As Rima traversed the cobblestone bridge leading to the throne room, she looked at the scenery. From there she could see the academy and the tower in the distance and while looking at it she let out a sigh whispering to herself "for you..." As if trying to give herself strength before her meeting with Asad Rothdra, emperor of Alem, ruler of Abkar.
"Milady we should make haste; his majesty is waiting." Said the commander of the entourage of knights escorting her. She nodded and followed.
"I'm Commander Heylen! I come with lady Rima for the meeting with his majesty." aid the commander.
The two elite knights looked at the commander and nodded. The enormous marble door opened soundlessly, as would any Ba'sar powered door, and the entourage entered the great hall, the very hall where you and I are standing, Chronicler. The structure of the throne room was in some ways similar to the current one, albeit much more extravagant for my tastes. The space between the columns to the right and to the left leading to the throne area where adorned with green curtains with golden brocade. The room was filled with functionaries and servant that were whispering after being interrupted by the entourage's entrance. Commander Heylen, the most important military figure entrusted with the internal security of the academia and of managing the logistics that come with maintaining diplomatic relations between the palace and the academia.
"Ah Rima, you're finally here!" Said a voice coming from the throne area.
"Sir!" Said the knight entourage in perfect unison while bowing and casting their eyes down, their green long capes reaching the marble pavement.
"Yes, yes...enough with the formalities," said emperor Asad "I have important things to discuss with lady Rima so leave the room"
"Sir?" Said the baffled emperor's guards
"Yes, make everyone leave the room, and you all follow suit. You can wait behind the doors."
"Yes, my lord" nodded the imperial guards.
"Dear functionaries, the meeting is adjourned to tomorrow. I will think thoroughly about the important matters we have discussed, now leave." Commanded the emperor.
The whisper of the guests increased after the emperor's command, but it was followed by their swift marching toward the entrance, the knights following behind them.
"Milady..." Said the worried Heylen.
"It's fine, leave" said Rima with a gentle and yet worried smile
After everyone left the throne room and the Ba'sar powered doors were closed a deafening silence fell on the room, interrupted only by the steps of the emperor walking toward Rima, which seemed to cut the silence like a clock. Rima's face darkened as she briefly glared at the emperor. By the time the emperor got to a distance of a few feet she mustered all her strength to fake a smile and bow to the emperor.
"Majesty." Said Rima
"Oh Rima, there is no need for such pleasantries," said the bothered Asad "how are your children and your husband?"
"They are fine, thank you for your concern your majesty." Said Rima, marking her formal tone almost as an act of defiance to the emperor's request of using a more informal tone.
Rima's head shook strongly at the emperor's violently slap to her face.
The emperor glared at her as she lied on the ground holding her right bleeding cheek "I thought I was clear when I told you to stop with the pleasantries, is it clearer now?"
Rima lied there silently as Asad flared "is it Rima?!" To which she replied "yes...Asad."
"That is much better, said the emperor while fixing his clothes and passing his silken handkerchief to clean his blood-stained hand "much better." He concluded smiling.
Rima got to her feet not without difficulties and looked at the emperor, her face not showing any emotion.
"C'mon Rima, do not give me that face. Not anyone can say to have been touched by the hand of the emperor, right?" Then continued the emperor "Nor anyone can say to have killed the wife of the emperor and get away with only a few slaps once in a while right?" Said Asad while glaring at Rima who had her face humbly looking down, like a beaten dog. "Your son, Alar, will soon be of age to take over the position of Elegon, and I'm looking forward to that. But I've heard that your son is not so happy at the prospect..."
"That is not true your majesty, he's very dedicated and his father is following him with care." Said Rima
"Oh, I'm sure about that, I was just wondering. It would be a mess if the next dean chosen by the emperor himself would turn out to be a traitor, right? If that was the case...the only solution would be to execute him." Said Asad with a shar tone, as if trying to get the attention of Rima and get her to raise her head and look at him, and she did.
"Asad, there is no need to worry. He will succeed his father."
"Yes...yes..I'm sure of that, but you know how rumors spread. Make sure that such rumors do not reach my ears again. Your son is a valuable resource to the empire. His Ba'sar...nobody managed to call a dragon in thousands of years." After saying that, Asad bursted laughing "I still remember the look on Elegon's face looking at the scene. The guards almost cutting your beautiful head off, the dead body of my beloved Mira shred to pieces by your beautiful hands, and the little Alar losing his mind at the thought of her dead mother and then..." Asad then continued after a brief pause, as if to make sure that every word of his would slowly pierce through Rima's ears "and then we know the story, like a hero from a storybook for children the little Alar speaks the language of the dragons and calls the mighty Shahaka, the Plumed One!"
Rima raised her head and glared at Asad "did you call me to remind me of the story?"
The emperor shrugged "I tend to dwell in the past but you know, killing all the witnesses wasn't easy to cover up and justify. We're talking of a thousand imperial elite dead guards after all. But indeed, I called you for a reason, you've been delaying your son's visit to the palace, the little..."
"Leaf" said Rima
"Yes, indeed" The little red Leaf. We wouldn't want another dragon caller to pop up in Akmar's family, do we?" said Asad
"He did not show any sign of...." Said Rima before being interrupted violently
"As if...! As if, you would tell me Rima. I want the boy here by the end of the month or I will burn all of the academy to the ground not giving a damn about the ancient treaty between our families, at least of that I'm very much capable" said Asad as the air around him distorted and his blue eyes becoming deeper, darker. Rima was shaking and the air in the room became thicker before returning calm.
"That is an order." Said Asad smiling eerily.