Empires of Saturn, Part One

Chapter 11, Declaration

Chpt. 11 Declaration

On Alrotha, in the silvery blue Capital Chambers, the Ruling Seat was gathered, sitting in the ovular Room of Dispute, where they sat to debate most matters of controversy. Today, the weather was warm, so they had the roof raised, opening up air holes just beneath it, revealing the deep green sky outside, sprinkled with stringy white clouds, and making a pleasant breeze through the room.

All 81 seats were filled, accounting the members of the leading oligarchy, their assistants, and the main subordinates of government. In the center of the room were two hologram projectors built into the wood-planked floor, offset from the center to the left and to the right, hence why the room was an oval in the first place, instead of a circle.

Silver-skinned, gunmetal grey-haired, and mostly green or silver-eyed individuals in brightly colored, fancy clothes all sat in anticipation and anxiety, waiting on the transmission they'd been told they'd be receiving soon.

In the silence, the breeze blew, ruffling clothes, blowing hair, waiting.

"My lords." The Channel Monitor said, his voice being amplified for all to clearly hear. "We have received communication."

Unanimously, many of those in attendance ordered him, "On holo."

King Hasion, Queen Seren, and Prince Jeonon appeared on the hologram, Hasion standing front and center, with his wife behind him to his right, and his son behind him to his left. Both Hasion and Jeonon wore their swords at their waists, while Seren held her odd staff to her right. Each of them wore royal grandeur, complete with an ornate, bronze crown. "Greetings Alrothians; I trust your day is going well?" Hasion said immediately, his monotone, dull accent contrasting the energetic, buzzing accent of the culturally inclined, grand Alrothian people.

"Speak what you have of importance to us, King." One of the assembly said impatiently.

"Ah yes, let us not waste time on formalities, my dear Ruling Seat. I do believe that we have dealings with war, no?"

"Ve do business, not violence." The Seat told him, the rest of the assembly voicing their agreement.

"This business is violence. Are we understood?" Hasion challenged darkly.

A man on the Seat sighed, looking to his co-rulers. "...So it iz obliged." He agreed remorsefully.

"Excellent..." Hasion purred, like a cat soon to pounce on unsuspecting prey. "Just one more day. I trust we will meet face to face soon enough, Alrothians. Your destiny will be swift, I assure you."

Jeonon smirked in the background while Seren kept a composed, serene face, her eyes passing over those she could see in the assembly chambers. Then, the transmission ended, and the hologram disappeared.

"Ve cannot do zis!" Someone in the room immediately objected, others agreeing.

"Ve do not zeem to have much choice, do ve?!" Another objected.

The man who had last spoke to Hasion just set his hand on his face, rubbing his eyes in exasperated exhaustion.

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Narin was running for all he was worth right now through the streets of Crown, surrounded by enemies, the Queen's warnings coming back to him. He could not get caught. They would surely imprison and torture him; he knew they would. Everywhere he went, people stared at him with anger and hatred. Now, they were chasing after him with anger and hatred, and weapons. Pocket knives and heavy purses, not to mention the police trying to capture him again.