Tuesday Excerpt, "Revenge"

The Courtroom or Throne Room as Mandrean sometimes called

it was in the center of the second floor of the palace. It was a grand

hall. The floors and walls were polished marble with gold and

silver ornaments. There was a gallery in the back. It was along

either side of two colossal doors with brass handles. They served

as the main entrance and exit for everyone except the most

important members of the empire.

Precisely etched in the main floor was a map of the continent,

which reached from one wall to the next. It was complete and

detailed. The only odd thing of note was there were no political

boundaries anywhere.

Lord Mandrean was true to his heritage in believing that it was

his duty if not his right to expand the empire and let none stand

against its might. He saw no reason to chisel borders into the stone

when he would frequently be moving them.

The map faced the front of the room. Behind the map sat the

centerpiece of the hall. It was his magnificent golden throne with

jewels encrusted in its sides and arms. Silken pillows cushioned

the already padded seat and a golden stool was stationed along

side.

Still, the most intriguing part of the hall was the ceiling. It was

a crystal dome. Though the view was not clear through the frosted

glass, it allowed for sunlight to enter and illuminate the marble.

With the room shaped as a rectangle, pillars along the perimeter

supported the circular dome. A lantern hung from each pillar for

additional light. Torches had previously been used, but the format

was changed due to secondary fires they started two years before

during the room’s destruction at Linvin’s hands. Each column

stationed a goblin guard. The number of soldiers present seemed

exorbitant, but it was used more for effect than protection.

The gallery was full as it always was when court was to be held.

No commoners found a seat there, however. Rather, noblemen,

businessmen and foreign dignitaries filled the seats. They were

becoming restless waiting for the session to begin and openly

quarreled.

Four Chairs of Honor were placed before the mob. In each sat a

general. Though their uniforms were identically colored in

mandrean green, they each displayed their individuality through

the decorations that adorned them. The display went from modest

to extraordinary.

At last Necromancer entered the room and took his place

hovering next to the throne. He was melancholy as ever.

A trumpeter emerged from a side entrance and called for

attention. “Good people, please rise as I present to you the

emperor, Lord Mandrean the Thirteenth.” He followed his

statement with a chorus of the national anthem. The gallery took to

their feet and began to applaud as the emperor carefully walked to

his throne in an effort to not step on the sorest parts of his feet.

Mandrean was covered in the finest silks with military honors

sewn into the cloth. Gold lace brought an illuminating luster to the

navy attire. A modest crown highlighted his head. If it had been a

prestigious occasion, he would have decked himself in his full

ornamental dress. With the routine nature of the agenda, Mandrean

dressed the part and saved his neck the weight of his enormous

crown.

He sat and called a servant to bring a pillow to be placed on his

footstool to cushion his feet. He proceeded to rest them with

obvious pain.