Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Roka felt some growing irritation that she would not be allowed to make her case immediately. Any qualification they might ask of her, she could meet. She knew all of the laws of the Sentinels and of the empire. She understood the intricacies of how those laws interacted far from seats of power. As well, she was well-versed in the politics of the continent. Her only failing lay in not fully understanding the empire’s current status with the Many Ensigns of Donpar, but she knew their history and could learn quickly.

But she also knew enough not to complain in front of the emperor, and she could admit that the draw of the city and what she might learn from it was powerful.

The small gathering momentarily broke into even smaller groups. Talit—who had been quiet and perhaps oblivious to the tension in the room—came forward with his guard to speak to Elise King, something about a slight disturbance outside the citadel walls, but Roka did not listen beyond that. Captain E’zatomi convened with the guards under his command to discuss the day’s coming duties. Yusubru and the emperor came together again to share a quiet conversation, and Roka was forced by association with her master to join in.

“She is too close,” Yusubru said. “Why do you allow an Ensign to sit at the same level as you? Do you not–?”

“Roka,” the emperor said, turning to her and ignoring her master entirely. “How do you find your first visit to the citadel?”

“Oh,” Roka said, taken aback, both by Yusubru’s criticism of the emperor and by her sudden inclusion in an entirely different conversation. Her master frowned but did not pursue his point. “The citadel is lovely. And,” she added, “so full of history. I know most of the stories of our past, but to see where they took place has been more affirming of my love of the empire than I expected.”

To hear it come out of her mouth felt a little like she was licking the empire’s collective boots, but it was true. Being inside the citadel made her feel more connected to her home than she thought possible, as she had already felt quite connected.

“I am glad,” the emperor said. “I hope to introduce you and your master to many different things within the capital. I have quite a day planned for you, but is there anywhere specific you want to visit? After all, everyone in this room is quite familiar with the capital, even Yusubru. If I am not mistaken, you are the only one of us who has never seen it.”

“You are not mistaken, Your Majesty,” Roka said, trying to find something to offer as a suggestion. There were many things in the capital she wanted to see, but now that the emperor was asking, she couldn’t remember any of them. “Perhaps the imperial library? I have heard it is quite the collection, and stunning in its architecture.”

She had a tradition of finding one book in every town she visited and reading it before departing. There hadn’t been time during her stay in Montaima. The imperial library, along with the possibility of a permanent position in Topto, offered her a thousand chances to make up for that missed opportunity.

The emperor clapped his hands together. “One of my favorite places in the city, though I rarely get the chance to visit. I’m quite jealous.”

“You won’t be joining us, Your Majesty?” Roka asked, though as the question left her mouth, she knew it was a silly one. The emperor’s strong friendship with her master did not override his duty as the busiest man in the empire.

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“I’ve been talking like I will be going along, haven’t I?” he said with a sigh. “Unfortunately, I will have to miss the tour, but Talit will be available as your guide. I made sure he would have no distractions today. And, coincidentally, the library is also his favorite spot in the city.” He shot a wary look at Yusubru. “Ms. King will also be accompanying you for part of the day. I trust you will behave with more courtesy than you showed here?”

The question surprised Roka, as she thought her master had been showing significant restraint, despite his insults.

Yusubru smiled and used a finger to draw a line down one of his pox marks. “I swear on my deformation.”

For the first time, Roka saw true displeasure on the emperor’s face. “I would rather you swear on something that doesn’t worry me so much. I don’t hold your attitude against you, but it does not fit here, on this day.”

Yusubru looked chastened. “I will be more careful, Your Majesty.”

“Good,” the emperor said, and then he was all smiles again. It seemed to Roka she had found someone else who understood how to keep her master in check. In fact, he probably outranked her experience.

When formal farewells with the emperor were completed and he dismissed them, Talit led the way back out of the audience hall and began a tour of the entire citadel. From the kitchens to the emperor’s private quarters, he provided an extensive and knowledgeable picture of how the citadel functioned from day to day. Of course, Roka was the only one among them who did not already know the function of every room and office, but she was happy to be catered to.

“This is the chamber for large councils, sometimes called the Whale’s Stomach,” Talit explained while standing next to another set of massive wooden doors. “It frequently goes unused for imperial affairs, as the emperor thinks the room is too cold and there are rarely gatherings large enough to justify convincing him it is worth the chill, however, the different organizations visiting from the Many Ensigns of Donpar often make use of the space.”

He sounded like both a parent teaching his children and a competent head of state in training. It had been a rash judgment on Roka’s part to allow herself to be put off by the ostentation of his jewelry and expensive dress. He seemed smart, capable, and his chosen method of physical presentation simply came down to being the son of an emperor. A few rare gems on his person could be forgiven.

Roka only gave the interior of the room beyond the wooden doors a quick peek. The room did indeed have some of the properties of what Roka thought a whale’s stomach might look like—of course, she had never even seen a whale outside of a painting. The bracing supports against the walls could be the ribs of a giant marine animal and the white stone in the walls was tinged a pink, fleshy hue.

“I believe,” Talit went on, “that Ms. King has an assembly of diplomats and local Donparsh leaders planned in the Whale’s Stomach within the next few days, is that correct?”

“Correct indeed,” Elise King said. “Tomorrow, actually. We plan to cover a number of points in regard to future Donparsh and Ninzamian relations. We will even discuss Roka’s candidacy for Keeper, though we obviously have no say in whether or not she is appointed. It is merely a subject of some interest.” She turned to Yusubru. “I would be pleased if you and your apprentice would join us for the occasion. We are all quite curious to know more, and we rarely have a chance to interact with Sentinels.”

Either she had forgotten about her verbal altercation with Yusubru or she didn’t think it had been that bad. Inviting him to a large gathering of Ensigns seemed like a horrible idea, but maybe she had some ulterior motive.

“I will think on it,” Yusubru said. “Though the offer does have me intrigued.”

Roka expected her master to dismiss the prospect immediately, but he continued to show politeness beyond that which she had thought possible. It sounded like he might even accept the offer, though that was simply inconceivable. Someone would certainly die if it came to pass.

They moved on to the next point of interest which turned out to be the library. Talit’s excitement manifested itself when they arrived and he instantly pushed open the door and swept into the enormous collection, giving his tour group much more than a simple peek at the interior. Roka came in after him, trying not to gawk at the stacks and stacks of books in all of their different colors and thicknesses. Any irritation she had been feeling about the wait to interview for the position of Keeper vanished.