Once they were alone, the emperor motioned Khloe to follow, taking her to a nook in the library, the bust of a poet their only company. Khloe put her hands on her hips.
“So how long do we pretend that bust is a decoration?” she asked. Lady Zavaan cracked a mischievous smile and locked eyes with Khloe.
“As long as it takes for you to recognize bait when you see it.” The emperor raised her hand and the bookshelf before them melted away into a circular staircase.
“Right, secret mage. That’s two in the last two days, my dad is going to have another heart attack.” The emperor knitted her brow in concern.
“When did he have the first one?” Khloe sighed.
“Yesterday when he found out Adalie is a mage too.” Lorena led the way upstairs, Khloe following behind and doing her best not to step on the hem of her sovereigns dress.
“Hm, I can see that as being a difficult adjustment for him.” The emperor said as she made the top of the stairs. Khloe chuckled under her breath.
“I’ll be his favorite by default,” Khloe said with a sigh. “Not that I’d want to be, mind you.” They made the top of the stairs into a dark windowless room. Khloe felt the tingle of trepidation in her shoulder blades, the kind one gets when it’s time to run.
“Um you’re not going to drop an axe on my head for being mouthy, are you?” she asked with uneasy sarcasm. Lady Zavaan’s laugh echoed through the dark chamber.
“Nay, though I have been known to remove limbs for such offenses. If you’d cracked any of my hand painted alyssum tea cups, we’d be having a different discussion entirely.” There was a note of truth in her sovereign’s voice that gave Khloe a shiver, or the musty air hanging around them like a cold mist was to blame. A crack like a stricken match sounded in the dark and a green light sprang to life from the iron chandelier at the apex of the ceiling. Khloe blinked to adjust her eyes to the eerie odd colored flames as she traveled the room with her gaze.
She gaped at the stretching chamber, four walls lined with iron weapon racks hewn into the marble, an assortment of armaments no single person could master in a life time, at least, in her estimation. Everything was organized with like arms being grouped together. The left wall played host to long handled weapons like polearms, spears, and halberds. The wall on the right housed swords, axes, and long daggers. Above the racks were rows of shields mounted side by side lining the room all the way around, each one representing the current houses that served the empire and it didn’t take Khloe long to find house DuPont’s. There were, however, shields she didn’t recognize peppered in, the unfamiliar more battle worn than the rest. Across from the door stood a pedestal, a single sheathed rapier placed upon it with reverence, and a long purple banner lay over the sheath draping to the floor.
“This room is a shrine of sorts, if you hadn’t already guessed, young Lady DuPont.” Khloe nodded, eyeing the weapon below her house’s shield mounted on the left wall, a nasty looking pole hammer with a falcon’s head carved into it. Its tongue jutted out of its mouth and curved into a sharp blade, while the spike stabbing from its head had been fashioned like a feather, the hammer end molded to resemble a gripping talon, the falcons face twisted to menace.
“In here are the remnants of the first accords between the scattered warring houses. It was asked of each to show earnest desire for peace. Their leaders gave the weapons they trusted with their lives and the shields that protected them. It was felt by the first Zvanastrian emperor that, if they surrendered these as a tribute to unity, their desire to end bloodshed would be in earnest. This room was created to seal this bond between the houses and their new leader.”
“I knew about the accords.” Khloe said, gawping at the collection. “But I had no idea about this room.” She said, eyes still hanging on the polearm. “And I’d recognize that anywhere. My father has a painting of Anastas DuPont hanging over the mantle at home, pole hammer in hand and the shield behind her back. He named Anaiah to honor her, not that I haven’t heard that lecture a thousand times,” The emperor smiled at her disquiet.
“He took such pride in them, Khloesynda. Parents give their children the names they feel can impart a wish for their future. Your parents were very careful about choosing yours.” Lady Zavaan said as she walked down the middle of the room. Khloe followed, grimacing at the sound of her proper appellation.
“I think they cheated, they lifted each from our family tree. I know it’s because my father was practically born swathed in our banner.” Khloe complained.
Lorena laughed as they reached the pedestal on which the rapier lay.
“That sounds like him though he does have a right to be proud; the DuPont family was instrumental in securing the accords and became the first to surrender their tribute. Ever since then your noble house has enjoyed the favor of emperors for generations, including this one. I wouldn’t dismiss his loyalty to his family so easily.” The emperor said, smoothing her hand over the rapier as if to disturb memories from its hilt. Khloe eyed the long purple banner that lay over it draping down the front of the pedestal, another house she also didn’t recognize; a white stag with branching antlers the only thing embroidered on its front. “This was the first Zvanastrian emperor’s rapier.” Khloe’s brow drew together. That can’t be right, it looks new. She thought. Unlike the other weapons which displayed battle scars and the wear of years, the golden hilt glimmered as though it’d been plucked fresh from the forge. It wouldn’t be absurd to think it’s been restored more than once. She decided as Lorena fastened her hand on the hilt and drew the sword. Like the hilt, the blade was a flash of gold, straight as the day it was hammered from the fire, unblemished and unbelievable.
“Wait, you’re telling me emperor Saerus took this thing with him into battle?” she asked. Lorena nodded.
“Why the surprise?” the emperor asked.
“This is ornamental. What person takes a sword made out of gold into battle? It’s such a soft metal the hilt would practically melt against your body heat.” Khloe said, her disbelief worn in her voice. Her emperor’s smile grew broader which confused her all the more. “Are you sure the original didn’t get switched out?”
“Astute of you, Khloesynda, it does indeed look new and no, it has not been switched.” Khloe’s face fell as the nature of the sword donned on her.
“Let me guess, this thing is stuffed to the gills with magic, isn’t it?” Lorena leveled her gaze on Khloe, her smile a mixture of pride and an ancient thought present but unreadable in her eyes.
“Precisely so, we find ourselves in a time of dire need as we face the Locks of Skaa’rev yet again. I would ask that you accompany your brother, you seem to be able to keep a head on your shoulders and it’s a quality he’ll sorely need.” Khloe threw up her hands and gave an exasperated groan.
“Great, it’s the end of the world and I’m still his babysitter. My headstone will read ‘Khloe DuPont, Anaiah’s nanny.’ I may as well get it emblazoned on my forehead tomorrow.” She growled in her monotone. Lorena broke into a laugh.
“It could be worse. Your headstone could read ‘she of many complaints’ or 'when duty called, she up and bawled’ if you want to get poetic.” Khloe scrunched up her face.
“You’ve got some cheek for a proper sovereign.” She said, Lorena grinning back at her.
“There are no attendants here to witness this. Therefore, I submit that you’re fabricating this entire conversation.” Khloe’s face brightened.
“Just like I’m fabricating this magical room, right?” she chuckled.
“Precisely so.” Lorena answered back, the two enjoying a moment of hushed laughter. Lorena sheathed the sword and handed it over to Khloe. “I wouldn’t ask this of you if it weren’t necessary. Of all the houses aligned to me, only yours has always been completely faithful. You’ll notice some shields on the wall whose banners don’t hang in court.” She said, indicating some of the unfamiliar heraldry.
Khloe took the rapier with caution, feeling the weight of its purpose more than the sword itself.
“You hand this to me like I’d be expert in using it. My father may have forced me to fence and participate in training throughout my education but I’m hardly a warrior. I don’t have the proper training required to be effective in any combat situation.” Khloe’s heart raced at the idea of fighting for her life or her brother’s.
“I know, young Lady DuPont. That’s why I’m giving Saerus’s sword to you. Its enchantments make the blade unbreakable, and though it won’t make you an expert, it is a weapon that will both be your blade and your shield.” She said. Khloe blinked.
“That’s why there’s no shield hanging above this pedestal.” She murmured with a nod from her sovereign. Khloe pursed her lips, staring at the blade in her hand, its plain sheath belying the grandness of the glistering sword.
“I’ll do this on one condition.” She said at last to Lorena.
“Name it.” The emperor said with intrigue in her eyes.
“If I live through this, you have to tell my father not to send me off to Dolore as a guardswoman when I get back.” She said.
“Consider it an official decree upon your return, provided Luscentia hasn’t bashed their way in,” she promised.
“If it means I won’t have to stand at Dolore’s gates grunting ‘who goes there’ or checking cargo, I’ll send the Luscents tearing back into their cesspit like their arses are on fire; I may even use real fire to do it.” She laughed. The emperor led her back down into the library, the spiral staircase vanishing into a bookshelf yet again as they left the steps. Khloe fastened the rapier to her hip and left with a formal bow and the pretense of propriety.
Once outside her horse awaited along with her brother who sat on Falchion’s back going over the book once more. He glanced at her, eyes noting the sword, though he said nothing.
“Well, I’m ready to leave. If I don’t eat soon you’re going to see my ugly side.”
“I thought this was your ugly side.” Anaiah jested.
“Oh, now he’s a funny guy. Watch I don’t practice my sword skills on your head.” She shot back.
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