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Authors: Richard S. Tuttle
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relieved of command, but I will allow you to save face by appearing as though you are still the Grand General during the celebration. The day the celebration ends, you will remove yourself from the palace grounds and never return. You are dismissed.”
Chapter 4
The Master
Kyrga stormed out of the emperor’s office and out of the Imperial Palace. Without bothering to disguise himself or sneak through the hidden door behind the hedge, Kyrga headed for the Temple of Balmak. He strode through the front gates of the palace and marched along the city streets. When he reached the rear of the temple, he did not have his wristband to show the guards. He walked up to them and demanded to see the priest. The guards refused and Kyrga argued with them loudly, loud enough to cause the black-cloak inside to crack the door open to see what was going on. The mage ordered the guards to stand down and invited Kyrga inside. The black-cloak escorted Kyrga to K’san’s office and then left. K’san looked upon his visitor with a mixture of disappointment and anger at being disturbed.
“Why have you come here in uniform?”
“It might be the last time I am able to wear the uniform,” snapped Kyrga. “Jaar has fired me.”
“Explain,” the priest said calmly.
“Jaar discovered my authorization for the raid on Elfwoods. He claims that Captain Kent is alive in Despair. I thought he was bluffing at first, but no longer. He was too confident of his position. The only boon from him is that I will still appear as Grand General until the end of the celebration week. Something must be done before then.”
K’san did not reply. He sat staring at his desk as if the solution to the problem was imbedded in its wood. Kyrga fidgeted nervously as he waited for the priest to speak. He knew the usual punishment for failure, but that was for normal people. Surely, the Master would not kill someone who is able to control the emperor.
“Go back to the palace,” K’san eventually said. “You are to act as if nothing is wrong, so calm yourself before you meet anyone. I will discuss your problem with the Master.”
Kyrga caught the phrasing of the priest’s reply. The problem was Kyrga’s, even though it affected them all. He thought about arguing the blame for the problem, but one look at the priest’s face dissuaded him. He nodded meekly and left to return to the palace. K’san sat silently for several minutes as he contemplated the problem. When he was ready, he scribbled a note and sealed it, marking a name upon the outside of it. He then donned a long, hooded cloak. He left his office and found a cleric in the halls of the temple. He gave the cleric the note.
“See that this is delivered to the Imperial Palace immediately.”
The cleric nodded wordlessly and departed. K’san left by the rear door of the temple. He strolled casually along the city streets until he was a block away from the Imperial Palace. As he approached the palace, he slid into a dark alleyway and waited. An hour later, a noble left the front gates of the palace. Bodyguards did not flank him, nor did he leave in an ornate carriage. Uncharacteristically, he walked through the gates and onto the city streets. As he walked past the alley, K’san whispered to him. The noble slid into the alley.
“This had better be important,” the noble threatened.
“I would not disturb you otherwise,” apologized the priest. “Kyrga has been dismissed by the emperor. No one knows yet. Jaar agreed to let Kyrga keep the post until the end of the celebration, but this is going to hurt our plans greatly.”
“Who is the likely candidate to take his place?”
“He did not say. I doubt that the emperor would confide in Kyrga to that extent. Are you saying that we should wash our hands of Kyrga? We have much time invested in him.”
“Who do you think will replace him?”
“I cannot be sure, but I would wager on Tauman or Fortella.”
“We could probably manipulate Fortella,
Chapter 4
The Master
Kyrga stormed out of the emperor’s office and out of the Imperial Palace. Without bothering to disguise himself or sneak through the hidden door behind the hedge, Kyrga headed for the Temple of Balmak. He strode through the front gates of the palace and marched along the city streets. When he reached the rear of the temple, he did not have his wristband to show the guards. He walked up to them and demanded to see the priest. The guards refused and Kyrga argued with them loudly, loud enough to cause the black-cloak inside to crack the door open to see what was going on. The mage ordered the guards to stand down and invited Kyrga inside. The black-cloak escorted Kyrga to K’san’s office and then left. K’san looked upon his visitor with a mixture of disappointment and anger at being disturbed.
“Why have you come here in uniform?”
“It might be the last time I am able to wear the uniform,” snapped Kyrga. “Jaar has fired me.”
“Explain,” the priest said calmly.
“Jaar discovered my authorization for the raid on Elfwoods. He claims that Captain Kent is alive in Despair. I thought he was bluffing at first, but no longer. He was too confident of his position. The only boon from him is that I will still appear as Grand General until the end of the celebration week. Something must be done before then.”
K’san did not reply. He sat staring at his desk as if the solution to the problem was imbedded in its wood. Kyrga fidgeted nervously as he waited for the priest to speak. He knew the usual punishment for failure, but that was for normal people. Surely, the Master would not kill someone who is able to control the emperor.
“Go back to the palace,” K’san eventually said. “You are to act as if nothing is wrong, so calm yourself before you meet anyone. I will discuss your problem with the Master.”
Kyrga caught the phrasing of the priest’s reply. The problem was Kyrga’s, even though it affected them all. He thought about arguing the blame for the problem, but one look at the priest’s face dissuaded him. He nodded meekly and left to return to the palace. K’san sat silently for several minutes as he contemplated the problem. When he was ready, he scribbled a note and sealed it, marking a name upon the outside of it. He then donned a long, hooded cloak. He left his office and found a cleric in the halls of the temple. He gave the cleric the note.
“See that this is delivered to the Imperial Palace immediately.”
The cleric nodded wordlessly and departed. K’san left by the rear door of the temple. He strolled casually along the city streets until he was a block away from the Imperial Palace. As he approached the palace, he slid into a dark alleyway and waited. An hour later, a noble left the front gates of the palace. Bodyguards did not flank him, nor did he leave in an ornate carriage. Uncharacteristically, he walked through the gates and onto the city streets. As he walked past the alley, K’san whispered to him. The noble slid into the alley.
“This had better be important,” the noble threatened.
“I would not disturb you otherwise,” apologized the priest. “Kyrga has been dismissed by the emperor. No one knows yet. Jaar agreed to let Kyrga keep the post until the end of the celebration, but this is going to hurt our plans greatly.”
“Who is the likely candidate to take his place?”
“He did not say. I doubt that the emperor would confide in Kyrga to that extent. Are you saying that we should wash our hands of Kyrga? We have much time invested in him.”
“Who do you think will replace him?”
“I cannot be sure, but I would wager on Tauman or Fortella.”
“We could probably manipulate Fortella,
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