Chapter 161: The Storm Generals(2)

The court was filled with gasps and muttering, but no one moved top stop either of the two Generals, no one dared, for the only individual capable of commanding them was the Emperor himself. 

The clash between the pair intensified, and more and more of the Officials began to quail under the pressure coming from the pair.

"Enough." The voice rang out through the Imperial Court, it was high and melodic, and a soft glow suffused the room, and a warm feeling enveloped those that could not handle the clash between the two generals, and they felt the pressure weighing them down lighten considerably.

But the two Generals felt the impossibly heavy pressure of the Emperor weighing down on them, it was as if they were being pressed down upon, from every direction, and the mana within their bodies turned sluggish and somehow, at the same time, unruly.

"Regis. Nevus. The two of you are the pillars that support my Empire, please settle down, the both of you. Such an uncontrolled and unpracticed display of your domain is embarrassing." As the Emperor spoke, the clouds cleared, and the sun shone down once again, filling the room with bright and warm light, banishing the gloom.

"Forgive me, your Imperial Majesty." Both of the Generals fell to one knee, bowing before the Emperor, their heads bowed in apology.

"I could never remain angry with the two of you. Now, before any others become involved in this heated debate, I shall decide on this matter. Whether or not this is some ploy is irrelevant. It could be a distraction, or it could be one of the states making a series of planned attacks, trying to usurp the others. Whatever it is, I want the pair of you to take your armies and suppress this threat." The Emperor's voice was soft, but the air of command in his tone was unmistakable. 

"But, your Majesty. What of our lands, surely one of us should remain behind to ensure the safety of the Empire?" Regis, who had previously been adamant to go and suppress the unrest, asked, his voice still shaky from the Emperor's admonishment. 

"This unrest must be answered. It seems to me that those fools have forgotten that there is a reason that they are mere vassals of my Empire. Don't worry yourselves about what will happen to this Empire while you are gone. After all, I am here." The Emperor's teeth flashed from within the glow that made it hard to make out his features, but he wasn't unmistakably smiling.

The two generals only nodded, there was no way they could object now, they couldn't even stand against the mere pressure that the Emperor had used to settle them down, how could they have questioned the Empire's safety?

As the two generals left, heads hung low after their embarrassing display, the court began to disperse, no one else wanted to ask the Emperor something so soon after he had chastised the two Storm Generals.

Simon filtered out with the others, blending in seamlessly with his fine clothes and perfumed and pinned hair. 

"Scholar Piatt! Scholar Piatt!" A voice called out, and Simon picked up his pace. There was always one minor official that tried to arrange a meeting with him whenever he visited the court.

They were all convinced that Simon had the ear of the Emperor, or was some relative of the Imperial family, and so they desperately tried to curry favor with him. They couldn't be more wrong, Simon had requested to examine the fine paintings of the Imperial Founders many many years ago, and somehow he had chanced upon a meeting with the Emperor, and then he had received his first summons to the Imperial Court.

It had been so lucky that even he had questioned if some elaborate trap had been laid for him, by some enemy of Ursten, but it was not the case. The Emperor was simply interested in whatever Simon might find out about his ancestors, and wanted Simon available at the Court whenever he could be, since he never met with anyone outside of that, except in the most special of cases. 

Simon hurried out through the long, airy corridors, with high arches that took up half of the walls, open to the outside air, allowing the palace to remain cool. His boots clicked on the tiled floor, and he took in the sight of the distant palace gardens as he walked toward the exit.

He wished he had some valid excuse for exploring the gardens, those who had been granted the Emperor's favor had the opportunity, and every one of them sung praises of the fine gardens.

Simon would have liked to take in more of the palace's beauty but the official looking for him weighed on his mind, and he hurried out of the palace walls, he reassured himself, surely he would be unable to enjoy the palace once the invasion was successful. And if not, then he would be unable to complain.

The white stone of the palace was replaced with the gray stone of the Arena and surrounding buildings as Simon made his way out towards the city wall, and then as he passed even the outer wall, he found himself in more comfortable surroundings.

Rough, ramshackle wooden buildings, like those he had often frequented as a youth, were now all around him, and as much as he enjoyed the beauty of the palace, there was great comfort in these surroundings.

Simon made his way to the room he had rented from an elderly woman who had since passed, and had been replaced by her son, who managed to make breakfasts even more delicious than hers.

Once back in his room, he opened the trunk at the foot of his bed, he would have to leave the city as Scholar Piatt, and lose the inevitable tail on him within the wilderness, as there were always curious officials with far too much money to spend who would hire men to follow him.