One Amongst Many

“Justice of the Peace. I’m glad you’d be part of me for this meal,” Martel declared. He sat in one in every of his non-public rooms fit for human consumption with friends. Two plates full of delicacies stood on the desk, providing spiced meat with the greens of the harvest season.

“It didn’t appear prudent to refuse,” Alexius mumbled, sitting down.

“I’m happy we might discover the time to talk,” the captain continued, figuring out he had loads of it. Eleanor would be sure it took all afternoon to fetch the emperor from the fortress. “My house just isn’t far out of your metropolis, in spite of everything. I’m from Farill, and I travelled by Anvallum on my journey right here.”

“I’ve heard you’re from Nordmark.” The Justice of the Peace took a chew to eat. “Not that anyone would doubt that, seeing you.”

A reference to his eyes, Martel figured, however for as soon as not maliciously supposed. Anvallum would have others with the identical hue. “It’s why I assumed we should always discuss. Your area would profit from our proposal above all. How usually does anybody in Morcaster consider Anvallum? This manner, you’ll have individuals current when selections are made.”

“That very same distance that makes us forgotten would additionally stop that,” Alexius argued. “If each time the Senate is convened, it takes our delegate a month to succeed in Morcaster, all selections will probably be lengthy executed earlier than they arrive.”

“That’s easy to resolve. They are going to merely keep right here completely reasonably than journey backwards and forwards.”

“I suppose. However meaning they must resolve on their very own with out having time to seek the advice of with their superiors again in Anvallum.” The Justice of the Peace ate with fast, fidgeting actions. “Neither is right.”

“Options not often are. Would you reasonably have less-than-ideal affect or none in any respect?” Martel didn’t watch for a solution. “If we can not agree, the specter of civil struggle returns to the desk. To face any likelihood of profitable, all of the northern legions will probably be withdrawn. Nordmark will probably be surrendered to the wild, and Anvallum will probably be a frontier metropolis. Your farmlands and outskirts will undergo Tyrian raids.”

“We now have our personal legion that protects us.” Alexius sniffed as he took his cup of undiluted wine.

“Consider all of the coin spent on the struggle in opposition to Khiva. Think about if a small half had been invested in Anvallum or southern Nordmark. A lot extra land could possibly be ploughed, lowering the concern of famine. With higher roads, commerce would enhance, extra cities might flourish, and reasonably than being the sting of the Empire, Anvallum could be the centre of not one, however two thriving provinces.” Martel exhaled; it had taken him some time to memorise all of the arguments, most of them invented by Eleanor.

“But when that cash had not gone to the legions, it could have gone elsewhere than Anvallum regardless.”

“Undoubtedly. However as soon as my legions are discharged, that’s a variety of coin the Imperial treasury may have left in future years. When the choice needs to be made the place to spend it, wouldn’t you are feeling extra snug figuring out your delegates had been in Morcaster, championing your trigger?”

The Justice of the Peace didn’t reply, however he took one other sip of his wine. “That is good,” he professed. “It’s arduous to get the great classic up north.”

“I respect plain discuss. Will I’ve it?”

“I don’t need civil struggle, or marching my troopers by the complete breadth of the Empire to see them slaughtered by incendiary spells earlier than the partitions of this metropolis,” Miles spoke quietly. “You’ll discover no argument from me in opposition to.”

“And in favour? You’ve banded behind Legate Honorius as your captain. Will you assist sway her to keep away from what you simply described?”

“If I really feel I’ve the precise phrases to say. However between you and me, she’s a girl of nice religion. If you wish to make an impression on her, you must have a priest or two in your facet,” the legate revealed.

Contemplating how Martel had handled the excessive inquisitor, he may not have the very best status among the many Religion. “I respect the recommendation.”

“Milord,” a servant known as out, hurrying towards them. “Girl Fontaine has returned.”

***

All of them gathered in one of many many halls of the palace. Martel had but to determine the aim of getting so many. They usually seemed comparable and appeared to serve the identical kind of function, suggesting there was solely want for one.

Everybody waited differently. A number of of the magistrates milled about or spoke in a nervous method about idle issues. Miles seemed calm, if bored, whereas the opposite legate, Alexia, scowled in each path. As for the captain of their group, Honorius, she seemed stern to the purpose of haughty.

On a balcony, a handful of individuals appeared. Three youngsters or adolescents, the eldest of whom Martel recognised as Flavius, inheritor to the Empire. An odd-looking fellow, expressionless and unemotional; Martel had met him twice, and each instances he had felt unnerved, like being scrutinised and judged by the Imperial prince for causes unknown. The opposite youngsters needed to be his youthful siblings; they seemed nervous.

On both facet stood the emperor and his spouse. Martel couldn’t recall if he had ever seen the girl earlier than, however he remembered his first impression of Corvinus the Third. The person had seemed imposing to Martel; not because of his stature, being of common top, however due to the worth of his enchanted clothes. Now he wore a soldier’s tunic, and it grew to become obvious to Martel how he was only a man.

Not everybody shared the identical revelation; Giles of Marbury stepped ahead and fell to his knees. “My emperor!” he cried out, and Martel felt a wave of disgust at this show of supplication. Three months in the past, the emperor would by no means have seen or cared about some Justice of the Peace from a metropolis someplace within the Empire. But now he raised his hand magnanimously towards his loyal topic, who seemed on the verge of tears. Martel nodded towards Eleanor, who had the royal household eliminated.

“The place will you’re taking them now?” exclaimed Giles. “Again to some gap, barely match for rats, consigning His Imperial Majesty to a gradual demise whereas we argue and bicker endlessly?”

“He’ll be supplied quarters of the identical consolation as yours,” Martel replied coldly. “If it’s adequate for one in every of us, it’ll do for all of us. I counsel we return to the desk, now that you just’ve had your curiosity happy.” One after the opposite, they made their method again to the negotiating desk.