"Power corrupts.This is known, but what is not known is what happens when a truly evil soul gains the power of an Empire" -- Council Member Vaskin
In my unconscious state I reached out to Heyla's mind and found something blocking our link, almost like a wall of energy.
When my mind touched it, I felt a pain course through my body and I awoke.
I was being dragged by my leg across the stone floor of throne room.
And then I heard the voice of the Inquisitorial Commander:
"Your Most Imperial Majesty, I present you: Ambassador Cane. " the Commander said as he lifted me and then dropped me on the floor
"Owwww...." I groaned in pain as I slowly stood up and saw the elven figure on the magnificent gold and white marble throne.
He was garbed in flowing robes of some unknown material that made it look like water.
And on his head was a platinum crown with two rising points.
As I looked at the Emperor's grey eyes and his silver hair: I remembered him.
Voltaris Greensoul -- Voltaris Grinsal
The elven prince that Heyla and I released from the ancient tomb all those years ago.
"I know you." I said
The Emperor stood up from the tall throne and walked down the steps, the sound of his armored heels (click)...(click)...(click).
He stared down at me.
"And I know you, but I was expecting a old man, not a youthful warrior." He replied in perfect elven.
"What have your creatures done with my family?!" I demanded lunging at him only for the shackles to burn red hot on my wrist.
"Ah... your family is fine... for now. We have more important issues than them, such as why are you not a graying man in his sixties? Almost half of a century has gone since you freed me." The Emperor said
"I am a Ambassador of Scaldalferin, to mistreat me and my family you risk war with my country." I threaten
"I have no fear of Scaldalferin, all it would take to kill the King and Queen there would be a wave of my hand, and my spies will do as commanded" The Emperor said
"Spies?"
"Yes, my Mimic spies, they act as inanimate objects and send magical messages to me, I have several in the Royal bedchambers of several monarchies, and several in the vaults of knowledge that those kingdoms have."
"And just like my Inquisitors, my spies require no food or rest, so they can wait for as long as I tell them to. " he finished
"So what do you want with my family? " I asked
"As hostages of course, you see to ensure my rule: I have to kill or disable any who could rival me, and you are that rival. " The Emperor explained
"What can I do that would release my family?" I asked
"A test, a test of determination.
I send you back to your Spiritloft and you must get back to Summerfall within three days,
and you cannot ask for help from your dragon friends,
every hour you go past the three day mark: I will kill a member of your family,
and you will feel a twinge in your chest,
you will not know which one was killed but you will know it is your fault. " he laid down his impossible task
"I should have never released you from that tomb. " I said
"Ahh but without my gift, you would have never been able to do the things you have. " he replied, his eyes glowing red
"Am I allowed to have my cloak and weapons?" I asked him
"No, their magic could help you move faster. " the Emperor replied
He walked back to his throne and looked down at me.
"Now off you go! And remember: the lives of your family members are on the line, so hurry back. " he said
And with a wave of his hand, I felt space bend around me and I blinked and I felt the shackles disappear and I was standing in the middle of Spiritloft...
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