Ariella

vi. Empress

"The girl must be punished." High Lord Kessen says emphatically. "Coming to council and sparring the men is one thing, but executing her own brother? Quite another."

"Prince Aeroch only received the same treatment as a lower-blooded man in the same position would have gotten! I, for one, applaud the girl for doing what we were too scared to do. It started with serving girls, but it just as easily could be one of your daughters he violated." Lord Arendyl Satoya retorts. "Would that be what pushed us into action?"

"Speak for your own daughter." Kessen shoots back, throwing a nasty look at Sorelle. "My Clarya's a good young woman, knows her place. If you let your daughter run wild, what else can you expect?"

"Are you threatening-" Lord Satoya stands up.

"My lords!" Ariella says. "If you will allow me?"

"Oh go on," Kessen grumbles. "We already let her run the whole council anyway. How is this any different?"

"Will you shut up and let her speak?" Satoya snaps. "Princess, proceed."

She gives him a gracious nod. "Thank you, sirs. I realize there are some objections to the handling of Prince Aeroch's transgressions, but perhaps I can explain. Had Prince Aeroch been a common boy on one of your estates, you would have executed him. That would be the proper thing to do, with a boy like that. We, milords, are the chosen of Centaurii, the rulers of the nation. Therefore, we should seek to lead by example, instead of thinking ourselves above the law due to high birth and wealth. For if we engage in cruelty and debauchery, how can we, in good conscience, ask our citizens to follow the laws if we ourselves do not uphold them? Prince Aeroch was not following any law-neither of the teachings of the Seven Angels or the tenets of the law. Rather, he was engaging in a base crime not even tolerated among the meanest of peasants. Therefore, what happened to him was not only justice, but morally right."

Surprisingly, there are no objections. She takes this as a sign to continue. "But we have more pressing matters to consider. Aeroch and Teinorus have both left council seats vacant. Therefore, I motion that we should fill them with capable public servants. I know one such is among us today by her father's invitation. May I recommend to you Lady Sorelle Satoya!" Sorelle rose and bowed.

"A girl!" The shout is called up, and immediately a chorus of voices move to silence her.

"My lords!" she shouts. "Lady Sorelle is as capable as you or I. It is thanks to her tutelage that I know half of what I do about the laws of the land. Why should her age or her gender matter when it comes to her abilities? Think, milords. When you were young men, many of you dreamed of overthrowing the empire, but were told it was not possible due to your low birth. But that did not stop you from forming a glorious empire, one that rivals any of the empires before this one. If you could do all that with no money and no rank, only a little education, than why cannot I or Lady Sorelle provide as much insight at council as any of you? Make no mistake, gentlemen, I love my country dearly, and I do not wish to upset any natural order. But where I can serve the empire best is in the seat of politics, not by following the path of my sister. For as you can see-" she laughed, self-deprecatingly. "I'm not much to look at."

There is some nervous laughter, and then she proceeds. "We are bereft of an heir, my lords, and I believe I can be of some assistance when it comes to selecting the next leader of this great country."

Marcellus stands up. "There is no argument here! I am the rightful heir, with my brothers gone!"

"But I am the elder of us two." Ariella says.

"Princess," Ruble says gently. "The law of the land speaks of the eldest son, not the eldest daughter."

"Actually, the law does not." Sorelle says triumphantly. "The law of the land states that the agreed-upon eldest heir of the emperor becomes the next ruler. No mention of gender is made."