Figurehead

two

Note that I'm well aware there are holes and flecks of confusion in the context and in the story all throughout, but I will deal with them later in my rewrite-in-progress. I hope this doesn't deter anyone too much. :/
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His throne is simple, like the rest of his palace and kingdom. An old chair carved from solid wood generations ago, it is not much, it is not elaborate or intricate but it is still the throne. Like he is still king.

Before him, a long table of the same wood as his seat, assembled at which are the Sirdiu and some of the empire's trusted messengers like myself.

One of the Sirdiu is speaking; a High healer, her dark grey eyes almost stormy as she speaks, voice low, clear. "The Advisers say that they will deal with any uprisings, should they appear, but what exactly do they mean by that, do you know?"

I glance at the king as one of his kin answers. His blue eyes are calm, still waters, his expression unreadable, his stance assured without arrogance. He betrays no uncertainties, no doubts of his position, his place. He is king.

I turn to his kin, a trusted messenger who holds little resemblance to the empire's figurehead. "I don't think the Advisers would be willing to clarify that to us yet, especially when it is only a possibility that the uprisings will appear, and not a certainty-"

"Lus. Please." His blue and gold eyes narrow when the High healer interrupts. Her smile is almost sardonic. "Of course civilians will rise up against him. It doesn't matter; whether his afa had remained king for the remainder of his life or either his older brother or sister had been crowned, people would have found fault. People would have rose in mutiny, because that is how people have always been."

There is a pause following her words. She leans back in her seat, lips pressed together in a grim line.

All eyes turn to the king, who remains apparently unperturbed. It is hard to see past this mask of his, even when he meets my gaze before moving on to the next at this table. He wears it well; and it has been less than a week since his coronation. When will it take its toll? Or has it already? It's hard to tell.

"Sher," he says finally, addressing the High healer, "it's true that some of the Escatin will rise against me, whatever the reason." She nods once, solemn. "I understand your wish to know what the Advisers plan to do and I will ensure they inform the Sirdiu of this." He pauses, sweeping his gaze over the table again. "Any other issues or questions?"

Another of the Sirdiu speaks up, beginning a more in-depth discussion over the current state of the war. "Vrendust is on the line too, now," he says seriously. One of the former High Commanders. "The civilians have been fully evacuated now, to our knowledge, from-"

"From Kalsemir," another former High Commander interrupts quietly.

The interrupted man rolls his one pale green eye, the other covered by a patch of cloth. "Yes, thank you, I was saying that." He shakes his head in mild amusement. "Go on, then." A quiet laugh rumbles around the table.

"Alright. Well, those evacuated from Kalsemir are unhappy at being forcibly removed, although most have been placed in makeshift dwellings." She pauses. "Some are not as fortunate and have been found without shelter. Those civilians are in provinces Ronseluf and Kansaved, to my awareness. Which, as we all know, are already quite full of those without dwellings..." She trails off and is answered by a general murmur of agreement.

"But the empire is poor enough as it is. We can't afford to send those provinces more finances or materials to construct more dwellings, makeshift or not." The messenger's voice is hushed.

"Especially with this war going on," Lus mutters. Another murmur of agreement, though this one is laced with a more cynical tone.

There is a long pause interrupted by unintelligible mutters and mumbles. "Will we win this war?" Sher asks darkly.

Those at the table glance at each other, sharing glances of doubt and uncertainty, some fear also evident. I sigh silently, seeing the High healer glaring down at the wooden surface of the table.

"I'd like to hope we will," the one-eyed former High Commander says eventually.

"But at what cost?" another asks abruptly.

Silence falls.

"A heavy one," someone mumbles.

Nobody responds.

Nobody knows how to.

After a moment, the king clears his throat. "If that is all, this meeting is adjourned."

One by one, the Sirdiu rise, dipping their heads low to the king before turning and leaving the room, silent except for their footsteps. The rest of us, all of us trusted messengers, stand too, dipping our heads to the only one left seated before leaving.

I walk slowly, watching as each of the Sirdiu part ways, leaving the palace after exchanging a few polite words before walking separate paths. The other trusted messengers are the same.

None pay heed to me when I stop and stand still.

In the silence they leave behind, I hear the soft tread of footsteps approaching slowly behind me.

"Nirs tells me you two are headed to the front line," he says quietly, the silence falling between us when he comes to a stop.

I nod once, tucking my hands into my jacket pockets. "In a few days."

When I finally turn to meet his gaze, his expression is uncertain. I could kiss him. The thought is random, but not particularly new. I brush it away. I don't intend to follow through on it. "Anyone else going with you?" he asks after a moment.

"No, but Pev will meet us there."

He nods, apparently hesitant, then briefly closes his eyes, exhaling slowly. "Can we..." He opens his eyes and looks at me, doubt written across his face.

I nod.

Shadows stretched across the walls and floor of the tiny room, light provided only by a single firefly circling the air, we kneel. Side-by-side, knees in the dust, we bow our heads and close our eyes. I lower myself to the ground, curling my fingers into loose fists beneath my bowed head as my forearms rest in the dust.

In the silence, I hear him take a breath. "Lord..." he sighs heavily. "All things belong to You."

"We know You hold all things in Your hands. There is nothing You do not see or hear, there is no place You have not been."

"In Your hands I leave this empire, this crown, because this kingdom is Yours, not mine."

"Give us strength." I take a breath. "Give us the strength to do what is right and pleasing in Your sight, no matter the cost, no matter what we feel, no matter how difficult the request. Strengthen him in You, be with him as he faces difficult choices."

"Let this empire see You alone are Sovereign."

"Show us the path when we are surrounded by darkness. Let us, let this empire see You are in control, even in this ongoing war. Give us faith to trust that You have allowed this war for a reason."

A heavy pause. "Keep her safe, Lord, keep her in the shadow of Your wing when she and Nirs leave for the front line. Let others see You in her; use her to show others who You are."

"Let all come to know Your love, Your grace, Your truth, Your redemption, Your salvation, Your ultimate sacrifice."

"Lord, we leave all things in Your hands. We pray in the name of Your Son Jesus Christ, amen."