Julien
by Engor
Chapter 30
"So that's it, is it?" said Julien. "You're just going to leave me?"
The trip back to the kang had been silent and gloomy, in complete contrast to the happy atmosphere which should have prevailed after such a significant ceremony.
"What choice have we got?" asked Niil. "My father has issued an order, and just in case you didn't notice, First Lord Aldegard was pretty keen on us going, too."
"But why? And what's the big hurry? Surely he could have waited for a while, couldn't he?"
"I don't know, and I suspect that if I asked Lord Aldegard he wouldn't tell me."
Julien raised his voice.
"Tannder!" he called. "Could you come here, please?"
Tannder appeared immediately.
"First, Tannder," said Julien, "could you tell us how you manage to get here so quickly whenever we need you?"
"Oh, there's nothing strange about that. My kang is right next to yours, and there's a simple system set up that enables me to hear anything that is said in here. That's how security chiefs usually operate."
"You mean, you're constantly spying on us?"
"Well, I wouldn't put it quite like that."
"So how would you put it, then?"
"Well, I've been ordered by Lord Aldegard to protect you and your friends. That's why I listen in to everything that happens here, and if I need to I can also see what is going on anywhere in this kang."
"What, anywhere? Even the toilet?"
"Well, yes."
"So I'm not entitled to any privacy at all?"
"Well, I don't really count, so your privacy isn't actually compromised."
"That's easy for you to say!" exclaimed Julien. "You're not the one whose every word – and, apparently, every action – is being followed!"
"Your Lo... Julien, let me try to explain. You see, I've been through extensive education and training in order to prepare me for this sort of duty, and as a result I can hear whatever is said in this kang, but I forget it, completely and absolutely, immediately afterwards. But I am trained to recognise danger, which is why I came in when Xarax woke up, for example. But I can promise you that nothing I might hear and nothing I might see, no matter how private you might think it, is ever going to shock me. In fact I wouldn't even think for a moment of passing judgement on anything you might say or do. The sole reason for my vigilance is to make sure that nothing untoward ever happens to you."
"I'm sorry, Tannder, but I really can't think of you as being like the mirror on the bathroom wall. And in any case, don't you work for the First Lord? He's the one who assigned you to protect us, after all."
"I'm sorry, I didn't make myself clear. Yes, the First Lord asked if I could watch over his guests, and I was perfectly happy to comply. But the First Lord is certainly not my master. As I told Xarax, my allegiance is to the Emperor alone. In fact, every Master of the Silent Warriors is the same: they may hire out their services, and they may even fight for one cause or another as seems right to them at the time. But they have all pledged obedience to the Emperor – which is to say you, Your Lordship."
"And what does that mean exactly?"
Tannder opened his mouth, but Julien held up his hand to stop him.
"And I'd be really grateful if you could tell me without using the High Speech," he added. "And I really mean it about calling me 'Julien', at least here in the kang."
"It means," said Tannder, "that my life is at your service, and that I will protect you and your friends to the best of my ability. It means that you can order me to do anything that you think is necessary. And it means that I will complete any mission you may give me to the absolute limit of my ability, or I will die in the attempt."
"That's a bit scary, Tannder. And what do I give you in exchange for all that?"
"You give me something that nobody else in the world can give: you are Yulmir, and you preserve the very existence of the R'hinz."
Julien thought about that for a moment, but still came to the conclusion that he really didn't want someone constantly spying on him, no matter how pure Tannder's motives might be. So he decided that this might be a good way to test the authority which, according to Tannder, was now his to wield.
"If I were to give you a direct order, Tannder," he asked, "would you obey it?"
"Of course!"
"Then I don't want you looking into my kang."
"But that's sure to make me less effective. I need to be able to..."
"Tannder! Was all that stuff you just told me about your allegiance to me just a bedtime story for little kids?"
"My Lord!"
"Then please listen: I want to be left alone in my kang. No ifs, no buts. Or am I really just a prisoner?"
"No, my Lord!"
"Well, at home – my real home – nobody watches over me all the time, and in fact if anyone did... well, it just wouldn't happen. All right, I suppose I can put up with you listening in if you really feel you have to, but I want your word that you're not going to try to see what's happening in here. All right?"
"But..."
"Look, either you can give me your word on that right now, or I'll be left with no choice but to consider that you were lying to me, the same way that people lie to little kids if they think it's in the kid's best interest. Believe me, I've already been through that sort of thing..."
"Then... very well. I swear to Your Lordship that I will not try to see what is happening in your kang."
"Thank you, Tannder. I trust you. However, if I were to call for help..."
"Don't worry, My Lord, I'm not stupid. If I think there's even the remotest danger I won't waste time trying to look first, I'll just come straight away."
"Excellent – I think we can agree with that way of working, then. Thank you. But actually I called you in here to ask your advice. First, have you any idea why Niil and Ambar have to leave so quickly?"
"I suspect that the First Lord and his Councillors would like to get rid of any possible... interference, shall we say?"
"I don't understand."
"Well, to be blunt, I think they would prefer you to be alone under their control, where you won't be distracted by anything. They want you to become the Emperor again as quickly as possible, and they don't want their plans to be constantly interrupted by – forgive me – a couple of kids getting in the way."
"I see. So what you're saying is, I'm the Emperor, but I can't actually do anything except what they tell me to. Is that right?"
"That's a rather harsh way of putting it, but in essence that is what they would like – for the good of the Nine Worlds, you understand."
"What do you mean, it's what they would like? Isn't that exactly what's going to happen?"
"No, Julien. You are the Emperor. I know you're not happy about it, but it does have its good points. For a start, you have the power to change certain things..."
"Such as?"
"Well, would you prefer to keep Lord Niil and Lord Ambar with you?"
"Of course I would! Well... if that's what they want, of course."
Niil and Ambar quickly made it very clear indeed that this was exactly what they wanted.
"So," Tannder went on, "it seems to me that, owing to the confused state of affairs we've all just been through, His Excellency Yulmir, Emperor of the R'hinz ka aun lee Nügen has not yet had the opportunity to reward the Noble Son Niil, of the Ksantiris, for the bravery he displayed while defending his Emperor. So..."
But before Tannder could explain what he had in mind Niil stood up, placed his hand on his heart and declaimed, "My Lord! No Ksantiri would ever seek for any higher reward than that of having been able to serve his Emperor and defend the honour of his Family. I..."
"Oh, do shut up," interrupted Julien, as gently as he could. "We all know perfectly well that you weren't looking for a reward when you did what you did. Still, actually Tannder is right: I do feel a bit guilty that I haven't really thanked you yet..."
"But I didn't do it for you! I did it because I thought they were in the Palace to attack the Emp..."
He tailed off.
"You're right: that's exactly why they were there," said Julien. "And that's exactly what they were doing, too, even though you didn't realise at the time. And, be honest: if you'd thought it was only insignificant little Julien they were attacking, would you have just stood back and let them get on with it?"
Niil went red: he was obviously finding it hard to cope with having done something heroic.
"So," Julien went on, "Tannder was saying something about a reward, I think?"
"Well," said Tannder, "what I had in mind was not so much rewarding a piece of bravery as honouring a Noble Family by granting one of members the title of... what about Privy Councillor?"
"What's the benefit of that?" asked Julien.
"Niil's a Third Son, and consequently it's unlikely that he'll ever be able to do anything in life other than what his father and brothers tell him to. However, as Privy Councillor to the Emperor he could live however he wanted to. Of course he would still have a natural duty to his father and his Family, but otherwise he would serve you however you wanted him to."
"Does that mean that he'd be able to stay with me?"
"If that is what you want, then yes."
"Would you like that, Niil?"
"Of course I would!"
"All right," said Julien. "So what do I have to do for that to happen?"
"Your Lordship should lay his hand on the Noble Lord Niil's head and ask if he will accept the office of Privy Councillor. I can bear witness on behalf of First Lord Aldegard, and then he will see to it that the deed is registered. After that the Administration Office will deal with everything, including making sure that the revenues that go with the post are attributed to Niil."
Niil knelt down and Julien stood in front of him and put his hand on the kneeling boy's head.
"Niil, would you like to be my Privy Councillor?" he asked.
"Yes, please, Your Lordship!"
Neither of the boys really knew how this act would affect what happened to them in the future, but they were both very happy with the situation as it was. They looked at each other, not really knowing what to do next, and they were still doing that when Ambar yawned.
"He's right," said Julien. "I think we should all get some sleep. I'm certainly tired. Tannder, do you actually sleep at all?"
"Yes, Your... Julien. But I'm a very light sleeper, and in any case Xarax, over there on his box, is as good a guard as there is. And... I hope I haven't overstepped the mark here, but I've taken the liberty of putting a little book beside your bed. Normally a boy's parents would give him this book when they thought he was ready for it... in any case, I hope it will help you to understand our customs a little better."
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