Speed was essential. Mikhail rode through the streets of the capitol at a breakneck pace. He dodged carts and citizens, ignoring the shouts and insults hurled after him.
Approaching the palace, he threw his reins to the guard and strode quickly through the gates and across the courtyard, ignoring the salutes of the soldiers stationed there.
At that time of the afternoon, the Emperor would normally hear disputes in the smaller court of the eastern wing, and it was there that Mikhail headed.
He paused only when he came to the doors of the court, allowing the servant there enough time to announce his arrival.
When the doors opened, he strode purposely across the floor to the dais where the Emperor sat and kneeled, bowing his head to his brother.
"We were not expecting our brother's arrival, and certainly not expecting our brother to interrupt these most important proceedings," the Emperor greeted him with a frown. "We trust our brother has good reason?"
"I bring news from the north. I've rode hard for the last week with only a few hours sleep to speak with your highness. There is a matter of some urgency which demands our Emperor's immediate attention. I beg a private audience," Mikhail said, keeping his head bowed.
Though he did not look up, he could feel the Emperor's eyes on him.
"We trust our brother's judgment on what constitutes an urgent matter. Therefore, we shall dismiss the court and retire to our personal quarters. Prince Mikhail is to be granted a private audience," the Emperor announced.
Mikhail stayed on his knees while the Emperor stood and allowed his servants to adjust his long, formal robes and lead him from the court. When he was gone, Mikhail stood and hurried after him.
The Emperor's private rooms were only slightly less public than the court, and Mikhail was made to wait while the Emperor changed robes and his servants dismissed the women and courtiers who waited there to speak with him.
At last, they were alone. The Emperor seated himself behind his desk while Mikhail came to kneel before him.
"Go on then," the Emperor snapped, waving his hand impatiently. "It had better be important, Misha. You don't know what these last few days have been like!"
"The ancient ones have either lost control of their underlings, or they have purposely violated our agreement," Mikhail began. "It isn't only Chelblade. I've seen monsters only a day's ride from Pirchburg, and I need your command to drive them back from the Highlands before worse happens."
"And THAT is what you are here for?" the Emperor asked in disbelief.
"Your highness?" Mikhail replied, feigning confusion.
"You've heard nothing about the prisoner from Vezda or the council or the delegation?" the Emperor demanded, frowning.
"I've done my best to enforce your orders in secrecy, and I've come straight from Chelblade. I have not had word nor contact from my aide for many days now, and-
"The Princess has poisoned herself!" the Emperor angrily cut in. "She may not live through another night, and the council of seven kingdoms has decided to send a delegation to investigate her treatment. It's that damned Blackside Islands causing all the trouble, no doubt. I needed you here! I've sent messenger after messenger, but you've been out in the woods chasing after a bloody wolf or a deformed bear or some such creature!" the Emperor accused.
The realization that the Emperor would do nothing to protect the Highlands hit Mikhail hard in that moment, but he did not show it. He had brought up Chelblade only to convince the Emperor of his complete lack of knowledge concerning the Princess and her whereabouts.
"If the Princess dies by her own hand at this time, we will face sanctions, we could lose our ports. How did she come by poison? She was in your care!" the Emperor yelled, his former regal demeanor had completely vanished.
"I... I confess myself at a loss," Mikhail replied, pretending to be taken aback. "I brought the Princess as far north as Pirchburg because I feared leaving her undefended in Bludston. I have been very careful concerning her safety, because... Brother... I ought to have sent word as soon as I suspected, but..."
Mikhail paused and hung his head as if he truly feared saying his next words. The Emperor crossed his arms and came to stand over him.
"Go on," the Emperor ordered.
"I believe the Princess of Vezda has... I believe that she is pregnant with my child... a child of our line..." Mikhail confessed.
The Emperor took a step back and leaned against the desk as if he needed the support.
"I never would have imagined that she would take her own life while she was with... brother, I have done everything possible to see to her security! I know what a child could mean to this Empire... and to my Emperor! I... surrounded her with extra guards. I had every servant investigated. I hired a female body guard who resembled her so that in case of an attack-"
"The Princess is with child?" the Emperor confirmed.
"It is still early and difficult to say for certain, but yes, brother, I believe so," Mikhail muttered, raising his hand to his forehead as though the thought of losing a child of the royal line caused him pain.
The Emperor was silent for a long moment. Mikhail knew his brother well, knew that his mind was working furiously at the possibility of an heir, and how to preserve such a miracle.
"She is not the elder daughter," his brother muttered.
"No," Mikhail agreed quickly. "We are certain of that."
"Perhaps you are mistaken," he suggested.
"Perhaps, but the signs are there," Mikhail answered.
"You have had plenty of women. You and Ilya spend more time at the Imperial brothels than any man of my court, and never before... not even once..." the Emperor muttered to himself.
"I was shocked as well. Perhaps you can understand why I wanted to be certain before reporting it," Mikhail said, bowing even lower as if he feared the Emperor's anger.
"The royal physician already tends to her day and night... I will send for a healer from Brelstan, and the temple of Vezda as well," the Emperor replied, seating himself behind the desk and reaching at once for parchment and pen.
At that moment, the knock at the door Mikhail had been waiting for finally came.
"Enter!" the Emperor snapped as he began to scrawl a message. Mikhail continued to kneel before the desk.
One of the Emperor's personal servants hurried across the floor and kneeled behind Mikhail, waiting to be addressed.
"What is it now?" the Emperor demanded.
"Forgive this servant, your highness, but I have come to report a disturbance in the city," the man said nervously.
"Disturbance? What disturbance?" the Emperor asked, not bothering to look up from his letter.
"A procession through the streets, heading towards the p-palace-" the servant stuttered.
The Emperor finally paused, glancing up to glare at the trembling man.
"For what reason?" he asked slowly.
"They say it is the Princess of Vezda come to answer the Emperor's summons," the man said quickly, bowing his head even lower.
"Impossible..." the Emperor muttered. "What nonsense is this now?"
Mikhail glanced up, taking in the Emperor's angry and confused expression. His brother made eye contact as if demanding an explanation.
"An imposter, no doubt," Mikhail said quickly. "Our Emperor has already verified the identity of the Princess. Shall I deal with this, your highness?"
At his words, the Emperor appeared thoughtful. He frowned and rubbed his chin.
"The princess... arrived at our palace... unconscious..." he said after a moment.
"But surely, your men confirmed the identity of the Princess before-"
"The Princess's travel party was in the midst of an attack!" The Emperor cut Mikhail's words off. "Under normal circumstances, certainly, but in our desire to be fair to our men, we must concede that such procedures may have been abbreviated if not eliminated for the sake of safety."
"Forgive me, Your Highness. I did not realize my men came under attack," Mikhail lied smoothly. "However, in such case, whenever the Princess is threatened, her body guard is trained to take her place. Is it possible that..."
Prince Mikhail paused, bowing his head again as if searching for the words that might suggest an error had occurred without accusing the Emperor of making a mistake.
"We have come to believe that it is a possibility that our men were mistaken in identifying the Princess of Vezda. It is our desire that Prince Mikhail be brought to the rooms given to the Princess in order to ascertain whether or not a mistake has been made. We further ask that this be done as quickly as possible," The Emperor ordered.
Mikhail stood quickly and bowed to the Emperor, suppressing a shudder at the look of calculation and greed on his brother's face.
He was on dangerous ground now. The Emperor was, perhaps, already deciding whether or not to get rid of him. There were laws in place preventing the ruler of Unaria from marrying a woman who had already had a husband or known a man, and for good reason.
However, the Princess was a political prisoner, and the Emperor could justify taking her as a wife by saying that she was sent to Bludston, not as his brother's woman, but for her own safety, to keep her from supporters in the capitol. If he was dead, no one would speak against the match.
Further, if no one knew the Princess had conceived before the marriage, then the Emperor would have his undisputed heir, born of his blood, if not his own seed... or so he would think. The Princess would then end up in the same situation as her sister, and would likely meet the same end.
He would have to stay alive, and to do that, he would need to be very careful.
He followed the servant to the guest rooms off the upper hall and was ushered into one of the larger and most luxurious bedrooms.
Fioria lay very still upon the bed, her face as pale as moonlight. The royal physician glanced up from his spot beside her.
"This..." Mikhail said, "Is not the Princess of Vezda."