Ashtium: City of Sun

ENOCH

Adler moves out from behind his chair. I only had to wait five minutes for him to come out of his cave this time. Huh, must be my new title as emperor kicking in.

He sits down on his chair peering down at me as if he still holds a position of power. “So how does it feel?” he asks while setting a goblet on the arm of his stone chair.

“Weird. I haven’t much to do yet, but you will be advising me in Urdmin’s place, correct?”

“Yes, that was the terms of your mother’s agreement with me. Otherwise, they would have started burning down this temple already. I’m sure they’ll swipe out the statues before tarnishing the walls in flames.”

Mother and him must have talked about this before.

No wonder she wanted construction to begin for her temple so suddenly. She probably wishes to rule alone since Urdmin is dead, but she doesn’t know that yet.

“I respect your decision to step down from your position,” I pause, making sure he’s listening. He is, but I can only hope he’ll actually oblige. “I’m going to ask you to end your meetings with Greta. I’m glad she’s helping you. You have come a long way, but you’ve already earned a reputation here and I don’t want Greta to have anything to do with it.”

He rests his head in his hand giving me a cynical smirk.

“You mean, Keon?”

“Yes, Adler.”

“Why not?” he asks while sitting up straight with new interest.

“You’re encouraging it, aren’t you? You’re trying to tear us apart slowly. Don’t think the thought hasn’t crossed my mind. I know you’ve been trying to turn her against me.”

“Now, why would I want to do that, Enoch?” his voice darkens as he stands up. He approaches me with a grim look. “I’ve just given you the greatest gift of all quite early on too. What do you think I got out of it?”

I narrow my eyes, looking up at him because of his slight height advantage.

“I don’t know,” I scoff.

“Nothing,” he answers flatly, his eyes glazed over in drunken stupor. “Keon is just a child. Lost, blind and desperate. I don’t need extra work. Your mother was enough. Have fun trying to handle her on your own.”

Dear Ashta. Is he going to cry? He sure sounds like it. He really is acting out of it, but maybe this is the truth for I believe such a drink brings it out of him.

“Her name is Greta and Mother is not your concern anymore. You’ve had well enough to drink tonight,” I note out loud. “You cannot think to advise me like this. I will return tomorrow when you are in the right mind.”

The next thing I know, he snatches my sword from its holster and holds it over the fire. The edge of the blade starts to bend as he presses its surface into the blazing fire. The weapon snaps in the heat. He lets the pieces of metal get buried in the fire leaving me fuming at his side. No weapons in this city are cheap.

Fear creeps up my neck making me yearn to leave. For a drunk, he can be very moody and quicker than I anticipate.

“You need to test your weapons, Enoch. Urdmin’s sword shattered. He had not been taking care of it all these years after relying on his frilly whip like your mother. It was an easy defeat,” he reveals in a monotone.

“Thanks for the notice. I suppose my first task as the Emperor will be to find a new one.”

“Yes,” Adler mumbles while walking away. “I recommend you do that first. Your commencement ceremony will begin tomorrow morning. You should warn Keon. It will be chaotic during the celebration.”

I follow him. “Right. Do you know who is going to crown me?”

“Whichever advisor you prefer. On the surface, my step down will appear as a dishonorable leave to the people. So, naturally, I won’t be attending, but I will congratulate you afterward at the dinner party.”

“You are not permitted in the palace,” I remind him.

He sways as he walks over to one of the many tall columns supporting his temple’s roof. Grabbing it just in time, he avoids falling over.

How much has he had to drink?

Adler picks at the divits in the marble structure.

“But I am still your advisor, Enoch. If you wish me there I will come.”

Does he really want to or is this the wine talking?

“Mother doesn’t. So you cannot.”

His haunting laughter sends me back a step as it echos around the room for no apparent reason. I wonder if the countdown is getting to him. Our star must be coming down to its last days. I really don’t know why else he’d give up his power so suddenly like this and fall drunk in front of me.

“Then my seat shall remain empty,” he hollers with empty anger while watching the streets below his temple.

I rub my chin, considering it all. I will depend on his help at least these first few months. It’s unsettling seeing him in this state though. This can’t become a common habit for him. Perhaps he’s simply just sulking over his loss of the crown.

From there on out, I should be fine running things on my own. For appearance sakes, if not at home, he should be where all my advisors are when we are in public.

“Lucas is waiting for me with Belle outside. Are you going to oversee the courtyard’s maintenance? Mother’s statue is finished, but they are trimming the shrubs now.”

“It will be dark soon, but yes. I’ll be heading out. Goodnight, Enoch. Tomorrow will be a big day for you. Rest well.”

“I will. Goodnight, Father.”

After leaving the temple, Lucas and I head down to the nearest tavern to have our own discussion about my parents. I really wanted him to be my advisor when this day came, but this is all unplanned. He can wait until my father dies I guess.

I might not even have to kill Adler now. Going off of his demeanor up there, he has entered a new low. One where he doesn’t feel concerned with his values anymore as a man of his stature. Wealth, women and fame. It was never enough for him until Greta put him in his place I guess.

“So where’s this little lady now?” Lucas asks me through a mouthful of meat.

I fold my napkin on the table.

“She joined the empirical guards.”

“Oh is that right? That’s something. Who is training her? A midget?”

“Haha. No one right now I think. Greta doesn’t really need to be trained. She has a strong spirit.”

Lucas laughs, “A woman cannot fight like a man, Enoch. Especially one so short. I’m sure she’ll be glued to your mother’s court. That’s where they put all the weak ones,” he boasts while looking over the group of my personal guards outside the window of the tavern. They stand by the door clustered together in their shiny armor and all. “She won’t be leaving the palace walls.”

Who knows, Lucas could be wrong. Greta could be out there right now. However, they probably aren’t going to rotate her around empirical members to watch over yet. She should get to choose who she prefers to guard, but newbies like her don’t get the opportunity. They all work in shifts just like the people serving us food, but Greta was only serving in the palace last time I checked.

I sip my ale. “She sort of does fit right in though minus her shortness in to the other guards. She thinks she’s a man now. I don’t know what’s going on between us, but it’s safe to say she is not looking to marry me.”

“You can’t blame her, Enoch. I think she’s doing pretty well for what she’s gone through and I have a feeling you haven’t even told me the half of it,” he murmurs while watching the group of ladies seated beside us. “I’d look out for Adler still, him giving you his title so early on is no good sign.”

“I know, Lucas. He really did want out of his marriage though I think. Honestly, I’m really glad they both went through with it.”

“Anyone in your shoes would be. You’re Em-p-peror now,” he whispers mid-burp. “You haven’t told her yet, have you?”

“Nope.”

“Well, word travels fast. I can hear the light show beginning outside already. Everyone’s going to know before your ceremony tomorrow that something important is happening. Get on out there and tell her right now before someone else does.”

“Pffft. No one knows anything yet. I thought I told my mother to save the light show for tomorrow! She never listens,” I grumble while sipping my drink.

Our food finally arrives. The warm meal and my surprisingly good conversation with Adler just makes this day feel almost perfect. If only Greta could be in here with me right now. There’s no harm in going out there and getting her, but the last time we spoke...

Well, maybe tomorrow will be a better time to tell her.