Legends of Amacia Heart of Darkness

Meanwhile back in the Black Fortress, an imperial guard brought General Gulez before the Emperor. Having the escort irritated Gulez tremendously. They walked in the throne room and approached the dais. Gulez managed to conceal his fear very well as they approached the throne. The Emperor sat on the throne with a scowl on his face. All efforts to find the traitorous elements in his midst were unfruitful. They stopped on the very spot that Kronos was killed, bowing to the Emperor. Gulez bowed, nodding to acknowledge the Emperor and the guards bowed with their faces to the floor. The Emperor’s eyes glowed like hellfire as he looked at them. “Where did you find him?” he asked the guards icily.

“He was in the Arena, your highness, practicing with some of the gladiators, learning our way of battle,” the guard said as he rose.

“Shut up, maggot; I can speak for myself,” Gulez hissed venomously at the guard. “You know, your highness, the delivery boys weren’t necessary.”

The Emperor jumped up from the throne and stormed forward. “You tread on very thin ice with that tone, General. I will not be spoken to in that tone,” he hissed as he stopped at the top of the stairs.

“Sorry, your majesty; I’m still pissed about the escape. How can you tolerate such blatant incompetence?” Gulez returned in pretend anger the Emperor didn’t detect.

“I don’t tolerate it,” the Emperor growled. “That’s why I called for you. I need a new general to lead my troops and you’re it. Do you feel up to it?”

Gulez smiled wickedly, replying, “Are you kidding? I was born to wreak havoc.”

The Emperor’s eyes quieted as he smiled with satisfaction. “Good,” he hissed. “That’s what I hoped you would say. I have a job for you, General.”

Gulez looked up at the Emperor with utter revulsion and hate, but hid it as he asked, “What would that be, your majesty?”

“Find these traitors and where they sent the mutated bitch Beowulf,” the Emperor growled. “Find them, and once you determine where they sent Beowulf, destroy them, and report back to me.”

“As you command, your majesty,” Gulez grinned wickedly. “You know, your highness, the cat may know something about their plans. Have you considered interrogating her?”

The Emperor’s countenance fell at the suggestion, and then he grinned wickedly, saying, “Always looking for the revenge, aren’t you? The thought had crossed my mind. However, I have much bigger plans for that cat. I know she’s hiding something.”

Gulez rubbed the side of his face, asking, “What do you plan to do about that? Anything we can get out of her may be most useful.”

The Emperor strode down the stairs and stopped right in front of Gulez, looking him in the eye. “Never mind how. It’s best you don’t know. I have people who are experts at extracting information. All you need to know is the extraction of the information has already begun. Now go and find the traitors.”

Gulez’s expression narrowed as he turned to leave, stopping briefly to ask, “You’ll let me know of any information you get out of her?”

The Emperor nodded, replying, “Yes. And to be sure that you get the cooperation of those you need, show them this.” The Emperor handed Gulez a ring with his seal on it...the same ring Kronos wore. “This ring puts you in charge of all my workings,” he stated. “Everything I have is at your disposal. Make good use of this ring and find the rebels, General Ramone Garcia Gulez...my new vizier.”

Gulez took the ring and looked at it for a second before sliding it on his finger. “I certainly will make good use of this, your majesty,” he said with a wicked smile.

“Now go find them,” the Emperor ordered, pointing to the door.

Gulez nodded with a big smile on his face and walked away, smug with the realization that he had fooled the Emperor. Moreover, unknown to anyone at the time, Nemesis watched from the shadows as the whole exchange occurred. When the Emperor handed the ring to Gulez, he grinned, knowing that Gulez had the Emperor’s confidence. As Gulez walked out and the Emperor went back to his throne Nemesis slipped away like a ghost without the Emperor ever having known that he was there. Gulez wasted no time in putting the ring to work and within an hour, the search was on for the rebels who had aided in Hanna’s escape. He also used it to search for the Emperor’s war plans.