"Inter-planetary commerce has dropped by 75% with shortages of grain--"
Rouya rubbed her temples as she struggled to pay attention to the reports of her council members. They'd each give off ten minute speech on what's going wrong in their specific area and then expect her to pull a solution right out of her arm. Whenever she made a suggestion, it immediately brought up objections by other members which would point out shortcomings in other fields that made it impossible for her to achieve what she suggested.
She always saw her father as the supreme ruler who could do whatever he wanted and she wondered if he had to deal with the same attitudes.
"Redistribute grain and other necessities from the imperial stockpiles to the planets in need and remind them from who the support is coming from," Rouya said. She rubbed the ring on her finger, eager to meet the newest daeva in her service and get some answers out of her. When she arrived back on Aequilla, her advisors immediately dragged her away to the endless meetings.
"That would dry up our reserves, your grace," Lord Palin, the chief commerce advisor, pointed out. "The past few years have seen harvests decline by ten percent. We'll need the reserves in the coming year if things don't get better."
"We'll worry about that when the time comes. For now, we should consider taking care of our people so they may live to see next year."
An odd silence took hold of the chamber as none of her advisors voiced their agreement but also withheld their criticism. Apparently they were all more concerned about their own well-being in the coming year if things went sour again.
"An alternative on my side, perhaps," Palin suggested. "Lifle in the Rion sector is one of the highest agriculture worlds we lost in recent time. A military expedition to re-secure the planet would greatly increase our production."
"Impossible," Satrap Irul snapped. As minister for war he knew all there was about the military capacity of her empire. "Our forces are already hard-pressed to hold on to territories we control. Rebel activity, ambushes and dissatisfaction are at an all-time high. We need to consolidate our forces on key worlds until Shahbanu Rouya is able to bring the remaining systems back into line."
"Enough of this arguing," Rouya said, rising from her chair at the end of the table. "I've already won a first victory and will follow this up with another duel once I have familiarized myself with the maiden's abilities. For now, let's redistribute half of our stock and begin a recruitment drive to retake Lifle. Now if you'll excuse me, I need some privacy."
The council members glanced at each other but took their leave in silence. She waited until they were all gone before slumping back in the chair and letting out a sigh. Ruling was proving to be harder than she thought. She never received the training necessary for the position, that fell to her younger brother whom she found with her sister and mother in the foyer.
Rouya pushed aside the darker thoughts and concentrated on reaching for magic as she summoned Tessia. Parsa knew something he thought would spare him her wrath. He could have been trying to buy time to strike back against her but didn't appear apt enough to try such a move.
Tessia appeared beside her in a stream of light. Her long curly white hair flowed over her shoulders. She gave a slight bow, bringing her hand to her chest as she moved. "You summoned me, master."
"You don't seem surprised to see me," Rouya pointed out. The maidens were only loyal to those that held the relics but she still expected them to show some signs of loyalty or remorse.
Tessia flung her hair back and smiled. "He failed to supply me with magic and coordinate with me. Running away only finalized his defeat. I hope you know how to treat me right."
"I plan on reuniting all seven relics and becoming empress."
"Don't they all?"
"What do you mean?"
"Parsa believed he could live out his days with me at his side and rule over his little domain. That all the separatists would respect each other and live in peace. Envy is something you can always count on. Eventually somebody would try to regain complete control and take me from him. I'm glad a more capable, and attractive, summoner has already presented herself."
Rouya stood and moved in front of her, peering into her stormy gray eyes. Tessia lacked the muscles Attia or Evelyn had, her body more ample than either of the other maidens while still being a head taller than Rouya. "Parsa begged me for his freedom and offered me information before Markus killed him. I was hoping you might have been privy to any of the secrets he might have been keeping."
Tessia raised her brows and leaned in. "He was a simple man and just as easy to please. He had no secrets worth keeping."
"Is that so?" Rouya mused, steeling herself from being intimated by her presence. She was the master and in control. "What about Markus Relius? You must have been there when the traitors stole the relics from my father. What was his role in all this?"
Tassia cocked her head and tapped her chin playfully. "I was off world when it happened but when Parsa summoned me Kalim and Markus were already at each other's throats battling. Kalim ended up taking Adelaxia as a hostage but let him live."
"So they were fighting but instead of ganging up on Markus, they retreated?"
"Yes, it appears as if Kalim were trying to win him over to his side but I can't say for sure. Parsa was eager to return home and show me off."
Rouya frowned and thought over everything that had happened these past few days. His defiance to her wishes and the way he just killed Parsa instead of taking him prisoner raised suspicions but Tassia couldn't lie to her master and from what she said it appeared as if he told the truth and was loyal to her father. She felt a burden release from her shoulder at the thought of having one less rival to deal with and looked forward to spending the night with Evelyn again.
"Thank you for your information. I'm going to return to my chambers and rest for now. You're free to do as you like in the palace, just don't wander off too far."
Tassia stared at her with a blank expression and blinked several times. "What? You want me to guard the perimeter?"
"No, the guards are in place and Eveyln will take care of my protection for tonight. You're free to do whatever it is you like. The gardens are nice and there's usually a concert playing during dinner if you'd like to listen to music."
"I, uhm, don't know what to think about that but I'll do as you wish, master."
"Just call me Rouya, there's no need for master. We're friends from now on."
"Friends ..."