3)Enters the Villain (Tick)

​High Lord James XVI Baron of Calador and the Lowlands sat by the door awaiting admittance. He was half wondering why Her Eminent Empress Victoria II had summoned him. He was a vocal opponent of her policies of late. He had been in opposition of her ascendancy to Empress seven years before. She was only 14 at the time, too young in his opinion as well as others, when she petitioned the Grand Council of The Civilization to take her place as Ruling Empress. The year prior, Regent Reginald XVIII was unceremoniously impeached by the Grand Council and later executed. Regent Reginald had acted as regent since Victoria's mother and father died in an airship accident when she was four. For the following year the Grand Council acted in regency until Empress Victoria II insisted on her own ascendancy. The Barron Calador had enjoyed a slight majority of control over the Council until then and he thought he would have no problem opposing her ascendancy, however, two of his “allied” lords had changed their minds and chosen to vote her in. Of course, since then, those two lords had met with “unfortunate” accidents. Had the vote been taken a year later,the council, and by extension he, would have retained regency until she turned 18 and they would be unable to oppose it. He felt confident had this happened he would have been able to impose certain laws and other limitations on The Empress and remained defacto-ruler of The Civilization. And had she proved to be resistant then, well there were solutions to this as well. Why not? He had solved the problem of her parents.

​As it were, he had had to maneuver carefully for the last 7 years to continue to push forward his own agenda. As the Empress had begun her reign, she had been still unsure of herself and nascent to the political arena which was Calador's forte. He was still able to enjoy relative freedom in his planning. Recently, however, she had begun to impose policies which were beginning to undo many of his carefully laid plans. She had turned back many “liberal” policies which had ensured greater control would be retained by The Council. Although he remained confident he would get his way in the end he was still a little apprehensive about this summons as he sat in an antechamber just outside the Empress' office on Her Eminence's Airship Monarch awaiting her pleasure.

​

After an intolerable amount of time, the inner door opened. General Magnus stepped out. He turned and looked down at the Baron, nodded his head curtly with a grunt then turned and left. Even though the general had met with the minimal standards of protocol in giving the Baron respect, his manner was decidedly rude in the baron's opinion. General Magnus was gentry, common blooded and so finds himself in this exalted position by shear happenstance. Baron Calador had his younger brother Marcus groomed for Commander General of The Grand Army of The Civilization once Calador gained control.

​Calador decided to not call the general on his rudeness since he obviously enjoyed the Empress' favor at the moment. This would be impolitic for the time being. After all, generals lived dangerous lives being up in the front with their soldiers and such. So, it would be no problem for Calador to arrange an “accident”.

​The Chamberlain automaton, which was part of the protective heirloom sentinels contingent, stepped into the still open door and said in its deep artificial voice, “Her Eminence will see you now your lordship.” Calador could not get over the unnaturalness of these automatons and their voices. It always reminded him of bees buzzing through a grate or screen at a distance.

​As Calador entered the office, he saw the Empress with her back to him on the balcony overlooking the passing countryside. Her visage reminded him of the statue of her ancestor, Arkan I who had invaded the Northern Continent from the Southern Continent over a thousand years ago. She had his wide nose and full lips and almond shaped eyes. Her very dark skin and full figure also showed her Southern Continental heritage. He was reminded again; The Civilization had an alien family ruling over it and had been since the beginning. This was something else he sought to remedy.

​The office was hexagonal in shape and the balcony was opposite the door he had entered. Standing in every corner, looking like ornamental suits of armor, were six of the automaton sentinels which have protected the Imperial family for the last thousand or so years down through countless generations.

​Seeing her with her back to him, a brief temptation crossed his mind it would be easy to remedy the situation right now. However, the thought passed quickly when all six of the sentinels shifted their position taking a more “on guard” stance and turned their helmeted heads toward him in unison. He didn't doubt they could sense his animosity toward the Empress.

​Without turning her head, the Empress said, “How do these days find Calador?”

​“Well, Your Eminence.”

​“This is good. It would grieve us to have to find a replacement for you. We are sorry to interrupt your busy schedule James. We know you have an agenda to keep and in these busy times one finds it hard to keep their agendas viable and moving.”

​He mentally parsed what she said while he replied, “I serve at your pleasure Your Eminence.”

​She turned her head and looked him in his eyes, narrowed hers and said, “Do you now?”

​“Has Your Eminence found reason to be displeased with Calador?” he said mildly, keeping a polite smile on his face and placing his hand on the center of his chest and bowing slightly.

​She turned fully and asked sharply, “Do you serve at Our pleasure or for your own interests James?”

​He didn't fail to notice she had twice addressed him in the familiar leaving his titles off. He felt she was baiting him. He mentally forced himself to remain calm and said mildly, “I would hope they are one in the same thing Your Eminence.”

​“Are they now?” she said doubtfully.

​“If Your Eminence would enlighten me as to how Calador had displeased you, Calador will seek to remedy this.”

​“We just found out our orders to care for the homeless in the cities, especially Grandeur City, have been turned into mass arrests and enslavement of them! Is it possible you misunderstood our intent to care for even the poorest of our subjects?!”

​“It is possible Your Eminence has been misinformed. Yes, there have been some arrests and imprisonments, however, there are a large number of criminals in this population...”

​“Misinformed?! Really?!” she took a step toward him and although she was a good six inches shorter than him she seemed to tower over him by her sheer presence. He found it easy to imagine her ancestor's influence on her. He also was reminded she was very intelligent in her own right. She had mastered both Clockworks and Alchemy by the time she turned thirteen. She was also said to be adept in other realms of magery as well.

​He reevaluated his opinion of academics, as he always thoughtshe was. Apparently not all academics are naive and easily maneuvered by their lack of real-world experience.

“Your Eminence, if you will please advise me on how I can correct any mistakes made?”

​“Worry not about it James, we have taken this particular project out of the purview of the council. We only hope you have not done too much damage which cannot be repaired. What we summoned you here for today is to remind you, when we made this directive four years ago, we were very specific about how the children were to be handled. Is it possible you did not understand our instructions?”

​“Empress, you do understand the council acts as a counterweight to imperial power. It is not your purview to simply order the council. The council only need to carry out your wishes within the limitations of practicality.”

​“Practicality? Do you dare to question our ability to understand the limits of practicality before we give our orders?” she did not raise her voice much more than a single decibel but her presence and projection of her voice had the same effect had she screamed it into his ear. Needless to say, he winced.

​“Empress, you do understand this is not the time of your forefathers. You need the council to properly administer an Empire the size of The Civilization.”

​“A fact you never fail to remind us on James. Something you fail to realize, Baron Calador, the Charters direct what the council can and cannot do as it does The Imperial. When we give directives and missives which are not specific then we trust the council to administer those within the limitations of practicality. When we give specific directives then you will administer them to letter of the orders. Are we clear?!”

​“Crystal Your Eminence.” he said with a low bow.”

​“Good. One other thing. Considering this, we have ordered the Imperial Comptroller to audit the dealings of the Grand Council for the last seven years. We are curious how many other orders of ours have been... misunderstood.” She then turned back to the balcony then said, “We trust you will cooperate fully with his investigations.” She then waved her hand in dismissal.

​Calador bowed and turned and left. He stormed past the Chamberlain Automaton who was barely able to slide the inner door open for him. After he passed through the antechamber and into the corridor, he started formulating his next plans. He needed to remedy much immediately. The Imperial Comptroller couldn't be allowed to see all the books for the last seven years. It would end with Calador taking the thirteen steps into the termination machine. It mustn't happen.

​Empress Victoria II Arkanti stood alone on her balcony trying to calm herself. She realized by telling Calador about the audit she had set things into motion which she had to stay ahead of. Once she was sufficiently calmed, she smiled and said, “Go ahead and report Cal.”

​Captain Calvin Cooper of Her Eminence's Special Service stepped out from behind the curtain which were between the glass sliding doors to the balcony and said, “Your Eminence will be happy to hear I have some leads on finding him.”

​“So, he did not get put in prison as we feared?”

​“No, Your Eminence. I believe he was sent to State School. From there the trail grows murky but I will be following my leads as soon as we arrive in Grandeur City. This is of course after I see to your safe return to the palace.”

​“No Cal, those arrangements are well in hand. You just see to your leads. Time grows short before the prophecy comes to fruition. He must be found and enlisted to our aid before he is found and used by our enemies. We do not believe Calador is aware of the prophecy, but we cannot trust it for a certainty. If he is discovered by the likes of Calador he may take advantage of his powers and potential or he may simply kill the boy and end our chances and our reign.” She then turned to him and said, “Cal in earnest, you are the only one I trust in this matter. I know you will not fail me.”

​Cal didn't miss the familiar speech and said, “Yes Vicky. I will spare no effort. By hook or crook, I will find him. And if I need to,I will end Calador as well.”

​She smiled warmly and said, “I know you will. However, Calador is not the only threat from the council I face. Also, there are other forces at work here. Dark forces I have yet fully discerned. Whatever happens Cal, I want you to know, I am thankful for whatever happy accident which had brought you from your world to ours those long years ago.”

​“Even though you tried to execute me back then?” he asked with a raised eyebrow.

​“Well you did just appear in my changing room. What was I supposed to do?” she winked. “Luckily whatever brought you from your world to ours made you immortal.”

​“It still didn't make the termination machine any more pleasant. Even not knowing I was immortal when I stepped into the machine was trauma enough.” he smiled to take the sting out of his words.

​She put her hand on his and said, “Well I am glad things have turned out the way they did. I am only saddened it is your destiny to return to your world someday. I only wish I knew when that day was. It may be long after I am sleeping with my ancestors. The Glass Darkly is hard to read on such details.”

​He placed his other hand on hers and said, “Well until that day comes it will be my pleasure to continue to serve you and yours. In my world I was nothing but an old broken-down soldier. Here I am able to make a difference. Even have an adventure or two while I'm at it. This and certain associations I have had I will cherish till my dying day.” He got a serious look on his face and asked,

“In earnest Your Eminence, why did you notify Calador of the audit?”

​“It is the right thing to do. We will not cower in any way shape or form regarding doing what is right. He may choose to maneuver, skulk and whatever other skullduggery he may but we will not.”

​“I understand. Know this Your Eminence, if I find out he is moving against you or is a real threat to your safety I will end him.”

​“Yes, we know. And you will not ask our permission to do so,will you?”

​He only answered with the slightest of nods. Then his face took on a whimsical look to it and he said, “Your Eminence could always send me to the termination machine again.” he then bowed and kissed her hand.

​“Cal we are so pleased to have you in our service and not of our adversaries.” she had genuine warmth in her smile. For the last five years Cal had become something of a father figure to her since her own father had been killed when she was quite young.