How things change in a year. The emperor mused walking through the palace toward the throne room. I left the palace a failure leading the last men still loyal to me to certain death. Now I am called the Founder Reborn, leading heroes not seen since the first emperor’s knights.

He stopped before the large wooden doors of the throne room. Resting a hand gently on the intricately carved doors he steadied himself. The streets may have been filled with cheering crowds, but he expected this hall to hold no more than a handful of courtiers and far, far too many enemies. Already he could hear the muffled sound of voices coming from inside.

While he readied himself, a group of immortals stood guard, silent and motionless. He dared not show any weakness before the court, to them I must be the warrior emperor, ready to cut down all who oppose me.

Taking a slow breath, he stood to his full height and gestured that the door be opened. Two of the immortals stepped forward to open the doors, and scanned the room for threats. Finding none they stepped aside opening the path for him to pass. As they stepped aside, he found the room more crowded than he expected.

On either side of the carpeted path leading to the throne, stood dozens of men and women wearing clothes in garish colors.

From the far end of the room, the steward’s staff struck the floor. With the sound echoing through the room, the steward’s voice rang out, “The Emperor returns.”

The crowd slowly quieted and turned to stare as he walked toward his throne. At his passing the crowd bowed acknowledging his presence. He ignored them as he covered the distance to his throne and took his rightful place upon it. He paused to examine the figures who had appeared only after the danger was over.

He continued to glare at the crowd, as the courtiers watching him seemed intent to take his measure. They need not think on it long, they will see who they have crossed soon enough.

Not taking his eyes from the parasites before him, he gestured for the steward to begin.

“My emperor.” The steward bowed deeply, then turning to the crowd produced a scroll from his wide sleeve. Clearing his throat, he addressed the crowd again. “By order of the emperor the blood levee is hereby reinstituted.”

The words caused a murmur to pass through the crowd. The murmurs grew louder when a group of children, some no older than their pathday, were marched in. As the children were led into the room the crowd was transfixes. The emperor smiled slightly as he saw how few noticed the guards entering through the other doors.

The group stopped a few paces away from the throne and as a group the boys knelt. Seeing they had taken the appropriate position, the foremost immortal began to read out the names of each boy. “Trager.”

The first boy drew the sword at his hip, and placing its blade flat on his palms, lifted it over his head in offering to the emperor. “I pledge my life and honor to serve the emperor. This is my vow before the goddesses.”

The immortal continued to read out names, as the emperor watched on impassively. From time to time, the name of one of the boys would cause a stir as the crowd recognized a house that revolted. This continued until the final name was called and the last boy made his vow.

“I accept your oaths.” He said just loud enough for his words to carry across the room. Many of the boys seemed relieved to hear the acceptance. Not surprising, if I these knights did not have their oaths to offer me, many of them would been left dead on the fields alongside their fathers.

He continued as the boys slowly returned their swords to their side. “Through your oaths you are bound to my service, in return I give you the lives of remaining members of your house. So long as you are loyal, I will seek no further vengeance on them.”

He could see several of the young knights nodding at his words. “Like you many were bound before the goddesses to follow the oaths given by their lord. Lords who thought themselves above their paths. Led to such foolishness by greed and words of men seeking to profit from weakening the empire.”

The doors of the throne room slammed shut, and the onlookers began to look around nervously. The smartest among them had looks of horror as they realized what was about to happen. “During the campaign many letters fell into my possession. Today I give you a chance to show your loyalty. To bring justice to the men who caused your fathers to fall.”

At a gesture the steward began to read out the list of names he had sent ahead. Men the steward had deliberately made sure would be in attendance.

The emperor watched in silence as the young knights and immortals in the room seized the guilty men. The soldiers and boys dragged pleading and crying men out of the crowd. When the last of the men was bound and gagged, he slowly rose and addressed the room. “These vermin are to be executed and their bodies displayed in the city square.”

Those whose names had not been called looked on in horror as the guilty were run through by the same boys who had just given the emperor their oaths. He did not give the crowd time to recover, “While the worst of the vermin are now removed from these walls, more hide in nests further afield. I shall no longer suffer such creatures to live. Today is but the first of many exterminations. Let the imperial chronicler mark these words, and all in this room carry them to the corners of the word. The empire has but one head, all others shall be cut off.”

As the crowd watched the bodies dragged from the room, he watched the crowd. Most of the courtiers were horrified at the thought that someone of their stature would be treated in this way, but a few had other expressions. Some though wore expressions of satisfaction, likely the dead men’s rivals. Smile while you can. I promise you too will be brought to heel shortly.

AH! There you are! He resisted the urge to let his gaze linger too long on the face of a man his steward thought connected to the rebel lords just north of the capital. The man shifted nervously, slowly making his way closer to the now open doors every time the emperor’s gaze fell on him. Good run to your masters. Tell them to gather their armies. Better to deal will them at once than to spend all my time crushing them one by one.