9Imperial Intrigue
Prologue
In the beginning of time, five millennia ago, the countries of Sierra and Attica were one. Then, to the great sorrow of many, a civil war broke out, and the great realm was divided in two.
To the left side of the continent went those who favored a feminist society, mainly women and their children. This country was named Sierra, and it developed into a monarchy supported by a matriarchal society.
To the right side went those who favored a traditional society, mainly men of power and their sons. This country was named Attica, and it too became a monarchy, but with a patriarchal society.
In time, the two countries both grew and prospered. They also fought many wars, each seeking to conquer the other, but always ending in a draw with few real changes in the border.
However, Sierra's ruling dynasty is now weakening. The current queen, Aquamarine Lily Ametrine, is aging and has no strength to wage a war. The heir, Alexandrite Azalea Ametrine, has no wish to rule or conquer.
The king of Attica, Halavin Quoniera Jinul, has set his sights on young Alexandrite. He is determined to murder her and destroy the last of the Ametrine dynasty, throwing the country into chaos and creating the perfect setting for a war – a war that he will finally be able to win.
Crash! Another priceless porcelain vase flew toward the wall and shattered into a thousand pieces, falling to the floor to join the shards of three other such relics. Queen Aquamarine had just passed on, joining her consort, Kieran Quoniera, in the underworld of Silea.
The queen's health had been declining for some time, but she had not been expected to die quite just yet. However, after Imperial Consort Kieran's sudden death, the shock had been too much. Grieving and bedridden, the queen passed away only a week after her beloved husband. Her heir, Crown Princess Alexandrite, had recently been informed of her mother's death, and she was not in a good mood. The crown princess had always been famous for her short temper, for good reason.
"Why in Kalahar did Mother name me as heir?" Alexandrite asked herself, viciously pulling her long black hair into a messy bun. "Silea knows we never get along. Just because I am the crown princess does not mean I have to be Heir Apparent. There have been numerous times in history in which the crown princess was passed over for the throne. Mother knew perfectly well that I hate politics and war. All those simpering nobles, toady courtiers, and paperwork." She shuddered. "If I didn't know that she would never defile her honor in such a way, I would suspect her of naming me in the succession just to make my life miserable. I swear on her own damned honor, she should have had another daughter and left me to my own devices!" Raising her head to the gold-leaf ceiling, Alex called out in frustration, "Siena, Sierra, and Silea help me! Why does Fate mock me so?"
At that moment, the heavy golden doors to the queen's chambers – her chambers now, Alex reminded herself – swung open smoothly. The hinges were well oiled, but Alex caught the telltale swoosh of air forcibly parting and turned to greet her uninvited visitor. As she feared, it was Councilor Ramden, likely with more documents for her to sign.
Councilor Ramden was the head of the Advisory Council, one of two parallels to the power of the queen – the other parallel, the Parliament of Nobles, was usually too busy bickering amongst themselves to present any objections to proposed laws. Ramden was a good man and forever loyal to the Crown, but he had an innate love for paperwork and formal events. Both of which Alex loathed with a passion.
Stopping a few feet in front of Alex, Ramden bowed deeply and murmured, "There is business to attend to, Your Majesty." He glanced meaningfully at her rumpled silk frock and mussed hair and added, "Begging Your Majesty's pardon, but Your Majesty may wish to change into more…appropriate attire."
Alex rolled her eyes and turned to walk into her dressing room. "I suppose we have guests, Ramden? You would be much too polite to mention it otherwise."
Parting the heavy lavender curtain, Alex carelessly pulled one of countless silk gowns off its hanger and stripped off her current dress. She slipped on the pale green gown and attempted to lace up the open back, determined to put something on by herself for once. After a few minutes of struggling, she gave up and called Kera – her maid, a slave who had served her since birth – all the while cursing the current fashions for being so cumbersome.
When her dress was successfully changed, Alex sat down at her vanity – expensive mahogany wood, one of the few items in the room not colored some shade of violet – and brushed out her lush black tresses. Kera braided it into a long four-strand plait, woven with pale green ribbons, and wound it into a bun. As a finishing touch, Alex pulled out a few wavy strands of her natural auburn highlights and left them down to soften her sharply defined face. Her hair was her trademark; she had inherited only texture from her mother, not color. The origin of the auburn was a complete mystery.
Jewelry and face paint were stubbornly cast aside, opting for only the mysterious crystal pendant engraved with the ancient rune for 'goddess' that her mother had given to her on her deathbed. She had promised her mother to wear it always, although its true purpose and powers were still unknown.
Proud of herself for taking only ten minutes to prepare, Alex paused to look at herself – really look – in the mirror. She saw a slim, tall girl with black hair, mischievous green eyes, and light olive skin, dressed in finery much too adult for her and already weighed down with a heavy burden. Eighteen was really too young an age to become queen, Alex mused. Much too young. Yet here she was, facing that very reality.
Alex's mind snapped back to the aforementioned reality as Ramden's voice broke the peaceful silence. "Your Majesty, are you ready yet? This matter is very urgent."
Closing her eyes briefly, Alex took a deep breath and strode out to the main room, assuming the regal, distant mask of a queen. It was merely a mask – she had many insecurities yet – but it was amazing what wonders a mask could do, what formidable impressions it could make.