Chapter 6: All Things Considered

A Chapter by Albert Freeman

Ganus' story.

(Location: Imperial City of Karnika )

Ganus looked out upon the Imperial city of Karnika and stroked his signet ring thoughtfully. His spies had done well ferreting out much of what Belzin and Telzin were trying to do. How foolish they were to think that many would flock to there banner. They were little more than children trying a mans game for the first time.

"Has it gone as you thought it would?"

Ganus turned and smiled. "Ajon, when has it not gone as I have seen it? The boys immediately moving to stop me. Cadiun and his ilk skulking about. Lavis and the rest waiting and seeing all. Yes, it is going as I thought."

Ajon Maraxis folded arms thick as tree trunks and grunted. "A shame the way Charles died. Fool he was to not name you Heir to the Empire. Would make this a tad less messy."

Ganus laughed a rich and deep laugh. "I doubt it old friend. Since when did the nobility anywhere take kindly to a commoner rising to a rank well above them. Remember how it chaffed them when I was named Lord-General? Charles could have stepped down and crowned me before all and they would have laughed and smiled and as soon as his back was turned tried to stab me dead."

Ajon nodded his head. Once upon a time he would have been amongst the nobility trying to take Ganus down. O, how the times have changed. He had fought side by side with Ganus and drank from the same cup too long to abandon his old friend to fate itself.

"The Legions will be hesitant to contribute to the break up of the Empire and Charles's dream," Ajon said walking over to a table laden with fruits, breads and cheeses. Charles loved them as his own children and thus I think that is how he came to favor you highest of all. How do you plan to get them all to side with you?"

Ganus spread his hands and turned his eyes back out upon the city. "I will let Telzin's obsession do most of the work. I will let Belzin's inflated ego drive Telzin's obsession out of his control. I will let that old fool Cadiun sit back and play with his ravens and moan and groan about the woe that will come. Lavis will martial his Five Thousand Companions and wait for the first blow. Gamin will preen and strut and talk of his golden armor. The others will wait and weigh us all. And most of all I will do nothing to draw the Magni, Ubrusin or Jalaz back from there duties."

Ajon arched an eye brow. Ganus was ever the tactful man, but he was not sure if all of them could be so easily fleshed out in such a way.

"Yes old friend. As long as the Magni stays far along the Etrin borders handling the rebellious city-states, Ubrusin keeps his fleets along the Danavia coast and Jalaz keeps his Reavers in the Gajalic Mountains the Legions will look to me for guidance. If it so happens they see that I stay my hand as the obedient guardian of the dream Charles held while the others scramble for power grabs, then naturally they will look to me for guidance and a restoration of right and order."

Ajon shared a smile with Ganus. He had chosen well to side with his old friend.

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