Emperor's Fate by A J Walker

Author:A J Walker [Walker, A J]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: A J Walker

“Tourome went to work, soothing and influencing the lesser dragons within the boundaries of his central troposphere. With his superior magic, Tourome cultivated a sizable force of loyalists. Brainwashing them into believing that he would provide a better world for the lesser dragons wasn’t the tough part. The rest of Tarmigan’s lesser dragons still outnumbered Tourome’s force…” – The Dracolyth

THE DIRTY SHAME

Fourteen Days After the Emperor’s Death

Shylo held still, too petrified to move. The open dirt street left him completely exposed with nowhere to hide. He faced Galterius-Brex as the High Commander walked between the row of buildings where storefronts transitioned to two-story townhouses. Though it was evening, Galterius’ broad-shouldered figure, dark surcoat, and copper cloak immediately gave away the famous Eso’s identity. Shylo hoped that the low light of dusk combined with the overcast sky was enough to conceal his own identity. Small lumistones framed into stucco-sided townhouses on both sides of the six-harquice-wide street glowed brighter as night fell. Soft yellow rays filtering through the cracks of closed wooden shutters and doorways added to the light on Yaak’s main street. Shylo’s heart pounded faster as Galterius approached. A wooden staircase to their left and a covered wagon to their right were the only possible cover Shylo and Jexsanna could jump behind.

Jexsanna continued walking past Shylo, further closing the gap between them and the famous Commander. Shylo flexed, a dull pain from his beating still ever-present along his sides.

What is she doing? he wondered. Jexsanna’s awareness of her surroundings surpassed his own. Shylo remembered when he’d been following Jexsanna while a draco devoured Perdigon guards beyond the walls. The deep hood acted as blinders for him, the same as they did on a harquice pulling a carriage. He realized Jexsanna hadn’t noticed that he’d stopped.

Galterius continued walking without pause. He held his head high, shoulders rolled back, moving with the poise of a seasoned leader. Galterius hadn’t made him out yet. And with Jexsanna’s deep hood, he had a few moments to think. Keep moving, were his first thoughts. The longer he waited, the more cause for attention he’d attract. Shylo eyed the weathered canvas stretched over the wagon to his right. The door flap was slightly open and inviting. He could divert from his path, continue walking to the wagon. But Jexsanna was continuing past it, still failing to notice that he’d stopped.

Shylo entertained the idea of hiding while Jexsanna continued walking down the street. Her disguise was much less likely to attract a closer look from Galterius. She could calmly walk past him without risking capture. Shylo on the other hand, knew his disguise was much more revealing. All he did to mask his identity was don an Imperial Legionnaire’s uniform. He still looked himself, the Old Rhydarian young man they were searching for. By hiding in the wagon, they would almost surely avoid capture altogether. Shylo saw the door to this opportunity closing. A part of him wanted to take the easy route, and selfishly make this call for both their fates.

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