They reunited in one of Kareen’s salons, but he just wanted to hurry to the Capital. He had followed his sister, only because Shareen had insisted on the best strategy to attack Vrehan and help Cassandra. Otherwise, he’d be miles away already. Their mother was seated on one of her throne-like chairs, but at her feet, Phetra was on her knees. As soon as she had seen Shareen and Kairen, her eyes had widened in absolute horror. She was a cunning woman, but outside of the Imperial Palace and without her brother to protect her, she was pitifully defenseless...although none of them felt an ounce of pity for her.
Anour and Evin were standing a few steps away, too. Kairen recognized the Imperial Servant, but only frowned a little and did not ask. He could easily imagine his sister had dragged him here from the North Army Camp. He was most interested in Phetra, that treacherous snake that had, according to what his sister had told him on the way there, injured Cassandra. Though she was already in a pitiful state, the War God slapped the woman.
The sound made by that slap was terrifying. The strength of those hands shook Phetra’s whole head, and she was thrown on the floor once again, half of her face burning. She had felt several bones cracking, and the scream that resonated left no doubt about the amount of pain she was in.
Anour and Evin couldn’t bear to look. Despite their education in this cruel environment, they couldn’t help but feel bad witnessing the difference of strength between the War God and a woman. Kareen clicked her tongue.
“Kairen, we need that little rat alive.”
“She’s alive,” said Shareen, her arms crossed.
She was staring at Phetra with a disdainful look. In Shareen’s eyes, Phetra was already very lucky to be alive after angering their family and harming Cassandra. If it wasn’t for Kareen, her brother would have most likely not stopped until she was slapped flat as a rug. Phetra’s wailing was the only sound heard around, as all the Diamond Palace servants had scattered away.
Kareen put her chin on her fist.
“Anyway. While you were gone, I got some annoying news from my spies in the Capital.”
“News from Cassie and Missandra?” asked Shareen.
“Sadly, no. They hadn’t arrived yet, but my men informed the residence that guy told us about,” said the Imperial Concubine while pointing at Evin. “In any case, they will be ready for their arrival, and of course, I appointed some men to watch the house and let me know as soon as they finally arrive.”
“I’m going to the Capital.”
“Kairen, I know you want to hurry there, my son, but wait a minute. There is more. First, my spies confirmed your father is ill. No one has seen the Emperor in days. The last councils have all been held without him or Sephir.”
“Those damn Ministers,” growled Shareen. “They are probably dancing around our treasury and doing whatever shit they want while no one is there.”
“Those your brother has corrupted, you mean,” said her mother. “Vrehan has always been very smart in politics, he probably has half of those greedy men ready to bow for him, and the other half scared to have him get some spring cleaning done while his father’s not there to stop him. In other words, he has the whole Imperial Palace working for him.”
“Is that going to be a problem?” asked Shareen.
“A dragon alone can’t solve everything, Shareen. If he has the Imperial Palace working for him, he’ll kill your father as soon as he returns there and be named Emperor. Then, he’ll raise both his army and the Imperial Army against you two. I know how strong my children are, but against two armies, even you won’t be able to get inside the Imperial Palace that easily!”
“We can just fly inside,” shrugged Shareen. “Who cares about the armies on the ground, if we come from above.”
“You think that snake, Vrehan, won’t have thought about that? Either he will have a trap ready or hide himself somewhere you can’t get to him so easily. He’s just the type to let others do the dirty work for him while never getting a speck of dirt on himself.”
Shareen rolled her eyes, annoyed.
“Let’s get to it, Mother, what do you suggest?”
Kareen pushed Phetra with her foot, making her wail again. The Princess was gagged though, and unable to speak. Her jaw was probably broken anyway, with those two trails of blood that were now rushing out her mouth. She was almost curling up against the throne, like a terrorized animal.
“While you children were gone, Miss Phetra, here, and I, had an interesting talk. Your older brother is expecting you to come flying. That useless little swine didn’t know the details, but her brother will have all of the skies filled with traps, most likely with catapults, giant crossbows, and so on. He is expecting Kairen to show up by himself with Krai. He will focus all of his men into stopping you, my son, no matter how much he’ll sacrifice. He is already days ahead of us, he will get to the Capital first, anyway, and I bet everything is all ready to welcome you there, on his orders. We have to think he will kill your father as soon as he can and have the Imperial Army return to do his bidding.”
“Then...”
“Get the Eastern Army to the Capital. He knows Kairen is not one to bother waiting and summoning his army, he won’t expect the Eastern Army to show up and fight Vrehan’s militia or the Imperial Army with him.”
“True... He would expect Kairen and I to show up alone without the army.”
“Exactly. Vrehan may be a coward, but he’s annoyingly smart. He will do whatever he can to delay Kairen’s return to the Imperial Palace, even throw a whole army at him. Make sure that little rat is distracted enough with what goes on outside, that he won’t have time to get to Cassandra. She is our best chance from the inside. If that smart girl manages to heal your old man or at least win us some time, we can even hope to get rid of Vrehan without too many issues. Though, if your father passes first, it will be much more difficult to get to Vrehan and Cassandra.”
Shareen wouldn’t say it out loud, but they all knew. The next victim in this conflict would most likely be their father. He had to be Vrehan’s first target upon coming back. They didn’t know why he wasn’t already dead, but since Cassandra and her son had escaped, the Second Prince would have no choice but to get rid of the old Emperor as fast as he could. Then he could be named Emperor, and get full control of the Imperial Army.
“But the Imperial Army went with Brother to the battlefront in the East,” said Anour. “Brother just returned, they can’t go back to the Capital faster than a Dragon.”
“Not all of the Army was sent here. The Emperor wouldn’t have left the Capital with no defense.”
