Farmina
08-05-2005, 06:51
In the Holy Spire
“So why did you call me here Cardinal Barousa?” asked the young lady, of only sixteen and a half.
“I have called you here on behalf of the nation and the Emperor, my dear,” replied Barousa.
The dark walls of the Holy Spire sent a chill down Kerria’s back, “I ask you again, Cardinal, why did you call me here. Give me no more waffle or I shall Justinian of this meeting.”
“Foolish girl” warned the Cardinal sternly, “There is nothing sinister about this meeting to report.”
“Then why did you summon me in secret?” asked Kerria.
“Justinian was my greatest student at the institute, and now he does the greatest things,” said Barousa, looking past Kerria, “But you my dear, are my greatest disappointment.”
“What is going on? Why call me here is secret?” said a clearly frustrated Kerria, “Fool around with me no more Barousa.”
“Our testing of you is complete. You are greatly above average. Your genetics are above those of the commoner, but they are brilliant, much like your exam results and your fitness,” said Cardinal Barousa, “And brilliant is what is required. The church insists that you call off your relationship with Justinian. You are not fit to bear the next generation of monarchs.”
“I won’t betray Justinian,” yelled Kerria.
“You must, for your nation,” responded Barousa, coldly and sternly.
“Never,” she replied just as sternly, but with a touch of sadness in her eyes.
She never saw cane that smashed open her skull, allowing her blood to soak her long brown smooth hair.
A week later, The White Palace
Justinian’s white suit seemed to radiate light, but not nearly as much as his face absorbed.
“My Emperor,” warned Tobias Grey, “Pacing shall make no news appear.”
Justinian stopped pacing, to give the Grand Chancellor a dark glare.
And in that instant the phone rang. Justinian’s aid, Jonathon Briggs, grabbed the receiver and began a brief conversation. Justinian and Grey both paid the up most attention, but heard mainly “Yes…I understand…Of course.” Then the receiver was returned.
“My Emperor,” began Briggs, “They have found a body on a beach. It has been positively identified.”
Briggs couldn’t bring himself to confirm it was Kerria but there was no doubt in the room.
“The socialists are responsible for this,” yelled Justinian, “We shall execute every single person who ever voted socialist.”
“That is neither advisable nor possible,” began Tobias Grey.
“Furthermore I want the entire government hung for allowing this to happen.”
Tobias Grey’s face turned white, to speak in metaphors.
“We need to kill the youngest child in every family to prevent the public conspiring against me in this way again.”
“My Emperor…”
“I believe, no I know NATO was behind this. I order the immediate destruction of all NATO nations. There is no doubt that military was in on this too. Yes, the military has always hated me. I want the entire military dissolved…”
Tobias Grey had enough. In a single blow, he punched the Emperor square in the jaw.
Justinian looked at the Grand Chancellor and then threw a punch of his own, throwing the Grand Chancellor half way across the room.
“I always knew you were trying to kill me and know I have proof,” declared Justinian, “You will die slowly for this.”
“My Emperor, you are clearly distraught, perhaps you should take a nap,” said Tobias Grey, trying to stand up.
“A nap,” repeated Justinian, “A huge conspiracy is forming against the Farminan people, you being a part of it, and you want me to go to sleep. No doubt you will murder me while I rest. It has been your plan all along, to get me to take a nap so you can kill me…”
“Guards, please take the Emperor to his room,” said the Grand Chancellor, “And keep him there until he calms down.”
The Imperial Guard looked at each other rather confused. Their orders were supposed to come direct from Justinian, but he was in state to give them. In the end they escorted the Emperor to the royal bed chamber, albeit with a great deal of difficulty, including several bruises and one broken bone.
Tobias Grey looked over at Briggs, “[I]He’s getting worse.”
“To be fair, we would expect this under the circumstances,” responded Briggs.
“But every time he gets in a state, it is worse than the last time” warned Grey, “Get a psychiatrist here, we need grounds to remove him.”
Two Hours Later:
Imperial Farminan News
…Emperor Justinian, under immense mental strain, has been allowed only minimal power until he is again considered fit for duty. Although the blame was initially attributed to the apparent murder of Justinian’s long time friend Kerria Sirade, experts suggest this may only be part of a longer term problem. Speculations points at Justinian’s childhood in the secretive Catholic Institute for Gifted Children, who still refuse to reveal any details of what happened to Justinian, Kerria Sirade or any other student. Other commentators have suggest it is purely the strain of the work and suffering on such a young member of society…
“So why did you call me here Cardinal Barousa?” asked the young lady, of only sixteen and a half.
“I have called you here on behalf of the nation and the Emperor, my dear,” replied Barousa.
The dark walls of the Holy Spire sent a chill down Kerria’s back, “I ask you again, Cardinal, why did you call me here. Give me no more waffle or I shall Justinian of this meeting.”
“Foolish girl” warned the Cardinal sternly, “There is nothing sinister about this meeting to report.”
“Then why did you summon me in secret?” asked Kerria.
“Justinian was my greatest student at the institute, and now he does the greatest things,” said Barousa, looking past Kerria, “But you my dear, are my greatest disappointment.”
“What is going on? Why call me here is secret?” said a clearly frustrated Kerria, “Fool around with me no more Barousa.”
“Our testing of you is complete. You are greatly above average. Your genetics are above those of the commoner, but they are brilliant, much like your exam results and your fitness,” said Cardinal Barousa, “And brilliant is what is required. The church insists that you call off your relationship with Justinian. You are not fit to bear the next generation of monarchs.”
“I won’t betray Justinian,” yelled Kerria.
“You must, for your nation,” responded Barousa, coldly and sternly.
“Never,” she replied just as sternly, but with a touch of sadness in her eyes.
She never saw cane that smashed open her skull, allowing her blood to soak her long brown smooth hair.
A week later, The White Palace
Justinian’s white suit seemed to radiate light, but not nearly as much as his face absorbed.
“My Emperor,” warned Tobias Grey, “Pacing shall make no news appear.”
Justinian stopped pacing, to give the Grand Chancellor a dark glare.
And in that instant the phone rang. Justinian’s aid, Jonathon Briggs, grabbed the receiver and began a brief conversation. Justinian and Grey both paid the up most attention, but heard mainly “Yes…I understand…Of course.” Then the receiver was returned.
“My Emperor,” began Briggs, “They have found a body on a beach. It has been positively identified.”
Briggs couldn’t bring himself to confirm it was Kerria but there was no doubt in the room.
“The socialists are responsible for this,” yelled Justinian, “We shall execute every single person who ever voted socialist.”
“That is neither advisable nor possible,” began Tobias Grey.
“Furthermore I want the entire government hung for allowing this to happen.”
Tobias Grey’s face turned white, to speak in metaphors.
“We need to kill the youngest child in every family to prevent the public conspiring against me in this way again.”
“My Emperor…”
“I believe, no I know NATO was behind this. I order the immediate destruction of all NATO nations. There is no doubt that military was in on this too. Yes, the military has always hated me. I want the entire military dissolved…”
Tobias Grey had enough. In a single blow, he punched the Emperor square in the jaw.
Justinian looked at the Grand Chancellor and then threw a punch of his own, throwing the Grand Chancellor half way across the room.
“I always knew you were trying to kill me and know I have proof,” declared Justinian, “You will die slowly for this.”
“My Emperor, you are clearly distraught, perhaps you should take a nap,” said Tobias Grey, trying to stand up.
“A nap,” repeated Justinian, “A huge conspiracy is forming against the Farminan people, you being a part of it, and you want me to go to sleep. No doubt you will murder me while I rest. It has been your plan all along, to get me to take a nap so you can kill me…”
“Guards, please take the Emperor to his room,” said the Grand Chancellor, “And keep him there until he calms down.”
The Imperial Guard looked at each other rather confused. Their orders were supposed to come direct from Justinian, but he was in state to give them. In the end they escorted the Emperor to the royal bed chamber, albeit with a great deal of difficulty, including several bruises and one broken bone.
Tobias Grey looked over at Briggs, “[I]He’s getting worse.”
“To be fair, we would expect this under the circumstances,” responded Briggs.
“But every time he gets in a state, it is worse than the last time” warned Grey, “Get a psychiatrist here, we need grounds to remove him.”
Two Hours Later:
Imperial Farminan News
…Emperor Justinian, under immense mental strain, has been allowed only minimal power until he is again considered fit for duty. Although the blame was initially attributed to the apparent murder of Justinian’s long time friend Kerria Sirade, experts suggest this may only be part of a longer term problem. Speculations points at Justinian’s childhood in the secretive Catholic Institute for Gifted Children, who still refuse to reveal any details of what happened to Justinian, Kerria Sirade or any other student. Other commentators have suggest it is purely the strain of the work and suffering on such a young member of society…