A Test of Readiness

[Jovanius Henricus]

His son's thirtieth name-day was swiftly approaching, signalling the end of his reign. For the Emperor of Arton, it was a time of mixed emotion. Pride in his heir, to be certain, yet a wistful reluctance to relinquish the sweet trappings of power. His days were spent more in his son's company, setting the example of leadership that was an unbroken line for generations, yet as the sun set on the Empire, Henry found himself desirous of testing Marcus's readiness.

Sending a servant for his son with a request to join him at the evening meal, Henry sat at the head of the smaller table that served the last five emperors. A scant decade ago, the table held his wife and numerous offspring, yet now it would be only his eldest son and himself. Aurelia had gone to the Illysium, a woman he occasionally deigned to miss if only for the myriad of household administrative details she spared him. Hopefully, the bride he had in mind for Marcus would relieve him of that tedium. 

How the boy would react to learning of the intended bride remained to be seen. Henry planned to reveal the girl's identity during the course of the meal, the better to ensure Marcus's initial reaction remained private. He himself had been informed of his betrothal to Aurelia privately, one of the few acts of true consideration his own father bestowed upon him. He could do no less for his own son. Some traditions were worth the maintaining.

Servants stood ready to serve, waiting upon the Imperial Heir's arrival as he himself sipped a cup of cold, dark ale, relaxing in the throne-like chair. Anticipation lit his gaze, secretly rather pleased with his choice for the future Empress. 


Jovianus Marcus

[Jovianus Marcus]

Marcus had no idea what his father wanted. They had met frequently over the past several months, especially to discuss the future of the Empire. The two of them, secretly, were in disagreement. While his father believed that the Empire would always endure, no matter the circumstances, but Marcus was not certain. Something would have to change. The old way of doing things was no longer working. The bureaucracy was wonderfully efficient, but now it was bloated and loaded with waste. Marcus had several ideas, but he didn't know how well they would be received by either his father or senior members of the Assembly.

Yet, he pushed that from his mind for now. The time was not yet right dictate such things. The heir to the Empire strolled down the corridors of the Imperial palace with confidence and comfort. He was safe here. The Imperial Guard was second to none. As he moved along, he wondered idly what his father would bring up. The military? Possible plans for expansion? His own future? Perhaps a new trade agreement? Or maybe he had a suggestion for a wife in mind.

He entered the room and saluted respectfully at the entrance. "Your Majesty," he nodded firmly and then moved to seat himself. A dark ale would suffice for this meal.

[Jovanius Henricus]

"Ah, come in, my boy. Come in and join me." A hand rose to wave him in, his mug raised in a hail-fellow-well-met gesture. Henry was genuinely pleased to see his eldest son and heir, the better to divulge the news and gauge the boy's reactions to it. Some thoughts contributed to the plan would be welcomed as well; he had not fully ironed out any wrinkles in the plot thus far, and it was proving a matter of some concern to him.

A nod to the servants indicated they could begin serving. Once the first remove was settled before them, a rich and savoury soup redolent with fresh herbs, he dismissed them with a flick of his hands. Sipping the ale, he examined his son with a sweeping look before he spoke. "Tell me of your day, my boy. What accomplishments have you reached?"

[Jovianus Marcus]

Why did he insist on calling him a boy? He was a man now and had been for the last several years. However, Marcus never called him on it. It was his father's way of clinging to the past, he concluded. It gave him comfort and a sense of security. In fact, it was a term of endearment. Marcus knew he shouldn't take it personally, but sometimes, it was chafing. Once he was settled in, he took a lengthy sip of ale.

He decided to give his father several elements of the truth. "I spent the day with the junior members of the Assembly, especially those newly arrived. They will be the ones with whom I share the reign, so to speak, so I thought it wise to become acquainted with them. Find out who share my ideals and who do not. Not that I plan to do anything untoward with the latter, but it's good to know where they stand, regardless."

[Jovanius Henricus]

The moniker was meant as a sign of affection and a trifle of wistful reflection that hailed to his own younger years. His father called him boy until he reached his thirtieth naming-day and received the crown. Now, Henry found himself in the position of elder, and with it came sentimentality. Listening to his son, he nodded in approval, pleased to know Marcus was preparing for his role actively.

"Good work, it is wise to begin laying the foundation for your reign. It will begin soon, as you know." He did not beleaguer the point, trusting Marcus knew best of all the importance of the impending date. "But I have been giving thought as well to a bride for you, and deem it time not only to reveal her name but to resurrect an ancient tradition." The notion occurred to him recently, a rite as old as the Empire itself, and he felt it appropriate that a young Emperor indulge in a display of power tried, true and respected.

[Jovianus Marcus]

Marcus nodded his thanks to his father's acknowledgment but his eyebrows rose noticeably at the mention of resurrecting an ancient tradition. The heir's brain flew through memories, trying to see if he could figure it out for himself, but nothing was immediately coming forth. Understandably, then, his curiosity was piqued. A brow winged upward in answer to his statement.

"Yes, father? Whom do you have in mind?"

[Jovanius Henricus]

Henry was pleased to find his son so receptive, eased back in his chair to observe Marcus over the rim of his mug. "I believe Emmaline of Demeria would be an excellent choice for bride," he smiled grimly, "and I believe that you will cement yourself as Emperor if we revive the old custom of Aufero. So you should prepare yourself for a journey to our eastern border. I have arranged for someone in Demeria to meet you and aid you on your path."

His declaration delivered, he sipped the ale and prepared himself for the reaction. His own had been... memorable, and he expected no less of Marcus. The boy was nothing if not urbane, but he did not have the necessary edge yet to wield ruthlessness masterfully.

[Jovianus Marcus]

To his credit, Marcus did not spit up his ale at the mention of not only wedding Princess Emmaline but kidnapping her to do it. The heir cleared his throat, trying to figure out how best to proceed. "I take it you've been planning this sort of action for some time, father?" He asked for clarification and then smiled slowly. "She would truly make a fine bride, I agree." He leaned back to think on it, or at least, make a show of doing so.

"What do you think will be the implications of this? If we were to steal this bride? What do you think Demeria would do?"

[Jovanius Henricus]

If Marcus spit, Henry would not be surprised or ill-prepared. He sat far enough back that his son lacked necessary range to spray him with brown ale, thankfully, but the amused gleam in his eyes did not lesson for the exertion of self-control. If anything, Henry felt a greater surge of pride and respect that Marcus did not indulge himself in an extreme response. "I have been considering it," the point was conceded with a nod. "It falls to every impending Emperor to begin his reign with a grand gesture; it occurred to me that if you did this, you would have the respect of the Generals as well as the Assembly from the commencement."

The ale cup cradled in his hand as he ignored the food for the moment, he was pleased that Marcus concurred on his choice of bride, perhaps the largest obstacle to the plot, though the question was answered dryly, "I am sure they would issue a well-worded letter of protest, one that condemned us in words alone, but they are not a people of action. It is unlikely they would mount a military expedition."

[Jovianus Marcus]

His father's confidence in the matter gave him pause. Marcus absolutely agreed that the Emperor had to make a grand gesture to arrest the attention of the Assembly and the military, but he didn't know if this would be the correct one. It was not what he had in mind. Still, he couldn't blame his father for his line of thinking. They both came from a very long line of Emperors and the tried-and-true methods of leadership had yet to fail them. Yet, he couldn't shake the feeling that this would be the one time they actually did fail.

"Really? If we steal one of their precious princesses, they will not go to war with us over it?" He eyed his father, not hiding the fact that he was dubious. "What makes you confident in that, if you don't mind my asking?"

[Jovanius Henricus]

His expression was briefly thunderous as his son questioned his knowledge and confidence, yet Henry compelled himself to relax. It was good that Marcus challenged him, or so he told himself. He could take from it the reassurance that his son was no fool, nor gullible. No Emperor could afford to be cozened by his Generals or the Assembly. Taking a moment to cool his temper, he replied calmly.

"I believe they will make rumblings of war, but the Demerians are no fools. To go to war when they have few allies would be akin to suicide and open them to conquest. I have my spies and my informants. Now that the Easternlings have insulted one of those precious princesses, the alliance is in grave danger. We are in a position to act if we do not take too long."

[Jovianus Marcus]

"Hmm," he toned in a thoughtful but not disrespectful manner. His father was obviously well informed and knew how to take advantage of a situation. On some level, Marcus even agreed with him. Yet, he couldn't help but wonder what the end result was going to be. Would Demeria truly take the hit without a response? Marcus wasn't so certain. Demeria had a surplus of food and he had to imagine that Sarkozsy's harsh environment was not conducive to farming. He had to wonder if Demeria's food surplus was still negotiable.

"I presume this man on the inside has everything prepared for the kidnapping?" Marcus wanted to see the woman first, actually. He had an idea forming in his mind. He wasn't all that certain how his father would like it.

[Jovanius Henricus]

Henry prepared himself for Marcus to reject the plan out of hand; his son was more cautious than he himself, less inclined to act on impulse rather than deliberate choice after a time of contemplation. While a good part of him respected Marcus the more for his more thoughtful approach to leadership, he could wish his son more like himself. Despite that, the question restored the smile to his aged face.

"Indeed he is, and with a plan to see you both swiftly out of Demeria without detection. He sends me regular reports on the state of affairs within the Court there, and of the girl's movements. I expect to receive another tonight or tomorrow with confirmation of her location."

[Jovianus Marcus]

Marcus gave his father a smile that belied his confidence in the idea. He strongly considered telling his father what he thought of the idea, but the man's body language was making it patently obvious that he wasn't willing to listen to alternatives. Henricus's answer for all problems was displays of strength and manipulation. Such leadership was necessary during his reign, but Marcus felt the time for such methods was over. He took another deep drink of ale and then held his cup to him in salute.

"Then I shall do what I know I am capable of, father," he gave another smile to the man. "Though," he joked, "You'd best have selected me a rather fair bride."

[Jovanius Henricus]

The matter was settled, satisfying the elder that the younger would do as expected and prosper. This act, Henry knew, would alleviate much of the doubts expressed by the elder generals towards their future Emperor and his preference for negotiation rather than displays of might. Marcus might well prove the greatest Emperor Arton ever knew, but if he started weak, it would establish a near-constant battle for supremacy that would mean his legacy was no longer secure. Henry could not support such an idea.

The jest in his son's voice brought forth a low, mirth-filled chuckle from the father. "I promise you, my son, your bride is quite fair indeed. When do you wish to depart? I will need to send word ahead so that your aid will be ready."