B5 Chapter 52 – Daggers in the Dark

Merigold had never imagined that she would ever be the target of an assassination attempt. After all, the Herimar family were, by the standards of the Imperial Court, a weak and unimportant branch family possessing thin blood and little wealth. She’d been lucky to study at the Twin Goddess Academy on a scholarship, and her grades had earned her a minor position within the bureaucracy. That was supposed to be her lot in life. And she would have been very satisfied with it!

She was never supposed to experience… whatever this was!

“How many were there, Honoured Stennis?” she asked hesitantly.

The Imperial Knight looked at her, his gaze holding all the power of a mule’s kick. She restrained herself, barely, holding her trembling smile.

“Three, my lady,” he said, his deep voice a perfect match for his dark hair and well-defined features.

The man was a stunning specimen of a human, from a strong bloodline to boot, but Merigold couldn’t bring herself to care. Even looking at him was difficult. He had to be higher than Gold rank, which more or less confirmed the Imperial Knights were allowed to reach platinum. At least platinum.

Tasked with guarding the capital, they were among the finest warriors in the Empire, with the exception of the Divine Army that guarded the Palace of Ascension itself. They were important people who did important things, and she had never in her wildest dreams imagined that one would be assigned to guard her.

Or that it would be necessary!

“Have they all been… dealt with?” she said, flinching at her own words.

“With prejudice. I believe two will survive long enough to receive healing and be put to the question. Though I doubt they will be able to give us any useful information regarding who sent them. Much like the last lot, they always act through intermediaries.”

“I… see,” she said faintly.

To think that, so far, eight people had died because of her. It… she simply wasn’t able to process it. Who would do something like this? Why?

Stennis placed a hand on the back of her seat.

“It is not your fault, my lady. You have faithfully executed your duties. It is for that reason that the Emperor has seen fit to place me by your side.”

Merigold took a few deep breaths, then nodded. He wasn’t wrong, she had done the right thing. She was given a task, and she had done what was necessary to ensure it was done, for the good of the Empire and the people who lived in it.

The more time passed, the more she realised that her goals weren’t shared by everyone. The enchanted globes of light were muted at this time of night, but it was more than enough to work with. The dozens of pages scattered over the desk in front of her were filled with tables, reports and her own neatly organised notes regarding the rebellion.

The Grand Duke Isholn, who had previously attempted to have her instructions overthrown and the thousand-strong expedition launch their attack into the rebellion without support, had been temporarily suppressed by her manoeuvre, but he would eventually be allowed to return to his duties. In the meantime, his allies within the Military Administration, or perhaps he himself, seemed insistent on having her killed for daring to usurp their authority.

As if the Emperor himself hadn’t given her this job!

Feeling vengeful, Merigold snatched up a handful of paper and crumbled it into a tight ball, her unkempt red hair falling over her face as she smushed it as best she could. When it was as tight a ball as she could make she flung it across the room with force. As luck had it, the paper smacked into what looked like a rather expensive bust of a long dead High Lady, which began to tilt rather precariously as a result of the impact.

Filled with regret, Merigold squawked and tried to clamber over the desk to save it, knowing she wouldn’t be in time, only for something to blur out of the corner of her eye. There was a gust of wind, and then Stennis was there, righting the bust with one hand, his eyes never ceasing to scan the room.

“No harm done,” he assured her.

She sagged back into her chair, brimming with relief. Goddess knew what family she would offend if she broke something so old. The last thing she needed was more enemies.

What she really needed was some good news. Hopefully, the two coming in downstairs might be able to deliver.

A few minutes later, Esmer and Dolan walked upstairs looking pleased with themselves.

“We’ve done it, Lady Herimar!” Dolan declared, triumphantly holding forth a sealed scroll in both hands.

“They approved it?” she gasped.

“They did,” Esmer nodded. “The full council voted on it in the afternoon session. Signed and sealed with the Emperor’s own name.”

Merigold froze in the act of reaching for the scroll. Handling documents with the name of the Emperor on them was hazardous business, as Grand Duke Isholn well knew! She withdrew her hands and carefully folded them in her lap.

“Any chance you could open it for me, Dolan?” she suggested.

Her subordinate rolled his eyes and broke the seal with confidence. With sure motions, he expanded the scroll and placed it flat on the table before her. Covered in gold filigree, ornate, enchanted ink that danced on the paper and emitted its own light, the document was so official it was practically blinding. After a few moments to collect herself, Merigold was finally able to read the relevant sections.

“Finally,” she sighed, falling back as the energy flew out of her body.

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All she’d had to do was endure death threats, assassins, political manoeuvring, get a stubborn old man thrown in prison and generally make a nuisance of herself, but finally, finally, the Golden Legion was approved to attack the rebellion.

Five thousand strong, they couldn’t possibly fail.

They’d argued it was overkill, an unnecessary expense, profligate waste at a time when revenues were down. Hadn’t she heard of the devastation of the Western Province?

As if they could ever repopulate the west if the rebellion wasn’t dealt with!

Ploy after ploy, excuse after excuse, delay after delay. They refused to allow anyone to order the deployment of the Golden Legion who didn’t fall under their Administration. However, after countless arguments in front of the council, the proposal was finally approved.

If it had taken any longer, she would have had to increase the numbers to ten thousand. She refused to underestimate the Necromancer, regardless of how others seemed to think.

At least it was finally over. Five thousand strong—the rebellion wouldn’t be able to stand against that. When the fighting was done, she could pick through the pieces, document what she found, have her work placed within great vaults of the Empire and resign her commission. Hopefully she could disappear back to a tiny desk in some backwards administration, sanitation maybe, and nobody would try to kill her.

Perhaps it would be worth petitioning to have Honoured Stennis remain with her for a time….

“Have you… finished reading it?” Esmer said, stepping up to the table.

Merigold waved her hand.

“The attack has been approved, isn’t that all we need?”