12-02-2019, 04:11 AM
Palace of Flowers
Throne Room
Empress Yauhmi sat back onto the Obsidian Throne with a slight sigh. Things were not going as she had hoped.
The sudden and unexpected collapse of the planned talks in Sharanfo had left the Empress with a profound sense of irritation. Xiomera found itself backed into a corner. We shall have to attend these blasted talks in Laeral, and plead our case as if we are criminals, even though we have done nothing wrong. And now, I have lost one of my most potent chips to play. The Empress, in fact, was beyond unamused.
If we must attend these talks, in these conditions, that is well and fine. But I will not subject myself to such an indignity, Yauhmi thought. It would be an insult to the Throne to attend in such a fashion. I will send someone else in my stead. The idea of having just arrived home, only to have to rush off to Maivers, at the whim of others did not suit the Empress. No, it did not suit her at all.
Who will I send in my place?
As the Empress pondered, it came to her, a sudden moment of inspiration. She knew exactly who to send. She had been trying to think of a way to introduce this particular person to the duties that came with the Obsidian Throne. Now was as good a time as ever. With a sharp wave of her hand, she summoned her attendants and gave them a series of different tasks. Following that, she had a conversation with the new Secretary of International Affairs, Nōlinyauh, and gave them a new set of marching orders as well. There was, at last, one final meeting to arrange. She ordered her attendants to summon the person she needed.
Within a few minutes, the doors to the Throne Room swung open. "The Crown Prince has arrived as you summoned, your Majesty," the palace majordomo announced.
Yauhmi couldn't help but smile as Texōccoatl walked into the Throne Room. His ever-present grin widened as he walked up to the throne and gave an exaggerated gesture of going down on one knee. "I am here as you summoned, your Majesty, Empress of Xiomera, mother above all mothers, distributor of hugs and occasional slaps par excellence, a humble servant ready to do your bidding...."
"Oh, get up and stop acting the fool," Yauhmi laughed, rising from the throne and giving Texōccoatl a warm hug. "So, mother, did you miss me so much in just a few hours? We did just arrive back home from Shen, after all," Texōccoatl asked, bemused.
"Oh dear. No. I do enjoy seeing you, but this is actually serious. I have a task for you," Yauhmi said, as Texōccoatl's expression shifted from bemused to curious. "I hate to do this, but don't get comfortable being back home. You're going to the Maivers Conference. You will be representing Xiomera in my place. You will be leaving around....well, now," Yauhmi added, looking at her pocketwatch. The pocketwatch was admittedly an antique affectation in the modern, high-tech Xiomera, but Yauhmi liked it anyway.
"Wait....I'm going to Laeral? I thought you were leading the talks there?" Texōccoatl said, confused.
"I was," Yauhmi said. "Now I am not. I am not pleased with recent events, and I do not intend to grace the others at these talks with my presence - or the significance of it."
"So....I'm the nobody who can grace the talks with my presence?" Texōccoatl asked wryly. "That does not inspire much confidence. Also, I'm a soldier, not a diplomat, last time I checked."
"Not anymore. You will tender your resignation from the Army by signing this," Yauhmi said, handing Texōccoatl a tablet. "You will then accept the position of Ambassador-At-Large for Xiomera to the International Democratic Union, by signing this," the Empress added, handing Texōccoatl another tablet.
"Wait...since when have we even had an Ambassador-At-Large to the IDU?" Texōccoatl asked, juggling the tablets. "Since an hour ago. I decreed the position into existence," Yauhmi replied.
"Um...how did you convince Nōlinyauh to sign off on making a 43-year-old Colonel a diplomat to the entire region, and technically his superior?" Texōccoatl asked. Yauhmi simply eyed Texōccoatl with a bland look. "Oh yeah, Empress, ruler of all Xiomerans, right. Silly me," Texōccoatl said, his bemused expression returning. "Mother, in all seriousness, surely there are diplomats we already have who are actually...well...diplomats. Ones that have experience in diplomacy, or things other than helping train soldiers to know which end of their gun is pointed towards the enemy and which isn't."
Yauhmi snorted. "Yes, and our diplomats have done a stellar job keeping us out of trouble, have they? You can do this. You are intelligent, highly educated, and highly skilled - the very best possible upbringing a Xiomeran child could possibly have made you that. I know you love being a soldier, but the gods and goddesses put you on this planet for a much higher purpose. It's time to begin the role you were meant to fill - as a leader of Xiomera, not just a leader of a few thousand soldiers."
"You're the leader of Xiomera, and ideally, will be for a long time," Texōccoatl retorted. "I don't think this is the time. I don't think I'm ready."
Yauhmi paused for a moment. When she began speaking again, her voice had lost its previous bantering tone. "Listen to me, son. The passing of Wu Zhou has had me thinking. I am not a young woman - " Yauhmi impatiently waved off Texōccoatl's attempt to argue otherwise "- and I will be with your father in the afterlife sooner rather than later. I am as healthy and fit as a woman my age can be - but that's rather the point," Yauhmi finished dryly. "I need you to begin preparing for your destined role - to follow me as the ruler of Xiomera."
Texōccoatl laughed. "You're assuming that I even would make it through the Great Selection."
Yauhmi's expression assumed a fierce demeanor. "I assume nothing. Mark my words, son. When I die, you will be the Emperor of Xiomera." There was absolutely no doubt in those words.
Texōccoatl's expression sobered. "Know something I don't, mother?" he asked quietly.
"I am just remembering something that I told Wu Zhao, back in Shen. When you're Empress, you make the rules. And change them, if they need to be changed," Yauhmi replied in the same quiet tone.
"Mother....you're talking about ending the Great Selection. Restoring the monarchy. Ending the reforms Camaxtica implemented in the Great Reformation. That is...." Texōccoatl said, at a momentary loss for words.
"Camaxtica has been dead for over a century. Damn it, Camaxtica herself only became Empress because her father changed the rules of succession to what suited him, so she did it too. Times change. Needs change. Circumstances change. And when they do...rules can change with them. They must change with them. I may have triumphed in the Great Selection, but it is a corrupt and easily exploited process. I never realized just how bad a process the Great Selection is, until I went through it. We cannot continue to choose leaders in that way. And we are not about to institute the madness of democracy, which frankly strikes me as rule by easily exploited mobs led by the machinations of the rich and the powerful, either. Democracy is as corrupt as the Great Selection is. Xiomera once had a better way, and it will do so again. Now, do you see why I need you to begin preparing for your future?" Yauhmi replied.
Texōccoatl sighed heavily. "So, Crown Prince for real, then. And this....diplomatic excursion is the beginning?"
"It is. I need you to be seen in a leadership role, and to begin preparing to deal with other leaders. On the job training, perhaps, but at least you will find it more exciting than your previous job," Yauhmi said.
"But with far higher stakes. And far more possible victims, if I screw up," Texōccoatl said quietly.
"Oh, you'll screw up," Yauhmi snorted. "Do you think your father never screwed up? Or me, for that matter? We're humans, Texōccoatl. We're not perfect. We just do the best we can with what we know, and what we have. Sometimes it works out. Sometimes it doesn't, and you have to try again and regroup. But what you need to lead is the ability to roll with the punches, to adapt and adjust, and find a way to salvage victory from even the worst defeat, success from the worst failure. And as my blood, and Topilpopoca's, I know you have that ability," the Empress replied. "You will be a great Emperor. Someday. Now, I do hopefully plan to live for another twenty or thirty years, so don't worry, you'll have plenty of time to prepare."
Texōccoatl smiled. "Not like I can ever argue with you. And, well, no one in Xiomera now can tell you no. So....okay then. But you do realize, all those heads of state and wise and experienced leaders in Maivers will just see some young brat on the other side of the table who got his job because of who his mommy is. They won't take me seriously."
"Oh, I am counting on that," Yauhmi said quietly. "If you're any son of mine, underestimating you will be a tremendous mistake. Now, go, you have a plane to catch. Nōlinyauh will brief you on the plane."
Texōccoatl gave another exaggerated bow. "As you command, Empress-mother. As always," he replied, leaning over to kiss her gently on the forehead before walking out of the room.
Yauhmi watched him leave with a slight smile, as he carried her hopes with him.
Throne Room
Empress Yauhmi sat back onto the Obsidian Throne with a slight sigh. Things were not going as she had hoped.
The sudden and unexpected collapse of the planned talks in Sharanfo had left the Empress with a profound sense of irritation. Xiomera found itself backed into a corner. We shall have to attend these blasted talks in Laeral, and plead our case as if we are criminals, even though we have done nothing wrong. And now, I have lost one of my most potent chips to play. The Empress, in fact, was beyond unamused.
If we must attend these talks, in these conditions, that is well and fine. But I will not subject myself to such an indignity, Yauhmi thought. It would be an insult to the Throne to attend in such a fashion. I will send someone else in my stead. The idea of having just arrived home, only to have to rush off to Maivers, at the whim of others did not suit the Empress. No, it did not suit her at all.
Who will I send in my place?
As the Empress pondered, it came to her, a sudden moment of inspiration. She knew exactly who to send. She had been trying to think of a way to introduce this particular person to the duties that came with the Obsidian Throne. Now was as good a time as ever. With a sharp wave of her hand, she summoned her attendants and gave them a series of different tasks. Following that, she had a conversation with the new Secretary of International Affairs, Nōlinyauh, and gave them a new set of marching orders as well. There was, at last, one final meeting to arrange. She ordered her attendants to summon the person she needed.
Within a few minutes, the doors to the Throne Room swung open. "The Crown Prince has arrived as you summoned, your Majesty," the palace majordomo announced.
Yauhmi couldn't help but smile as Texōccoatl walked into the Throne Room. His ever-present grin widened as he walked up to the throne and gave an exaggerated gesture of going down on one knee. "I am here as you summoned, your Majesty, Empress of Xiomera, mother above all mothers, distributor of hugs and occasional slaps par excellence, a humble servant ready to do your bidding...."
"Oh, get up and stop acting the fool," Yauhmi laughed, rising from the throne and giving Texōccoatl a warm hug. "So, mother, did you miss me so much in just a few hours? We did just arrive back home from Shen, after all," Texōccoatl asked, bemused.
"Oh dear. No. I do enjoy seeing you, but this is actually serious. I have a task for you," Yauhmi said, as Texōccoatl's expression shifted from bemused to curious. "I hate to do this, but don't get comfortable being back home. You're going to the Maivers Conference. You will be representing Xiomera in my place. You will be leaving around....well, now," Yauhmi added, looking at her pocketwatch. The pocketwatch was admittedly an antique affectation in the modern, high-tech Xiomera, but Yauhmi liked it anyway.
"Wait....I'm going to Laeral? I thought you were leading the talks there?" Texōccoatl said, confused.
"I was," Yauhmi said. "Now I am not. I am not pleased with recent events, and I do not intend to grace the others at these talks with my presence - or the significance of it."
"So....I'm the nobody who can grace the talks with my presence?" Texōccoatl asked wryly. "That does not inspire much confidence. Also, I'm a soldier, not a diplomat, last time I checked."
"Not anymore. You will tender your resignation from the Army by signing this," Yauhmi said, handing Texōccoatl a tablet. "You will then accept the position of Ambassador-At-Large for Xiomera to the International Democratic Union, by signing this," the Empress added, handing Texōccoatl another tablet.
"Wait...since when have we even had an Ambassador-At-Large to the IDU?" Texōccoatl asked, juggling the tablets. "Since an hour ago. I decreed the position into existence," Yauhmi replied.
"Um...how did you convince Nōlinyauh to sign off on making a 43-year-old Colonel a diplomat to the entire region, and technically his superior?" Texōccoatl asked. Yauhmi simply eyed Texōccoatl with a bland look. "Oh yeah, Empress, ruler of all Xiomerans, right. Silly me," Texōccoatl said, his bemused expression returning. "Mother, in all seriousness, surely there are diplomats we already have who are actually...well...diplomats. Ones that have experience in diplomacy, or things other than helping train soldiers to know which end of their gun is pointed towards the enemy and which isn't."
Yauhmi snorted. "Yes, and our diplomats have done a stellar job keeping us out of trouble, have they? You can do this. You are intelligent, highly educated, and highly skilled - the very best possible upbringing a Xiomeran child could possibly have made you that. I know you love being a soldier, but the gods and goddesses put you on this planet for a much higher purpose. It's time to begin the role you were meant to fill - as a leader of Xiomera, not just a leader of a few thousand soldiers."
"You're the leader of Xiomera, and ideally, will be for a long time," Texōccoatl retorted. "I don't think this is the time. I don't think I'm ready."
Yauhmi paused for a moment. When she began speaking again, her voice had lost its previous bantering tone. "Listen to me, son. The passing of Wu Zhou has had me thinking. I am not a young woman - " Yauhmi impatiently waved off Texōccoatl's attempt to argue otherwise "- and I will be with your father in the afterlife sooner rather than later. I am as healthy and fit as a woman my age can be - but that's rather the point," Yauhmi finished dryly. "I need you to begin preparing for your destined role - to follow me as the ruler of Xiomera."
Texōccoatl laughed. "You're assuming that I even would make it through the Great Selection."
Yauhmi's expression assumed a fierce demeanor. "I assume nothing. Mark my words, son. When I die, you will be the Emperor of Xiomera." There was absolutely no doubt in those words.
Texōccoatl's expression sobered. "Know something I don't, mother?" he asked quietly.
"I am just remembering something that I told Wu Zhao, back in Shen. When you're Empress, you make the rules. And change them, if they need to be changed," Yauhmi replied in the same quiet tone.
"Mother....you're talking about ending the Great Selection. Restoring the monarchy. Ending the reforms Camaxtica implemented in the Great Reformation. That is...." Texōccoatl said, at a momentary loss for words.
"Camaxtica has been dead for over a century. Damn it, Camaxtica herself only became Empress because her father changed the rules of succession to what suited him, so she did it too. Times change. Needs change. Circumstances change. And when they do...rules can change with them. They must change with them. I may have triumphed in the Great Selection, but it is a corrupt and easily exploited process. I never realized just how bad a process the Great Selection is, until I went through it. We cannot continue to choose leaders in that way. And we are not about to institute the madness of democracy, which frankly strikes me as rule by easily exploited mobs led by the machinations of the rich and the powerful, either. Democracy is as corrupt as the Great Selection is. Xiomera once had a better way, and it will do so again. Now, do you see why I need you to begin preparing for your future?" Yauhmi replied.
Texōccoatl sighed heavily. "So, Crown Prince for real, then. And this....diplomatic excursion is the beginning?"
"It is. I need you to be seen in a leadership role, and to begin preparing to deal with other leaders. On the job training, perhaps, but at least you will find it more exciting than your previous job," Yauhmi said.
"But with far higher stakes. And far more possible victims, if I screw up," Texōccoatl said quietly.
"Oh, you'll screw up," Yauhmi snorted. "Do you think your father never screwed up? Or me, for that matter? We're humans, Texōccoatl. We're not perfect. We just do the best we can with what we know, and what we have. Sometimes it works out. Sometimes it doesn't, and you have to try again and regroup. But what you need to lead is the ability to roll with the punches, to adapt and adjust, and find a way to salvage victory from even the worst defeat, success from the worst failure. And as my blood, and Topilpopoca's, I know you have that ability," the Empress replied. "You will be a great Emperor. Someday. Now, I do hopefully plan to live for another twenty or thirty years, so don't worry, you'll have plenty of time to prepare."
Texōccoatl smiled. "Not like I can ever argue with you. And, well, no one in Xiomera now can tell you no. So....okay then. But you do realize, all those heads of state and wise and experienced leaders in Maivers will just see some young brat on the other side of the table who got his job because of who his mommy is. They won't take me seriously."
"Oh, I am counting on that," Yauhmi said quietly. "If you're any son of mine, underestimating you will be a tremendous mistake. Now, go, you have a plane to catch. Nōlinyauh will brief you on the plane."
Texōccoatl gave another exaggerated bow. "As you command, Empress-mother. As always," he replied, leaning over to kiss her gently on the forehead before walking out of the room.
Yauhmi watched him leave with a slight smile, as he carried her hopes with him.
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