Post by journeycat on May 2, 2010 1:11:44 GMT 10
Title: A Questionable Birthright
Rating: PG
Prompt: #2 Walk the line
Category: up to 250 words
Word Count: 250
Summary: Carthaki nobles revolt, and the emperor struggles with his birthright.
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The Emperor of Carthak blazed through the double doors, his aggressive stride leaving no one to doubt that he was in a mood. His thunderous expression caused servants to scramble out of his path, but he hardly noticed them anyway. He was consumed by thoughts of the rebellion.
How dare they revolt? he seethed, clenching his fists in frustration. How dare those worms, those damned bastards—do they care so much for the institution of slavery that they will defy me? It is one little law, just a step toward equality for all of the empire, and one would think I have ruined our economy.
The worst part was that it was the Carthaki nobles who rebelled, not the commoners, and the ties of kin and marriage made it so that all nobles shared the same blood, somehow—which meant that the majority of even his most loyal nobles were loath to fight against brethren, even on behalf of their emperor.
He crossed the room unseeingly, boots tapping a rhythm on the marble floor. The guards hastened to open the great golden doors for him, the hinges groaning their protest. He snapped an order and they obediently shut the doors behind him, much to the despair of his advisor, Mequen.
Finally, peace.
The gallery room was large and, more importantly, silent. He paused in front of a huge portrait of his late parents, captured in their beautiful, regal prime.
“Father,” Binur whispered, reverently touching the painting, “what would you do?”
Rating: PG
Prompt: #2 Walk the line
Category: up to 250 words
Word Count: 250
Summary: Carthaki nobles revolt, and the emperor struggles with his birthright.
-----
The Emperor of Carthak blazed through the double doors, his aggressive stride leaving no one to doubt that he was in a mood. His thunderous expression caused servants to scramble out of his path, but he hardly noticed them anyway. He was consumed by thoughts of the rebellion.
How dare they revolt? he seethed, clenching his fists in frustration. How dare those worms, those damned bastards—do they care so much for the institution of slavery that they will defy me? It is one little law, just a step toward equality for all of the empire, and one would think I have ruined our economy.
The worst part was that it was the Carthaki nobles who rebelled, not the commoners, and the ties of kin and marriage made it so that all nobles shared the same blood, somehow—which meant that the majority of even his most loyal nobles were loath to fight against brethren, even on behalf of their emperor.
He crossed the room unseeingly, boots tapping a rhythm on the marble floor. The guards hastened to open the great golden doors for him, the hinges groaning their protest. He snapped an order and they obediently shut the doors behind him, much to the despair of his advisor, Mequen.
Finally, peace.
The gallery room was large and, more importantly, silent. He paused in front of a huge portrait of his late parents, captured in their beautiful, regal prime.
“Father,” Binur whispered, reverently touching the painting, “what would you do?”