The Empress stood at the edge of the highest balcony of the palace overlooking the expanse of the Empire. Great parades of people traveled though the streets dancing, singing, and overall enjoying themselves. The Second Anniversary of the Empire had brought great jubilation through the realms, and they celebrated now. They wound like great snakes through the streets, singing and dancing as they made their way through both the main streets of the Capital.
A smile crossed her lips seeing the joy that the recent days had inspired within her people. Briskly she turned and walked back inside, beckoning one of the scribes to her. She began speaking, knowing that each word would be followed by the scribbling sounds of the scribe’s quill on the tough parchment. As She did, She continued walking, stopping only once in her speech to call for a messenger. Moving ever closer to her study, the scribe’s hand still moving feverishly over the document.
She sat, allowing the folds of her robes to gather around her, and then asked to have the document read back to her. With a clear voice the scribe reiterated the message, scratching out any point that the Empress disapproved of, and changing it to Her Majesty’s wish. The messenger arrived seconds before She had concluded the rewrite of the message.
After a hasty rewrite, the scribe handed the document to Her, and after sprinkling the still wet ink with a fine sand, She rolled it up and placed Her Seal on it. Handing it to the messenger, She informed him the document was to be delivered to the Capital House where laws are provisioned. Before releasing her grip from it, She said, “Deliver this personally to the Magistrate there and tell him to set it immediately into action.” The scribe nodded and within moments was horseback and riding through the streets.
The messenger raced through town, coming directly to the Capital House and the Magistrate’s office. The plump and dignified man sat there, his white hair in locks, and a pair of spectacles resting on his too large of a nose. After handing over the scroll, the messenger stood at attention before the Magistrate’s desk. The rotund man then unfurled the document, his eyes devouring the words hungrily. Within moments the old wizened man looked up to the messenger, calling out for his office attendants even as he did. The quiet office instantly became abuzz as he ordered his secretaries and assistants to their duties. It was an organized chaos to say the least, and the messenger stood silent and rigid during it all.
When at last it had ended, the messenger asked, “Magistrate, is there anything which you wish for me to inform the Empress of?”
The Magistrate look dumbfounded for only a second. “Yes, yes, tell Her Majesty it will be done at once,” he bellowed even as he gathered up a collection of papers and ushered both himself and the messenger out of his office. Slamming the door shut he emphasized, “Her Highness can rest assured, the Second Minor Tournament is already set into action.” |
