The Grand Council. The thought of it twisted him inside. Romulus was not one to answer to anyone, much less to a council made up of citizens who had never wielded a sword. Each of the twelve provinces of the Empire sent two representatives, two dozen leaders from every corner of the Empire. Technically, they ruled the Empire; in reality, though, Andronicus ruled as he wished, and the Council did as he said.
But when Andronicus had left for the Ring, he had given the Council more authority than they’d ever had; Romulus assumed Andronicus had done this to protect himself and keep Romulus in check, to make sure he had a throne left to come back to. His move had emboldened the Council; they now acted as if they had real authority over Romulus. And Romulus had to, for the time being, suffer the indignity of having to answer to these people. They were all hand-picked cronies of Andronicus, people Andronicus had entrenched to assure his throne would never die. The Council searched for any excuse to strengthen Andronicus and weaken any threat to him—especially Romulus. And Romulus’ defeat left them a perfect opening.
Romulus marched all the way to the shining capitol building, a huge, black, round building that rose high into the sky, surrounded by golden columns, with a shining golden dome. It flew the banner of the Empire, and embedded over its door was the image of a golden lion with an eagle in its mouth.
As Romulus climbed its hundred golden steps, his men waited at the base of the plaza. He walked alone, taking the steps to the capitol doors three at a time, his weapons clanking against his armor as he went.
It took a dozen servants to open the massive doors at the top of the steps, each fifty feet high, made of shining gold with black studs throughout, each embossed with the seal of the Empire. They opened them all the way, and Romulus felt the cold draft rip through, bristling the hairs on his skin as he marched into the dim interior. The huge doors slammed shut behind him, and he felt, as he always did when entering this building, as if he were being entombed.
Romulus strutted across the marble floors, his boots echoing, clenching his jaw, wanting to be done with this meeting and on to more important things. He had heard a rumor of a fantastical weapon, right before coming here, and needed to know if it was true. If so, it would change everything, shift the balance entirely in his power. If it really existed, then all of this—Andronicus, the Council—would no longer mean anything to him. In fact, the entire Empire would finally be his. Thinking of this weapon was the only thing keeping Romulus confident and assured as he marched up yet another set of steps, through another set of huge doors, and finally into the round room that held the Grand Council.
Inside this vast chamber was a black, circular table, empty in its center, with a narrow passageway for one to enter. All around it sat the Council, in twenty-four black robes, sitting sternly around the table, all old men with graying horns and scarlet eyes, dripping red from too many years of age. It was humiliating for Romulus to have to face them, to have to walk through the narrow entry into the center of the table, to be surrounded by the people whom he had to address. It was humiliating to be forced to turn every which way to address them. The entire design of this room, this table, was just another one of Andronicus’ intimidation tactics.
Romulus stood there in the center of the room, in the silence, for he did not know how long, burning up. He was tempted to walk out, but he had to check himself.
“Romulus of the Octakin Legion,” one of the councilmen formally announced.
Romulus turned and saw a skinny, older councilmen, with hollow cheeks and graying hair, staring back at him with scarlet eyes. This man was a crony of Andronicus, and Romulus knew he would say anything to curry Andronicus’ favor.
The old man cleared his throat.
“You have returned to Volusia in defeat. In disgrace. You are bold to come here.”
“You have become a reckless and hasty commander,” another councilmen said.
Romulus turned to see scornful eyes staring back at him from the other side of the circle.
“You have lost thousands of our men in your fruitless search for the Sword, in your reckless confrontation with the dragons. You have failed Andronicus and the Empire. What have you to say for yourself?”
Romulus stared back, defiant.
“I apologize for nothing,” he said. “Retrieving the Sword was of importance to the Empire.”
Another old man leaned forward.
“But you did not retrieve it, did you?”
Romulus reddened. He would kill this man if he could.
“I nearly did,” he finally answered.
“Nearly doesn’t mean a thing.”
“We encountered unexpected obstacles.”
“Dragons?” remarked another councilman.
Romulus turned to face him.
“How foolhardy could you be?” the councilman said. “Did you really think you could win?”
Romulus cleared his throat, his anger rising.
“I did not. My goal was not to kill the dragons. It was to retrieve the Sword.”
“But again, you did not.”
“Even worse,” another said, “you have now unleashed the dragons against us. Reports are coming in of their attacks, all throughout the Empire. You have started a war we cannot win. It is a great loss for the Empire.”
Romulus stopped trying to respond; he knew it would only lead to more accusations and recriminations. After all, these were Andronicus’ men, and they all had an agenda.
“It is a pity that the Great Andronicus himself is not here to chastise you,” said another councilmember. “I feel sure that he would not let you live the day.”
He cleared his throat and leaned back.
“But in his absence, we must await his return. For now, you will command the army to send legions of ships to reinforce the Great Andronicus in the Ring. As for you, you will be demoted, stripped of your arms and your rank. Stay in the barracks and await further orders from us.”
Romulus stared, disbelieving.
“Be glad that we don’t execute you on the spot. Now leave us,” said another councilman.
Romulus bunched his fists, his face turning purple, and stared down each of the councilmen. He vowed to kill each and every one of them. But he forced himself to refrain, telling himself that now was not the time. He might get some satisfaction out of killing them now, but it would not yield his ultimate goal.
Romulus turned and stormed from the room, his boots echoing, walking through the door as the servants opened it then slammed it shut behind him.
Romulus marched out of the capitol building, down the hundred golden steps and to his group of waiting men. He addressed his second-in-command.
“Sir,” the general said, bowing down low, “what is your command?”
Romulus stared back, thinking. Of course he could not obey the Council’s orders; on the contrary, now was the time to defy them.
“It is the command of the Council that all Empire ships at sea return home to our shores at once.”
The general’s eyes opened wide.
“But sir, that would leave the Great Andronicus abandoned inside the Ring, with no way of returning home.”
Romulus turned stared at him, his eyes going cold.
“Never question me,” he replied, steel in his voice.
The general bowed his head.
“Of course, sir. Forgive me.”
His commander turned and rushed off, and Romulus knew he would execute his orders. He was a faithful soldier.