groaned and sat back down. "If we push our subjects and vassals too far, they may defect to the Reich."
The next two hours dragged on into debates on the best way to raise additional funds, and Tyuule fell asleep, resting her head on Zorzal's lap. The Emperor had no such luxury and endured the talks while chiming in. All the while, Pina lingered on his mind. His precious baby sister languished as a prisoner while he sat there, unable to help her.
Finally, the session ended, and Zorzal breathed the fresh air atop one of his palace's grassy sparring yards. The Emperor laughed as he exchanged sword blows with Dominic, his praetorian guard captain. Both men went back and forth, mixing blows and grappling into their sparring while sweat poured down their muscular bodies.
"That's it, Zorzal. You might actually win this time!"
"What? 'Hah!' When was the last time you beat me, Dominic!" Zorzal roared.
A few others sparred around them, including a few young women with bunny ears just like Tyuule. They dueled each other or praetorian officers. At last, Zorzal swept Dominic's legs and pinned him with. A wide grin spread across his face, and he offered his captain a hand up.
"Not bad, but can you beat me!"
Tyuule charged Zorzal from behind with two blunted daggers in her hands. The Emperor turned just in time to block the slashes and push her back.
She lunged at Zorzal and unleashed a series of slashes, jabs, and acrobatic kicks. The Emperor parried each blow but struggled to land a counter thanks to her agility. Tyuule did not stay in one spot for longer than a moment. She tried to sweep his legs from behind, but Zorzal blocked the kick and came down.
Tyuule brought her blades up and locked them against Zorzal's sword. The husband and wife exchanged fiercely competitive grins, but the Emperor overpowered Tyuule and pinned her to the grass.
"I win."
"Hmmm." She grumbled but then pulled Zorzal into a kiss.
After another match with Dominic, Zorzal and Tyuule took a breath to gaze over the Imperial Capital of Sadera from the ledge. The vast metropolis went on for miles, with grand buildings of marble expanding like a forest in every direction and walls separating the different sections.
"Hmm, I used to hate this city, now looking at it from here. It doesn't seem too bad." Tyuule said with Claudia in her arms.
"I'm sure the fact that our son will inherit has nothing to do with that." Zorzal chuckled.
They glanced back at a boy of perhaps eight who trained with one of the praetorian guards. He had Zorzal's face and eyes but white hair and howled in delight as he exchanged blows with his instructor.
Nearby, two other children sat with a warrior bunny nanny and praetorian guard while eating lunch. A girl of perhaps seven who was Tyuule's spitting image save for the bunny ears, and a boy, maybe four, with blonde hair but more of Tyuule's facial structure.
"Your majesty. The generals have arrived." A praetorian said.
"Ahh, thank you. Ok, children, break time's over. Back to your studies." Zorzal said.
"Awww! But I'm doing so well!" The oldest groaned.
"I know, Tiberius, but your studies are just as important. One day, you're going to be Emperor, just like me and Grandpa."
Zorzal regretted his choice of words as all three of his children, old enough to remember Molt, started to tear up. He hastily pulled them into an embrace while Tyuule did the same.
"I miss Grandpa." Tiberius sobbed.
"I know, son. I know, but you have to be strong. He'd want you to be strong and become a great emperor, just like him."
"When is Aunt Pina coming home?" Zorzal's older daughter asked.
"We don't know, Atia. But I promise, she's safe." Tyuule said and stroked her daughter's head. "Senator Atticus is going to bring her home."
The nanny and two praetorians led them away for their studies while four men entered the area. They joined Zorzal and Tyuule around a table while a praetorian laid a map of the empire before them.
"The invaders are fortifying Alnus Hill and have taken control of Italica." One general said.
"We know, Lucius. Your son is fine. We already have reports of Norman being spotted alive after the Reich took control. We will get him back, too. Right now, we need to focus on the orcs." Zorzal pointed to the mountains just north of their borders.
"What news from Scipio and his forces?" The Emperor asked.
"His cavalry and contingent of bunny warriors have had some success hunting down scattered orcs and goblins. But, they have not encountered enough. It appears most have regrouped, and worse, they had a small skirmish with a company of uruks. Thankfully, there were few, and Scipio's troops won. But still."
Zorzal and Tyuule gritted their teeth. The Empress held Claudia tighter while her husband leaned back in his chair.
"Now they're joining with uruks. All this because I withdrew too early." Zorzal moaned.
"Your majesty, it was a difficult decision. Your father was killed and his army scattered. We had no idea if these Reich might march deeper into the capital." Lucius said.
"Indeed, not to mention you ensured a smooth transition of power. Preventing a coup from the senate and an uprising from the vassal states." Another general said.
"They're right, Zorzal. We needed you here and your army." Tyuule took his hand, and Zorzal sat back up with a hardened gaze.
"Let's get to work then. Remus, you're in charge of raising the new legions. My father had six but we cannot afford that many without breaking the people. Raise three instead, incorporate the survivors from Alnus Hill into them as the seasoned leaders."
"It will be done." Remus said.
"Tyuule, given the situation, we will need to rely more on our vassals, including your people-"
"About damn time." She almost laughed. A broad grin expanded across her face. "We're ready, I'll send the word."
"Excellent. Cato, send word to our vassals. Find out how many men they can spare after Alnus Hill. No orcs or monsters this time. Not after what happened to my father."
A grim silence followed, and the generals nodded. They spent the rest of the day planning their campaign, with another sparring break in between. By evening, Tyuule set Claudia down in her crib and stared at her with Zorzal.
"She's too beautiful." Zorzal sighed.
"Yes, she is." Tyuule giggled.
The two started changing out of their clothes as Zorzal thought about his children. His stomach hardened into stone at the thought of orcs overrunning the capital, killing, burning, and abusing all they passed. Defeat was not an option. Not this time.
"Atticus better organize peace with the Reich." He said.
"Yeah, maybe we could bring them over to our side with a political marriage." Tyuule chuckled, and soon Zorzal joined her.
"True, but our options are limited to Pina in that respect."
"Damn straight!" Zorzal growled with a playful grin in his direction.
"It has worked out for the empire in the past. I have a feeling your people would have kept fighting even after I defeated you."
"You got lucky, is all!" Tyuule snapped back. "Besides, you should know I only agreed to the political marriage so I could assassinate you and destabilize the empire." Tyuule said.
Zorzal shook his head while placing his tunic on the rack. "Really. Why is that not surprising? What changed your mind?"
Tyuule came up behind him and wrapped both arms around his chest.
"Well, the plan was to wait for our wedding night and do it then. But you were much more charming during our engagement than I expected. By the day of our wedding and our unforgettable wedding night, I decided to hold off on killing you for a bit. At least until you stopped being so charming." Tyuule rested her head on his shoulders. "But as the days went on, I kept putting it off. One more week, one more month, one more baby. Again, and again, and again."
"So when did you decide to call it off?"
"Who says I have?" She giggled.
"You dare threaten your Emperor! Come here!" Zorzal picked up a laughing Tyuule and gave her a fiery kiss. By nightfall, he lay fast asleep. Tyuule lay on top of Zorzal, her head on his chest and his arms around her. The Empress savored his warm embrace and muscular body. She glanced over at Claudia's crib and heard their infant daughter's gentle breathing.
The longer she lay there, the more Tyuule thought about her children, her beloved husband, the power she held as Empress, and what it did for her people. She could think of nothing that could make her life any better, save more children, which was no issue. A shiver ran down Tyuule's spine at the thought of the orcs or invaders taking it all from her. She held onto Zorzal tighter, but the anxiety tore through her mind. Then, it hit her. Her conversation with Zorzal earlier that evening.
Tyuule carefully got up and kissed Zorzal's cheek before donning a nightgown and leaving the bed chamber. Two Praetorian guards stood there and inclined their heads to her.
"Evening. I just need to talk to someone. I won't be long, and I don't need an escort."
Tyuule snuck through the palace halls before knocking on another bed-chamber door.
"Wake up, come on, Delilah, wake up."
Moments later, the door swung open, and a half-asleep bunny warrior stood there glaring at Tyuule.
"If you weren't my big sister, I'd kill you right now, Tyuule. What is it, and why couldn't it wait until morning?" She yawned.
"I'm sorry, Delilah, but this is important. Senator Atticus is leaving to negotiate peace with the Reich. Meanwhile, Zorzal is going to lead a campaign against the orcs."
"And?" Delilah grumbled.
"And we cannot fight a war on two fronts. I want you to head to Alnus Hill and infiltrate their holdfast there. Observe and watch for this Prince Frederick. Hopefully, Atticus can negotiate peace. But if he fails, the Reich will try to attack. Someone has to rescue Pina and cut the head off the snake."
Delilah sprung to life as if jolted by electricity. Tyuule had to cover her mouth until she calmed down.
"I know it's risky, but you're my best assassin."
"Tyuule, what if it goes badly? What if killing him just enrages them more, and they send a bigger host to revenge him?"
"That's why you have to make a judgment call. Don't kill him unless you're certain it will benefit us. Please, think about our people and my children."
Delilah took a deep breath and nodded.
"You're right. I won't let anything happen to my nieces and nephews. I'll leave tomorrow morning."
"Thank you!" Tyuule hugged her, and Delilah retreated back inside.
Taking a deep breath, Tyuule returned to her bed chambers, and curled up on top of Zorzal again. Now, her mind lay at ease, and the Empress fell fast asleep.
Only a week earlier, he led his legions in a campaign against the mountain orc incursion, scattering their host in a decisive victory. Zorzal intended to spend another month or so hunting them down to ensure none could regroup, but word spread of his father's death at Alnus hill. With Molt's main army destroyed, Zorzal had to race back to the capital with his army to ensure no coup could take place, nor that any of their vassals might try to take advantage of the situation. Especially considering all his children were in the capital.
At the very least, he succeeded in this endeavor. The senate crowned him Emperor and each of their vassals renewed their oath of fealty. Most importantly, his family remained safe from court intrigue.