Robert Newcomb - Rise of the Blood Royal

Indeed, abolishing the games would now mean throwing so many people out of work that the Suffragat feared that it would result in the final collapse of the economy. In short, the games had become more than a diversion. They were the needed drug that numbed the populace to the nation’s many problems, allowing the Suffragat to operate as it wished and its dwindling treasury to go largely unnoticed. In an attempt to alleviate the crushing costs of the games, the Suffragat raised the price of attendance, but that did little to help the massive problem.

Soon the coliseum in Ellistium had become so renowned that similar structures dedicated to the same purpose had been erected in other Rustannican cities, further compounding the nation’s troubles. And the continual influx of captured skeens and their offspring into the Rustannican society was taking menial jobs away from the hard-pressed phrygian class. Unemployment among the phrygians was nearly rampant. In many ways, the more conquests Rustannica won, the poorer she became.

If the people rioted, Vespasian knew that the Suffragat would surely lose control of the nation. Because of the ever-present war, there were rarely enough legions stationed in the capital to overcome a mass uprising. Vespasian and Lucius secretly suspected that if all the legions were ordered home, even their combined forces would not be able to maintain order for long. And if so many troops were taken away from the front, all would be lost in any event.

Not since thePon Q’tar had stolen the Vagaries flame from Shashida and declared Rustannican independence had the nation’s future been in such peril, and Vespasian knew it. Only a mass infusion of gold would solve the empire’s many problems, allow the war to continue in strength, and help ensure the defeat of the Vigors. Ironically, the only way to get more gold was to wage ever-costlier campaigns. And so the dangerous spiral went round and round, threatening to engulf the nation once and for all.

Vespasian lowered the treasury report to the floor, then looked around the chamber. The people sitting before him were the most gifted and dedicated that Rustannica had to offer. Even so, the burden of finding a solution rested largely on his own shoulders. A plan to see his nation through her troubles had been forming in his mind for some time. It was risky, and it could easily mean the end of the empire should it fail. But if it worked, victory might finally be at hand.

As the Suffragat waited, Vespasian rose from his chair and started pacing. The room was silent save for the sound of the emperor’s sandals on the polished turquoise floor. Because today’s games would start soon, he was attired much the same as yesterday, as were the others.

As was often his habit, Vespasian drew his sword and he placed the flat side of its blade behind his neck and across his shoulders. In one hand he held the hilt, while the sword point balanced delicately against the fingertips of his other hand. Finally he stopped pacing and turned to look at Lucius and Persephone. Then he regarded the entire Suffragat.

“The treasury report is indeed distressing,” he said. “We have tried everything we could think of to increase the treasury count, but all our ideas have failed. If we raise taxes again I fear an outright revolt-one that our home legions won’t be able to put down. Therefore I have a question for thePon Q’tar, and you clerics must be sure of your answer. The future of our empire might hinge on it.” As Vespasian looked directly at Gracchus, the lead cleric calmly returned his emperor’s stare.

“All your efforts to destroy the reigningJin’Sai and his Conclave have failed,” Vespasian went on. “Although he and his sister remain untrained in the craft and his mystics are supposedly far less gifted than we, they have defeated your plans at every turn. I understand that our direct intervention east of the Tolenkas is impossible, or theJin’Sai and his followers would be long dead. Destroying him and his sister and crushing their Conclave are important issues, but they remain the lesser of our battles. Even so, the Coven of Sorceresses, theJin’Sai ’s son Nicolas, and Wulfgar and Serena were all bested by him despite your learned counsel. Make no mistake-I have no fear either of him or of those winged abominations that he inherited from Failee. We could crush their depleted ranks in hours. No, fellow members of the Suffragat-it’s hisblood that I fear, and his willingness to destroy the Vagaries so that his side of the craft might rule. He and the Shashidans share this terrible dream. Rustannica is threatened by their pestilence and stands alone against it. This is what thePon Q’tar has taught me from the moment of my birth, and so this is what I believe.”

Sheathing his sword, Vespasian walked closer toward the section holding thePon Q’tar. Only after looking at each male and female member did he again speak.

“And so, my friends, before I announce my plan I must know something,” Vespasian said quietly. “Even though theJin’Sai twice navigated the azure pass and spent time with the traitorous Envoys of Crysenium, are you sure-absolutelysure- that he and his forces cannot cross the Tolenkas? If the Suffragat ratifies my proposal, I have no wish to suddenly find our legions fighting a war on two fronts.”

Gracchus stood and gripped the shoulder folds of his white and burgundy robe. He gave Vespasian a confident look.

“I can speak for the entirePon Q’tar on this matter, Highness,” he said. “TheJin’Sai cannot cross-of that we are certain! The Oraculum agrees. If we in our majesty have not found a way, then an untrained prince and his ragtag Conclave certainly cannot! Whatever action you have in mind, rest assured that you may proceed without interference from theJin’Sai. ”

Taking a deep breath, Vespasian walked back and took his seat. Each time he sat there facing the Suffragat he felt isolated and on display-as if it was his will pitted against theirs. The emperor’s chair had been placed there for exactly that reason, he knew. It was but one of the many prices to be paid for holding such immense power.

“May we now inquire about Your Highness’s plan?” Gracchus asked. As the Suffragat waited, the Aedifficium grew silent as a tomb.

“Our gold mines are nearly depleted,” Vespasian said quietly. “And the Shashidan gold hoards can seemingly be moved quickly, making their capture nearly impossible. But the Shashidangold mines cannot. I want to make a final, all-or-nothing thrust deep into Shashida and take the mines. I intend to lead the campaign personally.”

For several long moments no one spoke. Lucius turned to Persephone and he raised an eyebrow. The empress’s astonishment was apparent. As she tried to compose herself, she leaned closer.

“Did you…know about this?” she whispered. She was so stunned that she could barely get the words out.

Lucius shook his head. “No,” he whispered back. “But I have guessed for some time that something weighs heavily on his mind. Now we know what it is.”

Persephone’s worry became so great that her eyes shone with tears. Knowing that she needed to be strong for her husband, she quickly blinked them away.

“You are his First Tribune,” she whispered. “Can we really do this thing, Lucius? Can our legions take the Shashidan mines?”

Lucius narrowed his eyes and rubbed his chin. “That remains to be seen,” he answered. “But I know one thing.”

“What is that?” Persephone whispered.

“Like Vespasian, I believe that taking the Shashidan gold mines is the only course of action left to us. If we don’t, the treasury will soon be bankrupt. Our ability to wage war will come to a complete standstill and the Vigors will prevail.”

Persephone clearly understood the immense historical importance of Vespasian’s proposal. The Shashidan mines were deep in enemy territory and had long been considered unassailable. For the Rustannican legions to fight their way there would be difficult enough. But to also take the mines and occupy the surrounding lands would require a miracle.