Chapter 41: The Emperor's Successor
Andrei quickly issued orders to abort the charge and for all human soldiers to back off a safe distance from the wall. He hurriedly turned to Karen. “What’s happening to the monsters!?”
“Creature, are the monsters in the city under attack?”
“…No.”
Andrei yelled directly at DM. “Hurry, have them open the gate from the inside!”
“Do it,” Karen ordered.
“Uncle!” Andrei’s nephew jogged over, carrying his spear, same as always. “Your soldiers are blocking messengers. They said they can’t let anyone through to disrupt you right now. Don’t you need their reports?”
“What?” Vosk spun to face his nephew. “Yes, I’m awaiting urgent reports from the north. Bring them here! Those fools!”
“All right.” He turned and gestured to his younger brother, who pointed and issued a command to his falcon. The falcon launched from his shoulder and flew in the direction he pointed, returning a few moments later with two written messages between its claws. The older brother retrieved the messages and carried them to Andrei. “Here!”
Chuck inched closer to read the messages over Andrei’s shoulder.
“This is…”
“Andrei, quick, the other one!”
Andrei muttered, mouthing some of the words as he read. “This can’t be…”
“Wait, Andrei, what about the wyvern!?” asked Chuck. “If that was a success, none of this matters!”
“Father, what did the messages say?”
“In a moment! What happened to the wyvern!?”
Karen turned to DM. “Creature, what happened after the wyvern spotted the throne room?”
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The throne room shook, and the cause was quite obvious. A wyvern was trying to force its way through the undersized window. While the wyvern wrestled with the masonry, everyone in the room backed away. When the stone finally gave way, the wyvern tumbled into the room, coming to a rest on the red carpet that bisected the chamber.
“That guy was actually right…” Noah uttered in amazement.
“Sire, you must flee!” The captain shouted orders to his comrades and attempted to surround the wyvern. The wyvern roared, causing everyone in the room, including the imperial guard, to back off. “What? Kobolds!?” The captain pointed with his sword at two kobolds that were climbing back up the wyvern’s body after having presumably fallen off during the reckless entry.
Before the captain could reorganize his team, the wyvern turned to face the rear corner of the room, where one well-dressed man happened to be cowering by himself. The wyvern plodded over to him, never breaking eye contact. The man screamed like a little girl and locked up, unable to evade whatever would come next.
The wyvern extended its right claw in the man’s direction, narrowly missing his body. Unfolding its wing, it used the surface as a broom to sweep the delirious man out of the way. The man rolled to a stop in a catatonic state due to fear but was probably not actually seriously injured.
The wyvern stepped forward, occupying the space where the man had been cowering a moment ago. It looked over its shoulder at the approaching guardsman as well as the other onlookers. Curling up, the wyvern lowered its head and settled in for a nap.
In an instant, all noise ceased in the throne room. Noah could have heard a pin drop as everyone held their breath, waiting to see if the wyvern or the kobolds on its back would take further action. Eventually, the captain of the imperial guard broke the silence, although he spoke in a hushed tone.
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“Sire, if we all work together, we can most likely take it down. What are your orders?”
“I… didn’t expect something like this… What? Oh, uh, don’t attack it yet. W–What?” Noah pointed at one of the kobolds, which had changed form to look like one of the imperial guards.
“…Yes, Emperor Noah, please stay here in the throne room for now.”
“You would take our Emperor hostage!?” the captain yelled, livid.
“…No. He’s not a hostage. …I can’t keep an eye on him to protect him if he runs out of the room.”
Noah turned to Luna, who had been watching quietly the whole time. “Did you know this would happen?”
“I’m at least a tenth as surprised as you are.”
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“…The assault on the throne room failed.”
“What? How did it fail?” asked Karen. “Was the Emperor not there?”
“…Some type of trap put the wyvern to sleep.”
“What about those other monsters that went with it?”
“…Outmatched.”
Karen addressed Andrei and her father. “I’m surprised, but somehow the Emperor survived the wyvern attack, at least for now.”
“What about the gate!?” Andrei bellowed. “Are the monsters opening it!?”
“Creature, are the monsters opening the gate?”
“…They don’t know how.”
“What?”
“…I told them to open the gate, but they don’t know how to open a gate. Oh?”
“Just what is it, creature?”
“…Please wait one moment.”
“Father, can you tell me what those blasted messages said already?”
“Huh?” Chuck regained his senses. “Oh. Somehow, the Emperor halted our reinforcements.”
“All of them? Weren’t there two hidden armies and a fleet, Father?”
“Unfortunately, yes. The armies were spotted and have been delayed with relentless harassment attacks by adventurers and other combatants from the Union.”
“What about the fleet?”
“Well…” Chuck trailed off, not sure how to even explain what he had read a few moments ago.
“The ships were sabotaged!” Andrei cut in. “Most of their rudders were turned to stone! Some of their masts were tampered with. The culprit got away, too!”
Karen blinked several times. “Andrei, did you say culprit? As in, one person?”
“He did, Karen,” Chuck answered on his old friend’s behalf. “I had no idea Emperor Noah had somebody this capable in his back pocket.”
“Neither did I,” Andrei admitted. “Still, all hope is not lost. On this battlefield—“
“…I found Noah’s father,” DM announced.
“—we hold the—what?” Andrei interrupted himself mid-sentence.
“…Fascinating.”
“Karen, what is the monster talking about!?”
“Creature, hurry and explain yourself!”
“…When the Guild spotted those hidden armies in the Union, I noticed a messenger dispatched to the east. My monster tracked it over the border into the Theocracy. …He bypassed Shemlielo and reported to Thelran. Just now, I overheard his discussion with Noah’s father in the city.”
“Creature, we’re too busy for distractions right now!”
“…Emperor Leo had another son.”
Andrei’s eyes went wide. “What did you say?”
“…It seems Noah’s father has been hiding away the son Emperor Leo had with someone else. Probably a maid or servant based on the conversation I just overheard.”
Ardreth, who had been hanging back, stepped over. “Is that true?”
“…Yes. They have no way of knowing I’m eavesdropping. …Noah’s father is clearly arguing about whether or not the second son should step in to avoid the current bloodshed and assume the throne.”
“This is… unbelievable,” said Chuck.
“…Lord Burger, you may have just found your proof for why Noah should vacate the throne.”
“Yes,” Ardreth agreed. “If we can verify that the young man is in fact a direct descendent of Leo, then I, on behalf of the elves, see no reason why he shouldn’t take the throne. We must stand down at once and parlay with Noah. If the young man is reluctant, we simply need to convince him and provide adequate support and advisors. If needed, I can step in too. Andrei, would you do the honors?”
Andrei stood silently, hands clenched into fists, not responding.
“Andrei?” questioned Chuck. “Shouldn’t we verify this? We finally have cause to send Noah away…”
“No…”
“What?”
“It must be a lie. There’s no way a direct descendent of Leo remains. I’d know.”
“Normally I’d agree with you Andrei, but if there’s one person crazy enough to spirit away an Emperor’s successor and hide him until now, it’s—“
“No! Chuck, we’re so close! The saboteurs to the north are a major setback, but we can still salvage this situation!”
“But Andrei, even if things proceed ideally from here, we’ll take many losses regardless. These ‘major setbacks’ are no laughing matter. The opportunity has just presented itself to achieve our goal in one fell swoop!”
“Damn it Chuck! This is a shameless stall tactic! The—“
“…I have a second wyvern approaching Thelran.”
After several moments of silence, Karen was the first to process that statement and respond. “Creature, you have a second wyvern!?”
“…Yes. Shall I pick up the first-in-line for the throne and have him brought straight here? …It won’t take long on a wyvern.”
“That would be the quickest way to settle this,” said Ardreth. “Lord Vosk, I suggest you bring Leo’s second son here right away so we can confirm his legitimacy and then place him on the throne without delay.”
“I…” Andrei trailed off. He knew, deep down, that his next decision would make history.