V. BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
The moon hid behind the rain clouds as Asho slunk through the courtyard. Varius’ lips narrowed as he approached. “Master.” The old centori greeted. “You have guests.”
Asho pulled up short. “Guests?”
“In the study.” Varius stepped aside and allowed Asho into the threshold of his family’s villa. Ghostlike shadows reflected off the pool and up the doric columns of the atrium. Asho circumnavigated the rectangular room as his family’s centori watched him. His household has moved around him like a rock in a stream ever since he returned to Aegtrys two summers ago. It suited Asho better this way, allowing him to come and go as he pleased.
His stomach grumbled down the private wing of the villa. Light peaked from underneath the doorway of the study. Asho nudged open the cracked door. His uncle noticed him first. “At last the prince gifts us with his presence.”
Asho slid into the study. “Uncle Perimar?” He froze at who sat behind his father’s cedar desk. “What is the meaning of this?”
“Is that any way to address the Emperor?”
“Senator, please.” The Conqueror held up his hand. Asho quickly hissed it. “If you would be so kind as to have your servants bring us some refreshments?”
Asho then noticed his mother slunk back against the bookcase. “Oh, of course.” Asho frowned at the smeared kohl that ran down her cheeks to her irritated nose. Her braid had come undone, and clumps of golden hair struck out in every direction.
“Is everything ok?”
Taj Perimar frowned. Her birdlike hand quickly dabbed at her eyelid. “I’m quite alright son.”
He wanted to say that she did not look fine. After she left, Asho rounded on his uncle. “What upset her?”
Trajan Perimar’s eyes lit at the opening. “You did.” From his robes he produced a thick booklet and smacked it with finality down on the desk.
“Sit.” The Emperor commanded. “Your uncle has a matter of great urgency that he wishes to discuss.
Asho sat. Perimar’s bony finger’s flipped the cover of the Firefayer’s logbook. “This!” Trajan began. “Is a.” cough. “Matter of” cough. “Empire.” cough. “Imagine my immediate concern when-”
“Uncle, would you care for some water?” Asho’s mother had returned with a servant carrying a pitcher.
“Why thank you!” Perimar waited for the servant to provide them glasses and slip out of the room. “I discovered, quite by accident, that the Firefayer,” cough. “My personal vessel had been used for, for, for—” Perimar wheezed for air. “A pleasure barge for months! Against my knowledge and trust you took a senator’s ship, threw elaborate youthful foolery and brought.” The blood vessels in Perimar’s forehead looked about ready to pop. “Woman beneath your station on board. Nothing more than commonplace—”
“That’s enough Senator.” The Conqueror interrupted. “Your niece does not to hear the details.”
“Quiet right! Why imagine my surprise when my nephew.” Perimar descended into another violent round of coughing. “Who had been telling me for months that he was being stationed as a neptori.” cough. “An honorable position! Was instead doing this, this, self indulgent debauchery on state funds!”
Asho squirmed in his seat as the senator pointed to the ship’s log. “And I only found out when the Livia family requested an audience with me. Why would such a lowly family need to speak to me? I am a busy man. Imagine the shame upon the Perimar name, not to mention that the royal crown, when I learned that my nephew had deflowered not one, but two of their daughters!”
Asho wanted very much to simply die. Yes, death would be much kinder than hearing his uncle say ‘deflower.’
The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
Perimar wheezed. “So then!” Perimar reached for his water cup. “There was nothing else to do but BRIBE THE LIVIA FAMILY SO WE DON’T CREATE AN INTERNATIONAL INCIDENT AND DESTROY A TREATY BECAUSE THE PRINCE COULD NOT RESPECT HIS BETROTHED!”
Perimar crossed his arms, his face red. The senator turned towards the Emperor expectantly. The Conqueror had remained silent during the entire flagellation, his gaze digging into his grandson. “Treasuer Perimar is entirely correct.”
“Thank you, your Majesty.”
“And the Perimar family will be compensated for any damages done to the Firefayer and the cost of reestablishing crew.”
‘Wait!” Asho sat upright. “What about my crew?”
“The Firefayer’s neptori will be dismissed from their post.” The Conqueror said. “They will be ineligible to return to service.”
“But this was my idea.”
“The Empire needs men who do not give into their base desires. Senator Perimar.” He continued, talking over Asho’s objections. “I am to trust you with your dismissal.”
“It will be done at once.”
“Excellent. Now, you are dismissed.”
“Your Majesty?” Perimar looked as if he had just been ejected a front row seat at the colosseum, and he was very much looking forward to Asho getting eaten alive.
“I think you for bringing this urgent matter to our attention. I will now speak to the prince alone.”
Perimar nearly slumped. “Of course.”
“If your niece would be kind enough to see you out?” The Conqueror asked. Taj Perimar got the hint and helped her elderly uncle out of his chair. Uncle Perimar kissed the Conqueror’s knuckles, grabbed his ledger, and gave Asho a caustic look on his way out.
“Do you know why we give the public bread and games?”
“Because we are benevolent?” Asho ventured.
“No.” The Conqueror shook his head. “Power is far from benevolent. We give the people bread and games and conduct the Triumph every ten years because it is a honied trap. There is nothing wrong with food or entertainment in moderation. Recreation makes life enjoyable. But the obsession with these distractions leads men to sell themselves for their carnal needs. Twenty-four jugs of wine, five roasted pigs, seven dancers, sixteen acrobats, fourteen crates of dates, and twenty, well.” The Conqueror ran a finger down the ship’s log. “You degrade yourself.”
After a drawn out moment it was clear he was expected to say something. “I’ve disappointed you.” Asho said.
“You betray yourself.” The Conqueror said flatly. “I had hoped that your time in the north would sharpen you. But you have softened, while your cousin has steeled herself. So I suggest, as my second heir, you forge yourself quickly.”
“Does this mean I’m still going on the Triumph.”
“Yes. Despite this, unfortunate, lapse of judgment.” The Conqueror frowned. “You will still be married when we arrive to Pi-Yenja. I will find value for you in this empire. Weather it is as a foreign consort or as my successor is up to you to decide.” The Conqueror rose and opened the study door. His mother was waiting in the hallway. The Conqueror nodded in her direction. “Thank you for your hospitality.”
“Of course Conqueror.”
The Emperor left with his centori trailing him. Taj Perimar entered the study, wiping her nose. “Are you alright?”
“I’ll be fine mother.”
“It is only natural for a mother to worry.” Taj patted his hand and motioned to the door.
Asho overlooked the dustless room and sighed. “I’m still going on the Triumph. But i will return to you. I promise.”
Raj glanced up from where she was rearranging the seashells from where the senator has disturbed them back into an orderly row. “Your father said that to me as well.”
“Mother—”
“Asho.” Her mother beckoned. “Come. I need to lock up.” She blew out the candles. In the hallway, Taj pulled the key from her neck and slipped it in the lock, closing the study. “There.” She whispered, satisfied. “Goodnight, my son.”
“Goodnight.” Asho watched her shuffle down the hallway. He ran his hand along the locked handle, fingers brushing against the grooves of the door.
Asho’s feet led him to the kitchen. He startled the cook awake. He gave the cook a strained smile as she asked about his day. Asho could hardly tell the woman how he had angered the Conqueror. The cook’s mouth was tight as she handed him bread, cheese, and grapes wrapped in a cloth.
Asho continued to the middle courtyard, easing himself down on a bench as the clouds broke. He unfolded his dinner. “It’s getting closer.” Asho whispered, the nervous excitement hooking around his chest. He didn’t know if he was filled more with relief of dread that the Conqueror was still taking him. Relief, that he had not destroyed his entire future, but dread that he still had a year where he could endlessly mess up. At the very least, he could not wait to go back on the continent, to go North. To reunite with the Ironsides, who had made him feel more whole and home than he had ever felt in Aegtrys.
He wondered about his own mother, knowing that Taj would not be joining them on the Triumph. Would she spend every night for the next year in the study, whispering his name, praying he would return?