Valkyrie's Shadow

Empire in Chains: Act 3, Chapter 11

Empire in Chains: Act 3, Chapter 11

Chapter 11

A large security detail of the Royal Earth Guard inspected their carriage at the gate of the Imperial Ministry of Magic. In addition to their well-maintained suits of minor and lesser magical equipment, they employed various magic items. A wing of Hippogriffs cast their shadows from overhead as several spells and magic items were employed to inspect the vehicle and its occupants.

As Ludmila watched them work, one of the Knights holding an unknown device looked up at her. She held his gaze for several moments before he nervously turned away.

Annoyed, Ludmila used her Skill to gauge his disposition as he went over to speak with his captain. He was ‘darker’ than he should have been. Her annoyance grew as the two soldiers glanced furtively in the direction of the carriage and the captain darkened as well.

?They're doing it again.?

?Doing what again??

Ludmila glanced at Florine. Little trace of her friend’s sour mood from the previous day remained and she was beginning to behave normally again. As for herself, there was little she could do that wouldn’t run afoul of infringing on the Empire’s autonomy as a protectorate of the Sorcerous Kingdom.

?Letting us through unchallenged after detecting an anomaly. That knight over there realised that the magic item he was using wasn’t working on me. Instead of investigating the issue, both he and his captain are looking the other way.?

The First Legion’s checkpoints had done so since their arrival in Arwintar, though Ludmila had only caught on to their behaviour sometime during the third day of their visit. Every checkpoint had magic casters and used magic items to inspect vehicles and their contents, but Ludmila’s Ring of Nondetection would foil all of their attempts at gathering information with magic, special Skills, or supernatural Abilities. This would not be recognised as strange for some of them, but plainly out of place for others.

?Can you blame them??

?Yes.?

Florine’s cheeks twitched as she suppressed a smile.

?I admire your steadfast character, but you can’t impose your values on imperial citizens.?

?Technically we could, but our big sisters here don’t want us to.?

Ludmila’s attention drifted over to Liane.

?Would you do it if we hadn’t said otherwise??

?Of course not.?

?That’s exactly my point. We are entrusted with authority as representatives of a higher order and wield it responsibly. These knights are entrusted with the security of the Baharuth Empire, yet so readily shirk their duties.?

?First Legion or not, they’re still those little people who don’t want to get squished if they can help it. Even other Nobles would have a hard time – very few people enjoy the close support that our little group shares. We’re like some weird, unheard-of exception…well, except you. You just do your thing until you get killed for it.?

She rolled her eyes at Liane’s response.

?There are considerations that they must make on behalf of the Empire, as well. Even though we aren’t exercising our authority, the order that we serve still legally supersedes theirs. Combined with their views on the Sorcerous Kingdom…well, think of how people measure others at a glance in this country. Dimoiya is never challenged in public spaces by people beneath her station. People’s heads go straight to the ground when Frianne shows her face. Depending on the circumstances we can potentially be higher than the Emperor, and because imperial citizens think the way that they do, they’ll be erring on the side of caution.?

Florine’s interpretation was sound, but Ludmila was no less annoyed.

It was one thing to be discreet and flexible; it was another to create gaping holes in security and ignore bureaucratic processes put in place to maintain order. She wondered how much of the Empire’s proceedings would be considered corrupt in the Sorcerous Kingdom.

?I wonder why it is that ‘erring on the side of caution’ always results in looking the other way when it comes to us. We’ve seen their behaviour around other dignitaries wandering around the First-Class District – their vigilance doubles and they try to impress the authority and prestige of the Empire upon their guests. Has it not occurred to them that being unprofessional around us will only damage the Empire’s reputation??

?Well, that’s just how it is. Even Frianne struggles and she’s had days to get used to us. A duke’s daughter should represent the upper limit of their expected behaviour. Anyone higher would be an exception beyond exceptions.?

?Or they could be a cranky hardass.?

The carriage doors opened. Liane hopped out before Ludmila could shoot her a look. Ludmila stepped out under the overcast skies. She waited until Clara, who hadn’t commented on their discussion at all, disembarked before they headed into the grounds of the Imperial Ministry of Magic.

Two Iron Golems stood on either side of the main building’s entrance. They seemed infinitely more reliable than the Human security forces, if only because they were mindless and would reliably attempt to carry out their orders. Between them stood two men. They were not adorned in the trappings of the Royal Earth Guard, instead wearing well-crafted robes.

Various pouches and articles of unknown use dangled out from their belts as they lowered their heads.

“Welcome, Lady Frianne,” the grey-robed man on the left said. “It’s been too long since your last visit.”

“It’s good to see you again, Lord Frosct,” Lady Frianne smiled warmly.

?Ah – they’re totally into each other.?

Were they? It only seemed a friendly exchange to Ludmila, but Liane was probably much more sensitive to such things.

“Lord Frosct…” The man seemed to taste the word, then shook his head, “Lord Frosct. I still can’t get used to that. I would rather you address me as you have in the past, Lady Frianne.”

“We are here in an unofficial capacity,” Lady Frianne said, “but it would be better if it was treated as a semi-official occasion.”

“I see. One of those. Well, far be it from me to question the dynastic establishment.”

Lady Frianne stood to the side, gesturing to each of them in turn.

“I have the pleasure of introducing you to Countess Clara Odilia Dale Corelyn, Countess Liane Loretta Dale Wagner, Baroness Ludmila Zahradnik, and Baroness Florine Kadia Dale Gagnier. As stated in our correspondence, they are Nobles from the Sorcerous Kingdom who have come to see Arwintar.”

Lord Frosct observed them intently as they made their greetings. It wasn’t the look of male attraction that was so often cast in their direction: it was closer to the face Liane put on when studying her contraptions.

“Interesting…” He continued to study them long after Lady Frianne finished speaking, “Nobles from the Sorcerous Kingdom, yet there does not appear to be a single mage amongst you. What say you to this, Lady Frianne?”

“They are former Nobles of Re-Estize,” Lady Frianne told him. “Their titles went along with the duchy.”

“I see. Well, reality often disappoints. Still, their panoply is impressive. Nobles of Re-Estize are not known for their appreciation of magic, so I can only assume that this is a result of changes brought about by the Sorcerous Kingdom?”

“You can tell?” Ludmila asked.

Lord Frosct raised his arms in answer, exposing hands hidden under the long sleeves of his grey robe. He presented two items in either palm.

“The fellows stationed at the perimeter possess certain shortfalls when it comes to magical security,” Lord Frosct said. “Their work is sufficient when dealing with the mundane and uninitiated, but we of the Ministry of Magic must take additional precautions by necessity.”

Lady Frianne glanced uncertainly between them.

“Will there be any problems, Lord Frosct?”

“The problem is whether the problems are truly problems,” Lord Frosct replied, “and whether they are one sort of problem or another. The daughters of northern descent are all equipped to such a degree that the combined armament of the entire Royal Earth Guard would be put to shame by a single one of them. This lady of southern lineage does not appear to have any magic items at all, which means that she is either the worst or best equipped. In various ways.”

“What ways might that be?” Clara asked.

“My colleagues might notice and swarm you. That may work in your favour or against. Or both. I find it highly unlikely that Lady Zahradnik here is not wearing something at least as absurd as the rest of you, but this is only because the rest of you indicate that something is amiss. As such, it may result in some poking and prodding – a challenge for discerning individuals, if you will.”

A slow smile grew on Lord Frosct’s face. He gave them a thoughtful look.

“This will be very interesting indeed,” he said. “If you ladies are as strong as your items suggest, then the Empire shall face a great calamity should someone poke you in an unwelcome fashion. Come, Norman – let us witness the fate of our great nation.”

Lord Frosct turned with a lazy wave of his hand, making his way deeper into the Imperial Ministry of Magic. The brown-robed man bobbed his head once before following in his wake. Lady Frianne frowned after them.

“You’ll have to forgive Lord Frosct,” she clicked her tongue. “He didn’t even introduce himself…he is Baron Willem Darel Van Frosct, one of the senior fellows of the Imperial Ministry of Magic. The man in the junior associate’s robes is his apprentice, Norman Ellig.”

“I think I like him,” Liane said. “Can I take him back with me, Frianne?”

“No.”

Liane grinned as Lady Frianne led them after Lord Frosct. Though his grey-robed figure was nowhere to be seen, their guide led them through the empty corridors without a hint of hesitation.

“You seem to know your way around,” Ludmila noted.

“I came here to study twice a week when I was a student at the Academy,” Lady Frianne replied. “The Ministry of Magic was trying to recruit me since my first year and assigned Lord Frosct as my tutor in arcane magic. I became capable of casting third-tier spells towards the end of my senior year, but I was too busy working on my treatise to pay their overtures any mind. Not that I would have joined – a position of authority on the Court Council has always been my goal.”

“You appear to be much happier here,” Florine said. “And not just because of Lord Frosct.”

“You’re not wrong,” Lady Frianne admitted, “but the Court Council is where I am needed the most – especially for the people here. Most are much like the Master: they care little for what goes on outside of their fields of study. Someone needs to represent them in the palace. Magic and magic casters need to be recognised as an integral part of imperial culture: at the moment, we are little more than well-compensated tools.”

During their time together, Lady Frianne was always more than happy to discuss the content of her treatise. In the hallways of the Imperial Ministry of Magic, her conviction on matters of arcane culture echoed clearly down the otherwise silent halls. It was the place where she truly belonged and she championed its cause in the heart of imperial power.

“What sort of feedback have you received from the members of this ministry about your work?” Clara asked.

“This cloistered setting makes for a good metaphor,” Lady Frianne replied. “The great minds of the ministry are somewhere between invisible and shunned by the rest of society aside from the utility that they represent. They, in return, care little so long as they are allowed an environment conducive to their studies. Things will remain as they are as long as they hold value to the Empire, but I feel that this sort of relationship is unhealthy.”

“You make them sound like some sort of cabal.”

Lady Frianne laughed lightly.

“Yes, that is what they’re sometimes referred to as. The next closest thing to an Elder Lich cabal. If certain breakthroughs are made, this may very well end up being close to the truth.”

At the mention of the Undead casters, Ludmila became aware of many shadows in her negative energy perception. They were somewhere below, most likely in some sort of basement.

“So…” Liane said, “About Lord Frosct. Are you bringing him into House Gushmond?”

“Yes, I’d like to know as well,” Florine said. “You seem wonderful together!”

Lady Frianne’s steps slowed. A resigned smile played over her lips.

“That is the plan, yes,” she said. “He is a prominent member of the ministry and a Fourth-tier arcane caster. The imperial dynasty has few magic casters, so I believe that creating a branch of casters for House Gushmond would be a wise move. His Imperial Majesty granting titles to the Master’s disciples also means that our union would bring another fief under the influence of the imperial house. In all, the benefits are quite attractive.”

“And you like each other,” Florine added.

“Yes, that is a nice bonus. But they say that a duke’s daughter can fall in and out of love according to the needs of her family. To be honest, I do not think they’re wrong.”

“Well, that’s how it is for all of us,” Liane said. “In your case, everything lines up nicely so you may as well be happy about it.”

“I imagine there should be opposition to this,” Clara said. “Or is the situation in the Empire such that the leverage you represent is unnecessary?”

“In my estimation,” Lady Frianne said, “there is currently no house or faction in the Empire strong enough to outweigh the benefits that a union with Lord Frosct will bring. His Imperial Majesty’s ongoing actions play a large part in this, but I suppose I am also personally invested. I want to prove that my notions about Imperial Arcanists are correct by raising them for the imperial dynasty. There’s just the matter of getting past my father and the rest of the old guard who think that I should still be strategically deployed according to past standards despite present realities. Even in my position – or especially because of my position – I must accede to the will of the dynasty.”

“Ludmila could go and beat them up for you,” Liane offered.

“I am not going to ‘beat up’ a duke.”

Laughter echoed through the corridors of the Imperial Ministry of Magic. Dimoiya turned and raised a hand, walking backwards in front of Ludmila.

“Oh, oh, oh. I’ve been curious for a while now…how strong are you, exactly? Even the Royal Earth Guard’s scouts are stumped.”

“That’s a good question,” Ludmila replied. “I haven’t done any real fighting since returning from the Katze Plains.”

“Don’t let her fool you with that humility of hers,” Liane said. “She’s killed so many things since the spring that you may as well write a story about her.”

Dimoiya sidled over to Liane, adjusting her glasses with a hungry look.

“Tell me more…”

“Hmm, well, after the annexation, Momon himself went to get her from the border. When he approached her capital, she ran out and challenged both members of Darkness with a rusty spear.”

“What?!”

“Uh-huh. How crazy is that?”

Liane struck a pose that didn’t look much like someone wielding a spear. Ludmila leaned forward and frowned across at them.

“…who told you about that?”

“Momon did. Anyway, after that, she rode over to Fassett County. It’s not there anymore. Then, over the summer, she destroyed an army of over a hundred thousand Goblins, Hobgoblins, Bugbears and some other things. At the end of summer, she climbed up into the highest valleys of the Azerlisia Mountains: the Frost Giant tribes were subjugated within days. Just before the autumn harvest, she hopped onto her ship and sailed up and down the Katze Plains, destroying hundreds of thousands of Undead along the way. Deep in its darkest depths, she faced off against six Elder Liches…at once.”

“It was five. And I didn’t ask for it – they were being unreasonable.”

“See? She won’t even deny that it happened; Zahradnik never lies. That’s why she usually doesn’t say much: whenever she talks it’s like a spear comes out of her mouth and sticks you in the gut because the truth hurts. All things considered, I think she can beat up a duke. Don’t let anyone know about any of this though or you might find her waiting under your bed with her pet Dragon.”

Dimoiya looked at Ludmila and swallowed. She turned back around and slid into place on the opposite side of their entourage.

“Please go easy on General Kabein and General Gregan, Lady Zahradnik,” Lady Frianne said after a long silence. “They’re good, loyal men.”