Chapter 12

• EMPEROR ARION
• The royal council room was shattered. He didn't wait for protocol. Nor permission to enter. Doctor Imbalance had pushed through the doors.
• "Your Imperial Majesty," he lowered himself to the ground as his head connected with the floor. "I have news that can not wait." He was clutching parchment in one of his hands.
• "This better be worth the rudeness you have displayed." The tone of my voice rattled the walls.
• "Your Imperial Majesty!" he gasped, his chest heaving. "The anomaly. The calculation was insufficient. Not the trajectory. But the anomaly itself!"
• "Explain. Now." My fingers traced the armchair in a slow, deliberate pattern.
• "This had been sent to me, before the SS Babylon had reentered our planet's atmosphere." With a shaky hand, Doctor Imbalance handed me the page.
• I opened it up. I could clearly see what had been captured. "Approximately where was this taken?"
• "Saturn, Your Imperial Majesty. It is picking up speed."
• I noted the fear on his face. My advisors looked at me, waiting for what would come next. "Estimated time of arrival?"
• Keeping his head lowered. "At first the time of arrival was."
• "I don't want a story, give me an answer." I had raised the volume of my voice.
• "Unknown Your Imperial Majesty. The speed is much faster than before. It could be a month or two."
• "I can work with the timeline." I raised my arm and motioned with my fingers for the guards to step forward. "Take Doctor Imbalance out. Cane him ten times for his lack of etiquette." I watched the doctor shiver with fright.
• "Your Imperial Majesty, if I may speak." My youngest hatchling had stood up and bowed.
• I forced a smile at my son, "Nezandis (neh-ZAN-diss), you may continue."
• "While Doctor Imbalances' rudeness was regrettable, given the evidence presented, could we not consider exercising mercy in light of the severity of the situation we are facing?"
• I sarcastically laughed. My actions had thrown everyone off guard. "You have not only your mother's eyes, but her gentle spirit." I looked at the two guards with their hands under the doctor's upper arm. Forcing a smile. "Nezandis gentle soul has been inspiring. Release Doctor Imbalance."
• I watched my son beam as he slowly began sitting down.
• My sight had narrowed on my foolish boy. "An offense can not be forgiven. Mercy is for the weak. Since Nezandis has spoken up in Doctor Imbalance's defense. Nezandis can take the punishment. Adding on an additional forty strikes."
• I gestured subtly with my fingers. Signalling the guards to execute my command. The look of shock etched on my son's face was unmistakable. Yet, the man Nezandis had grown into would not succumb to fear or retreat into vulnerability. With a quiet strength, Nezandis held his head high. He radiated dignity and accepted accountability for his error in judgement. He strode between the guards, like a true royal dragon, fierce and unyielding in the face of punishment.
• I continued with my royal duties; Nezandis had been at the back of my mind during the time. When I reached his room, I heard my primary wife scolding our youngest son.
• "Your father has many enemies. Within the walls of Elysia and outside the empire."
• "I believed my father to be wrong in his judgement."
• "My beloved son. That is where you were wrong. Doctor Imbalance knew the second he pushed through those doors the cost he would have to pay. Regardless of the urgency in the matter. Order must come first. I found that out the hard way."
• I listened to Nezandis as his mother placed ointment onto his wounds.
• "Be thankful your father had not ordered 50 canes to be broken over your backside.
• When I arrived at the palace, I had to learn the rules quickly. Many times the cane had been my teacher.
• Then your father and I had announced that I was carrying a hatchling. Your oldest brother, Nerath (NEH-rath). During the time I carried your brother, my emotions had gotten the best of me. I had argued with your grandfather openly.
• Out of fear that the punishment would kill the hatchling I carried. Your father had stepped in.
• I had been confined to the east quarters for the duration of my condition. A lesser punishment than 50 lashes for my outburst. However. Your father had not avoided your grandfather's wrath. 50 canes were to be broken over your father's backside. A reminder to never interfere with the emperor's orders.
• You see, my lovely. Your father was being merciful in his orders. An emperor can never show weakness, not even if it is blood. There will come a day when your older brother will follow in your father's footsteps. He will need your support. One bit of mercy, that is all it will take. An emperor can not rule with emotions. Law and order. That is what the crown demands. Hate the ways all you want. But. If your enemies are banging on the walls, you will be thankful for your ruthlessness. "
• I turned on my heels. Noxis had done exactly what I was prepared to do. As far as I was concerned, the boy didn't need two parents lecturing him. She always found a way to help the hatchlings understand duty, honour, and dignity. Those values were the backbone of this family.