The courtyard was somber as the Maids and guards tried to rally forces and clean the blood from the stone cobble ways. Alexi and Damar stood in the throne room, looking around, sadness in their hearts.
Every trace of their father had been erased, replaced with Bastil's taste. Garish and costly, even the floor tiles had been replaced with softer wood, engraved with scenes of the hunt. Neither of them were happy as they looked around the room, the Empress Dowager's chair had even been removed, instead a more elaborate queens chair remained. It was clear that he had lost site of their duty, what being Emperor had meant.
"How do we undo this?" Alexi asked sitting on the steps, his head in his hands.
"We remove these things, restore it to order, and melt down the gold to pay for funerals and to rebuild the city. What else can we do?" Damar asked shaking his head at the golden ornaments that replaced the once proud stone statues of their forefathers.
"How did he do this in such short a time? It was less than half a year." Alexi growled and Damar laughed.
"Half of these things he had commissioned over the course of 10 years. He has been preparing to become Emperor since we were children. Why shouldn't he?" Damar laughed darkly "You both knew I didn't want that position, or to marry another woman. I only wanted Melania and I'm a soldier, not a politician. He didn't see you as a threat; and once he and his mother started bullying Raina and playing dirty Clovis dropped out to protect his family. He thought he had a clear shot."
"I didn't want it either, but we were naive to think he could rule." Alexi sighed shaking his head. Damar nodded slowly. "Now what? How do we choose an Emperor?"
"We wait till Clovis is here and we decide as a family. In all honesty hes the best candidate for a king. No offense brother; but you are nothing more than a politician and I am a soldier. Neither of us can lead on our own bloodlessly." Damar pointed out. He had learned a lot from the last few months, watching how the Frost Kingdom worked… they were happy. A strong nation built off equality and understanding, be wanted the same for this kingdom, but it would take more than just battle prowess and strategy to accomplish what was needed.
"He and Kyera are born to lead. I agree perhaps they could serve the people better." Alexi agreed, he just wanted to bring his family home. This was when they belonged.
"I thought I would find you here, discussing this. I have a proposition for you both." Clovis stood in the doorway still in the cloths from the day before; yet he looked well rested. Damar pulled him into a hug first, then Alexi took his turn.
"Welcome back, brother. Where the hell did you go?" Damar asks, he could smell the forest on him. The heady scent that followed Kyera around like a gentle reminder of her wild nature.
"The tiger that rescued my wife yesterday? Yea he was my love rival, the one who betrayed Kyera, then turned around and rescued my son. Gale is in Kyera's arms where he belongs." Those words were met with exclamations of excitement, no one had expected the baby to be alive. That alone made this battle worth it, a gilded lining to the dark cloud of battle.
"Thank the Gods for that." Damar smiled and patted his hand on his brothers back, making a solid thudding noise.
"Yes. I agree. Speaking of Gods are we going to ignore what Sister in law did yesterday? Those shadow demons?" Alexi pointed out a bit hesitant. No one had dared mention it thus far and it was really bugging him.
"No, they were Shadow Warriors, the guards of Moria. They came to their Princess when she called. The Goddess of Fate and the God of Death apparently have a feud going on." Clovis explained as if it was old news. Both his brothers slowly blinked as they took in this information.
"Sit. Explain. No one said anything about A God feud when this started." Damar pointed out before sitting down beside Alexi on the steps. Clovis sat on the floor and prepared to explain the truth.