The news people had gone almost insane when they had learnt of the arrests. A number of Legion officers, as yet unnamed, and two members of the High Council arrested for treason? They camped out in front of both organisations offices and demanded answers that could not be given.

That same morning, a news team arrived at the palace. Expecting the same treatment that they had just the day before only to discover how mistaken they were. Not even allowed into the building, they set up outside only to discover that their equipment was inoperative. Checking it over, they could not find any fault, it simply would not work. Their back up equipment did not work either.

Frustrated, the reporter went in to ask if there was a new type of stealth or jamming technology protecting the palace. The answer came in the form of a question.

“Do you think that we would tell you if there was?” The person answering was the new Administrative Assistant, Lea Cania, an attractive young woman, she had come into the palace just three years earlier. Rather slim, she was about 160 cm tall, had dark brown hair and brown eyes, “I have nothing else to say. For any more on the arrests, contact the Justice Ministry or the Legion, they are responsible for any briefings. Good Day.” She turned and walked away.

“Wait,” the reporter called. “We have a report that the Dark Lord was involved. Was He?”

“I have no idea.” Lea responded.

“Can I see him to ask?”

“If you think that I am going to ask Him that, you are crazy. He will most likely get mad at me, do something nasty to you, and then be in a bad mood the whole day. And that will upset all the staff!” Lea walked away.

Still frustrated, but wary of the hovering security guards the reporter left.

*********

Entering the Stewards suite of offices, she was summoned by the Head Steward.

“Good work.” Grada Karkart was happy to have someone to rely on. “Come with me.” He started walking deeper into the palace.

“Where are we going?” Lea was puzzled. She had arrived for work early as usual and was well into her normal workload when Karkart had pulled her aside, told her that due to her good work with the oath giving yesterday, she was now his personal assistant with a new title and to go and talk to the news reporter. Now they were walking deeper into the palace then she had ever been before and with them were Senior Administrator Madla Dinsta and Security Chief Ferni Massett. And this was still not the tenth period.

“We are going to see Him.” Came the response in a grim tone.

Lea came to a sudden stop. “What did I do wrong?” She whispered.

“We have been summoned. Who knows why?”

“But me? You just appointed me?”

Garda Karkart just kept walking. “We will find out when we get there. Who knows what He has on His mind.”

“If He asks you something, just answer directly. Don’t try too hard. Be honest with Him and don’t make anything up.” Madla Dinsta always gave practical advice. Ferni Massett kept her silence, she felt that there was no need for her to say anything about the previous night.

Karkart came to a stop and turned around. “Look, we have known Him for less than two days. Two exhausting days. We have to study Him and learn His moods and habits. I am not saying this for any reason except so that we can serve Him better. That is all. For the moment we just have to observe and remember what we learn. I think that He intends to stay for a long time. His return is just too well timed and He knows something. I feel it.” The Steward started walking again then stopped and turned around. “None of this leaves the palace. Understand, none of it. Ever!” Karkart moved briskly off.

The other three gave each other puzzled looks and quickly caught up. The last leg of the walk to the Dark Lords study was completed in silence as the rest of the group digested the Head Stewards words.

The usual bevy of Ladies now occupied the space outside the Dark Lords room. They smiled at the approach of the four palace employees. The four schooled their faces as they approached the Ladies.

“Hey here is the new girl,” One, a compact, fit looking one smiled. She was wearing a loose fitting top and light blue, tight fitting long pants, sandals covered her feet. Following a laugh, one of the Ladies stepped forward, the same redheaded one from the day before. Now she was wearing a bright yellow dress which stopped well above the knee and boots.

“Welcome, glad to see that you survived yesterday.” Went to Lea, then “He is waiting for you,” went to the rest of the group. The Lady pointed.

Waving at the others Karkart lead the four in.

*********

Standing by the empty fire place, the Dark Lord was smilingly engaged in talk with three of the Ladies. They were talking in the unintelligible language that they sometimes used between themselves. Idly, Massett wondered if a universal translator would work. She dismissed that idea immediately, if it had been used before and she doubted that, it would never have stood up to the power of the Dark Lord.

“Welcome again.” Came the smiling greeting. “Chief Massett, did you enjoy your first night under our roof?”

“I slept well sire.” I actually did, she thought. That bed was comfortable.

“Good, and you Head Steward?”

“Yes sire I did.” He paused. “Although I think that my family were surprised by the sudden move.”

“I must admit that I am pained by the demands that the palace has put on its employees over the years. That is why I have forbidden any employee from marrying without my permission. It puts a great strain on any relationship, however all such unions that currently exist will not be disturbed.”

They all smiled. Massett had excellent peripheral vision. She noted that the brown haired Lady and Ladies Dana, Andrea and Luca were standing together, unsmiling. Other ladies lounging around, watched with interest. In the notes she had hastily gone over, previous security chiefs had noted on occasion, a certain tension between the brown haired Lady and the others. This was absent today, and that concerned Massett. Changes had reasons and that, combined with her observation that they were apparently unhappy, made her wonder.

“To business, step forward Lea Cania.”

He has an interesting way of speaking, thought Madla Dinsta as a clearly uncomfortable Lea obeyed.

“Our good Steward has seen fit to anoint you his Administrative Assistant I see. You did well with that reporter this morning.”

“Thank you sire.” Lea spoke softly. That happened barely a fraction ago, how does He know all this? She thought.

Reaching out, he touched her forehead. She jerked slightly, eyes opening wide.

“Now you have been confirmed. I will know if anyone is, shall we say, unpleasant to you.” He smiled, then continued. “And I have something to talk to all of you about.”

The four stiffened, as did the four ladies, Lea still a little dazed. The other Ladies in the room also stiffened, their interest piqued by not being told beforehand.

Looking around, the Dark Lord smiled, The Ladies outside had also joined the group.

The brown haired Lady passed through the group, taking a seat beside the fireplace. She looked the Dark Lord over. “You like your little games don’t you?” The other Ladies stiffened again, but the Dark Lord just laughed.

“After all these years one needs a little distraction now and again.” He took His seat.

“Head Steward, this to happen now, I need you to contact the First Councillors office and ask him to attend on me at the eleventh period. He is to bring his closest staff with him. Secondly, I will see the Marshal and his immediate staff at the twelfth period. I will use the semi-formal meeting room for both meetings. Both staff need to know my mind. Senior Administrator Madla Dinsta, you and the Chief Usher make certain that the room is ready. Also prepare a room for them to eat in, I do not want to send them away hungry, after that I will see each councillor, one each day.”

There was a pause while the group was assimilating these instructions.

He turned to the Ladies, “Dana, Andrea, Luca, you will also attend as I wish for you to be fully informed and you may keep all the rest up to date as well.”

Lady Dana nodded with a frown. “Will you not open your mind to us now?”

“I will in time, but not now, the time is not ripe. Others should know at the same time.”

Lady Dana’s frown deepened. Her eyes slid to the brown haired Lady who shook her head and raised her hands in the universal gesture of don’t ask me, I don’t know. The Dark Lord affected to not notice as did the Head Steward and his group.

“However I will give you a hint. For everyone’s information, I am planning a major redistribution of the fleet and also a major restructuring of the Legions personal and the civil service as well.”

There was a sharp intake of breath at that.

Lady Andrea eased her supple body into a chair. “It is happening then?”

“Soon, as we reckon time but it is not urgent.” This left the four from the stewards’ office even more confused. The Dark Lord reassured them.

“Do not concern yourselves, we have time and more, I returned in good time. The four of you will also be at the meeting.” They did not find that reassuring, but He turned to the Security Chief.

“Chief Massett, I see that you have some contacts with the news people. I wish for you to meet with them. They are upset, so they need to be reassured that they will not be overlooked. But they also need to be warned that I will not tolerate any reporting that sensationalizes the news beyond what it actually is. Warn them clearly, and if they try to work around the warning, I will hold them to account. Remind them that I have the last word when I wish to, and that this will not miss my attention.”

The instructions came calmly, but the menace in the instructions was unmistakable. Massett cringed internally, thinking of the unwelcome message that she was to deliver. The Dark Lord continued:

“Stress to them that I do not want to take away any freedom of expression from them. But neither will I tolerate any slanting or subtle presentation of the news to reflect internal bias whether intentional or unintentional. They are to be totally disabused of that. I am fully aware of the bias that has crept in and will not tolerate it. The owners will deal with it or I will. The choice is up to them.”

“They will say, my Lord that you wish to create a hagiography of yourself, and that you want to set up a pseudo-religion.” Massett protested. “And I do not have a politician’s way with words.”

“Pre-empt that with the assurance that anyone who says that will decorate a cross, along with anyone who asserts that I am a god. That will be enforced before the day is out. If they have made any study of my history, they will see that I have been ruthless in supressing any such religious hypocrisy. Speak plainly, a politician needs ways with words to manipulate.”

“Yes my lord.” Ferni wondered what a cross was and why it would need to be decorated, she was to find out soon enough.

“You can also assure them from your own personal experience that I am no god!”

“Indeed my Lord.” Everyone smiled, a couple laughed.

“I think that is enough for the day. Let me know when the First Councillor and his entourage arrive.”

*********

The four gave a short bow and left, each wondering what was going on. On the way back to the front offices, they discussed what all this was about.

Many and varied were the possibilities examined. After a time, the discussion ebbed. Lea Cania, who had been silent up till now, spoke up.

“I think that he refrains from telling us so that we can’t tell others, so that we don’t make things worse. He seems to be very careful even about what he tells the Ladies.”

There was silence as the group digested that last remark.

With a grunt, Garda Karkart said, “Well, what we don’t know, can’t be told. Lea get me the First Councillors office. After I have finished there, we will call the Marshal.”

“On it, Head Steward.” Lea responded.

“I am of to catch up with the Chief Usher.” Madla Dinsta was off to check on room selected and make certain that it was up to the Dark Lords requirements.

“And I am of to tell off the news people, better comm them first.” The security chief rolled her eyes.

And the four went their separate ways.