Aedan grabbed him by the arm and squeezed hard, causing Michael to gasp with surprise and pain. Fhileraene’s face clouded over, but he kept his calm.
“You would do well, Your Highness, to remember that you are not in your own empire here. In fact, at this point, it does not even appear as if you may even have an empire. However, thus far, you have been treated with the respect due to your rank and station. If you wish that to continue, I expect you to return the courtesy.”
Aedan held on to Michael’s arm and gave him a warning look, then turned to Fhileraene and said, “Please forgive the outburst, Your Highness. It is just that you have given us some shocking news, if indeed your information is accurate.”
Fhileraene nodded. “You may rest assured it is,” he said. “Emperor Hadrian has died, and the Archduke of Boeruine has not wasted any time putting his plans in motion.”
Michael looked stricken at the news. He shook his head and softly murmured, “No … It cannot be!”
“I am sorry for your loss, Your Highness,” said Fhileraene, “but surely, you must have been prepared for this eventuality. After all, your father was very old, by human standards, and has long been in poor health. You see, I make it my business to know which way the wind blows in the Aelvinnwode and the surrounding territories. This move by Arwyn of Boeruine does not really come as a surprise. There have long been rumors of his intriguing with Thurazor, and there are other forces at work in these events, powerful forces of which you are not yet aware. You are at the heart of a situation not of your own making, but it shall be up to you to make the best of it.”
“Meaning no disrespect, Your Highness, but why should you care what happens to the throne of Anuire?” asked Aedan. “Or to us, for that matter?”
“A fair question,” Prince Fhileraene replied, nodding. “It is true I have little reason to love your human empire, but of necessity, I have had to learn to live with it. With Hadrian on the Iron Throne, elf and human were able to regard one another with some tolerance. The peace between us has not always been an easy one, but with the exception of isolated incidents, it has been kept. I labor under no misapprehensions that this would continue with Arwyn of Boeruine in power.”
Those “incidents” to which he was referring so disingenuously, Aedan thought, involved none other than his own great-grandfather, Rhuobhe Manslayer, whose bitter hatred of humans ensured he would never tolerate them, much less keep peace with the empire.
“The Archduke of Boeruine’s ambition is boundless,” Fhileraene continued, “and that makes him dangerous to us. He treats with our enemies and conspires against us. We have no desire to see his bid for power succeed.”
“So then you help us merely to bring down Lord Arwyn?” Aedan said.
“That alone would be no mere thing,” Fhileraene replied. “However, there are still other factors that would serve my interests in this situation.”
It all suddenly became clear to Aedan. If what he said were true, and Aedan could think of no reason Fhileraene would lie, Arwyn of Boeruine had committed himself, and now there could be no turning back. He probably would never have dared go so far if he had not already mustered up support for his claim to the throne. Apparently, Lord Arwyn had been intriguing with more than just the goblins of Thurazor. How many secret alliances had he already forged among the nobles of the empire? How long had this been going on? He must have been planning it for years, waiting only for the right opportunity. Now, with the emperor dead and Michael out of the way, his path was clear, and he had wasted no time.
The emperor must have died around the same time as their abduction, Aedan thought. For Fhileraene to have learned the news so quickly, he must have spies in Seasedge capable of communicating with him through magic or perhaps carrier pigeon. But that was not at all unlikely. There were halflings in Boeruine, and it was quite conceivable some of them could be in the pay of Fhileraene. For that matter, the spies could also be humans. Arwyn of Boeruine was not universally loved. He had made his share of enemies.
Either way, when Aedan and Michael did not return from hawking, Lord Arwyn must have realized the goblins had succeeded in capturing them, especially after Windreiver had returned. And Michael’s horse must have made its way back to the stables without its rider, as well. Lord Arwyn must have quickly and immediately moved to take advantage of the opportunity. This was exactly what his father had feared, thought Aedan. Lord Arwyn must have seized the court the moment Emperor Hadrian had died and Michael’s disappearance was discovered.
Aedan felt a tightness in his stomach as he thought about his parents. What had become of them? His father would never have stood idly by while Arwyn tried to take the throne, and Arwyn had to know that Lord Tieran would oppose him to his last breath. With a feeling of despair, Aedan realized his father would undoubtedly have been among the first to be eliminated.
However, Lord Arwyn had no way of knowing he and Michael had been rescued. He had acted on the belief that they were safely on their way to Thurazor to be enslaved. He must have claimed Michael was dead, otherwise he could not have justified assuming the regency of the empire, and eventually, the throne itself. If Michael suddenly appeared now, his life would certainly be in danger unless he were able to rally support among the other nobles of the empire. And if Arwyn refused to yield at that point, it could mean only one thing.
There would be war. The empire would be split in two between those loyal to Prince Michael and those who would support Lord Arwyn. And without knowing how much support Arwyn could muster, there would be no telling how long it would last, nor what the cost would be. And if it came to war, no matter which way it turned out in the end, the empire would be left weakened. That would certainly serve Fhileraene’s interests.
“So where does that leave us, with respect to you, Your Highness?” Aedan asked. “And what has become of the Imperial Court?” he added nervously, afraid to hear the answer.
“For the present, it leaves you as my guests,” Fhileraene replied. “The last word I received, only this morning, reported only that Lord Arwyn had declared a state of emergency upon the Emperor Hadrian’s death and Prince Michael’s disappearance and had imposed martial law upon the province of Boeruine. And, by extension, one supposes, whatever portions of the empire he can induce to go along with him. Beyond that, there has been no further information. As you must have guessed, I have agents in Boeruine, and under current circumstances, they must remain especially circumspect. As soon as I know more, I shall send word to you. Gylvain has extended his offer of hospitality to you, and you shall remain welcome in Tuarhievel until it can best be determined what our course of action should be.”
“If the Imperial Court is being held hostage at Seaharrow,” Aedan said, “we must reach Anuire as soon as possible and raise a force to rescue them. We must make certain word is spread that Prince Michael…” he paused, significantly, “… Emperor Michael, I should say, is still alive. The longer we delay, the more time Lord Arwyn has to strengthen his position.”
Fhileraene smiled. “You shall make a good minister to your liege,” he said. “Very well. Let Prince … Emperor Michael compose a message to his subjects, while you prepare a list of those to whom it should be sent, and I shall arrange for messengers to be dispatched. In particular, is there someone you may depend on in Anuire whose loyalty is beyond question and who may accurately report to you on the state of matters there?”
Aedan thought only for a moment. “My tutor, Baladore Trevane, the librarian at the College of Sorcery in Anuire.”
Fhileraene nodded. “I know of him,” he said. “A man worthy of respect, by all repute. Very well, it shall be done. And the other messages shall be sent out as soon as you have prepared the list. Gylvain will see to it.”