“My agent is in place,” Lord Staiwaki whispered to Jebuthar.

“Good,” Jebuthar said, “wait for my command.”

Staiwaki nodded and stepped away from Jebuthar and returned to his seat. Jebuthar looked around at those seated with him in the great hall of his command ship.

Den Davod, King of Sendeval, Lord Staiwaki, the current ruler of Koyeji, King Fenus of Fornar, the queens of Mirhaden and Vurfhaden, and more. Those leaders who were wise enough to ally or weak enough to be conquered.

The large hall bore vaulted metal ceilings and great white lights powered by technology these leaders didn’t understand. He had designed it to fill those he conquered with awe. Now, despite several visits, many leaders still looked uncomfortable here. Especially since the low rumbling indicated that they were airborne with the earth a several miles below them.

Many of these kings had fortresses far larger, yes, but none could fly.

He waited, letting the intimidation saturate. The more he intimidated; the fewer battles he had to fight. And the fewer battles he had to fight, the shorter the wait to fulfill his purposes.

And the fewer people he had to kill.

“My allies and followers,” Jebuthar said, his voice echoing, “Soon I will rule the world as you know it.”

“Then why do you wait?”

Jebuthar looked at the man. It was the high lord of Kwesaru, Thergin. He continued. “I hear that Omrai is coming with an army and a magic monk , looking to overthrow you.”

“I will act when I see fit.”

“But advancing now would resolve this,” Thergin insisted, “soon he will be more than a thorn in your side. He will crush you, like he’s crushed any of us who tried to invade. Omrai Speartip is the greatest warrior and general the world has ever seen.”

Some mumbled reluctantly in agreement. They respected Omrai almost as much as they feared Jebuthar. Jebuthar cast a firm glare around the room. Several avoided making eye contact. “Don’t you trust my word?” he said.

“Your wisdom in battle and in science is great,” Thergin said, frowning, “but your patience is running too far. You showed us none.”

Jebuthar let out a barking laugh. Several kings in the room jumped. “Easy for you to say, who surrendered at first sight of my ships. Do you want my patience to run thin with you?”

The man’s knuckles went white. He glared. “I’m not afraid,” he said, “You promised importance and power. How do we get that, if not by conquering Ateya? Smash his armies. Take his cities. Drive him to the earth.”

“You… are a moron,” Jebuthar said softly.

Thergin’s frown deepened, face turning red.

“Every word out of your mouth betrays you. Every word spews entitlement and a deluded self-confidence.” Jebuthar’s tone grew harsh. “ All my subjects, present and future, deserve fair treatment. And that cannot be done when the wicked rule. I honor your importance and power only for the lengths of your lives.”

He looked around the room, holding each gaze in turn. Surrender, anger, and defeat was there. He continued. “Your children will not inherit your thrones. Your overzealous stools shall be burned in a pyre of freedom. Then, I will decide which leaders are chosen.” Their discomfort was pleasing. It felt so good derive men of their pride.

“Many of you hate Ateya for some past quarrel. Either because Omrai stopped each invasion cold, or because Yishai ripped power from the nobility and you’d rather not your own people get any ideas. You should not show them such contempt. They are far closer to proper government than you,” Jebuthar said, “I invade to bring the world that much closer to freedom. You are the wisest of kings, recognizing your powerlessness before me. You know my army is beyond anything you’ve faced before. So, rather than be destroyed, you have accepted my offers.

“But I will not be berated for having too much patience. Do you not remember the Volisnans? They fought me. Now it is just an island of women and children, without fathers and older brothers. And I rule their island all the same. Sendeval refused to bend the knee… at first.”

Jebuthar looked to Den Davod. He was trying to look strong, but Jebuthar knew the battles he was reliving. The Sendevalians didn’t retreat like Omrai did. “I wiped out the entire army he sent to stop me at the beach. I let one man escape to tell the tale. I wiped out the second army he sent, and half of the third. Watching his men die humbled him.”

Den Davod frowned, trembling, but he did nothing. Densal Valen, his daughter, stood nearby, glaring. Jebuthar turned back to Thergin.

“You call that mercy, Thergin? The Sendevalians were the greatest among you, and I destroyed them swiftly. After each battle, I waited for Den Davod to surrender. Each time, he sent a greater force. He was humbled in the time I had set. Some of you haven’t learned that lesson. You joined to save your men. But, do you remember Ga’arandon? We cannot forget his fine example. He joined quickly, with the intent to steal my secrets.”

Jebuthar shook his head in pity.

Jebuthar nodded, “You cannot steal my secrets, for only I know them all. Thergin, would you like to meet his fate? Torn limb from limb? A dozen metal hands grabbing your hair, your legs, your arms, your jaw, pulling until you tear? Your heartbroken son sobbing upon your empty throne? Remember this: I will allow neither challenge, nor rebellion. Any attempts to get me to conquer how you children have for the past ten thousand years will be met with severe punishment.”

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Thergin shrank. His ego deflated. But Jebuthar wasn’t done. Why win a battle when you could win a war?

“You are children, like the pagan gods of the old religions. Immature, with too many innocent lives to be tossed at your whim. Well, now an adult has come to take control, willingly or forcefully. The worship of one god overpowered the worship of many for most of your countries. Now the following of one ruler, chosen by God, will overpower the following of many.”

The leaders frowned, but many nodded in defeat.

“Now wait!” a voice yelled. Jebuthar turned. Densal Valen, growing even redder in the face, marched toward him. Her fists clenched tight.

“Densal!” Den Davod said urgently, reaching out to her, “Back down.”

“No,” Densal Valen marched forward, “Are you saying I don’t get to rule my own country after my father has passed?”

Jebuthar looked at the young woman, “If you prove worthy, I might choose you to rule. This behavior won’t encourage me.”

“Will we just sit back and let him do this?” Densal shouted, looking around the room.

Jebuthar smiled as Densal’s anger turned to frustration.

“Kneel,” Jebuthar said.

Densal Valen stood even straighter. “No.”

Jebuthar concentrated. Drawing on the powers he had gained in the north, feeling the mineral beneath his clothes.

“Kneel!” Jebuthar shouted. The room rumbled. Densal Valen fell to her knees, she looked up with anger and uncertainty, trying to stand, but finding it difficult.

“I have a way you can prove your worth,” Jebuthar said, approaching her, “I want you to kill Omrai.”

The other men gasped.

“Don’t,” Den Davod said. Jebuthar looked at him. “Please, don’t pit her against Omrai! She’s my only child.”

“You should have kept a tighter leash!” Jebuthar shouted. Den Davod shrank in his chair. Jebuthar turned back to Densal Valen. She looked somewhat excited now.

“When you find Omrai, kill him quickly. Then, you just might be allowed to rule after your father, not as a queen, but according to the title I give you. And that will be only be if you learn humility.”

Jebuthar grabbed Densal by the lapels of her jacket and, using only one arm, he lifted her high into the air. The other kings gasped.

“Do not challenge my authority again!” Jebuthar said firmly, “I am stronger, smarter, and better than you in every way. My armies are better than yours in every single way. Give up your foolish bravado, and you may yet have power when this is all over. If you do not, I will kill you myself and throw your corpse to the crushjaws.”

Densal, lifted several feet off the ground as if she were a simple doll, nodded her head. She glared down at him.

Jebuthar dropped her, and she hurried to her feet.

“Now, get out,” Jebuthar said, pointing out the door.

Densal stalked away. She exchanged glances with her father. Den Davod looked concerned.

Jebuthar smiled, another lesson to maintain Den Davod’s humility.

“Now,” Jebuthar said, “let us continue. I have new commands. New lessons for improving your governments and industry.”

✦✦✦

“And he will bring justice upon their heads,” Narazoth read out loud, “kings shall bow before him, and give him obeisance. And he shall turn the world aright.”

Narazoth sat in his private room on the command ship. He sat on his bed reading the Sephitaron. He glanced outside; the sun was setting. It was time for his evening tea ceremony.

Narazoth retrieved a small oil-burning stove and set it up on his table. Next, he grabbed a small metal cup with a wooden handle and filled it with water. He lit the fire with a match.

He went to a small wooden container, pulled off the lid, and dropped a tiny spoonful of mineral mixed with herbs into the cup. He grabbed a small stick and mixed. After a few minutes, the water began to steam. Creating a brownish gray tea.

Narazoth knelt and said the words. “Oh, Father God, bless this evening tea that it may clear my mind to understand your will, that it purify my heart to desire your will, and bless this night that it may strengthen my body to do your will, and that I may have faith to grant me serenity in trials.”

He took a slow sip of his tea. It was bitter, it was always bitter.

He took a deep breath and drank slowly. Closing his eyes.

When he was done, he put the dish away and returned to reading the Sephitaron.

“And he shall overcome the wicked, and the unjust. The powers of a beastspeaker shall serve him, and he will bring to pass a restoration to ancient truth and power, an exaltation to higher strength.”

Narazoth smiled.

“And that is what I’m doing, Father God,” Narazoth said, looking upward, “I serve he who will return the rightness of the world.”

He took in a deep breath. “No matter how hard, thy word shall be fulfilled. In every corner, to every depth, and to every height.”

“Are you sure that’s what you’re doing?” A deep, doubtful voice said. He looked around in surprise.

No one was there.

Narazoth returned to his reading.