Member
Simple Unicycle
12th of Gerna, 1200 AU
Location: The Steel Palace of Khomeria(Royal Palace)
The wind howled outside as if wolves had gathered at the windows of the palace searching for suitable prey. A young man with snow white hair and blue eyes sat on the throne, staring outside the window as if searching for answers to a question that hadn't even shown itself to him.
"I see your duties as king have already taken you far away, dear brother." A sweet voice spoke, it came from a beautiful white haired lady that had just entered the throne room. She wore a white silken dress decorated with many beautiful patterns and with encrusted with a few jewels in it. "Sometimes, I wished that our elder brother had not left and became king, that way, you would've been able to smile all the times without the politics of this realm wearing you out."
The young king sighed in defeat and turned his sight towards his sister, smiling wearily "I wish that too, that way, I would've been able to join the defense of the north, or of the south, either way, I would've sat somewhere else other than this cold throne all day." he said. "But I assume that you have not come here to speak about old times, sister, what is it you wish?"
"Have you heard?" she asked. "Emperor Taramyth is dead, and a election will be held to decide the new emperor." she said, a empty smile forming on her lips.
"Yes, I have, it's partly the reason why I was in such deep thought." the king spoke, a frown forming on his face. "Kammeth knows that I wanted Taramyth to live so that I didn't have to vote for someone who will either rule us closely and only for their benefit, or be like Taramyth and not rule us at all."
"And for who... or rather, who will you tell Alemia to vote for?" she asks, the same empty smile adorning her lips.
"Normally, I would choose either Jakinius or Terminus as they are both strong and respected warriors, but..."
"But?" his sister asked, knowing what his brother would say, though still feigning ignorance.
"But, neither of them have much knowledge about things other than war, so they'll make for poor actuall rulers... also, they will be replaced with someone less competent if they become emperors." he says, entering a thoughtful state again. "So I will have Alemia vote for Allianna, however, not before I squeeze something out of her that will benefit us, something that will make our kingdom even more autonomous than it already is."
"Brother, I see you've been watching me, hmmm?" she asks with a chuckle. "Though she won't be the easiest to fool, she's spent her entire life in the capital, politics run through her veins like blood runs through ours." she says smiling. "You need to make sure that Alemia doesn't lose her cool even for a moment if this is plan of yours is to succeed."
"If it won't succeed, then I'll throw my vote with Jakinius and be done." He says, a slight frown forming on his face. "I do not wish to disturb you sister, but do you mind if you write the letter to Alemia?" he asks. "I have to get prepared for the meeting with the three lords."
"Don't worry, it will be the least I can do, my dear brother!"
13th of Gerna, 1200 AU
Location: Prime Estate of Khomeria, Larial
Normally, thanks to the rahter xenophobic nature of the Khomerians, the Prime Estate of Khomeria in Larial was devoid of people aside from servants cleaning the building and the Prime Magistrate herself, however, this time, the building was rather rowdy as several people of the famed Phoenix Guard were inside at the table normally reserved for nobles and the Prime Magistrate.
"And then, the little bastard lunged his toothpick of a sword at me, thinking that even if I was drunk he would be able to rob me and now, let's just say that he's sleeping in the dungeon bruised and battered and in chains!" one of the Phoenix Guards spoke, his helmet resting on the table in front of him, the man looked to be in his late twenties, his hair cut very short, his cheeks were quite flushed from all the wine and wide proud grin adorning his face.
Most of the other Phoenix Guards there were a shifting nervously, one of them gathered some courage to speak to the man, the second in command of the Phoenix Guard. "Sir, I mean no disrespect, but..." however the man who had just spoken cut him off.
"If you don't mean to disrespect me, then sit down and down your wine, rookie!" the man said in a rather harsh tone. "Now stop yapping and let me finish my story!"
The young man, discouraged, sat down and lowered his head in disgrace for attempting to speak to a superior, however, another woman, no older than 24 put a hand on his shoulder and smiled at him. She too had her helmet taken off, and she was a beauty that many would think they would find in their room sowing and singing poems, not drinking with the Phoenix Guard. "Leikar, I think the young man wanted to ask when we're going to get on with our duties as the Emperor's bodyguard." she said in a polite tone to the tipsy man."
"What duty, Marianna?" the drunken man asked frowning. "That geezer of a emperor died a little while back, we're free to do whatever we damn want until a new one sits his or her ass on the throne!" the man said grumbling, taking a few gulps of wine directly from a rather expensive looking bottle. However, the other guards beside Marianna looked a bit shocked at the sudden reveal as they had to find out. "Ah, don't look so shocked, that guy was just begging to be die on all the expeditions and sailing he did."
From the floor above were heard steps descending on the location of guards. A woman wearing a intricate sort of black armor came down, clearly displeased. She about as old as Laikar, however, much more beautiful than the man, so much so that she stole the sights of several of the younger guards. "For Kammeth's sake, Laikar, this is the Prime Estate of Khomeria, not your personal wine stash!" the woman said, a frown on her face. "Now get up and do your duty in guarding the damn city!"
"Ah, shut up, you bi..." however, before Laikar could spout obscenities at the Prime Magistrate Marianna intervened and said in a polite tone.
"We're sorry, but with the death the of the emperor and ongoing elections we really don't have what to do now and this is the only place where us Khomerians are treated without glares from the other people." she answered.
Alemia sighed in defeat and said to the group. "Well, fine, but drink, don't shout like this is a tavern, you're scaring the servants." she said looking at the group and asked, a tad curious. "I know why Mardanis wouldn't come here, but why didn't Morgon come with you, I mean he likes a drink more than the Drunk Phoenix here, though he can actually hold them" she said glaring at Laikar.
"Well, he still feels ashamed for leaving like that ten years ago and really doesn't want to come meet you, thinking you'd be really dissapointed in him, since you were so close siblings and all." Marianna answered, taking a sip from a cup of wine. "Though it's odd, you usually don't come to us until Laikar starts shouting like a maniac, what's wrong?"
"The big guy still feels guilty eh..." she says shaking her head, a smile forming on her lips. "I have to invite Lady Allianna here to talk to her about the elections and what she can give to us if we vote for her." Alemia says joining in and takes the bottle from Laikar's hands and pours herself some wine in a cup.
"I thought that Dorias would vote either for Jakinius or Terminus." Marianna said, her interest piqued.
"I thought so too, but apparently his highness thinks that only he would vote for the either as the two aren't exactly skilled in politics... unlike Lady Allianna who spent her life in this place." Alemia said, taking a sip of wine. "Honestly, no matter who King Dorias votes for, it's going to be a pain because I have to talk to them." She grumbles a tad displeased.
After her displeased comment, silence falls as everyone there seemingly begins to brood over this, however, the silence wasn't meant to last as the door to the estate opens and a man in his early thirties with snow white hair enters, accompanied by two more Phoenix Guards.
"I thought I would find you two here!" the white haired Phoenix Guard said, quite angry. "Get up, we have our duty to the empire to do and guard the emperor!"
