New Rome

54. Troublesome Boy

"How long have you been stationed here?" Arly asked Rube as they walked through the palace's vast conservatory. Tropical plants sprawled about the place, seeming to sweat in the humid air, their vibrant flowers enticing prey.

"Six years." Rube answered. "Back then I was lucky to get so much as a stool in Grand Hall. Most of the nobles were deeply dismissive of humans. Even if they weren't vocal about it. Behind my back, I knew they were calling me ape and 'los dol ' which is a slur for having no horns. It means hornless but also implies being empty headed."

"What changed?"

Rube glanced around to check they were alone.

"The Emperor is losing control of his empire." She replied, lowering her voice. "He relies on our solders to fight at the front and, now that his troops are distracted dealing with rebellion, it has changed our worth to him. But be wary. The sands change fast here."

The sounds of panicked shouting made Arly's head snap up. She broke into a run, rushing to the source. "Arly, no!" Rube hissed. But Arly was fast. She exited out of the conservatory and skidded to a stop in the hall, in time to see the Chancellor being dragged down the stairs by soldiers. Rube came to a breathless stop at Arly's side and put a hand on Arly's arm to stop her from doing anything rash. "Those are the king's men." She warned.

The chancellor was yelling at the top of his lungs.

"You can't do this to me! You're majesty?! I'VE SERVED YOU LOYALLY!" People were coming out from their rooms, attracted by the Chancellor's shouts, but there was no sign of the Emperor. And nobody tried to help the old man. The guards managed to secure cuffs around the Chancellor's wrists, binding his hands together behind his back.

"Why is he being arrested?" Arly asked Rube, alarmed. At the feast, the Chancellor had been one of the people to receive the bowl of wine and Rube had said that was a mark of respect.

The chancellor made eye contact with Arly as he was dragged passed.

"Beware the snake king! He'll gobble you up! He'll gobble everyone up!" He roared, spit spraying from his mouth. Arly recoiled. She watched until he was dragged outside and out of sight.

"Where will they take him?" Arly asked, glancing around as everybody else silently dispersed. Rube shrugged.

"If the Emperor ordered this arrest, then the man will probably just disappear."

"Disappear?"

Rube nodded. She saw the shiver run down Arly's spine. Good, fear was good. It kept a person alive. "I warned you. You must be always on your guard here."

**

                                Antonia was at her wit's end. She sat on the sofa with Kai, shame-faced and head bowed.

"I apologize for my son's behaviour." She sighed sadly. "He does nothing I say. Since he was ten years old, Kaze has gone his own way." Her lips trembled.

"Which was the reason for me adopting him." Kai replied, his tone calm. "I shall take care of the matter."

"I will accept any decision you think wise." Antonia promised gratefully.

When her husband had died, he'd left her with three children to raise alone. Wylo, Kaze and Claudius. Wylo hadn't been such an issue. Antonia's mother-in-law had taken over Wylo's care, since it had been decided from birth that Wylo would marry Guy, the Imperator's heir. The decision to give her daughter up to her mother-in-law had been simple to make – clearly it had been in Wylo's best interests. Now, Wylo was no longer the wife of the future Imperator, but mother and daughter remained distant. They lacked any common interests.