The Guardian Of Empires

19. The Unfair Sentence

Yuriy's carriage delivered Theodore to the Emperor's summer palace. Napoleon used this residence to spend time with close friends, often leaving servants at the capital's palace so that no one would get in the way. Sometimes the emperor cooked: he occupied the kitchen and conjured up meals which recipes' he knew from his Corsican childhood.

'Theodore! Why didn't you notify me you were coming today?' Napoleon, beaming with a smile, hugged his friend. He wore a fur waistcoat, which made him look like a fluffy cat.

The cold weather caught everyone by surprise. It would take hours for a fireplace to warm up the room in an old stone palace. Theodore's room wasn't ready yet, but the young man had a completely different thing on his mind:

'Napoleon, there's a lot I need to tell you. But first, can one of your people deliver a letter to the south, to If-Aghann, right now?'

'Something important?'

'Yes!' Theodore couldn't stop thinking about how Jacques-Louis was feeling in the cold prison cell and so didn't wish to prolong it. The young man himself was ready to drop; lack of sleep and the continuous jolt of the carriage ride manifested themselves.

'I only have a few people here. I sent everyone away,' Napoleon guiltily spread his hands. His face instantly turned straight. 'There are guardsmen, but... I prefer to trust important letters to Sergey or one of his lads. I left them in the capital to keep an eye on Borges and other opponents so that we may know if they plan to oppose you. But someone must arrive in the morning and report on the situation. Can you wait?'

'When will he be here?'

'After dawn, I guess. About seven o'clock.'

Theodore nodded, walked through the living room to the fireplace, and fell into an armchair.

'Okay. At least I'll have time to tell you everything. And where is Balzac?'

'He's in the library, working. Upon his request, the attorney got archives of court records of the Synod, in which we can find all about those convicted of crimes against the state or the Church. Balzac decided to study them to double check if we didn't miss anything, anyone. Someone, who was unfairly sentenced, someone we — you and I — can help.'

Theodore rubbed his eyes.

'Great. It will be very helpful. And, speaking of unfair sentences, that's what I want to discuss.'

Napoleon went and fetched Balzac from the library and, when they gathered at the fireplace, Theodore told them what he had learned over the last twenty-four hours. Both were excited and glad.

'Well, it's going to be alright now,' Napoleon sounded satisfied. 'Now we know everything, and we know that the mastermind of the Order is alive, and, luckily, we have the power to release him. Victory, Theodore, congratulations!' The emperor's eyes shone at Theo with cheering in them. 'Tomorrow, I'll send Sergey to the south. I think Jacques-Louis can endure one more night, and then we'll bring him back to the capital, bestow him with honors. You and l will meet him personally and care for him.'

'Yes...' nodded Theo. 'I must draw up the amnesty order while I can still think clearly. Napoleon, will you give me paper and pen?'

'Let's go to my office. I keep the royal seal and decree sample there.'

All three left the living room, and Balzac bowed, returning to the library.

'Bal, don't stay there for long,' Napoleon waved his finger after him.

'About one hour, Your Majesty. Maybe an hour and a half, so I can finish.'

'I'll join you soon.'

'You shouldn't, it will interrupt my work.'