[The Princes II] [Toy Soldiers] Si was quickly approaching the limit of his ability to sit still, and his cousin Seph, standing in front of the throne for three hours now, was subtly shifting back and forth on his feet. Si glanced at his other cousins, they seemed to be nearing their limit to stand still as well. Si’s father, Emperor Tarin, had been listening to petitions and rendering decisions all morning. At the beginning of the session the Courtesans were permitted to approach the Prince of their choice in front of the Emperor and give a single slip of paper with the summary of the petition written on it. The Princes then looked through the petitions and decided which ones they would present to the Emperor. Si and his cousins, with as much patience as they could summon, waited for their turn. “What is your opinion, Prince Sionnach?” the Emperor asked. Si stiffened and his head whipped around to look at his father. Si hadn’t been paying attention and his father knew it, father was chastising him for losing discipline and letting his mind stray. Si looked at the man standing just a few feet outside the line of his father’s Princes waiting for a decision to his request. “We should like our cousin’s council,” said Si stalling for time. The Emperor nodded and Prince Akio stepped out of line and walked up the steps to Si’s small throne next to his father. Akio leaned down and whispered into Si’s ear. “I wasn’t paying attention either,” whispered Akio. “All I know is that man is some kind of scientist, I’ve seen him at the University Library.” “What should I do?” whispered Si. “You could ask him a random question and try to figure out what he wants,” whispered Akio. “Alright, that’s enough,” said the Emperor. “I am quite aware we have exhausted the younger princes attention span and that they have no idea what is happening right now, but Prince Akio, I would have expected another hour from you.” Prince Akio stood up straight and bowed his head in shame. “I apologize, my Emperor,” said Akio. “The breakfast roast beef has made my head heavy.” The Emperor looked back at the scientist still waiting. “Petition approved, Doctor,” said the Emperor. “You may send a science team to this newly discovered planet, Anden.” “Thank you, Emperor,” the Doctor said and bowed. “Now, let us wake up our sleepy little princes,” said the Emperor. “Boys, two laps.” The young Princes shot off as if struck by lightening. Si leaped off his throne and dashed off with his cousin for the cherished two laps around the throne room. The boys laughed and shouted as they ran and the Courtesans watched and discussed each boy carefully. The exercise was not just a wonderful break Si’s father had built into the day, but was a chance for each boy’s health, stamina, and vitality to be observed; not unlike letting young full breed stallions to run the field to observe their individual strengths. Every Courtesan's eyes were on the future of the Empire, “Do you see how Austilus lifts his legs when he runs, he has spirit… yes… and Auriga keeps against the wall, he is cautious of danger from the crowds… Serphenus pushes himself hard to stay in the lead… Carnen stays with his brother, Tannen, those brothers are fiercely loyal to each other… Sionnach laughs when he runs, he has an easy personality.” The Courtesan's noted every strength and weakness. Si ran next to Seph, keeping to the outside, he wanted to see everything; the brightly colored crests of the Houses, the odd clothing of Carinians, the massive bulk of the two resident Demonian representatives to the court, the tattooed warrior Ambassador from Cormon, and… Si saw something new and slowed slightly. Deep in the shadows against the corner furthest from the throne was two black leather clad figures, nearly unseen. Si looked at his cousins and none seemed to notice them. The two figures were small, maybe no bigger than Si himself. Si slowed and let the others pass him by, their was only perhaps a five foot section where the great columns of the throne room blocked everyone’s view of this corner. Si slowed to almost a walk, he realized for this brief moment he was hidden from the eyes of the entire court, these two black leather clad figures had chosen their hiding place well, deep in the shadows. One of the figures held his arm out to Si and offered him a slip of paper; a petition. This was not how it was done. Si himself never took a petition, that was the task of his cousins - to receive petitions and then decide if the petition was worthy of Si’s attention. Si decided. He took the petition, shoved it into his sleeve and ran on to catch up with his cousins. Si wanted to read the petition and see what was so important those two figures risked the Black Guards wrath. Si forced himself to laugh and play as he ran, but held back and let the others stay ahead of him. Seph slowed down and ran next to him. “Whatever you’re doing you can’t be last,” said Seph. “Stay in front of me.” Si knew he was right, father would know he was up to something if he let himself be last - never be first and never be last. Si passed through the shadow again behind the far column, but the two black leather clad figures were gone. Si pushed himself into a sprint and again caught up with and past his cousins until he was almost in the front. Those watching him and getting suspicious would now think he had just planned to show off during the run by letting himself be nearly last and then out sprinting the others. Emperor Tarin smiled proudly at his son, believing the boy was just showing off his strength; a very normal thing for a young boy, even his father underestimated Si sometimes. Si had found a mystery, something to stretch his clever and brilliant mind. Even at six, Si was far ahead of his cousins in his studies. Si climbed the steps and sat on his throne and waited for his father to signal for his part of the day to begin. Si’s cousins took their positions and the Emperor waited a few moments for the boys to catch their breath. The Emperor nodded and the mass of Courtesans rushed forward, carefully choosing which of the young Princes in front of Si to hand their petitions to. This part of the ritual was very important and much planning and consideration went into it. The politics were deep and could affect a House’s rise or fall; hand your petition to the wrong Prince and it may never reach the ears of Prince Sionnach. The cousins took the petitions until they each had nearly an armful of the small slips of paper. The Courtesans backed away and the boys began pouring through the petitions to determine which they would bring to Si’s attention, and which they might put in their pockets for later deals outside the formal court, and which they would drop on the floor. A vast majority of the slips of paper were dropped on the floor, and some were crumpled up, indicating they didn’t want to ever see that petition again. “Prince Cetus, you may go first,” said the Emperor. Cetus turned around and faced Si. Cetus looked a little nervous to have to go first but confidently chose a petition to present. “The Senior Butler requests that Groomers be placed in the showers in order that the Princes are properly prepared before reaching the outer throne room,” announced Cetus. This was an easy one. Si knew Cetus couldn’t ignore a request from the Senior Butler, and that this petition was of the utmost importance to the Princes. “Denied,” said Si. “That’s our place.” The cousins all nodded agreement at that. The showers were their only refuge from the repressive duties they had been born to. “Concur,” declared the Emperor. “Prince Delphean, you’re next.” “A double petition,” said Delph. “House Artheus requests to renew the contract to continue preparing the palace food and House Tolnar requests to be rewarded the contract instead.” “What? We’re allowed to fire the cook?” asked Si. “My Prince, we have held the contract for…” Si held his hand up to stop Lord Artheus. “Lord Tolnar, present your case,” ordered Si. The Emperor grinned, Lord Artheus was perhaps the best chef in the Empire, but he had served the boys food they didn’t like. A boy’s tastes were far different than a grown man’s tastes, and Si wasn’t interested in hearing Lord Artheus defend the Liver and onions that had been placed on his plate far too often. “It was not the roast beef that Prince Akio ate that made him tired,” said Lord Tolnar, “it was the slice of turkey he ate next on the sweet bread.” Si didn’t say anything right away and his father realized that Lord Tolnar had surprised his very bright son, Si was silent for a very long time and the Emperor knew his son was hatching one of his schemes the clever descendants of their line were known for. “What would you serve us for breakfast instead? asked Si. “I would take away the heavy meats and instead have only fruits and cereals available,” said Lord Tolnar, “and though it may be unseemly in the formal court atmosphere, you are all growing boys and I would ask to serve you sliced fruit and a small glass of orange juice every two hours while your duties require you to remain alert.” The Emperor suspected Lord Tolnar had just won Si over. “Cookies?” asked Si. The Emperor changed his mind, Lord Tolnar was on thin ice now. “No, they only give you a short burst of energy and then you become tired,” explained Lord Tolnar. “Though I believe that cookies are acceptable as a treat occasionally.” No cookies for breakfast? The Emperor was fairly certain his son may have Lord Tolnar thrown in the dungeon. “Father, their are lots of kids in the palace This was true, there were the pages, apprentices, stable boys, the Courtesans children, the young Princes, and the minor Lords children as well as the soldiers children. The Emperor wondered where is brilliant son was going with this. “And all the kids live in the old section of the palace, but the dining hall is in the new section of the palace and not even I get to eat there. We have to carry our plates back to the old section to eat. The Emperor was truly surprised, he knew what Si was about to do. “Lord Tolnor, what would you make us for dinner?” asked Si. Lord Tolnor was waiting for this, he was certain now he would win the contract. “Hamburgers and fries, Noodles and Cheese, Spaghetti and Garlic bread, among other child friendly dishes,” replied Lord Tolnor. Si surprised everyone and stood up and shouted, “With meatballs?” “Yes, spaghetti with meatballs,” said Lord Tolnor. “Father, let Lord Artheus keep cooking his gross food in the new Palace for the grown-ups and let Lord Tolnor open the kitchen in the old Palace to cook for us.” Lord Artheus let his breath out in a sigh of relief, he had been certain the young Prince was about to crush his house. The loss of the Imperial Chef’s position would be a dishonor so great, his House would never recover. Lord Tolnor was surprised as well, he had not expected this, his House would be directly responsible for the nutrition of all the children of the Great Lords of the Empire. The Emperor beamed with pride, his little six year old instead of making an enemy of House Artheus and all the enemies that would come along from family connections to that House, had created two allies and dozens of related Houses gratitude. “Concur,” declared the Emperor and wanting to put a little pressure on the new children’s chef added, “I suggest you hurry Lord Tolnor, you will begin feeding the Palace’s children tonight. Will that be a problem?” Lord Tolnor didn’t hesitate. “No, my Emperor,” said Lord Tolnor. “I believe that I will serve hotdogs and tater tots.” The Emperor smiled and corrected himself, his son hadn’t just made allies of two Houses, but had probably just become the most beloved Prince House Kitsune had ever had, and it only cost him some hotdogs and tater tots. The afternoon continued with Si listening to petitions and making simple decisions that the Imperial Secretaries Office would normally have made if not for the palace currently having young princes in need of training to make decisions. The Emperor and his cousins left the throne room in a procession first, then Prince Akio organized the boys and marched them out of the throne room next. The boys marched through the corridors to the classrooms; the day was not over for them yet, they still had their studies. Si was restless and rushed through his studies as fast as he could, he wanted to read the petition the strange dark figures in the shadows had gave him, but his cousins were sitting next to him and would see. Four hours later the boys again assembled and Akio led them through the abandoned corridors back to the old section of the Palace. Si was intrigued, this was fun. Normally the routine would have Akio leading them to the dining hall to receive their plates and carry them to the old Palace dining room to eat with other children also finishing their responsibilities for the day, but today Akio marched them directly to the children’s dining room. Si could barely contain himself, were they really going to get hotdogs and tater tots. Once the boys past the last of the Black Guards and entered the old Palace there would be no eyes on them. The boys began to chatter among themselves and Akio allowed it. The procession of young Princes stopped outside the doors to the dining hall and Akio dismissed them. The pride of the Kitsune Empire dashed forward in a tangle of arms and elbows, shoving each other and trying to be the first into the dining room to see if they were really getting hotdogs and tater tots. The dining room was already filled with other children - and they were eating hotdogs and tater tots. Si could have cried at the glorious sight. The boy princes charged among the tables crowded with children happily devouring their treasure. Many cheers rose for Prince Sionnach as he ran with his cousins for the serving line. The kitchen here hadn’t been used in any of their lifetimes and they were slightly confused what to do. A serving chef stood in front of three silver serving tables filled with food. The chef held his hand up and pointed to his side. The boys rushed and jostled to get in a line where great stacks of brown plastic trays waited. Si grabbed a brown tray and very impatiently made his way through the line. Each boy was given two hotdogs and a pile of tater tots. Si could see open serving windows past the silver tables and suspected that was the real serving windows and these tables were only temporary. Si could see an army of chefs scrubbing the kitchen from top to bottom. The boys chose a table and stared at what they were certain was a Kings ransom in tater tots and began squirting ketchup, mustard, and relish on their treasures. Someone banged some pots together and Si looked up to see Lord Tolnor climbing up on a table to address the throngs of children. “Welcome to the Children’s Dining Room,” announced Lord Tolnor. “From now on all your meals will be eaten here. There will be no breakfast served outside the throne room for you to stand and be served like cattle.” The boys cheered. “The Groomers will now be stationed outside these doors and you will no longer be subjected to the embarrassment of having your hair brushed or tied in front of the Courtesans.” “Or having your socks put on!” yelled one boy. Laughter erupted and Seph nudged Si. Lord Tolnor was an instant success with the Palace children. Something else felt different as well, the room felt… warmer, more friendly. This dining room had always felt so cold and abandoned, just a place where the children were sent so not to annoy the important business of the grown-ups in the main dining hall. Though Si was still too young to understand, he was growing older and had lit the first candle of his rule. Si was breathing life into his Princedom, and just as his father was at this moment sitting in the main dining room surrounded by his own inner circle, Si had taken the first step to creating his own. “Three cheers for Prince Sionnach!” yelled a boy and the chanting rose in the hall. The boys in the hall jumped to their feet and drew their swords, raising them in the air. Most of the swords were just wooden practice swords, only a few of the older boys carried a real sword. Si stood up and among his army of Toy Soldiers raised his hotdog in the air to the deafening roar of the boys. Si took a huge bite from the hotdog while the boys rattled their wooden swords in the air.