Chapter 685: New Quarters

New Quarters

Martel regarded up, seeing Eleanor and Lara in his research. “Each of you. This have to be vital.”

The prefect handed over a small bundle of parchment. “A listing of the northern emissaries. The primary sheet reveals their names that can assist you familiarise them. The remaining include extra detailed details about them and their areas. Something we thought may assist you.”

Martel accepted the bundle. “I suppose I ought to put together as a lot as I can.”

Eleanor nodded. “They may arrive quickly. We must always all make our preparations.”

His eyes glanced over the lists. “Six representatives from the provinces and three commanders?”

“Certainly, captain. Every province exterior our management besides Nordmark. Helena of Home Honorius, legate of the city legion of Aquila, has been chosen as captain prefect. Your counterpart,” Lara elaborated. “The opposite two have some affect, particularly Legate Miles of the northern legions, however she is the one to sway to finish the civil struggle peacefully.”

“I suppose his destiny was sealed when his mother and father named him that,” Martel mumbled. “The opposite legate is named Alexia, and the consultant from Anvallum is Alexius. Unusual coincidence?”

“They’re siblings,” Eleanor advised him. “Her legion defends that province. No matter their opinions, it’s possible you’ll anticipate they are going to be in settlement.”

“And he is likely one of the magistrates to influence. Anvallum, Aquila, and Marbury are what issues.” Lara pointed at every of their names on the listing. “The smaller provinces will observe their instance, I’m positive. However that’s all defined within the further pages.”

“Alright.” Martel took notice of the names earlier than leafing by way of the small bundle, glancing on the different pages.

“They should be housed within the Imperial palace. There isn’t any higher place we are able to herd all of them collectively and hold them beneath watch,” Lara claimed. “Additionally it is probably the most appropriate place for the negotiations to happen.”

“Positive. Have it seen to.”

“It could allow us to control them always,” Eleanor thought of.

“Positive. Anything?”

His legate smiled at him. “Nothing aside from it’s best to pack your belongings.”

***

The following day, Martel and Eleanor moved home. The Imperial palace had intensive residing quarters to accommodate not solely the emperor, but additionally the Aristocracy, courtiers, and visiting dignitaries. With the courtroom drastically shrunk, it was simple to search out chambers. Martel acquired a wing together with his room subsequent to Eleanor’s, simply guarded by his troopers. Comparable was ready for the duke of Cheval, the duchess of Trior, and all the coming envoys.

Martel didn’t hassle with the mattress on his first night time. He had every little thing from his room on the fortress delivered to his chamber, together with his cot and soldier’s blanket. The servants watched in misery at seeing such furnishings put in in a spot of beautiful magnificence, the place even a bedpost had difficult carvings as decoration.

Martel didn’t see the purpose of that. When he closed his eyes to sleep, no quantity of artistry would make a distinction to the standard of his relaxation. Solely the softness of his mattress or slightly lack of similar. He nonetheless discovered it laborious to go to sleep when surrounded by full silence, however an answer introduced itself, as his chamber had a fire. Martel merely set a number of logs aflame, and the crackling of the hearth offered him with the disruption of the quietude he wanted. All in all, Martel slept effectively within the Imperial palace.

***

Taking a break from his duties as ruler of town – he would quickly solely have time to cope with the envoys anyway, leaving Lara to cope with different issues – Martel spent a day strolling the halls and grounds of the magnificent complicated constructed to be the house of 1 man.

The Dome of Stars, appropriately, confirmed solely a blue sky through the day. Martel regarded exterior to search out that it was cloudy. He realised the enchantment didn’t really replicate the night time sky because it was presently; slightly, it confirmed the dance of the celestial objects in response to a star map. In fact, that corresponded to how the precise stars moved throughout the firmament, however ought to a comet seem, as an example, the dome wouldn’t present this.

Strolling exterior, he noticed gardeners all over the place tending to the grounds. He imagined that they didn’t recognise him and easily took him to be one other prefect amongst many, sporting that uniform; they continued with their work with out indicators of apprehension at his presence. Martel noticed no motive to disturb them both; he appreciated the fruits of their labour, creating a phenomenal area of inexperienced in a metropolis dominated by stone and gray. It appeared a disgrace one needed to be emperor or in his favour to be allowed to take pleasure in it.

At size, he returned to his chamber and the notes offered to him in regards to the emissaries. Tomorrow, they’d arrive.