They came in the middle of the night during Lirius’ stay in Aen-Kador. Two nervous boys unsure how to begin, or maybe wondering if they should be running instead, their guard uniforms unbefitting the way their feet shifted and their hands trembled.

“This is a private quarter.” – The Commander spoke up as they took too long to gather up the courage. He knew why they came, of course. Sephar Traxis lost his teeth, and now Yrron Traxis has lost his temper.

“W-we know, Commander.” – The taller of them said with an audible swallow. – “But the thing is…”

“...You’re under arrest.” – The shorter one finished when his companion’s voice faltered, immediately looking down himself. – “We apologize.”

“How unfortunate. I’m on a rather tight schedule here, you see. Should cross the border with Perin in five days. His Radiance won’t be very happy about this – the Commanders represent him. We can’t allow ourselves to be tardy.” – He spoke calmly, but despite his words, rose from his bed and started gathering his everyday necessities. Just the comb, razor and a flask of perfume should do. He didn’t expect to stay a prisoner for long, and at the time of his release he’d rather be as presentable as possible.

“I’m sorry… Does that mean you’re coming with us, or not?”

“Why, of course I’m coming.” – Lirius said with a dry, bitter chuckle. – “I’m a stand-up citizen, I won’t let the word that I’ve tried resisting arrest get out.”

“Then we probably shouldn’t let you take that…” - The lanky man motioned to the razor.

“Gentlemen, please. I am not risking blemishing my skin by shaving myself with the dull, dirty jail ones.” – The Commander furrowed his brow pressingly.

“Sevius, just let him keep the damned razor… We can say he hid it up his ass or whatever. Everyone will be shocked that we managed to bring him in at all anyway.” – The short one muttered.

“How uncouth! Bright Father, grant me strength.” – Lirius brought together the thumbs and index fingers of both of his hands over his chest, so that they would form a circle. The God’s holy sign, His sacred sun shining straight into his heart. Pure theatrics. He wasn’t a man of faith, but playing one was a both a twistedly ridiculous indulgence and a vital part of surviving in the sticky web of imperial falsehood.

“Forgive him, Commander Thanred! He is tired and doesn’t know what he’s saying! We have been through so much in the last few days… He wouldn’t ever say anything about your private parts otherwise!” – The one who was apparently named Sevius looked as if he was on the verge of a complete breakdown.

“I do feel terribly offended, though.” – He kept on playing his role, barely managing to fight the proud smirk that was pushing itself to his lips. He had them in his grasp.

“See what you’ve done, Baarth?!” – Lirius could see the boy’s trembling chin and he almost pitied him. Almost. He would either learn to swim, or sink. There was no third option.

“I’ve done nothing...!” – The short one’s voice was creaking now too.

“I might, of course, forget about it.” – Lirius hummed pensively. – “That is, if you’re willing to make a proper apology.”

“...And that would be?” – Baarth asked suspiciously. He had the feeling he was being played like a fiddle. But this was how it went between people like Thanred and those like him. One little misstep, letting your emotions flare up, using the language you would on the streets and not how the lords and ladies spoke in their magnificent gold-and-marble halls, and you were theirs.

“Oh, nothing too bothersome, I promise. Just let me have three words with my lieutenant before you take me away. All I ask. Three simple words.”

“Come on, man… What will he do with just three words?” – Sevius nudged his companion with his elbow.

When they walked him out of his room and he said to the very concerned Reth “Tell His Radiance”, they knew they might’ve screwed things up.

“Don’t worry, you two.” – He spoke up again when they escorted him through the streets. – “He’s not going to concern himself with who was sent to arrest me, just with who issued the order.”

“Lord Traxis will take issue with us letting you contact him, though.” – Sevius muttered.

“He would’ve come anyway. It would simply take Lieutenant Reth an hour or two of consideration before she would’ve made the decision to send the letter herself.” – As he explained, he squinted his eyes. Up from Reth’s balcony a bright shimmer surged rapidly into the night sky, and once it was high enough, South, towards Aen-Anor. It was a flash-hawk – peculiar little bird which could turn its whole body into pure sunlight and travel at an incomprehensible speed. Every Commander’s unit was supplied with one. – “Oh-ho, she’s not wasting any time. Good.”

“I heard that His Radiance can do the same things as the birds…” - Baarth whispered fearfully. – “That it’s how he traveled to Atawa when he razed it.”

“There isn’t much that His Radiance can’t do with his light.” – Lirius nodded. – “Still, he might want to get a good night’s rest first. I wouldn’t expect him before breakfast.”

The Emperor did not come after breakfast, though. Around lunchtime Yrron Traxis did instead, walking into the cell block just as the incredibly bored Lirius was practicing dance moves to entertain himself.

“What do you think you’re doing, Thanred?” – He hissed through gritted teeth, red on his face and rhythmically clenching and unclenching his fists.

“Brushing up on waltz. I danced with Commander Hedaris on Prince Axian’s birthday ball last month and she says I’ve gotten rusty. I rarely have time for leisure and indulging in my hobbies, so I am most thankful for this opportunity, Lord Traxis. It is ‘Commander Thanred’ for you, though.”

“You little…” - Traxis Senior grasped the bars of Lirius’ cell and screamed, sending bits of saliva flying towards the man’s face. – “YOU BROKE SIX OF HIS TEETH! AND NOW YOU’RE WALTZING WHEN I COME DEMAND YOUR EXPLANATIONS?!”

“Oh, so all this is just because you want explanations? Very well. Your son was a prick to me and my lieutenant and I have a low tolerance for rudeness. Is that clear enough?”

“YOU WILL APOLOGIZE PUBLICLY!”

“I apologize. I did go overboard when crushing the little ship. It could’ve been a pretty bibelot once finished. This is public enough, right? The city prison is not exactly the most private of places.”

“GIVE ME THE KEYS TO HIS CELL! NOW!” Traxis yelled at the guards – the very same two boys who brought Lirius in.

“I’d be careful my Lord… He… Kind of… Has a razor with him. And you remember what he did to Lord Sephar, right? He only needed his fists for that anyway.” – Sevius said meekly.

“THEN GIVE ME YOUR DAMNED CROSSBOW!”

That made Lirius’ stomach sink and his jaw drop a little. Not for long, though.

“Contain yourself, Yrron.” – A smooth, velvety voice cut through the air like a knife, and Lirius immediately dropped to one knee. The others only realized what was happening when the air shimmered with all the colors of the rainbow, and from among the kaleidoscopic patterns a man’s form emerged. Tall and lean, with his back postured perfectly straight, and a mistrium diadem resting on the cascade of silky hair the color of pure fire, Emperor Solenn Anorien was unmistakable even to people who have never seen his portraits.

“Y-your R-r-radiance! What a suprise! Aen-Kador is lucky to h-host you!” – Traxis dropped so low to the floor that he was almost kissing it.

“Leave me with Lirius. Any grievances that you have with him, we can discuss later. Preferably when you come for an audience at the royal palace.” – The Emperor said coldly. The Commander noticed how Traxis’ hand clenched again, but the man did not dare to say a word.

“On your feet.” – Solenn said with a little huff once the lord and the guards were gone. – “And do tell me why I had to come all the way to Aen-Kador on a Sunday of all the days of the week.”

“I’ve had an outburst and rid young Sephar Traxis of his front teeth, Your Radiance. His father's men arrested me a few hours before dawn.” – He spoke plainly and honestly. Lying to the Emperor was never a good idea. Nor was getting too cocky with one’s words.

“An outburst, you say…” - Solenn hummed quietly and pushed his knuckle into his temple, rubbing it roughly. He always did that when he was deep in tought… Or greatly annoyed. – “What is the matter with you lately?” – He spoke again with a cold edge to his voice after a few moments.
- “You jump at every turn, servants say they hear screaming coming from you chambers at night, and now… This. You were always so reliable, my boy. And now, I’m starting to be disappointed.”

Lirius felt the itchy, full sensation in his eyes and tried his best to push it down, to hold back threat of any wetness dropping down his cheeks. No! No, no, no, he couldn’t be disappointed! – The teenage boy inside him screamed, the broken little thing for whom Solenn was the first person on this cursed Earth to see any promise in him, to feed him rare, but so addictive praise. He could take his anger, he could take lashings even, when he blundered particularly terribly, because at the end of it all, he could always see the pride in his eyes when he took them without even a yelp. But never before has he cut him so deep with this freezing disappointment.

“I apologize, Your Radiance. I will do better.” – He whispered, hearing his own voice creak and wondering if he looked as pathetic as Sevius and Baarth did when they came for him at night.

“Of course you will. That is not even up for any discussion. This time, you will bring me results from your patrol. Tell me, Lirius, how many times have you ventured into Perin so far, bringing back no news on the whereabouts of my daughter?”

“Ninety-nine.” – He hung his head down in shame.

“Then you better hope the hundredth will be a lucky try.” – Now the Emperor wasn’t even looking at him, but a few inches above his head, as if he was unworthy of his gaze. – “Because I’m growing impatient. I’ve given you a roof over your head, I’ve overlooked your disgraced name, I’ve fed you my food at my own dinner table, I’ve even let you and my son be playmates, and this is how you repay me. Failure after failure and now this humiliation. People will talk of this, you know? Whisper of me coming to your rescue as if I was the one serving you, not the other way around.”

“I’m sorry… I’m so sorry, Your Radiance!” – The dams cracked and he broke down into a sob. “But you came… You still came, so I must be worth something? You didn’t let Traxis shoot me!”

Solenn just watched him in silence until his crying turned into heavy, shaking breaths and then finally died down. When he spoke up again, his face was soft and understanding and he even offered Lirius his own handkerchief.

“I have to be stern on you, boy. Otherwise you forget yourself. We’ve been through this before, haven’t we? After the Undead Uprising and after the Battle of Khaede…”

“Yes, Your Radiance.” – Lirius whispered, slowly and carefully wiping his face.

“And you always came out stronger at the end of the day, didn’t you?”

“I have.” – He agreed immediately and eagerly, warmth filling his chest. He was still worthy. He could still make this right, make himself even better than he was so far. – “And I will. I will find Silarisa this time, and I’ll bring her home.”

“Set out at first light tomorrow. I’ll handle Traxis. He overstepped by arresting one of my Commanders anyway. I think I should remind the lord of Aen-Kador that he’s still a humble servant of the Capital.”

“Thank you, Your Radiance.” – Lirius dropped to his knee. – “You are too gracious to me.”

“Indeed, I am. So don’t make me regret this, boy.”