Bang! Bang! Bang!

The golden staff of the majordomo fell three times, gathering the attention of everyone present.

“Announcing! Announcing! Announcing!” His voice boomed under the high ceiling. “His Imperial Highness, Prince Lionel Emanuel Joseph Limeria. His Holiness the Grand Duke, Primate Leopold Aurelius Limeria. His Excellency, Sir Ermin id Brana.”

As the announcement was completed, three men entered the audience hall. Everyone stood up and bowed to greet the new arrivals. Lionel walked at the very front of the group, his eyes glancing at the familiar interior.

Rays of sunshine streamed through the colorful facets of the windows, drawing complex geometrical patterns on the polished wooden floor. Sturdy columns stretched to the ceiling where support beams crisscrossed and framed golden frescos of animals and mythical creatures. Long crimson banners hung from every column, each one bearing the image of a sun and a lion standing on its hind legs. On a closer look, most of the decorations throughout the hall were reminiscent in some shape or form of lions – lion feet on the long benches stretching along the walls; lion heads adorning the chandeliers; lion paws on the doorknobs; lions on the long red cape hanging from the frail shoulders of the man currently occupying the throne on the high podium at the other end of the hall.

Striding through this opulence, Lionel had some difficulties controlling his smirk. What looked like a symbol of strength and prosperity to others was, to him, a desperate attempt to hide the truth. No matter how much gold and finery one used, it was impossible to hide the air of decay from the ones cunning enough to see.

The young man’s gaze trailed to the thin, slightly hunched figure on the throne. Golden chains and silk robes hung loosely around a body that was far away from its prime. With his sunken cheeks and deep wrinkles, Emperor Leander II looked a decade older than his sixty years of age. Indeed, what sat on the throne was a husk of the once-powerful and feared Sun of the Empire but not even the bravest man would dare murmur about such things in the open. Even an old lion was still a lion, and this one had the authority to back his ill temper.

The group of three reached the podium with the imperial throne and stopped two paces away from it. Lionel bowed graciously while his uncle and father Ermin dropped on one knee behind him. All three men recited in unison:

“Greetings to the Eternal Sun of the Empire, Father of the Nation, the Lion Emperor Leander II. May your rule last for a thousand more years. May your light shine over the lives of many generations to come.”

“Arise!” The voice that reached them was quiet but there were still traces of power and authority in it.

Lionel straightened his body and, for the first time, he met his father’s eyes. Two sapphires peered at him, causing shivers to run down his spine. The young man swallowed and forced his lips into a polite smile. The days when this icy gaze could petrify him and make him want to vomit were long gone.

“Imperial Father,” his cheerful tone revealed nothing of his inner thoughts, “my heart rejoices to see you in good health and spirits. During the long months in the South and the perilous journey back home, the thought of bringing glory to you and our beloved Limeria was what kept me strong. I couldn’t wait to share with you and Imperial Brother the details about our victorious campaign."

Lionel looked around and his beautiful features were twisted by confusion.

"But… I don’t see my dearest brother here today. Is he on an errand outside the palace?”

A low murmur rose from the crowd. Lionel chuckled internally while giving a side glance at the empty seat of the Crown Prince. He could very well imagine the reason for Llewellyn’s absence but this was a good chance to rub it into the courtiers' faces.

“The Crown Prince is feeling a bit indisposed today. But worry not, Your Highness, my best people are looking after him.”

The one who spoke up was not the Emperor but the person standing to his right. Clad in white robes, with white hair and beard, the old man looked almost like he exuded his own light. But that was to be expected from the leader of the Brothers of Light and personal physician to the Emperor.

Lionel greeted the cleric with a nod.

“Thank you, Primate Ambrosinus. I feel at ease knowing that my brother, our precious Crown Prince, is in good hands. I will stop by and pay my respects to him later since he is unable to join us in the Morning Court.”

The murmur increased, much to Lionel’s delight. Right now, he was the perfect younger brother, showing concern for his sickly older sibling, the pitiful Crown Prince who couldn’t even fulfill his duties. He knew that many of the courtiers were comparing his youthful and vigorous appearance to the walking pile of bones that was Llewellyn; the energetic warrior to the crumbling schola; the Lion Prince to the Prince of Glass. And one could read from their faces where their preferences lay.

Just as the murmurs were getting louder, a low rumble resonated in the hall.

“Silence.”

One word by the Emperor was enough to shut the conversations. The Lion of Limeria stood up, his movement slow and graceful but still unable to hide completely how much effort was put to perform such an easy task.

“We are thankful to the Two Gods for keeping Our precious child safe during the months away from Us. Words of the prince’s deeds have reached Our ears and have made Our heart flutter. It has been far too long since We last laid eyes on Our precious child. Therefore, We now wish to speak to him in private as a Father to his Son. Primate Leopold, Primate Ambrosinus, stay with Us. Everyone else is dismissed.”

Polite as it might have sounded, this was no doubt a direct imperial order. And the Emperor wasn’t known for his patience. All courtiers scurried to leave the room. In just a minute or two, the large hall emptied out. With a loud bang, the heavy double doors slammed behind the last minister, leaving only four people in the sunny courtroom.

With slow, slightly dragging steps, the Emperor descended the podium, followed closely by Primate Ambrosinus. He stood before Lionel, his squinting eyes measuring up the young man from head to toe.

“Dear father…”

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Pat!

The slap was so strong that it sent Lionel to the ground. The young man tasted the saltiness of blood in his mouth and couldn’t help but wonder where his father’s weakened body got all that strength from. Through the ringing in his ears, he could still hear the worried exclamations of his uncle and Primate Ambrosinus. However, their voices were almost immediately drowned by the Emperor’s shout.

“You incompetent little cretin! You brainless idiot! I can’t believe that the Gods have punished me with an offspring like you!”

“Your majesty, quell your anger!” Primate Leopold tried to intervene. “It is not good for your health-”

“Silence, Leopold!” growled the Emperor, turning his menacing gaze to his younger brother. “You are not innocent either! All this mess is on you. What have you been teaching that little critter all these years? How to lose battles? How to kill half of his men in a little border skirmish? Against an enemy half his size? How to break treaties?”

The Emperor’s fist flew at the Primate’s face. There was a crunch, and blood started flowing from the man’s nose, yet Leopold didn’t even flinch.

“I am guilty, my liege,” he whispered as the blood dripped on the polished floor.

“Your majesty, calm down! Strong emotions are bad for your heart!” Now was Primate Ambrosinus’ turn to try and pacify the Lion. Unfortunately, he had similarly little success.

“Hold your tongue, Primate!” hissed the Emperor, forcing the cleric to step back and tremble. “Emotions are bad for my heart? And do you know how bad it was for my heart to receive an official note from the twelve Marzbans? Stating that my idiotic offspring has sacked the Holy City of Amraz? Declaring that they are ready to start a holy war if Limeria does not compensate them and issue an official apology? Demanding the head of the raid leader?”

“Father, I swear, I didn’t know…”

“Don’t you dare speak up! Amraz is not even near the border region you were supposed to deal with! You defiled the most sacred place in all the Marzbanats. You killed unarmed pilgrims, raped, took slaves. From all the damn cities in that wretched sandy hell, you had to attack the one that was off-limits. Did you think it was an easy price since there were no guards or soldiers? That’s because no Marzbanati would think to even pluck a flower from Amraz! Because they know that if they do, they and their family would be hunted down like dogs by all twelve Marzabns.”

“I-I will make amends, father…”

“Amends? Will you lay your head under the chopper then?”

All the blood drained from Lionel’s face. He knew his father all too well. The Emperor was not joking. Beside him, Primate Leopold and Primate Ambrosinus shouted at the same time:

“Imperial brother, mercy! He is your son!”

“Your majesty, be lenient!”

The Emperor remained silent for a while, heaving deep breaths and glaring daggers at them. He then clicked his tongue and spat on Lionel’s face.

“The only reason you are still alive is because I like those sand-dogs even less than I like you. However, you still cost me the head of one of my best generals. Your allowance will be reduced to a quarter and the rest will go to support his widow and children for the next ten years. Furthermore, you will be the one to prepare the apology letter. You will write it in front of me, and you will be using your own blood to do so. Am I clear?”

“Yes, father.”

“What did you say?”

“As you order, your Imperial Majesty.”

After he heard the reply, it looked like all strength left the Emperor. He swayed dangerously, prompting Primate Leopold to jump forward and support him.

“Brother!”

“Your majesty, you need to rest,” Ambrosinus chimed in. “Let’s go back to your chambers and…”

“Oh, but I am not finished yet.” The Emperor gritted his teeth. “That accursed offspring of mine, not only did he nearly cause an all-out war with the South. No, he also had to ruin our most lucrative trading deal. May the Gods be my witness, I regret the day my seed entered his mother’s cursed womb!”

Lionel flinched but forced himself to keep staring at the ground. His fingers twitched so he balled them into fists. Right now, he wished to jump and dig his nails into that old demon’s throat.

The Emperor brushed away the Primates’ hands and towered over his son.

“What devil gave you the great idea to meddle in your brother’s marriage? And to add insult to injury, you forced some low-born wench on him and turned the whole thing into a spectacle. He was supposed to marry Marzbane Ilmaz from Pandad but now all is ruined.”

“Father… Your majesty, I had no idea of your majesty’s intentions.”

“You overstepped your rights!” The tone of the Emperor rose again. “Do you realize that we lost the shortest and safest land route to Shareeba and the East due to your petty squabbles? I wish I could have voided the marriage the moment that nonsense reached my ears!”

“You can’t, your majesty,” said Primate Ambrosinus in a shaky voice. “The Two Gods demand at least a year so that the fruit of marriage might ripen after the consummation. A dissolution can be discussed only after that period and in the absence of offspring.”

“And in a year Pandad might go to someone else!” snapped the Emperor. “Never mind. The Gods have not mentioned anything about unfortunate accidents, as far as I am aware.”

“Father,” Lionel decided to jump in, seeing as the Emperor’s thoughts were trailing into a dangerous direction, “it was my incompetence and lack of judgment that caused this problem. This time, let me bear the responsibility for my actions. Let me wed Marzbane Ilmaz and secure Pandad’s trading routes.”

“You think it is possible after what you did in Amraz?” snorted the Emperor.

“Please, brother, don’t hastily reject Lionel’s proposition,” said Primate Leopold while throwing a side glance at his nephew. “The Marzban of Pandad is a proud man. He would most likely refuse to give his daughter to Duke Norden even if the marriage is canceled. On the other hand, Lionel is a full-blooded imperial prince with a much higher standing. And what is more, we are lucky that Pandad has accepted the Church of Two Gods unlike the rest of the Marzbanats, so the events in Amraz would not bother them that much.”

For a couple of minutes, the Emperor remained silent, contemplating his brother’s words. Lionel felt the heart in his chest beating like a drum. This was it. The moment he so carefully prepared and sacrificed so much for. All the pieces of his plan were clicking together and there was only one variable.

With a sigh, the Emperor waved his hand.

“At least for once you might turn out to be useful. Leopold, escort me to my chambers. My physicians will treat your nose and then we need to discuss the official letter to Pandad. Primate Ambrosinus, take the prince away and take care of his face. I can’t offer the Marzban damaged goods.”

After saying that, the Emperor left the throne room, leaning heavily on Primate Leopold’s arm. On his side, Ambrosinus helped Lionel up on his feet.

“Come, child, let’s put something cold on that bruise.”

“Thank you, your holiness,” replied Lionel and then added in a much lower tone:

“My people will visit you at midnight.”