Lin Harsel had been recalled. Tarn had been left as the capable commander of the Gansu garrison. Lin was not worried about that, at least. He was worried about a great many other things.

For instead of a response to the letter he had sent, to inquire about his more hidden orders, he had been recalled. Lin, by nature, trusted his superiors to do what was best. He was still worried.

Lin rode through the Tarang Forest, which surrounded the city that was the seat of Minsu power, Tarang itself. Until the Imperial City was recaptured, Tarang would be the provisional capital of the Roseped Dynasty.

Behind Lin rode six of his soldiers, whose job it was to keep him safe. Lin could have come to Tarang in much more style, in a carriage, with a platoon of troops behind him, but the Emperor himself had responded to Lin’s letter, and had written that Lin should come to Tarang with all due haste. Lin was not one to keep his Emperor waiting.

Out of the forest Lin and those who trailed him rode, and through the Arch of Loyalty, the gate to the city, inlaid with pure gold.

Tarang was a city made in the Imperial style, and one of the most prosperous in the Empire. The streets, filled with people, were paved, and excellently maintained, despite the huge number they accommodated.

Lin headed to the Minsu Palace. Once there, he checked his horse at the stables, and parted with his men.

It did not take long for Lin to reach the throne room, as he had been in the palace many times before. Hundreds crowded the room, talking to each other, conducting business, all in the light of the Min.

Lin gazed up at it for a moment. Suspended from the ceiling by dozens of tethers, it was diamond shaped, and about fifty feet in every measure. It was brilliantly blue, and somehow was able to shine that light down upon the entire room. When the Min had been found, it was by the youngest son of a lesser noble house, but it had provided him such great luck that he had been able to found House Minsu.

Lin walked down the blue carpet that bisected the room. It was always kept empty. As Lin looked down the carpet’s enormous length, he saw that it continued up a set of marble steps, that raised any who walked up them ten feet above the crowd. And at the end of the carpet, there was the gold throne of the Minsu. Emperor Ehajdon I sat upon it, conversing with the advisors that clustered upon the upraised semicircle of the room.

Lin walked down the blue carpet as quickly as he dared, without seeming rude. When he ascended all the stairs, the Emperor waved all his advisors away, who quickly scattered, taking with them numerous charts, texts, and maps, and even a small table. The eight honor guards, however, remained, four standing on each side of the throne.

Even as the advisors left, Lin bowed deeply at the Emperor, holding his head down for a polite count of twenty. Then he looked up, and into the Emperor’s face.

Emperor Ehajdon I was nearing forty, but he did not look to be that old in the least. Courtiers often said that he looked ten years younger than he really was, and they said it honestly. The Emperor had an inviting, almost boyish look about him. Even clad in the silver robes of state, as he was at that moment, it was easy to forget who he was.

“Emperor,” said Lin, shifting in his stance uncomfortably. The last time Lin had met with the man, he was only High Lord Roseped. Now, there could be new protocols when addressing him, that Lin was not aware of.

“Relax, Adjunct,” said the Emperor. “I sit in this uncomfortable chair of gold so that others do not have to suffer.”

Lin tried to do as Ehajdon said, but it was difficult. “Shouldn’t we go somewhere private, to discuss what we need to?”

“No need,” said the Emperor. He swept an arm out, encompassing the court. “They cannot hear us. There is no point to discuss what we need to in a place of solitude and gloom, when here in public, there are safeguards. My spellweavers assure me that only those who have ascended the stairs are able to hear us. That said, I believe you are wondering what I want from you.”

“Yes, my lord—Your Majesty!” Lin corrected himself almost immediately, but he was not sure if that was enough.

“As I said before, you can relax, Lin,” said the Emperor. “If you really would feel more comfortable, we can leave here.” The Emperor stood, and starting walking down the blue carpet at a brisk pace, as two of his guards fell into step behind him. His long robe trailed across the ground.

Lin rushed down the stairs, trying to keep up with the Emperor’s brisk pace. “Please, tell me what you want me to do, Your Majesty, and I will do it!”

The Emperor did not stop, but did slow down a little, so that he and Lin could walk parallel. “My secret orders to you were only written with the deepest reluctance,” said Ehajdon, in his boyish voice. “I abhor the death of innocents, but my advisors assured me that if she died, it would only save lives. Just as my advisors told me that if I proclaimed myself Emperor, a civil war might be averted.”

They left the throne room, but Ehajdon continued to walk at the same brisk pace, startling those in the halls, who did not expect to see their lord and master walking at so brisk a pace.

“Do you know what Ehajdon means?” the Emperor asked.

“No, Your Majesty,” said Lin.

“It means avenger. I hate the name, and much prefer Roseped. I do not want my rein to be one of war, and, well, avenging.”

“Why are you telling me this, Your Majesty?” asked Lin.

“Because I know you were worried about your orders, my faithful servant, and I want you to understand how reluctant I was to give them.”

Lin wanted to argue the point, to say that he had never been worried about his orders, but that would be a lie. He hoped the Emperor understood how faithful he still was to the cause.

“Do not worry, Lin,” said Ehajdon, as if he could read minds. “I do not doubt your loyalty.”

Now that they were in a completely different section of the building, the Emperor took out a key, and unlocked a door leading off from the hall. The room inside was one for meetings. Beautifully furnished in blue and silver, the colors of the Minsu, it featured an oval-shaped wooden table in the center, and a dozen chairs all around.

The Emperor shed his robe of state, and gave it to one of his guards, who neatly folded it. Underneath, the Emperor wore much more functional clothing. Ehajdon sat in one of the chairs, and Lin took the one across from it.

“I called you back to the capital for two reasons,” said the Emperor. “The first reason is, because my advisors felt that you might do something stupid if left alone. I was inclined to disagree with them, but that is irrelevant, now.

“The second reason is quite different. The Makini are massing their armies, as was feared, so my fledgling empire must cease concentrating on the north, on the Tachen lands. They must rot in anarchy for a little while longer, as we cannot spare the troops.

“You see, geography indicates that the forces of my Roseped Dynasty and the armies of the Makini will clash in the territories of House Vedil. Until the Makini are dealt with, Tachen lands will be more or less irrelevant. Gansu, which was seized quickly, because of its strategic importance to Tachen lands, is now almost completely out of the picture. We will not withdraw from it, for that would be seen by some as a sign of weakness, but the city no longer matters.

“And you see, Adjunct Harsel, I want you right where the action is. You will be reassigned to lead an army against the Makini.”

“But, why me, sir?” asked Lin.

“There are a multitude of reasons to that question,” said the Emperor, “but chiefly among them is your talent. I keep an eye on those who graduate first in their class, as you did.”

Lin was amazed that Ehajdon had cared to learn so much about him. “I am honored you heard of my accomplishments,” he said modestly.

“Why, thank you,” said the Emperor, inclining his head. “But I fear you think too much of me. I am just a man, like you, who tries his best to make our world a better place.” As Lin stared at Ehajdon, in awe that the Emperor would incline his head at a lowly adjunct, the Emperor quickly became aware of how dumbstruck he was.

“None of what I just said comprises the point I am trying to make, so if you wish, you may forget I ever said what I did,” said Ehajdon. “I meant every word, but that, as I said, is another point.

“What I want to know is if you are going to accept my offer.”

“To lead a portion of your armies into battle?” asked Lin. “Of course I accept. However, I worry about my level of experience. I-”

“Nonsense,” said Ehajdon. “Your success in the desert campaigns three years ago puts that fear out of my mind, and back then, you had barely graduated. All I worry about is that you do not know the extent of your own abilities. There was good reason you became an adjunct. If I limited myself to those who were more decorated than you, I would be working with a group of elders.”

“I thank you for your confidence,” said Lin. How could the Emperor remember my service three years ago? When the battles were over, he did present me with a Medal of Valor, but I was one among many who received that honor!

“I only vest my confidence with those who deserve it, Lin,” said Ehajdon.

“You wisdom is unmatched by the glowing sun, Your Majesty,” said Lin. “Your cunning is beyond that of all the creatures of the forest. Your--”

But he was cut off by pair of advisors coming through the door. The younger of the two, who lacked so much age that his chin was bare, carried an immense pile of scrolls and papers, and immediately unloaded his burden on the table.

“I’m sorry we were late, Your Majesty,” said the younger. “You were not on your throne when we came to see you, and we did not know where to look. You must be horribly angry, and your vengeance is terrible, and-”

At that moment, the older advisor shoved the youth away from the table, stopping the babbling before it got too intense.

“I apologize for Mihal,” he said. “The boy is rather excitable today, Your Majesty.” This elder had a shaved head, but a large, thick beard, only starting to turn gray. Lin recognized him as Arek is Tomel, chief advisor to the Emperor.

“Is there good reason for the excitement?” asked Ehajdon, abandoning Lin, and getting up to head for the stack of papers.

“I would not have interrupted you otherwise,” said Arek. “Here is the reply from the Vedil.” He reached into his clothing, and pulled out a letter, sealed with what Lin could plainly see to be the Vedil symbol.

Ehajdon opened the letter, and Arek read over his shoulder. Meanwhile, Mihal started to get up from the ground, where Arek’s blow had put him.

“This is very good news,” said Ehajdon, a minute or so later. “The excitement of being a ruler never ends.”

“If I may ask, sir, what did the Vedil say?” asked Lin, from his place at the table.

The Emperor looked at him, and Lin thought he could detect a flash of annoyance. But it was gone in a moment. “The Holy Citadel has decided to join with us,” said Ehajdon. “Two of the seven Houses are with me, now.”

The Emperor turned to Mihal. “Be useful, and go run and fetch some wine,” he said. “In a few hours, there will be time enough for more intrigues, but for the moment, there can be rest.”

Ehajdon smiled.