The Emperor and the Servant: A Tale of Two Heroes

Chapter 15: Hope

  “Milord, if I may, we cannot just wait for him. King Richard is correct. We cannot trust him.”

  “On what basis, Christian?”

  “The Khan is focused on his own realm. He only came to us for support and added protection.”

  “Why would you consider this to be a sign that he cannot be trusted?”

  “Master Vincent, the man desires power over the world. Why should we…?”

  “We…and where in your right mind did you get the assumption…you were one of us?”

  “What?”

  “You are my confidant and Servant yes. However, at the end of the day, you are not a Lord.”

  “I was simply citing the opinion shared by the majority of the Ministers and Council of Lords.”

  “Even then, you cannot interpret the motives of the man, whose own voice we have yet to hear.”

  “Your Majesty, have you not seen the power he has? His army might come after us and…”

  “I advise caution in your words, Servant of the Empire. No one below must judge the ones above.”

  This was a startling confrontation. Both men look at one another intently. Christian, in fuming but hidden anger, leaves the assembly. The Kings were puzzled. “Why did you do that?” asked Philip.

  “Because it is unnecessary for someone like him to get too involved in state matters. He thinks only of the here and now and does not see possible repercussions as necessary to interpret the situation. He does not trust words and values only pragmatic approaches. Actions define value, not the other way around.”

  “But he was right.” Richard comments.

  “No, he was wrong. The Ministers are not against the Khan because of the army he has. If anything, they would want the Khan to be part of the Alliance again. But…the actual reason why the Council of Lords has yet to fully integrate him and acknowledge him as a Lord is because his territory…is an Empire of its own. To claim a territory and many more in the name of a created Empire, without the proper legislative notice, which in the case of our Empire was the Senate of Rome and currently the Roman Curia, a legislative body that represents each of the territories to be annexed formally, is the same as unjust conquest. There is no right. The law sees Khan as a warlord for that and so he is despised. Japan and China are exceptions because they already sent representatives to the Curia, that is to say the Ministers of State and the Representatives of the Law under them. However, they retain their status as Empires under a special provision that gives them autonomy for as long as they do not lay claim to Imperial territories. The Islamic Empire is semi-autonomous, with the Third Crusade closed by a treaty and oath of allegiance to the Emperor while maintaining their self-determination as an Empire. The Holy Roman Empire is a composite and is what comprises Mother Europe. Its Emperor is responsible for maintaining peace and order in Germany and Italy. Yet the one who exercises the right above rulers…is the Emperor of the World. For their role in protecting and nurturing the Empire to what it is now, they are acknowledged as Lords in their own right. Khan has yet to do so. His army is the key to this though.”

  “Then where does he stand…among the Big Three?”

  “He is the loose cannon, Philip. Yet we all need that, right?”

  “Aye, to give us the advantage over the enemy. They will not predict our current standing now that the UIF has dissolved. Still, how can we face them without our United Imperial Forces?”