Chapter 17: The Council of War

Empress Xarina XII strode through her personal chambers as her body slaves prepared her clothing for the meeting. She stood with arms extended as the slaves wrapped a silk band around her breasts and tied it securely, followed by as hard leather corset that functioned as armor. A third slave wrapped her shaven pussy in a similar silk loincloth before the other slaves brought forth the thigh high armored boots. A long loin cloth was laced over her waist, followed by a light chain-mail skirt. A long sleeved leaf scale leather jacket completed the armor and she nodded once as she glanced into the mirror. She was mostly human, with some Elvish features from her half-elf mother. She belted on her sword herself. Not even in her private chambers would she allow a slave, let alone a male, touch a weapon. In the thousand years since the founding of the Empire, the laws that had governed the males of the Empire were the most strict and harsh imaginable. The first Empress suffered the touch a man only once, and that was securing an heir. Her blind hatred of all things male more than once threatened the fragile balance, and her daughter shared her mother's views. In all, there have been fourteen Empresses that ruled the Empire, and the transfer of power up until now had been one of battle. If an heir thought she could rule better, she could challenge her mother for the right to rule. Xarina was the exception in that her Mother abdicated rather than face her daughter in battle. As a result, Xarina did not suffer the mental trauma of killing her own mother, and developed into a rather well rounded ruler. The stability of the change proved beneficial in ways that were only now becoming known.

An escort of four personal guards met her at the entrance to her chambers and fell in behind her as she left the Imperial Residence and proceeded to her private study, where her generals and the Grand Duchesses awaited her pleasure. The halls of the Imperial Palace were subdued, with plain stone walls and even plainer stone floor. The lights of the hall were a function of the glow globes that were regularly charged with magick to keep them alight. It was a short walk to the study, and all rose as she entered and took her place at the head of the table. The table was of ancient stone construction, with the map of the Empire carved into its surface. It was large enough to serve as a display piece for military operations. Several junior officers were present also to relay orders to the various armies via magick mirrors.

"Mother, we are assembled and await your orders." A similarly armored young blonde woman spoke. Grand Duchess Tatiana was the heir designate of the Empress, and ruler of the Heartland Prefecture. The rest of the Duchesses bowed respectfully, and the eight Imperial Army Generals and two Imperial Navy Admirals brought a closed fist to their hearts in salute.

"Excellent." Xarina spoke, looking out over the table. Currently the second and fourth Imperial Armies were at the Aerie of the Dragonriders, the first Army was at their post twelve leagues to the west at the ruins of Concordia. The third, fifth, and sixth armies were ready to march, and the seventh and eight armies were maintaining their positions on the eastern and southern borders. The Imperial Navy was standing by for orders. Small tokens representing the various Irregular battalions were also placed in current locations. An Imperial Army consisted of twenty thousand troops, mostly infantry, and filled out with cavalry and specialist forces. Irregular battalions consisted of only a thousand troops, usually grouped by function. Each army was designed to function as a self contained unit.

"Lady Murelle, what news do you have?"

"My Empress, all is proceeding according to plan. Our four chosen will be penetrating the Castile soon, and with luck, they will be able to destroy the crystal before Iceholme's undead army can invade."

"This crystal," The Empress frowned. "How does it work? How can it affect our armies?"

"It attacks us through our oaths to you your majesty." Hallia spoke. "The oaths we all swear to you and the royal family are permanent and binding, and since it was Cymra who created the crystal, she used her blood and essence in its creation. Outcast and forsworn she may be, she is still of the royal bloodline. No female of the Empire can harm her."

"And how do our 'heroes' defeat her? Are they too tied to obey all women of the Empire?"

"They are attacking the crystal, not her directly." Hallia fingered her sword. "One of them has the power and ability to kill her if she is present."

The Empress frowned. "I trust you will not let that male roam free should he commit the deed."

"Indeed." Hallia narrowed her eyes. "He will never be free."

"There is... another option." Tatiana offered. All turned to her expectantly. "The First and Second Irregular Battalions... they have been training with flashpowder weapons."

"If memory serves me correctly the two units are stationed at the ruins on permanent guard duty." Syrena replied.

"True, but the weapons they are armed with could be a decisive factor should the four fail." Tatiana replied. She pointed to the map. "With a proper Mage-Gate relay, the two battalions could be in place with two days. They can provide a good first line defense along the pass, the fire-castors they are equipped with would be devastating to packed troops."

"If this were a regular army I would concur, but this force will most assuredly be comprised mainly of the undead. They would not break, nor would they retreat after suffering crippling losses." Syrena shook her head.

"Mobilize them." The Empress commanded. "We may indeed need every advantage we can muster in this."

A convoy of slaves appeared bearing trays with food and wine and each stood behind one of the ladies, offering the goblet to each one. None of the women present made much of the nude males. It was a common sight after all.

"Would the Dragons by themselves be able to fight should their partners become incapacitated?"

"They would, your Majesty, but we must take care should the Lich King bring the Dark Dragons into this conflict." Syrena offered.

"He would dare such?"

"I would say so." Hallia interjected. "As we know, the Lich King's main goal has always been the ruins of Concordia." Even before the founding of the Empire the ruins were a mystery even to the best minds of the time. Incredibly ancient, they held secrets that were only now becoming understood. Buried beneath the city in a huge chamber was circle set into the marbled floor. The entire floor was covered with strange runes, to which many believed corresponded to the stars in the night sky. The ring set into the floor was a gate of some kind... that much the scholar-mages agreed on. What kind of gate and where it led to was another matter altogether. The third Empress of the Empire decided that the gate represented a possible threat to the Empire, and permanently stationed an Imperial Army to guard it. Only a select few were allowed to study the gate. Rumors of the gate abounded, and many believed that it was the gate that caused the first war with Iceholme a thousand years ago. Makiri knew of it, and want it for the power it represented.

"Should battle come to pass and if the Freeman Battalions prove their worth, how should we reward them?" Xarina asked.

"I would say that service is its own reward," Syrena replied. "But these are males after all."

The assembled women laughed at the jest, then grew somber once again.

"I would speak with the Irregular Battalion commanders," The Empress stated. "Have them brought to me before they are deployed."

"As your majesty commands," Syrena bowed her head.

"What orders for the Navy your Majesty?" One of the two Admirals inquired.

"Have the fourth fleet to make its way north. They may not be able to do much, but they might distract the Lich King momentarily. The remainder of the Navy will remain on station until needed. Your marines might be needed." Among the militaries of the Empire, the marines of the Imperial Navy were among the most skilled and able at close assaults and spearheading attacks.

"If there is nothing else pressing, then I suggest we adjourn. May the Goddess watch over us."

The assembled officers and nobles bowed respectfully, and then filled out silently.

"Lady Hallia, a word please," Xarina sipped her wine. The Grand Duchess of the South returned to the table.

"The steps you have taken for this male." The Empress tapped her chin. "I trust they will be permanent and binding?"

"They will be your Majesty."

"Will you take him to mate?" Her eyebrow rose? Despite her ebony skin, the High Lady of the Inquisition blushed, eliciting a low chuckle from the Empress.

"He must love you greatly to sacrifice all to you."

"That he does." She whispered in reply.

"Does he know?"

Hallia shook her head. The mating ceremony of the Moon Elves was not very long, and at the end of it, the only person that would ever see his face again would be his mate.

"And should he kill Cymra, you know the penalties for such." The Empress said.

"I do."

"If, and I say IF, the deed is done in darkness in the Castile, perhaps some leniency could be taken into consideration. But an open murder will not. Despite her current affiliations, she is still of the Royal House."

"If I may be so bold, perhaps a ritual reaving of the blood line should be performed on such outcasts. It would alleviate many problems that we currently face."

"I will take such into consideration."

"Then by your leave my Empress?" Hallia bowed.

"You may leave us." Xarina nodded. Hallia withdrew quietly, and the Empress returned to her private chambers. She waited patiently as her body slaves removed her armor and dress her in a loose tunic and belt. She sat in one of the large, plush chairs in her chambers and relaxed as a servant appeared with a tray. She accepted the goblet of wine and sipped it silently. She snapped her fingers once, and a young human male appeared an knelt before her. She pointed to her feet, and he took her feet onto his thighs and began to massage of them. She sighed contently as he worked, letting the stress and tension of the meeting flow away from her. Everything would work out in the end, of this she knew. The reports she had of the young man Hallia was interested in were promising. And if it were to be believed, many of the children he had already sired would be powerful in their own right, and valuable additions to the Empire. As the slave worked her feet, Xarina felt a bit frisky. As the slave finished, she dismissed him and stood, her feet carrying the young Empress to one of the side chambers in her spacious quarters. She opened the heavy oaken door and entered a large room filled with devices and tools of every conceivable nature. Several slaves waited locked in the cages that lined the walls. These were not regular citizens of the Empire, but rather captives that violated the borders of the Empire. Any who violate the borders without leave can be claimed as such, and despite the warnings and threats, many attempt the task nonetheless.