Plotting Against The Empire

**Written by *"EatSpanishMoss"***

He arrived mere moments before the council was to begin, both flanks protected by guards as he entered into the camp. They remained at the entrance as I watched him approach, the busy room of Salein generals and Galdr’s emissaries grew eerily quiet in respect.

Some men cast a shadow greater than themselves, but few could bring a darkness such as this, one that constricted the body and silenced the throat like a snake. He was dressed as a man of great importance, a deep crimson coat and elaborate gold piping marked the man out as someone to pay attention to. Yet, as he strode into the remains of the war tent, I realized I had not prepared myself for how truly mortal he looked compared to his legions.

While he had the tell-tale signs of the usuals of Paleblood, that being most notably his youth, other things separated him from all the others that had been seen by outsiders. There was pale hair that framed a face that looked to be burned or horribly wounded through combat, scars of a soldier who had seen his share of bloodshed, at least, so it looked. His eyes tired, his face pulled into a snarl of dissatisfaction, his body was skinny, and surprisingly undernourished.

As he approached, I smiled, for he was still, at his heart, a gentleman.

Just from appearance, there were many gathered now for the council who looked as if they demanded more fear and respect. Generals that were tiers below him were so massive that as you looked down the line, each of them seemed more than capable of breaking the man before us.

But, somehow, this was the man who led them all, in all his grandeur. The Head General of Salena.

Despite it all, besides him, I was the most important person in this room. Disaster had built upon disaster over the last few months between Salena and Gladr in the mines on our border, there had been so many men of military status injured that Head General Yakov himself had no choice but to intervene.

…I had made sure of that. As one of the renowned envoys of the Gladr leader herself, this *“Grand General”* had to be beyond paranoid to suspect me of my ill intent.

for months, I had prepared. I had visions- no, I knew full well that Lady Evanora had wanted this Salein man as her new vessel for years, and the fates upon which our nations now balanced, the whispers that gave each moment shape…

My ear itched at my leader's words. Of the moment she first commanded me, and gave voice to our plot. Everything was in place. I had accounted for it all. Here, where the earth opened into a maze of snowy mountains that made it impossible to escape, I and I alone would determine the future of Salenas' fractured empire, and return ours to greatness.

Now it was time to clean up one of the old Czars loose ends.

“I hope that you all know this is a waste of my very precious time,” Ev Ilyin spoke firmly. His accent was less refined than anticipated, though, that mattered very little. His voice was that of the audible sound of the drawing of a sword, sharp, strong, and demanding of respect. “Show me why I have been dragged out here.”

Yakov made a gesture with his hand for someone to come forward.

“Grand General,” One of the other envoys spoke up, a simple man by the name of Edward. He was a sheep who followed Faeya Vossen, completely unaware of our true ruler's desire to return to her rightful throne.

Edward rolled out a map of the mountains, and pointed to a spot on the map already worn white by his attention. “Most of the conflict appears to be occurring here, near the powder mines in particular.”

“What it looks like is that Salena is trying to scorch the earth there,” Another Gladr emissary named Maela petitioned before Edward could respond, the words flying wildly from her mouth. “Your military set fire to a pitch they’ve laid to burn on our advance. You’ve driven hundreds of our workers out of those damn mines. And for what?!”

She smiled, pleased at her own cunning words and sharp tongue, but Yakov's attention was nowhere near on the emissary, it was on the wine being poured into his glass.

*Will it be poisoned?* his eyes seemed to ask, as he peered around the table. His eyes landed on me, and I stared at my reflection in his armor and metals. I would betray nothing of my intent.

“I have learned enough to detest all men, only nations may be revered. If you think Salenas intentions lie in burning the very earth it owns and agreed to let Gladr use for the sake of men… well…”

Yakov sighed. “Though, I suppose it is too much to expect you to know the simple relations between our empires. ” He swirled the wine in his glass, betraying a hint of disappointment. “All you have done so far is bury your own men with it, like idiots. Lighting your own pitch on fire through incompetence and fleeing from it wouldn’t surprise me, considering what you just said.”

This only sparked an argument between the hot headed Maela and the very timid Edward, first leveled at Yakov, but one that turned against each other in a very uncivilized manner.

The Grand General looked down at the wine in his cup. Though his expression barely changed, it was enough to see that he found a small bit of joy in pushing their buttons. As the argument only worsened between the two, Yakov spoke, knowing very well he’d be drowned out by the pointless babble.

“Though, that would be what I’d say, if I didn’t have reason to believe there was a third party involved.” The general's one good eye raised up from his glass and peered across the table- to me.

*“Wouldn’t you agree?” I heard his words within my own head. His eyebrows raised slightly, and his head tilted. I must've shown my surprise on my face. “I can read thoughts you know, and I've heard everything. it's a… perk of being as talented as I am at blood magic.”*He took one sip of wine and placed the cup on the table, casually dusting off his suit in an inconspicuous fashion.

*“I’m going to kill you now.”*

“NO YOU WILL NOT!” I shouted, practically leaping up from my chair. I had pulled out the demolition charge I had hidden within my coat, my hand on the pin that I could easily flick off with my thumb. “I will kill *you*!”

Silence befell the room almost instantly. One of Yakov's fellow generals, in shock, spoke out against this action on my part. “You threaten the Grand General? I hope you are aware that this is an act of treachery for your nation.”

“Oh dear, gentleman, I feel very threatened.” He said with a blank stare and a monotone voice, “In fact, I think this man is insane.”

“I am not—” Something was wrong. I couldn’t control my body or my voice… I couldn’t control my voice at all. “I am very insane! Crazy, even! And I am going to blow HIM,” My arm, as if controlled by a voodoo puppet, whipped out, and pointed directly at Yakov. “Into oblivion?!”

His expression changed very little, “Oh, goodness, oblivion? That's a good word for someone like you. I dare you to try and kill me. See what happens to your country as a side effect. ” He leaned forward, smoothing the wrinkles from his coat. The most irritating smug look plastered over his face.

*“I must tell you, I have few joys in life, but watching people like you squirm always seems to lighten my mood. After I'm done here, I'll be sure to tell Faeya Vossen every little detail of your… weird cult, how would you like that?”*

Both Maela and Edward starred in silent horror at the political implications of my actions. This was not as planned. Not at all.

“No!” I yell, the air in my lungs growing heavy, as if they were being filled with water. “I won’t let you win! Lady Evanora will protect me, you are—”

My hand, once again being controlled by some form of magic, flicked off the pin from the bomb I held.

An awkward second passed around the room “O—”

Erik, the strange cult figure, had exploded.
Though, oddly, no one else was hurt in the explosion.

His blood was practically ripped out of him, and cocooned around him like a shield, absorbing the blow of the bomb's eruption. After the dust settled, the Grand General lowered his hand, and the blood was poured onto the floor.

“I’m done here, I’ve seen enough.” Yakov removed a bit of dust from his gloves, and turned to leave without another word on the matter, only to be stopped by Maela.

“Grand General Yakov, please wait!”

He surprisingly stopped, turning his head to the other emissary.

“This meeting was atrocious, I know, but please don’t let this affect how you perceive our nation.”

For the first time during this council, the General smiled “What? Oh no, this hasn’t changed how I view Gladr at all.”

A wash of relief flushed over her face, “That is such a r—”

“I already hated you.”