Of all the things you could say about a councillor, the one thing that you couldn’t say was that they were unpunctual. Of course, when you are meeting your sovereign, one who has shown in the past that He would have no compunction in shortening you by a head, perhaps you had better be on time.

Jenna of Dispos was punctual.

Shown to the same meeting room by Lea, she was greeted by the Dark Lord.

“Good day to you, Jenna, How are events on Dispos. You home world is doing well?”

“Very well My Lord.” She replied, taking the seat she was waved to by her suzerain. “Thank you for asking, I will pass your concerns onto them.”

“That is good, now to other matters. The First Councillor has kept you up to date on events so far?”

“He has sire.”

“And do you have any questions on actions taken to date.”

“I do my Lord. May I ask why the full council was not consulted?”

“A fair question. The first reason was that of security. Until we had the good Quill mam Ugikl in safe hands, the matter had to be kept amongst as few people as possible. That is also why the Ladies played the part that they did. The second reason was a sheer lack of time. The third reason is that your approval was unnecessary. In point of fact, my approval was unnecessary as well. In any case you were informed not even a day later.”

The Dark Lord smiled as he calmly continued. “You will always be consulted in advance wherever possible on matters where you input is required or at least desirable. But not every matter reaches that level. If your try to hear every matter, you will be inundated by trivia and unable to function.”

“I see.” Jenna spoke after a fraction. “I see.” She repeated.

It was clear that she was not completely satisfied so the Dark Lord continued, “Jenna, the Empire has competent women and men at all levels. I have told both the First Councillor and the Marshal to carry out their duties. I expect them to do just that and not to consult with me on all matters unless it is something I must be consulted on. You are in that same position. The First Councillor and the Marshal must be left free to do their work.”

Jenna nodded slowly.

“And yourself, you know Slav di Naska of Star Builders and Lia Du Passa, his sister, I believe. You supported him in some of his contracts as well.” At the Dark Lord’s bald statement, Jenna whitened slightly. She sighed.

“It can’t be hidden from you I guess, yes I knew them and met with them, it would have been difficult not to. I have and still do get many invitations from many people.”

“True, but you had private one-on-one meets with both.”

“My Lord, what are you implying?” Jenna felt her throat constricting. There was a distinct air of menace in the room, although the Dark Lord had not changed from his lounging manner. “I had no idea that a rebellion was planned, in fact I thought that there was going to be a movement to replace Les Doman Resta. I made it clear that I was opposed to such an action. They both indicated that they would support me.” After a pause she emphasised. “I have done nothing wrong.”

“You have no idea where Slav di Naska is now?” The Dark Lord pressed.

“All I know is, I met Lia at a function on the days off…” She stopped and thought. “That would be three days ago, on the fourteenth I think, and she told me that her brother had left to inspect some facility in the lower fifteenth sector.”

“And you believe her?”

“Why would she lie?” Jenna stared and then, slowly comprehension dawned on her face. She slumped in her chair. “I am a fool.”

“It matters not.” The Dark Lord smiled. “Her brother was long gone but the Legion and the police will soon track him down and we will see. Lia was trapped by her own arrogance. She wanted to see our security policeman captured and learn what he had found out. She did not realise that he now had a connection to someone who was in a position to give him real help.”

“Oh, that was lucky.”

“Do not despise luck, covet it and use it whenever you get it.” The Dark Lord stood.

“Jenna of Dispos, these days are exciting yes, but worse days will come. Are you ready to serve the empire?” The mood had shifted abruptly. As the Dark Lord had risen, he spoke in a formal, even harsh manner. Again a twinge of fear made Jenna chill. She also stood.

“I am my Lord.”

“That is good, you will need to be strong. Dark days approach perhaps.”

The two had stepped out into the corridor. Madla Dinsta was waiting for them. Like those before, Jenna wondered how Madla knew to be there. Like them, she didn’t ask.

“We will talk again, Jenna of Dispos.” The Dark Lord said, “It is important that each of the council meets with me. At least once a year, but more often if possible.”

“Indeed sir.” With a bow, she left, a lot on her mind.

*********

From the room behind, stepped the same four Ladies as before.

“Recovered?” The Dark Lord smiled.

“Happier!” The Dark Lords usual companion smiled.

“And you Luca?”

“My sword is still looking for the taste of blood.”

“I am sure that it will get all the blood it desires and more.” The Dark Lord lapsed into a somber mood. “Dark days are coming.”

“You have said that before. Can’t you be clearer?”

For a fraction they all walked in silence.

“Andrea, it is all before you, if you look.”

Andrea tossed his head at that, “You talk in riddles.” She muttered.

The Dark Lord stopped. “You know almost all that I do. Look to your memories. It is something that was on my mind more than a thousand years ago.

“Before Ti Lepus?” Lady Dana was taken aback.

“Before,” The Dark Lord smiled, “It is one reason I took the actions I did.”

He stepped into the sitting room. The four bemused Ladies followed. Jenna of Dispos was not discussed. It was unnecessary.

*********

In the Stewards office, Ferni and Rita had arrived, each tired but content.

“So we won’t be involved anymore.” Rita frowned.

“No we must get on with the business of the palace and seeing to the needs of our Master.” Grada spoke firmly. “The police and the Legion can take care of the rest.”

“Tobis Nenna?” Lea looked at Rita.

“I don’t know the status of his interview. I will check and we can discuss it.”

Ferni nodded.

“Good. Do that.” Grada, was displaying the decisiveness that won him his post. “Now, the Hall of Hearing, we promised our master a time table. Madla meet with the builder, painter and grounds man, and see what they have to say. Anything else?”

“The Chief Usher wants to discuss with you the Imperial Guard, there is some kind of minor problem there.” Lea informed the Head Steward.

“With the Usher, minor means major!” Madla put in. They all laughed. “Also, the office is getting cramped. We may need to do some expansion.”

Garda frowned. “I don’t want that to impact on the Hall of Hearing repairs, or the ongoing repairs to the palace. They come first. Madla, when you meet with the heads, bring it up but we can live with a bit of cramped space for a few months.”

“I will be carrying an inspection of all security arrangements now that our Master has returned.” Ferni spoke up. “This needs to be done. More people are trying to get into the palace, especially at night. I have the time now that the flap has dropped off. I can handle this.”

“Good, go ahead, just run your proposed changes by me first, I don’t want a surprise from our Master. But do what is necessary straight away, I don’t want our Master disturbed by someone climbing into His bedroom!” They all laughed. “Let me know.” No one actually knew where the Dark Lord slept.

“Madla, how is the office, need any more help?”

The meeting continued. Then the four dispersed.

*********

Consulting the heads of department, Garda was satisfied that he would soon have the timeline he needed for the Dark Lord.

*********

Rita arranged to meet with her contact in the security police and go over the results of the interrogation of Tobis Nenna. This was quickly accomplished. Making arrangements to meet later in the day, she turned to other matters that concerned her.

*********

Madla got together with the department heads. In her case, she had more specific details to discuss. Handling them to her satisfaction, she also turned to other matters.

*********

Ferni took her deputy and two shift heads with her, the other two shift heads being on time off. Inspecting the perimeter took the rest of the day. While doing so, she took the call from the inspector of the night before. She assured him that the security police had all the information, and that she was no longer involved.

The palace had an estate of over twenty five thousand acres in the City of Tihab. Indeed, it supplied all fruits and vegetables along with other greens for the palace with a surplus for sale of specialty foods, a popular item for tourists as it was inexpensive; the price barely covered the cost of the foods sold; and buyers secretly or openly enjoyed eating the same food as the Dark Lord. The down side of that was that the entire estate was a popular meeting and hiding place for all sorts of people so had to be policed and those who wanted to live there, discouraged and gently removed.

Viewing the current arrangements, Ferni concluded that some measures relating to the perimeter could be relaxed while the night building and estate security could be increased. Discussing this with her staff, she issued the necessary orders, to go into effect from the 23rd Wassas. She did make the proviso that she had to discuss them with the Head Steward. Further and specific security matters relating to the palace itself would be reviewed the next day.

Lea took to her desk in the office, calling up on her desk set, the work submitted to her attention, she grimaced at the number of items and set to work. These ranged from the mundane, such as approving purchase orders and reading routine correspondence to the very ticklish like arranging for the replenishment of certain special items, such as the paper used in ceremonies like the recent opening of the palace. As some of the speciality items involved approaching the Ladies, it was something that the staff found numerous ways to avoid.

*********

The Chief Usher approached the Head Steward with ponderous dignity. Having been confirmed by the Dark Lord, he was more relaxed but also more conscious of all his responsibilities, ready to defend his own turf to the end and was tenacious in doing so.

“Head Steward, good day.”

“And good day to you, Chief Usher,” The Steward replied motioned the Chief Usher to sit then continued, “You are having some difficulty with the Imperial Guard?”

“Indeed I am.” The Chief Usher declaimed.

After a fraction Garda prompted the Chief Usher for more details.

“They have taken over rooms that they are not entitled to do so” Came the reply delivered in a tone that was redolent of a judge passing a death sentence. “Also, they insist on cleaning their own rooms and not allowing the cleaners to do their work.” Having delivered his indictment, the Chief Usher sat back, awaiting the action of his superior.

“Follow me.” Garda gave an inward sigh. He knew the difficulty, the Guard was answerable only to the Dark Lord. However he, Head Steward Grada Karkart, was also answerable to the Dark Lord on all aspects relating to the palace.

They climbed the steps to the second floor. There, the two found the Senior Guardsman. Speaking with him, agreement was reached that before taking over any more rooms, they would speak with Senior Administrator Madla Dinsta. On the question of cleaning it was agreed that while the Guard undertook to perform all cleaning, the Housekeeper would carry out a weekly inspection on the first day of the week.

Matters resolved to everyone’s satisfaction, each went on their separate way.