24 A Timely Report

The palace felt like a city in and of itself. It was hard to believe such a building existed. Halls as big as streets decorated in paintings and drapery of blue and gold. Corridors that ran like alleyways amongst room after room after room each more finally adorned than the last. Gil had to wonder how many servants the palace employed. He'd always thought the manor to have a large staff, about 25 of them, himself included, however in such a grand place, surely there had to be hundreds of them in house staff alone!

They had arrived a few days earlier. Gil had helped Warren prepare a report and go over the events at the party. He'd gathered statements from three or four other Nobles who had been there as well as letters on behalf of the two other states that had stood beside him for judgment. Along with Lord Ross's letter, Gil had sent all that information ahead to the Emperor's office so that he could review them ahead of time.

Early that morning they had been informed that they'd meet with the Emperor that afternoon and had been picked up just before noon. Gilbert was more worried about observing etiquette in the palace, especially around so many staff and aids of the empire, but two paces behind Warren felt like such an odd place to be. Particularly when he wasn't running behind him trying to stop him from doing something reckless.

"Will I be going in with you?" Gil asked. Honestly, he wouldn't lose a moment of sleep if Warren said no. There was nothing appealing about having to stand before the ruler of the reaching lands. He completely content remaining behind the curtain for this.

"You were the one to witness the affront to Lady Ross, not me. His Majesty may want to ask you some questions," Warren said. Gilbert had to suppress the urge to mutter something under his breath. They were in public and there was already enough to worry about without having to defend himself against allegations of slandering the empire.

Warren gave him a comforting smile over his shoulder. "Don't worry, it'll be an easy meeting, I assure you," He said. They had approached a set of ornate double doors, guarded on either side. A servant announced their entrance as they were escorted into the audience hall. In the center of glistening of white marble and deep blue drapery sat the emperor. Despite his older age, he held himself with quite the high air of dignity. He smiled when he saw Warren.

"Ahh, young Lord Salphus. It feels as though the last time I saw you, you were still running up and down the halls chasing your father," He chuckled a bit.

"Time certainly has passed quickly, your Majesty." Warren responded like a proper heir to a grand house. He only ever bothered to act like this in front of such important people. Gilbert didn't miss the switch.

Warren bowed at the waist, Gil quickly mimicking the act. "If I may introduce my aid, Gilbert Greeves, he was the one who witnessed the assault by the Temple Official," He said.

"If I may, your Majesty, we haven't even established that any assault took place."

To their left, dressed in white and gold robes, stood the man who was representing the Temple. Gilbert turned to the speaker and shivered a bit. Before discovering the book all the priests Gil had ever met always seemed to be small bits of sunshine that seemed to be placed on this earth by Cors himself. However, this man looked like an old soldier playing dress up in a priest's room. Tight-jawed, with a scar deep cut over his mouth and nose, it didn't seem like the man could feel warm if he stood directly in the center of a fire.

Warren was no stranger to that fact either. He gave the man to his left a small, steady glare. "I don't know what you, in all your wisdom dear priest, would call a backhanded slap across the face. If that isn't assault my father is going to need to revisit our laws," he said coolly.

"I was informed that Lady Ross was impeding on an investigation," The priest returned, turning his eyes back to the Emperor. "But I am not here to start an argument with an arrogant child," He ignored Warren with a swift sweep of the eyes. From the side, it was quite easy to see the anger stirring in the young lord's eyes. Gilbert could've sworn it was getting warmer in the room.

"Now now, I have already looked over both of the reports that were sent to me. I'm sorry to say it does look like the Temple is at fault. Barging into the Governor's Manor unannounced, causing a scene, hitting a noblewoman from the Seth Kingdom, and then attacking one of the guards when being escorted out," The Emperor looked over a few of the papers that were handed to him by his aide. "We've always had the agreement that the Temple of Cors has the right to conduct its affairs without the influence of the government, and we've always allowed certain permissions, but this time those permissions were clearly taken advantage of," The Emperor said.

"Your Majesty, I sent six priests to Kar to investigate the very credible threat of witches and I come to find that only three returned. After those men, who were simply doing their holy duty, suspiciously turned up dead the government of Kar ruled it street violence and refused to allow us to investigate the matter any further. However, when our dear men were returned to us notes of magick, as well as the evidence of a witch's servant, a familiar, were found on the bodies. We came to the conclusion that the government of Kar is trying to cover up this threat," He stated firmly.

"Cover up?" Warren asked a touch of malice in his voice.

"That is quite the accusation to be making Sir," The Emperor cautioned.

The Priest was solid as stone. Undeterred in his accusation. He believed the words that came from his mouth were words of divine justice. "I understand, and I do not say so lightly but, all of the evidence points a scandal. Your Majesty, I am sure you are already aware that the witches are a threat not only upon our morals and duties as servants of Cors, but to the stability of our dear Empire as well. These witches command power that does not belong in the hands of man. If such a power became politically motivated well, even a small state such as Kar could over through your Majesty."

The temperature in the room spiked. Gilbert could feel himself starting to sweat. "I will not have you so blatantly accuse my house of plotting treasonous nonsense. House Salphus has been loyal to the crown for generations and will continue to be for generations to come." His words were calm but there was a bitter bite to them as he spoke. It was as close to a shouting match as he could get in the presence of the Emperor.

"If it were all that simple why is Lord Ross not here pressing for the intervention himself? After all his wife was the one we supposedly assaulted," The Priest said.

"Lord Ross is the Duke of the second largest dukedom in the Seth Kingdom, who only last year became a part of the Caspian Empire. He's incredibly busy and while the assault of the Duchess is a part of this matter it more largely pertains to the conduct of the Temple inside Kar."

"All that said," The Emperor spoke before the two of them could begin throwing verbal punches. "I am more inclined to side with House Salphus. The conduct of the church has been less than diplomatic. I hereby command that the Temple remove itself from Kar for the time being. If new evidence to your investigation rises, then House Salphus shall allow you to continue so long as the matter is handled respectfully."

Reluctantly the Temple's representative bowed. "Yes, your Majesty," he said.

"Thank you for your just and understanding ruling, your Majesty," Warren said. It finally felt like the air was moving through the room again. Gilbert felt relieved that everything had gone relatively smoothly. Luckily, Warren and the priest had begun trading blows in their verbal spare before he could ask any questions. He was almost grateful for that. The Temple would finally be leaving Kar. Things could finally grow peaceful.