The Voice of the Crane
#1 of Heaven's Son
Chapter I.
The figure in the bed gave another groan and forced himself to sit up. Shouting an acknowledgement to the announcer, he searched the floor for some clothing. After several moments of blearily gazing about, he snagged a crumpled up toga. Garment in paw, he rolled over to the side, squishing his ringed tail and whimpering in the process. Alexi was not the morning type, and he certainly was not a quick riser.
While visitors were common to the Comelius family villa, they were normally not for to Alexi but his father, Senator Comelius. The younger raccoon was very curious indeed as to why anyone would call on him. The riders came into sight now. Blackened armour, white shields emblazoned with the Imperial Standard, white plumes; Imperial Guards. To most people the sight of the Emperor's finest riding up to their home would be unnerving, but Alexi was neither easily un-nervable nor unaccustomed to their sight.
The guard in the lead brought his horse to a stop. He dismounted and removed his helmet, revealing the muzzle of a vulpine. The fox smiled and nodded cordially to the raccoon, brushed the dust off his legs and looked back up. "Morning, Alexi. Your presence has been requested at the palace, so get dressed."
Alexi sighed and nodded, most likely another boring banquet. He couldn't fathom why his father would summon him to the palace for something. Alexi knew his father was simply trying to acclimate his son to politics, but the senator's son was already adept enough, or at least he thought he was. He invited the guards in with a wave of the paw, "Theodora, get some refreshments for the guardsmen while I dress." The small lioness nodded and hurried off to comply.
The raccoon rushed back up to his room, searching until he found his best tunic and changing into it swiftly. He gave his hair a quick brush and stared at himself in the crude mirror, perhaps he should grow his hair out again. The longer hair looked good but more boyish, which he wanted to avoid. Of course, being the son of a senator he didn't need to look any better than he felt like. He proceeded down the steps again, slipping out the back door and into the stables.
"Matthias!" The gray and white horse perked his head and trotted over, sniffling Alexi's outstretched paw. Giving the horse a pat he noticed Matthias was already saddled and ready to go.
"I already got him ready for you sir. Have a good journey." The little stable boy grinned proudly.
Alexi grinned back and nodded, "Thanks kid. Take the rest of the day off, hm? There's going to be no one here anyways." The little mouse boy smiled and ran off somewhere.
He walked the stallion out of the stables, mounting up as he cleared the building. He rode around to the front of the villa and whistled, a guard poked his head out the door and motioned; the rest filing out and mounting their horses.
As they cleared the villa and started towards the city, Alexi trotted up next to the fox guard. "So who are you?" The fox tiled his head and blinked. Alexi cut the other's protest before it was even uttered. "We've got an hour ride."
The fox heaved a sigh and nodded. "Naorume. Second officer of the Guard."
Alexi tilted his own head in response to that, grinning. "I've heard about you. They say you're the best man around with a sword."
Naorume bowed slightly and winked, making a gesture to Matthias. "And you, Alexi, are known for being an excellent rider."
The raccoon bowed back. The two stayed silent for a few minutes, then Alexi started up again. "Tell me, do you know why my father summoned me?"
Naorume cocked a brow. "He didn't, Alexi. The Emperor did. I don't know why, don't ask." With that Alexi sat up a bit straighter and felt a bit ill, minor case of butterflies. What does the supreme sovereign want with a senator's son?
To most people Alexi was just a spoiled brat in a toga. This had to be his father's doing. His son was already twenty; the kid should be doing something of worth by now. The old man probably got his son some kind of appointment.
The rest of the trip passed in contemplative silence. The sound of hoof beats and the occasional passersby being the only sounds. The traffic increased and the party weaved through carts and wagon trains. Most simply moved aside on sighting a troop of guardsmen.
It wasn't long until the walls of the Great City came into sight. Alexi thought back to the first time he saw them as a boy. Great behemoth limestone coated walls, fifteen meters thick and guarded by a labyrinth of towers and guard posts. From a distance the city almost looked like a lake; A massive jungle of marble and ivory and limestone. Doria was the everlasting city, the greatest. For nearly a thousand years she had been a light that lit the world, and ruled it. When the Empire's expansion ran into new hostile tribes, often their leaders would be brought to the city, awing them beyond any ability to continue fighting. There were over half a million residents, temples to all the major gods, the palace, the great forum, aqueducts, theaters, arenas, hippodromes, barracks, great library's, bathhouses, the Senate, and anything else one could look for. If it was not in Doria, it simply did not exist.
They made their way to the gates and into the city, passing by all the markets and brothels and taverns along the way. The palace was like a miniature city within the larger one; it had a small wall and it's own gated entrance. The party approached and Naorume rode to the guards at the gate, conversed a moment and rejoined the group as the way was opened.
The raccoon dismounted his horse and let a servant take it. He drew in a deep breath and looked around. The place never ceased to amaze. The sheer amount of gold and gems just in the palace was more than most entire kingdoms could ever hope to possess. Great chiseled marble statues of emperor's past lined the garden entrance, at the end a set of staircases. Once one entered, there were the massive banquet hall and guest chambers. Normally, even palace courtiers didn't get past that. Beyond were the private living arraignments for the Imperial family and guard quarters, as well as rooms for all the important officials.
This day the palace was unusually empty. The other guards departed, Naorume escorted the senator's son through a seemingly endless tangle of corridors and hallways until he reached a dead end with a door in it. The fox motioned for Alexi to wait as he opened the door and shut it behind him. The raccoon twiddled with his thumbs, it seemed like hours, but was only a minute or so before the door reopened and Naorume stepped out. "On you go. He wishes to see you alone." The vulpine smiled slightly, "Gods go with you."
In he went. Pausing as the door shut behind him he was greeted by the back of the Emperor Darsus, sitting at a table scribbling something. He hesitated but an upraised paw from the seated sovereign motioned him forward. "Take a seat, lad."
Without really thinking, Alexi sat opposite the aging emperor, regarding him with a kind of detached curiosity. His marble images looked different, they showed the canine in his youth. The emperor before Alexi was old and gray. His face was kind yet stern, hardened but soft: A very memorable face indeed. Most of the formerly tan fur was now graying, but there were still some patches of dark color. The emperor really wasn't that tall. His hair was long and gray; it fell over his shoulders gracefully.
He finished writing and looked up, returning the stare and making it obvious to the suddenly embarrassed coon that he was doing so. "You are your father's son." The voice was a bit raspy, but there was no doubt of the authority behind it. He continued, "Tell me, young Comelius, what makes the Dorian Empire great?"
The coon blinked and recoiled slightly in shock. He'd anticipated a lot of things, a lot of reasons for his being here, but this? How should he answer? He regained his composure and sat up straight, gazing straight into the other's face. "Our law, sire." Alexi looked for any reaction, there was none... of course not; the emperor wasn't going to be that amateurish at these kinds of conversations. "Our law guides us. Some say we're great for our freedom, well what freedom do we have but what the law grants? All men are accountable, from the lowest servant to the greatest... emperor. They are what separate the civilized from the barbarian. They live for themselves, we live for _our_selves. Where else could a mutt like Your Highness rule the world but where law makes all men equal?"
The raccoon looked down, he felt very small right now, and indeed he was, but he continued. He risked a near instantaneous glace up to the regal canine... still no reaction. That meant he needed to keep going. "My father told me something. He told me we only live one life on this world, but if we live that life in humble service of the people we'll live in their hearts forever."
This time there was a response, the old dog smiled and nodded, eliciting a sigh of relief from the younger. "Indeed Alexi, you speak bluntly and from the heart, it is refreshing. You wonder why I have asked you here, don't you?" The raccoon nodded respectfully, happy that he didn't have to pose the question himself. "Very well lad. Your father said you're bright, and know our laws and respect them. I need you to go to the northern provinces and keep an eye on our generals there... they forget I am still alive."
Alexi again blinked dumbly, tilting his head and shaking it slightly. Now he was even more confused. Was he dreaming? He had to be; the most powerful being in the world doesn't invite one over at random like this. Keep an eye on generals. That meant an Enforcer, but there were never more than two, if that. Alexi needed to clarify. He hoped he wasn't totally off on this or his statement could be easily mistook. "You...want me to be the Imperial Enforcer there? There hasn't been one in that region for years. Why me?"
The emperor grunted and stood up. Standing he looked even more impressive. The old mutt was clothed in flowing purple robes of such quality that Alexi had never seen. He certainly walked alright, perhaps he wasn't as decrepit as some whispered. Moving over to a large map on the wall, he pointed at the region they were speaking off, the border between the Melikar Kingdoms and the Empire. "Because you've not been corrupted yet, boy." With a bony finger he tapped a city, "You will proceed immediately to Cryspeus, there you will ascertain what is going on... keep the rule of law, Alexi. You are the Imperial Enforcer; for all intents and purposes you are me while you are there. You'll take your pick of fifty guards and leave today."
As the words sank in, Alexi was jolted by the old emperor slapping a large ring into his paw. A signet ring. The emperor had only three, one for himself, two for others with the authority to act in his name. It was too much, why was this happening? What in the name of all the gods would possess the old man to give him such a high honor? The emperor must have been going senile... He felt the canine's paw on his shoulder, it gave a gentle squeeze and its owner gave an equally gentle nod.
Darsus sat back down and regarded the raccoon for what seemed like forever. Alexi was getting unnerved. The canine seemed to gaze right into his soul as if he were looking past, but past what? "When were you born, Alexi?"
"Twenty years, three months ago."
The ruler smiled and shook his head. "No son. You were born today."
A chill ran up the raccoon's spine and he felt his fur sticking up on his neck. Darsus's words were powerful in someway, as if a prophet had just spoken. Alexi was unsure what to make of them though. He must've looked ridiculous, but the emperor stared straight into his eyes, nodding softly, when Alexi dared to look.
At last, the canine spoke again. "You must go now... it is vital." Alexi concurred. While this experience was awe-inspiring, he had a strange urge to flee from it. He took the escape, and with a bow, he walked to the door and left the Emperor's Chamber.
He took a deep breath and regarded Naorume, standing guard outside the door. "Well my new vulpine friend. We're going to Cryspeus."
The fox looked over at the raccoon with a confused look, "Did the emperor command that?"
Alexi thought for a few moments, opened his paw to reveal the signet ring, and shook his head, "No... I did."