“There will be jubilation,” said Julian. “There will be singing, and dancing, in the streets.”
“And, the marriages done, the great triumphal procession, on flower-strewn streets, will approach the palace in stately pomp,” said Rurik, “bringing the brides and grooms, in royal carriages.”
“Should the ceremony not be done by now?” asked Otto.
“I suspect, soon,” said Iaachus, “but we must not disallow our friend, the exarch, his hour of glory. He will draw from it what he can. Consider the prestige, the fame, the renown, the esteem, accruing to his office, his post, and faith. Is this not subtle, potent wealth in the sacred strongbox? Will not his Floonian cult now reign over other Floonian cults? Will it not seem to be endorsed by the empire, to represent the empire? Indeed, the empress mother is in attendance, and prominently enthroned. That will much please her. Will not this deed set a precedent for future claims and demands, for future control and power? Consider the spectacle, the impressive pageantry. The great temple is decorated, lit, and filled. A choir of a thousand ministrants sings. The very walls and windows of the edifice will rattle with their impressive blaring. The wafting of incense will linger for days.”
“I regret that the empress mother is present at the ceremony,” said Julian.
“It is natural,” said Iaachus, “the brides are her daughters. Fear rather that she, who is currently taking instruction from the exarch, be converted, be anointed with the holy oil, imported from the sacred oil pools of Zirus, would that someone put a match to them. She should then, as a devout Floonian, submit herself to the will of Floon and Karch, who are the same and yet different.”
“I take it,” said Rurik, “that the will of Floon and Karch is made clear by the exarch.”
“That seems to be the arrangement,” said Iaachus.
“It would be an invisible emperor,” said Julian.
“It would seem so,” said Iaachus.
“What if there are other exarchs?” said Rurik.
“There are other exarchs, but not of Telnar,” said Iaachus. “Telnar is the capital of the empire. Thus, the Exarch of Telnar has a certain advantage in possible competitions. One emperor, one exarch, and so on.”
“It seems there could still be trouble,” said Rurik.
“In the future, doubtless,” said Iaachus. “But I think such things could be managed. Those who lose out can be accounted false exarchs. Perhaps it could be done by extermination, too, rather as one Floonian cult seems willing to exterminate other Floonian cults, the losers being accounted heretics, or such.”
“Where is the emperor?” asked Otto.
“He is in his quarters, playing with his toy animals,” said Iaachus.
“He is eighteen years old, is he not?” said Rurik.
“He was born eighteen years ago,” said Iaachus.
“The ceremony must be nearly done,” said Tuvo Ausonius.
“Yes,” said Iaachus.
“Time is short,” said Tuvo Ausonius.
“Yes,” said Otto.
“I am uneasy,” said Tuvo Ausonius.
“Be eager,” said Otto.
“I tremble,” said Tuvo Ausonius.
“Tremble,” said Otto, “but not like the fleet one, with fear, but like the vi-cat, who prepares to pounce.”
“I have heard little of Abrogastes,” said Julian.
“It is peculiar,” said Iaachus. “My spies made it clear that he accompanied his sons, and the princesses, to Telnar. But he seems to have disappeared. Surely it seems he should be present at the wedding. But it seems he is not. And, as far as we know, he has not left Telnaria.”
“Interesting,” said Julian.
“As I understand it, my dear Ottonius,” said Iaachus, “you have met this Abrogastes.”
“Yes,” said Otto.
“Perhaps you have a sense of him?”
“I think so,” said Otto.
“What is he like?” asked Iaachus.
“He would stand aside for no man,” said Otto.
“Not even the Exarch of Telnar?” asked Iaachus.
“No,” said Otto.
“Perhaps that is why he has disappeared,” said Iaachus.
“Dear Ottonius,” said Julian. “Much culminates. We trained long, and well. The hour is near. Comitates are at your side.”
“It would not be so,” said Otto, “save for a small, gentle creature.”
“One guarded by, and protected by, a savage monster,” said Julian.
“Not a monster,” said Otto, “a Herul.”
“Clarify this,” said Rurik.
“You know something of the medallion and chain which Ottonius brought from Tenguthaxichai,” said Julian.
“Yes,” said Rurik. “Vandals would rally to it.”
“Yes,” said Julian, “if it were believed to be the one, true medallion and chain. Its guardian was an Emanationist brother, the salamanderine, Brother Benjamin. It was stolen from the festung of Sim Giadini, and Brother Benjamin left the festung, pursuing the thief, though unsuccessfully. Shortly after his departure from the festung, it was destroyed. He, much later, starving and ill, was found by Heruls on the Plains of Barrionuevo, and nursed back to health. He, and a Herul, Hunlaki, by name, on various grounds, suspected that the medallion and chain had been transported to Telnar, eventually to be received by the Exarch of Telnar. They journeyed to Telnar to confront the exarch and demand the return of the medallion and chain. The exarch, after denying knowledge of the medallion and chain, or of its theft, and curtly dismissing Brother Benjamin and his servant, the Herul, Hunlaki, from the temple precincts, set thugs on them, to follow and beat them, perhaps to kill them. Four of these six thugs, much to the dismay of Brother Benjamin, were killed by his servant, the Herul, their throats bitten through, and the other two fled. Our colleague, the Arbiter of Protocol, learned of this incident by means of the report of guardsmen, who took the pair into custody. He investigated, and was intrigued, having heard something of the medallion and chain. He arranged for their release from custody, and concealed them in a private dwelling in the city, to protect them from the attentions of the exarch. What then occurred was that the medallion and chain taken by Ottonius from Tenguthaxichai was shown to Brother Benjamin, who identified it as the true medallion and chain. It was then only necessary to transport the medallion and chain, Brother Benjamin, and his Herul servant, Hunlaki, to Tangara, where contact was made with Otungs.”
“And comitates are now with us,” said Tuvo Ausonius.
“Where is the medallion and chain?” asked Rurik.
“On Tangara,” said Julian, “where it remains, to be kept in safety.”
“I think,” said the Arbiter of Protocol, “while we are waiting, a light collation, with kana, might be in order. The wine is at hand, atop our table, and I shall send my lovely Elena to the next room, to fetch some readied viands.”
Elena slipped from the room, and soon returned, bearing a tray, which she placed, beside the wine, already on the table.
“Eating,” said Rurik, “is always more pleasant, and food tastier, in the presence of slaves.”
“True,” said Julian. “Slaves stimulate the blood, and whet the appetite. Who can enjoy food so much as a Master, with a naked, or half-naked, slave at his feet? How the sight of a woman in a collar, on her knees, in her place, stimulates the appetite! The nerves come alive, the digestive juices flow. Let nature reign. Let the world be rightly ordered. Let there be Masters and slaves!”
“Master?” said Elena.
“Retain your gown, lovely Elena,” said Iaachus. “If we should survive the day, you may crawl to me in my chambers, as is your wont, whimpering, a switch in your teeth, and serve me at the foot of my couch.”
“Yes, Master,” said Elena.
“Pour the wine,” he said.
“Yes, Master,” she said.
Rurik, turned about, and faced the door to the chamber. “Cornhair!” he cried.