The Council

Back at the palace, the Council waited to meet with the future Emperor. While everyone else had been forced to swear their allegiance or be transferred to the dungeon that morning, the Council had been kept unnervingly comfortable. The room where they were held contained lovely couches and a balcony view of the city.

"A cage is still a cage, no matter how gilded," Nanny reminded them.

"I would rather have the gilding than being left in squalor like the rest," argued Councilman Meder.

"Our freedom is still gone. Either Cafer means to soften us up with good treatment or he plans to lull us into a false sense of security before killing us off," Ezer countered. He looked at the lush tray of leftover food on the table in the room. After much debate, they had decided to eat it, hoping that it was not poisoned.

"I wonder how long he will keep us here," Meder mused.

"However long it takes," Nanny answered with a yawn. She was used to the gnome's underhanded tricks. He would not get inside her head.

Birger's ruddy face was not so calm. "We must be on our guard!" He admonished them. "None of us should lose sight of the fact that Cafer wanted to dissolve the Council last time he was left in charge," Birger said. "Whatever use he has for us will not end with the Council in tact."

"Of course I would want to keep the Council in tact for Emperor Alaron. Everything will stay how it has always been, only the rightful heir will now be on the throne," Cafer confirmed as he entered the room with Alaron and Mairwen.

Those in the room stood, not sure exactly how to react. Many of them wondered if the princess was an ally or a fellow prisoner. As the spymaster had not visited them in the night, Brinn had not told them that she was the one bearing Mairwen's image. The overall mood was tense.

Cafer ignored their inquisitive stares as he directed the future Emperor to a chair. Alaron addressed them calmly, "As Cafer said, we want the start of the new reign to be as smooth as possible. With your support, we can limit the confusion of the people on how they should respond to the change of power."

"Why would we help you?" Birger stared defiantly at the boy and his king-maker.

Meder stepped in between them. "I think the councilman is concerned for his own safety. We all are. What guarantees can we have that if we help you, we will not be harmed?"

Cafer nodded. Meder wanted to save his own skin. That was something the gnome could work with. "Emperor Alaron promises that if you will be present at the coronation ceremony, he will allow you to leave the capital and live in peace. Or if you still desire to serve on the Council, you can petition the crown for that consideration."

There was a silence as the Council thought about what to do next. Birger gave a wry chuckle. "You expect us to trust you, Cafer? Prince Alaron may believe your dribble, but surely the rest of us know better."

"You will address His Majesty by his proper title," Cafer warned. The gnome's body tensed like a snake that would strike.

"I did," Birger retorted, his own fists balled.

"What do you think, Princess Mairwen?" Ezer redirected the room's attention. If anyone could save this situation, it was her.

Brinn took a deep breath as she formed her answer. As usual, she walked a delicate line between neither turning Mairwen into a traitor of nor an ally for Alaron. "I think that my mother, Empress Aurora, wants you to keep yourselves safe and sound."

She paused and let the words sink in a moment. Brinn had used the present tense in her sentence. The Council now knew that Aurora was alive. Cafer had wanted to delay that news as long as possible, or better yet, bury it. He would have denied the princess's claim if not for the fact that the Empress had a bad habit of showing up unannounced at the most inconvenient times. Instead he merely scowled.

Brinn continued, "I think we shall have to be patient and observe. Perhaps Alaron will turn out to be the leader that we hope he is." The fake princess gave Alaron a knowing glance that Cafer took to mean she had resigned herself to the boy's rule. His anger subsided.

Birger inched toward Brinn. "Are they threatening you in some way, princess?" he whispered.

Alaron snapped his head toward the bearded man. "I would never threaten my sister!" he declared angrily. A guard pulled Birger away from the royals.

"I am fine," the fake Mairwen assured him.

"The princess can handle herself," Nanny commented. She raised her eyebrows at Brinn and the elf knew that Nanny had seen through her disguise. Fortunately no one else seemed to be that perceptive.

"Then, as Princess Mairwen says, we will be patient, though I think future Emperor Alaron has presented us with a very fair opportunity. I will serve the Valiant Empire, no matter who is ruling it," Meder said magnanimously.

Ezer struggled to keep a straight face at Meder's words while Birger openly rolled his eyes. Nanny let out a small snort of derision. But none of them argued. Cafer was pleased while Alaron seemed puzzled. The future ruler thought that the Council would put up more of a fight, but then he did not know that part of politics is not showing your true feelings in front of your adversary.

"If it pleases His Majesty, the Council will stay here for now." Cafer offered.

"It pleases me, except for Ezer. I need to speak with him about humans and magic," Alaron surprised the gnome by his words.

"What would Ezer know about such things?" Cafer asked.

"I saw him make a coin disappear by magic. I would like his thoughts on how he copes with the side effects of magic use." Alaron stated simply.

Cafer wanted to inform the prince that Ezer did not practice magic. But if he did and Alaron asked for proof, then the gnome would have to admit that he knew how addictive magic was for humans. "I do not sense any magic on Ezer. Are you sure?" the advisor decided to try to sow doubt.

"I am sure of what I saw. He used magic." Alaron responded confidently.

Ezer now realized that the prince had seen the trick that the man would do for his children. It was sleight of hand, not magic.

"Oh?" Cafer could see Ezer's hesitance. The gnome hated Ezer for humiliating him on the balcony all those years ago. This seemed like a good time to return the favor. "Show us your magic, Ezer." Cafer ordered a guard to pass a coin to the man.

Ezer held the coin in his hand, unsure if he should just admit his lack of magic. That is when wind softer than a whisper entered his ears with Brinn's voice. "Do your trick like normal, but utter these words..."

Councilman Ezer did as the wind bid him. He spoke the words and at the appropriate moment, flicked his hands such that the coin 'disappeared'.

Alaron smiled triumphantly. "You see? Thank you for the demonstration, Ezer."

Cafer was shocked to hear the man use the ancient tongue. But something seemed off. Ezer's magic was unlike anything the gnome had ever seen. His skepticism rose. "Show us something else," the gnome demanded.

"I am not here to entertain you, Cafer," Ezer countered.

"That is very true," Alaron agreed. "Please come with me, Ezer."

Realizing he would not win this round, Cafer nodded at the rest of the prisoners. "We will come back and discuss your cooperation again soon. The preparations for Alaron's coronation have already begun. Once the palace is restored, we will hold the ceremony. It should be within the next couple of weeks."

"And will Empress Aurora be joining us for the ceremony?" Birger asked a little too innocently. While they had hinted that the Empress was alive, Cafer had not bragged that Aurora was in their custody.

"We are working on securing her attendance," the advisor sneered.

"I see. If the Empress is there, I would have a much easier time attending myself," Birger affirmed. The words sounded right, but the tone was mocking.

"I will make sure everything is arranged to your satisfaction, then," Cafer responded through gritted teeth. "If you will excused me, Your Majesty."

"Of course, Uncle Cafer," Alaron gave him permission to leave.

"Glory to the Emperor!" the gnome called louder than he meant to before leaving in a huff. It took every ounce of energy for Cafer not to slam the door on Birger's smug face. 'That man is infuriating!' Cafer thought.

The advisor caught sight of a gnomic guard who was waiting for him. He motioned for the guard to follow him toward a meeting room. "Tell me you have something worthwhile to report!" the gnome snapped.

"The Empress has not come out of the tunnel and we have not been able to enter," the guard said cautiously.

"And you felt this was news because...?" Cafer glared at other gnome.

The guard looked at his feet. "Well...the tunnel leading to the Storehouse is...gone."

The walls shook slightly as Cafer's anger finally erupted. "THAT BLASTED EMPRESS!"