On the day that Jinto and Lafier arrived in Lacmhacarh, a meeting of the Council of Abdicant Emperors convened in the Imperial Palace .
The council was made up of one abdicant emperor chosen from each of the eight royal families . Its only functions were to oversee the promotion of, and reward or punish, starpilots that were imperial family members.
Under the principle, or perhaps pretense, that the most outstanding starpilot among a generation in the imperial family was to occupy the Jade Throne , it was the role of the Council of Abdicant Emperors to take their time in choosing the Emperor to be.
Needless to say, the topic of the session was to deliberate whether the First Royal Princess of the Royal House of Crybh was a worthy starpilot, and by that token, a worthy candidate for the emperorship.
The meeting lasted for five days. In addition to Lafier’s own report, they scrutinized the testimonies of the former baron and servants that had been pulled out of the Febdash Barony .
Finally, on the last day, Lafier was called to the Üabaiss Fanigalacr (Chamber of Abdicant Emperors), which was a spacious, circular room with the eight-headed gaftnochec dragon depicted on the floor’s center, and a raised platform in front.
When Lafier identified herself, the holograms of the various abdicants appeared. They were the elders of the Abliar, old souls trapped in young flesh. Lafier bowed down.
“We are gathered to determine whether you, Fïac Lamhirr of the Royal House of Crybh , are suitable to be appointed a starpilot . We have some questions for you, and so we shall be conducting a hearing,” declared speunaigh raica (former emperor) Nisoth Dugasr (Their Eminence Dugass).
“Raise your face and look up, Fïac Lamhirr ,” spoke Nisoth Dusumr of the Lartïéc-Balgzédér (Royal House of Balgzédé), eldest of the imperials .
“Yes,” said Lafier.
All eight abdicant emperors were gazing down at her, including Dugass and Dusum, who stood at the center. It appeared the two of them would be the driving force behind Lafier’s hearing.
Dugass was among the youngest of the abdicants , but he too had already reached centenarian age — of course, his hundred plus years did not mar his youthful form. Physically, his aging had stopped halfway through adolescence, and so one could still see the sprightly boy in his especially juvenile visage.
On the other hand, Dusum was well past two centuries in age. He had a poise all his own, his long flowing ringlets the light purple that came with occasional bleaching. For one reason or another, he relied on his frocragh , and was not wont to open his eyes. Even now, his eyes were screwed firmly shut.
Lafier was nervous. Though this was the first time she’d been the subject of the Council ‘s discussion, she had heard various things about it. Rumor had it that since the abdicants , who had retired from both war and commerce, had nothing else to do, they had honed their skills in ferreting out the faults of young Abliars.
“Usually, radéüragh bucragr (starpilot aptitude examinations) are boring affairs,” said Dugass. “Most children may believe otherwise, but picking apart every little thing about a trainee starpilot ’s conduct is not a very amusing pastime. One among us has commanded a fleet of 100,000 ships, and another among us has laid waste to a notorious interstellar power. Why, then, would we take delight in such trifling concerns?”
This was a nod to the achievements of Nisoth Dulardr (Their Eminence Dulardh), who led the Shashyne Campaign one hundred years prior.
“However, your case was a fun one, Fïac ,” said Ramlonh of the Lartïéc-Üescor (Royal House of Üesco). Giving the title of Fïac a disdainful tang was a special skill of the elderly imperials .
“Your actions were found to be unmindful in numerous ways. The atmospheric leakage incident in the Febdash Barony was particularly difficult to overlook,” said Dugass.
“A petition was filed by the former baron of Febdash ,” spoke Ramynh of the Lartïéc-Scïrr (Royal House of Scirh). “He asked that we refrain from censuring you for your behavior at the barony . However, he is operating under a false impression. It is not the task of the Council of Abdicant Emperors to call you to account. We are here solely to judge your aptitude to be a starpilot . As such, the Empire shall take responsibility for your impressive wake of destruction, deeming it collateral war damage.”
Lafier had had no doubt otherwise, so she simply stood there.
“Regardless, the air leak is a serious matter. You can never know for certain what may happen in the midst of battle. And though we may have proclaimed ourselves the Kin of the Stars , I do believe you’re aware that we cannot survive without air to breathe,” quipped Dugass sarcastically.
“Yes.” Naturally, this only heightened her unease. Nothing would be more humiliating than to be seen as incompetent despite her clear desire to fulfill her duties. If she was to be judged not worthy to be appointed starpilot, she would have rather not survived her ordeal.
“That being said, Fïac , the Council was unanimous in agreeing that that was a mistake any very young trainee starpilot could be guilty of,” said Dusum. “Every one of the people gathered here spent their trainee period uneventfully, but went on to make astonishing blunders after becoming starpilots . Do you remember, Nisoth Ramlonr , the day you stood here, and were demoted from commodore to hecto-commander ?”
“Your Eminence ,” objected a blushing Ramlonh, “I question the necessity to bring up things long since past.”
Dusum continued addressing Lafier: “Notwithstanding, Fïac , there are two issues even we cannot gloss over. We would like to hear your thoughts on those points.”
“What might they be?” Resolutely, Lafier stared at the eldest of the Abliars. One could only wonder whether Dusum, who had dispensed with his vision, was able to pick up on the ardent pride of younger Abliar. A faint smile played about his lips.
“Fïac ,” said Dusum, “while in the Febdash Barony , did you or did you not make use of your status as an imperial to incite a rebellion against the baron ?”
Before she could answer, Dugass piped up: “Fïac Lamhirr , it is said we Abliars’s souls blaze with imperial wrath. Reluctantly, I must agree. From time to time, I too lose myself to anger. Be that as it may, our subjects not only accept our rule, but harbor love and affection for us. Do you know why that is? It’s because they can distinguish between fury as an individual, and fury as the Empire . Even when one is driven by wrath, if that wrath has nothing to do with the Empire, they do not use the bludgeon that is imperial authority, which no one ought to oppose, to strike one’s personal enemy. And even if there were only one Abliar left, if a fool who would wield the Rüé-greuc (Imperial Command Staff) as a cudgel impelled by personal passions were ever to accede to the Jade Throne , our subjects would lose faith in us. Ever since the Founding Emperor , the ultimate role of the Council of Abdicant Emperors has been to expel those who misunderstand the true meaning of pride from the path to the emperorship ...”
“Please wait, Nisoth ,” Lafier interrupted.