Chapter Twenty-Two #3
“He quickly gained the admiration and trust that his father had failed to attain. Yorith and I have been keeping him in check all these years. There was fear that Lyrian would do what his father could not, and start a violent upheaval. It was Yorith’s long-standing favor and influence within the community that prevented it, as even those who liked Lyrian respected Yorith more.
Then—” She sighed and closed her eyes. “You came.” She opened them again and her disapproval pierced straight through him.
“And offered Lyrian an easier, less messy path to power.”
Ethyr swallowed. “But you said you don’t know his opinions. How can you know he has the same goals as his father?”
Malor set her lips. “His actions have made it clear enough recently.”
“I told you,” Poyut told him quietly. “He’s ridding the palace of people who can oppose him, so when the time comes, when he wants to officially rid the king’s position of any power, there is no one who can or will stand up for you.”
“And with full authority over the military and palace, he can more easily disband the final obstacle to sovereignty: the council,” Malor added. “Once there is no council to constrain the power and decisions of the advisor, he will have unchecked reign over the kingdom.”
“A-all…” Ethyr cleared his throat. “All of this is hearsay,” he said, but it was meek and unconfident. “He respects me as king more than anyone. He insisted I be officially consecrated as king in front of the whole city.”
“This,” Malor said coldly, “is exactly why Yorith was afraid of you.”
“Afraid of me?” Ethyr burst out, not sure whether it was a laugh or a scoff.
“An uneducated peasant as king, with no concept of politics or history.” Ethyr closed his mouth, too offended to even respond.
“A king practically begging to be manipulated, to become nothing more than a tool for the depraved acquisition of power. And at his age, when he knew his end was near—Yorith immediately saw the downfall of the kingdom.”
“I was nothing more than a tool being manipulated when Yorith was advisor!” Ethyr said heatedly. “At least Lyrian does not treat me as one!”
“Whether he treats you as one to your face or not, he is using you regardless,” Malor interjected.
“Yorith was happy to let you live out your reign as a pampered pet. You could have spent years of your life in decadent luxury and the rest of your life in comfortable prosperity, all you had to do was accept the privilege and please the gods. But even that was beyond you.”
“Well it would have been easier if Yorith didn’t imprison me and threaten my loved ones!” Ethyr hissed.
“And for good reason,” Malor snapped back. “As you’ve so effectively demonstrated your ability to make a mess of things. He was trying to keep the kingdom from ruin. He did not have the leisure of striving for your approval.”
Ethyr huffed and crossed his arms. “Maybe if anyone had bothered to tell me all of this before, it could have been avoided.”
“Yes,” Malor replied bitterly, “because you took so effortlessly to basic education.” The sarcasm was palpable. Ethyr grit his teeth, but Poyut spoke up first.
“I’m sorry, Justice, but I must ask you to remember you are speaking to the king, chosen by the gods.” Poyut’s polite words were undercut by a tone of unwavering conviction.
Malor sighed, annoyance wiping off her face and her shoulders dropping.
“Yes, yes, of course. I apologize, Your Divinity.” She sank into her chair, leaning wearily on the desk.
“It has been a difficult few weeks. Perhaps this is all a result of underestimating your ability to comprehend such complicated politics. We had no reason to think you would take kindly to the lessons, or that it would even be of help in curbing your recklessness. We should have had more faith in the gods’ choice.
Regardless, there is no going back and changing it now.
We must deal with what is in front of us.
Now that Poyut has no qualms of your involvement, I hope you will consider being part of our efforts.
Or, at the very least, not getting in the way of them. ”
Ethyr did not respond. He didn’t want to align himself with one side just yet.
He was still dizzy with all the details and new information.
He didn’t understand the point of any of it.
Why couldn’t people just live their lives without interfering with everyone else’s?
But, he supposed, society would not exist if that was the case.
“We’d better go back to the palace,” Poyut said after the silence dragged on a bit too long.
“Of course,” Malor said, picking up a bell on her desk and ringing it. “Lyrian will be aware you have come here, Your Divinity. Please exercise caution.” The same woman as before popped into the room behind them.
“Yes, Your Justice?” she asked, bowing.
“Show His Divinity to the door.”
She looked expectantly at the two of them. Ethyr watched Malor for another few seconds. Then he turned and followed the attendant, head swimming.