Retired – Chapter Seven – Emperor’s Blade

I was walking onto the shuttle, with the Grand Duchess Daria walking in front of me. She had chains on her ankles and wrists. I was truly enjoying this.

“Drake, tell the emperor it was all a mistake. Tell him I sent my forces there to help. Please, Drake! He will execute me publicly.”

“I am Supreme Marshal Drake Daemon to you, your grace. If you speak to me again, please be sure to use my full title.”

“Please, Supreme Marshal Drake Daemon, I don’t want to die.”

I looked down at this woman begging for her life. Rage boiled into my heart. “You have killed thousands of people in your quest to become empress. Did you ask even a single one of them if they wanted to die? Your men raped and killed people on my home planet. Did you even care that they were doing this? You threatened to have the two ladies under my care raped repeatedly by your men and then have me killed. I saw no pity or remorse in your eyes. Now you ask me for pity? Now you ask me to help you worm out of the consequences of your actions?” I leaned forward and looked directly into her eyes. “When your sentence is pronounced, I will beg the emperor for the right to carry out your execution personally.”

The duchess shrank back. I truly felt she did not understand why I was so angry with her. “Please, it was nothing personal. I was just doing what I had to.”

“You came after me for vengeance, which is as personal as it gets.” Then I turned to one of the men who escorted us. “Get me a gag for this mouth.”

The soldier pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket.

I took the scrap of cloth and tied it around her mouth. “Now shut up!”

As we waited, Lizell and Countess Lorelei were escorted onto the shuttle. A few minutes later, we departed for the surface.

The ride down was as easy as they come. As we approached the imperial base, the shuttle circled once. Below us the entirety of the base personnel were arrayed in formation. At the front of the formation, the Praetorian Guard stood in a circle around a podium.

As soon as the shuttle touched down, I led the bound and gagged duchess to the large exit ramp. The honor guard moved down the ramp and spread out. Then I pushed the duchess ahead of me and walked down the ramp with Lizell and Lorelei trailing me.

As I approached the circle of Praetorian Guardsmen, two stepped forward with scanners. I extended the duchess’s hand and let them scan her identity. Then, while they were sniffing her, I extended my hand.

The guard hesitated, and I growled under my breath. He took the hint and scanned me. While I was being sniffed, they scanned the Countess Lorelei. Then, finally, they scanned Lizell. The guard spoke when her identity was established. “Sir, we have no clearance for this woman to approach the emperor.”

“I will vouch for her. Ask the emperor’s permission.”

The guard moved over to the emperor and spoke to him for a moment. Then the emperor spoke out loud. “Let the Grand Lady Lizell approach with the Supreme Marshal.” The circle of guards parted in front of us.

I led the three ladies to the front of the emperor. “Your Majesty, I bring to you the Grand Duchess Daria. She has been placed under arrest for treason against the empire. In the hold of the craft is all the evidence collected to support these charges, including evidence to support charges of previous activity.

I have also brought with me the Countess Lorelei and the Grand Lady Lizell. They are here to bear witness to the crimes of which the Duchess is accused.”

“Supreme Marshal Drake Daemon. I have heard the words you have brought before me, and order the Grand Duchess taken into custody until these charges may be resolved for good or ill. Be it also sworn the countess has proven friendship to the royal family in times past, and shall be welcomed as an honored guest at our house. The Grand Lady Lizell is unknown to me, but as you vouch for her integrity, I place her in your charge until such time as she is a trust in the palace. She is to hold the status of honored guest as well. Grand Marshal Angel Kita, please take the Duchess into custody, and place her under guard in the tower.”

Angel stepped forward and bowed. “Supreme Marshal, may I take the prisoner from your care?”

“Grand Marshal, the prisoner is yours.”

Angel and a detachment of men escorted the duchess out of the circle and away to her imprisonment.

Then the emperor spoke in formal tones. “May we request of the Supreme Marshal, that he introduce us to his companion lady?”

“Your Majesty, I have the honor of bringing the Grand Lady Lizell Stanner, a reporter for the Galactic Advisor. She has proven most helpful in the exercise of my duty as a citizen of the empire.”

“Be welcome among us, Grand Lady. May the blessings of our houses join in friendship.” Then the emperor looked to the formation. “All recognize the valor of the Supreme Marshal.”

The entire base saluted as one man. I returned the salute crisply as I faced the emperor.

We were headed for the palace in the emperor’s armored car. “What the hell was all that formality about, Robert. You have never been a stickler for that kind of thing.”

“Reporters were watching from the fence line, and I wanted absolutely no hint of impropriety when handling that bitch.”

Asta laughed from her seat beside her husband. “Besides, Drake, it is always fun to see how uncomfortable your dress uniform makes you. Just feel happy we didn’t make you wear full dress blacks. You would have to have a sign that read, ‘Medals continued on next soldier’.”

“How are the kids?”, I asked.

“Cleo is bouncing off the walls because her Uncle Drake is coming to see her. Daniel is excited to show you his new hoverbike and wants you to take him for a ride. Little D can do nothing but tell people you are coming. They all miss you terribly.”

“I know, Asta, but I could not retire and stay here. I had to move away, or I would never have been able to lay down my duty as a PG.”

“What if I gave you a writ of exception?”, Robert asked suddenly.

“My friend, you know as well as I do, the PG cannot divide their loyalties. They cannot protect you if they are worried about a loved one being hurt.”

“I know, but it just isn’t the same without you here. I see the faces I know, but I don’t feel the trust I felt with you. I know they are sworn to protect us from any threat. I know they will do it. But I can’t place blind trust in them. I always knew you would keep us safe, or die trying.”

“They will too, Robert. It is what we all do.”

“Listen to you,” Asta said, with a mocking smile. “You still say we. You are still a part of them, no matter what you say. If someone attacked right now, you would do everything in your power to protect everyone here, and you know it.”

“That is the problem, Asta. I could not protect just one of you. My loyalty would be divided.”

“Your majesties, if I may speak,” Lizell said softly. She was obviously nervous about being in the car with the royal couple.

“Be at ease with us, Lizell. You are among friends,” the emperor said.

“It seems to me your answer is in front of your face.”

“Please enlighten me. I see nothing but the dark cloud that has covered my vision since the day my friend asked to retire.”

“You gave him the rank of Supreme Marshal. Let him be that. As the SM, he is in charge of the entire military. The PG is just one of his tools. He could remain in place and direct the armies in the war on your enemies. Plus, using the military intelligence branches, he could help to prevent the threats from ever manifesting in the first place.