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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Emperor Valerian" data-source="post: 1449184" data-attributes="member: 15043">Empress Zoe, Dread Defender of the Valley MarchesThe majordomo, with a bow of his lavishly clothed body, took the party down a familiar set of corridors, twisting and turn through opulent colonnades, and deep crimson and velvet carpeting.As their journey continued, Tess could visibly see her friend Siabrey grating her teeth together.  The fighter’s eyes were wide and vacant save a cold, hard stare directly ahead.“Siabrey,” Tess said quietly, drawing alongside the smaller woman, who looked ready to leap into the air and kill something, “Please... don’t say anything too far out of line.  Let me talk, if possible.”  TO Tess’ surprise, the normally headstrong young woman looked at her and nodded.“I’m too furious to talk,” she hissed between gritted teeth.  “I’ll say something stupid and get us in trouble.. I know I will.  Tess, please get her to not split us up?” she said with a great deal of hope in her worn face.  Tess sighed.I do not know how much I can do, Tess thought, before replying aloud, “I will try my best, Siabrey.”  The fighter nodded, before her gaze returned to its icy stare straight ahead.“Why is this crap in the ballroom?” Shaun asked aloud.  “Wouldn’t it be better to have a audience where you sit on the throne in the... throne room?”  He had hoped the little quip might ease a little tension, but it fizzled.“I think she wants to outdo her brother,” Lucius said quietly.  He did not have the same fierce stare Siabrey had... his eyes held a forlorn look, down towards his feet as he walked.“I think she’s compensating for something,” Shaun grumbled.“I think that crown is restricting bloodflow to her brain.  Oh wait, she acting this stupid before she ascended,” Siabrey quipped, a smile on her face.  It was drawn, the teeth baring more than being shown pleasantly.  Tess looked at her fighter companion, causing Siabrey to mutter, “I know.  I’ll stay quiet.”“Good,” Tess nodded, “...as if you do, perhaps I could talk her into letting you two stay together, and use some of my musical powers to... um.. bind such an agreement so she would find it difficult to break.”“Tess? You can do that?” Shaun asked.  The bard nodded.“Umhm... I’ve learned some powerful magical abilities with my harp,” she smiled.  As she did so, Shaun moaned.I want to be able to make people swear oaths, her complained inwardly as the group came to a halt.They stopped outside the massive bronze doors to the ballroom they had been in only a month or so prior.  A large gong from somewhere is rung, and metallic clinks and clanks sound as some mechanism began swing open the massive, thirty foot tall doors.Before them, at the end of the cavernous room, was an enormous throne.  The massive, clawed arms of a dragon made up the arms of hte throne.  Its gullet spread up the back, changing into a long, neck that ended with a massive, powerful head.  Its mouth was open, looming over the form of the person sitting underneath.I wish it would come alive and eat Zoe, Siabrey’s anger filled mind growled.Beneath the massive form of the throne sat a single person, whose large, brown eyes were filled with distaste as the party approached.  As they drew close, they could make out that the think robes around her were made from ermine and purple velvet, with gold and platinum threads weaved into intricate designs.  Atop her head sat a massive crown, its base gilded oak leaves, rising into a white and gold spire atopped by the gilt form of a dragon.  At least I’m not stuck wearing that, Siabrey’s mind laughed at her opponents obvious discomfort, It looks extremely hot and stuffy... roast, wench!AS the party drew up to the foot of the throne, they could see the Empress’ eyes flare slightly at seeing Siabrey, before returning to normal.  Tess stepped forward, and extended a greeting.“Greetings, Your Imperial Majesty,” she said, her voice decidedly cool and formal.  Zoe merely gave a nod, coupled with a barely concealed scowl at Siabrey.“Your Majesty,” Tess began, her mind searching for honey-sweet words, “we have heard word of your most excellent military planning, and would deign to offer you the knowledge we know of fighting these beasts.  Our knowledge of such is best put to use when we are together... and thus we must request that Your Majesty please reconsider...”“Reconsider what?” Zoe asked, her face vacantly pleasant but her voice decidedly icy.  “My plan, for the three highest nobles to command the three field armies and you, the greatest demon fighters in the region, to command the fourth?”  She leaned forward on the throne, her face still pleasant, “No, the orders shall stay.”  The party looked on in silence for a moment, in which Zoe gave an even larger grin.“So, you consider my plan, whereby you in the city shall be a reserve to intervene to any of our armies... unsound?”  Her words were innocent, but once again, her tone was daring them to admit their real thoughts.“No, Your Majesty, the plan is sound in foundation,” Siabrey began, and Tess wanted to grab her head.  “But why select a merely sound plan when even better plans are there?”  Siabrey was surprised herself that not only did she refrain from insults, but that she sounded cool and logical.  From the look on Zoe’s face, it was not what the Empress had expected, either.“Lady Sipner is right,” Tess said, deciding on the spot to use what technically was the proper way to refer to Siabrey, despite the minor status of her noble family, “and our strengths lie together, not apart.  Our expertise is best used at the front, not the rear.  This includes all of us.... from myself, to Siabrey, to Lord Lucius...”  At her mentioning of his name, the party saw the Empress’ nostrils flare briefly... Zoe did a good job controlling herself, however, and covered it up with a kindly, icy smile.“Hmm... friend bard, you might speak truth,” Zoe said, her smile turning larger... a state that made Tess’ Elenya’s and Siabrey’s skin crawl.  “Perhaps I need your skills at the front.  Perhaps then all of you save Lord Lucius should accompany my army,” she noticeably relaxed in her throne, obviously triumphant in that little coup.  “As my force will be the main body, and as I will face the backbone of the Countess’ army, it would stand to reason I need the best troops and commanders available...”“Your Majesty,” Tess said, her voice growing slightly more annoyed, “how do you know for sure that the Countess will march straight north, into the teeth of your army.  The route is obvious... and the Countess is wily.”  Thank you mother again for letting me sit by your knee as you discussed business... First rule of the Armed Arts... expect the unexpected...“My dear dear Tess,” the Empress said, her smile condescending and her voice pleasantly filled with dark mockery, “how much do you actually know of military affairs?”  Tess bristled at the remark, and the Empress leaned back, relaxed in another victory, “According to the military textbooks I have been vigorously studying, marching due north from Holstean towards Irulas is the historical route of attack.”  Siabrey snorted when the Empress mentioned reading military textbooks, and Zoe clearly was displeased.  After he face winced a bit, holding in some anger, she finally let out a breath, and glossed over affairs with a smile.“It appears we are at a logical impasse,” she began, “and as I do not wish any disunity in my commander ranks, I shall offer a compromise.”Siabrey’s ears immediately perked up.  Is she surrendering?!“Your party shall be allowed to train Imperial troops in Irulas for the next two weeks, if possible.  Upon that time, Lord Lucius, myself, and the Crown Prince will march out of the city with our respective armies, while you command the defenses, as I planned.”  The Empress steepled her fingers, her eyes clearly expecting the party to acquiesce.As Siabrey’s eyes fell slightly, Tess saw an opportunity.  “Would you be willing to swear on that, Your Majesty?” Tess asked rather bluntly, and Zoe shook her head.“No.  I would be willing to, but I don’t know if the Countess is willing to play fair and hold off her attack for two weeks.  She could arrive tommorrow, or not till the first snowfall in three months time.”You’re assuming she’ll march by one certain route, yet you have no clue on her marching times, or anything?! Siabrey’s mind wanted to scream, and it was with great effort that she kept herself in check.“With all due respect, Your Majesty,” Tess said, her voice completely devoid of pleasantries, and a hint of anger within, “we would like an oath sworn this day... for our... peace of minds,” she tried to offer diplomatically, and the smoothing over of the words failed miserably as the Empress’ eyes flashed and her nose flared.“If you do not like my alternative, I could just keep my initial command, and let you have no say in it!” her voice rumbled, its malice no longer masked.  The breaking down of the Imperial mask of civility finally pushed Siabrey over the edge as well.“Why are you putting your lack of a love life above your Empire?” Siabrey snorted without thinking.  It wasn’t until after the words left that she expected Tess to turn around and whap her.  The bard was too focused on the Empress, and Siabrey gave a vicious smile when the Empress growled audibly at the comment.“Madame of the night,” the Empress spat, “Do you have any battlefield experience?  Anything that can counteract the best tactical textbooks available?”  The room seemed to darken as everyone’s moods slid into anger.“No, Your Highness,” Siabrey purposefully twisted Zoe’s title, for added insult, “but I have enough combat experience to know never to assume what a foe will do... that is the realm of fools.”  Her voice was a deadpan, and it achieved the desired results as the Empress was unable to speak for several seconds.“You...” she finally started, “You are the fool!  You are a fool for lecturing me on matters of state, and a fool for disrupting marriages of state!”Ah... the old reason for hostility raises its head, Shaun thought dryly, before giving a smile... the general anger in the room meant he could unleash his tongue.  “My past life may have been rough and tumble, but I can tell you, Majesty, that even mere street thieves know to not claim what isn’t theirs.”  Zoe’s eyes filled with rage.“Its an outrage! An affront to my honor!  To be upstaged by a bunch of... commoners!” she snarled.“I HAVE NOBLE BLOOD IN MY VEINS!” Siabrey shouted.  “And while my family might not be as high a station as the Imperial family, at least I personally can act as a noble!  Why do you throw you Empire away over something you will never have!?”  Siabrey thundered, her eyes not glancing at Lucius; she knew he was smiling in thanks at her.Zoe’s face turned to granite, and she simply announced, “Siabrey Sipner, Shaun Dice, Elenya Barachis and Tesseron Keldare will remain in the city of Irulas until further notice.”  Her whole body shook with rage.“Zoe, you are actingly like a spoiled brat!” Tess snarled, finally able to speak, and tossing decorum out the window.  “Grow up!”  Zoe responded by merely rising from her throne, and with an arrogant swish, turning to leave the room by a back door.“Your Majesty, none of us will be offended if you have your impossible daydream about bathroom excursions here!” Shaun laughed, aiming only to insult and abuse.  The phrase had its mark, as she swished back around, pointing a finger at the party.“You may be under my brother’s protection for now,” her voice, nearly silent with unbridled anger, “But I tell you this now; this feud has only begun.”It was merely an hour or so later when Siabrey reined up in front of the familiar rose colored tent in the army camps outside of the city. She’d split from the rest of the party as they glumly went back to the Temple of Pelor... It was a few hours till dusk, and many of the Sipner family soldiers were lounging around in their afternoon siesta, cleaning up before setting to work again on drill.  Siabrey knew this was the time she could find the person she felt she needed to talk to the most... “Mom?” she called into the tent, and Stodiana’s rainbow colored head popped out, and took in her daughters face... distraught, tired, and scared.  The older woman hurriedly motioned for her daughter to enter.“What’s wrong, my child?” Stodiana took Siabrey’s shoulders into her hands.“The Empress,” Siabrey started.  Images of her youth, of the other children regarding her as a freak, of her being alone, flooded her mind, and she felt the tears welling up.  I will be strong.. she told herself.“The Empress,” she started again, “she wants to seperate me and Lucius, and send him to command an army!”  No one has cared for me like he has.. outside of you, Mom...  “I...” she started, her willpower fading fast, “I don’t trust her!  She’s probably plotting to have him killed off due to j....j... jealousy!”  A single tear coursed from her eyes.“Siabrey,” Stodiana said quietly, trying to put on a reassuring smile, “if the Empress tried to kill a reigning Count, a high ranking noble, there would be civil war.  Surely, she is more intelligent than that... do not worry about her harming him.  I do worry about you though...”“H...How so?”  Siabrey was fully starting to sob, despite her trying not to.“We are not high nobility... we are barely above freedmen, yeomen... the Empress could easily unleash anger on you should you disobey her.”  I’m not dumb, Siabrey... I know that is what your mind is thinking...”I’ll take him to the desert!” Siabrey announced suddenly.  “There, she won’t find him... Father will protect us!”“Your Father is a powerful creature,” Stodiana started, “but he is merely one.  She is an Empress... she could hunt him down, or even hunt me down if she thought it would get you to surrender...  don’t put it past her.”  Stodiana’s eyes fell at those words, and she knew Siabrey was already coming up with an alternative plan.“Your best bet, my child,” she continued before Siabrey could speak, “is to remain under Alexander’s protection, and obey the Imperial edict... for now.  Let your appeals rest with him... as long as you’re under his protection, she can’t do much to you.”“B... But mom,” she grabbed Stodiana and pulled her close, sobs rising greatly in her, “I... I’ve been alone so long!  Seven years, I’ve had no one to trust!  No one that cared!  No one that loved me!  You were the last one that did, and before him, you were the only one!”  She was now genuinely crying, and tears flowed, spreading dark stains on Stodiana’s tunic, “And now she wants to take the one thing that keeps me going away from me!”   “It’ll be ok... Ssshhh,” Stodiana whispered as her daughter continued to shudder from tears against her.  “It’ll be ok.”  My god, what has this woman done to my daughter...</blockquote>

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