[Book I: Chapter VII]Aranince moved quickly to counter his opponent's attack blocking the kick with his left arm. He lowered himself to preform a sweeping kick to which his opponent easily avoided as Aranince knew, but it gave way to opportunity he was waiting for, shifting his weight and pivoting with his left foot Aranince brought up his right leg with a powerful linear kick that struck his opponent straight in the chest knocking the wind out of him as he staggered back falling to the ground grasping for air in silence.
After a few moments the man caught his breath as Aranince extending an arm helping him up, "His Highness is unfocused."
"Unfocused? Unfocused?!" Aranince protested, "I soundly beat you,
maitar[1]. I highly consider that
unfocused."
"Your attacks were erratic, imprecise. Either far to much momentum or not enough. If I had truly wished you harm, Highness, you would not be standing. A clear and tranquil mind is the first victory. Your mind, Highness, is distracted of late. Full of anger. Perhaps the Virtuous Consort should take a period of reflection and contemplation."
Reflection and contemplation. He has heard that far too much the past fortnight.
Reflection and contemplation.
Bah. He waved his hand dismissively but the
maitar would not let it settle. "Highness. I have instructed you in the art of
Lélahquárë[2] since you came to the Arcalcassë. When Your Highness first arrived you were full of wonder, eager to learn. You had focus, determination. Of all my students the greatest want to achieve success, to better yourself. I fear that you are losing those qualities. I earnestly implore His Highness to consider a period of reflection and contemplation."
He eyed the
maitar. Aranince knew that he was right. It angered him, but he was right. He took a deep breathe and bowed his respect, "I thank you,
maitar, for your wise counsel."
"Good morning." Aranince said as he entered the Archive of Records. A woman appeared, she was surprised at his presence and quickly fell to a bow.
"The Chief Archivist bows before the Virtuous Consort. Your Highness honors the Archive with his esteemed presence."
"You are given leave to stand. I am writing a treatise on the cultivation of snapdragons and I wish to see historical records on the subject."
"Your Highness," She paused, seemingly not exactly sure how to word what she wished to say next, "The Imperial Library will have sufficient information on the subject. I will have an acolyte contact the Head Librarian and deliver the desired information to Manëacalo within the hour, two at most. I assure you, Your Highness. " She said, she wasn't trying to be rude. But, this was an Archive, after all, not a library.
He nodded, "Yes, please do. However, I suppose I should have been more specific. I would like to see the personal accounts of famed Alcorohtë herbalist Pirnë Lingwelohtë."
"Ah, then His Highness is in the right place." She went to a desk and slide open the top relieving a large tablet. It amazed Aranince how the modifications were done to the palace to install all this technology, then hide it, must have been quite the ordeal.
She looked up at Aranince after a few minutes, "I have sent the appropriate PDF files to Your Highness's network, Virtuous Consort."
"Not to be a bother." He said, trying to find a reason to get her away from that desk. "But I do wish to have physical copies." He said casually.
"Your Highness and the Noble Consort, the same." She said, with a very forced smile,"If His Highness would wait here I shall attend to it personally."
She paused and turned to face him once more, "Would His Imperial Highness like the original volume or and transcribed copy?"
"A copy would be preferred. I do not wish to damage the original." She smiled and bowed again as she disappeared through a doorway into the vastness of the Imperial Archive of Records
Aranince quickly moved to the tablet once she was out of sight and searched for the report from Supreme Court on the servant who had been sentenced to death, then quickly absolved at that perilous dinner. The screen had not locked, good. He found what he wanted and skimmed the report:
"Antarinë, Lairë Aulendeliel
Occupation: Servant of the Third Rank of the Apothecary of the Palace of Earthly Tranquility
Duties: Delivering medicines and herbal tonics to the Ingaran. Maintenance of medical and herbal supply within the Apothecary.
Arrested: 06:40 on the 62 Lairë 5661 LY by Constables Vëandur Tindómerel and Manyel Yáviendirinë of Supreme Court. Held for three days.
Accusation: Tampering with medical and herbal remedies in an attempt to murder. Treason.
Assertion: Inconclusive. Speculative ties to the Manëacalo Palace. No ties to the Herwëana Palace. Question First Captain Arcanen Elendilion Tasarpeler.
Conclusion: Suspect did not knowingly mix additional supplements to the Ingaran's medicine. Coerced or distracted by unnamed guard.
Released: 19:00 on the 65 Lairë 5661 LY; Acquitted by will of the Autárimë Empress
Full Report as followed: In the early hours of......"
He closed the search and deleted the history. Moving away from the desk as the archivist returned through the door.
She bowed low holding the large book before her, "The
Personal Accounts of Pirnë Finwiel: Imperial Herbalist to the Tar-Arlaicamon & Tar-Ilucaramon Empresses, the desired volume His Imperial Highness, the Virtuous Consort, desires."
He thanked her taking the volume and departing. He had no idea what to do with Lairë Antarinë, but he read enough of the report to know she was ignorant enough not to implicate him. But, it did mention they wanted to - or already had - questioned First Captain Tasarpeler. He needed to to deal with that next. But first. Another matter.
It was
Vilya, Sky's day, the seventh day of the week, on 7 Yávië. A most auspicious time to be together with friends and loved ones. A day to resolve any confrontations one might have. Aranince wanted to resolve his with his only friend in the entirety of the Arcalcassë Palace.
"You have been avoiding me, Korintur." He said stopping Alcarinqualo in his tracks. Aranince had been waiting in the servants' halls that traversed the Palace's walls. Whenever Aranince sent a message to Alcarinqualo he received the same message stating the Noble Consort could not attend, or some excuse of why he was busy. When Aranince would go personally it was always the same that he had seemingly "just departed". So Aranince waited in these servants' halls for the Noble Consort and send word ahead that he was personally arriving at the Hall of Literary Glory.
Alcarinqualo did not respond, what could he say? He took his hand, "You think I am angry with you because the Empress took you to bed. I am not. At least not with you. Never with you."
Still no response. "Well? Say something, damn it!"
"It was suggested by the Daughter of Heaven that I take a period of reflection and contemplation, Virtuous Consort." He said solemnly as he broke his hand free from Aranince's embrace.
Such formalities, strange. Aranince thought sadly, but was quickly consumed by rage.
There it was again. That damn notion of reflection and contemplation. He sighed heavily, "Yes. The same for me."
"Then you should heed that counsel." His voiced wavered, concern?
"How can I? How can I, Korintur?! If
you will not contend with me?" Alcarinqualo took a deep breathe and nodded with a smile as he gestured for Aranince to lead the way.
He looked over to the ornate clock with three dials: the second largest lingering over an Ox, while the smallest dial was positioned to the right, and third, and largest, was close to the Rat. The Second Hour of the Ox, almost the Hour of the Tiger. It had taken Aranince some time to get used to telling time in the palace but it was about ten minutes to three in the morning.
He heard the heavy breathing of deep slumber, he looked down at Alcarinqualo who sound asleep resting his head on Aranince's chest. He slowly crawled out of bed careful not pull on Alcarinqualo's long, black, unbound hair in the process. He smiled knowing that he had not disturbed Alcarinqualo, nothing woke the man up. He could sleep through anything. Aranince smiled kissing him on the forehead.
He looked across the room out to the open doors of the balcony, he shivered as a cool breeze swept across his naked body. Much colder than he had thought. He paid no more mind to his surroundings as he opened his closet and hidden in the back was the disguise he would wear this night. A veil, a mask, and robes of the priestly order.
Once dressed he leaned against the door that lead to an adjourning room. He heard the quiet whispers of their
ilar'naldar. They were still awake? Vexing. He had hoped to slip through and use the servants' tunnels that lined the walls of the palace. No matter. He needed them both here anyway. More to attest that he had not left the better.
The balcony. He leaned over the edge, no light shone from the rooms below. Excellent. He climbed daftly down the vines to the room below. Peering in he saw no one and took the opportunity to use the servants' passage ways. Few across the Palace should be awake at this hour, he was masked and dressed as a priest of the Fëanturi; it would not be odd for a Cleric of the Masters of Spirits to roam the halls this early.
He finally made it to the clandestine spot he had selected. Aranince choose a section of the palace that was no longer in use, it was only ever used by servants who were discretely having affairs with one another. He had already had a near miss with a guard and serving girl a few corridors back. Luckily, they were in the throws of passion and took no notice. They were in the southern most part facing west. He arrived in the columned room, later than he wanted and noticed Tasarpeler was standing at the edge looking out into the vast ravine that the Arcalcassë Palace was built next to.
"Captain." The man was startled, wavering slightly as he turned. Aranince lifted the mask resting it atop his head as he emerged from the shadows.
"Your Highness. Apologies for my tardiness." He said, the smell of alcohol on his breathe.
Oh, perfect. "It is no matter, Captain. What news?"
"The Censorate and Supreme Court questioned me three time, Highness." He looked around, paranoia lingered around him. "I said nothing. They still suspect, but have no evidence. I fear they know more than they let on. But I cannot be sure."
He took out a flask and took a swig, "It has gone beyond precedence for the Throne to issue an official condemnation against me. They do not have enough to depose me. Yet."
He offered the flask to Captain Tasarpeler who took it eagerly. Aranince smiled wickedly, this was the perfect time, shifting his weight and pivoting with his left foot Aranince brought up his right leg with a powerful linear kick that struck Tasarpeler straight in the chest knocking the wind out of him as he staggered back falling over the edge into the ravine below to his death in silence.