Legend of the White Scepter of Alrond – Galenodel Saga: Chapter 1

By: Steven M. Jester

Alrond is a peaceful and glorious planet. Its inhabitants are ruled by a sophisticated monarchy. At the top of the monarchy is the Empress. Usually the oldest female in the family, she takes the throne after her mother. She can't take the throne, however, until she has reached her fourteenth birthday and has gone through the Rite of Succession.

Under the Empress is a legislative body called the Council of Matriarchs. This council consists of one hundred elected women representing the populous of the planet. The Council passes laws and has the final judgment on succession. At the head of the Council, however, is a man. The Empress appoints this man. He is known as the Council Leader and only presides over the Council sessions. The Council Leader casts his vote only if the other members are tied on the issue.

The Empress and the Council reside in the capital city of Delmond. Delmond is a vast city spanning over 150 square miles and is also the richest of Alrond with many regal houses and buildings concentrated in the center. But in the outer parts of the city however, crime, pollution and homelessness run rampant. For poverty was the way of life. Those people despised the monarchy. It is in this atmosphere where the story begins.

The palace was a busy place and many people ran in and out of everywhere. The Empress sat in her royal garden attending to the laws and rulings that the Council made in the previous week. All of a sudden a man trampled through the garden up to the Empress, "My, Council Leader Proteus, what reason would you have to storm through my garden like you did just now?" Empress Illiana asked almost sweetly.

"Forgive me Empress Illiana," Proteus said slickly, "but your presence is required for the vote on the tax issue pending at noon."

"I'm sorry Proteus but you know as well as I that today is my daughter's birthday."

"Ah yes…" Proteus said sarcastically, "We mustn't forget such important events. Shall I table the vote until tomorrow?"

"Yes please do," the Empress said, "Lia would be very disappointed if I couldn't perform the Rite."

"So she will be the next Empress?" Proteus asked almost disgustingly.

"Do I have any other daughters?"

"No, of course not," Proteus said, his face whiter than usual, "If you'll excuse me Your Highness, I must announce this to the Council."

"You are excused, with my thanks," The Empress said. As soon as the Empress finished speaking the Council Leader bowed and left. "A little impatient isn't he?"

"Yes," a servant said, "I never quite understood why you gave him the spot of Council Leader."

"He is my most trusted friend. He served on the men's tribunal for more than ten years. I believe it was the right choice."

"I understand your highness."

Empress Illiana stood from her chair and closed the folder in front of her. She grabbed a long white scepter, approximately her height, and walked forward. "Nydewien," the Empress said, "Today, a new chapter begins in my daughter's life. I must make sure she's ready." With that the Empress started her walk to the palace.

"Yes," Nydewien whispered to herself, "And I'll have to talk to Proteus about a new plan."

Meanwhile in the outer parts of the city in a street by a small orphanage a girl walked out of a nearby alley. "Okay Eliari! You can come out now!"

The door to the orphanage opened to reveal a taller girl, "Over here!"
"Grr… I thought you wanted to go outside today!" the girl said angrily.

"Well I changed my mind," Eliari said giggling.

The girl sighed as she walked towards the orphanage. Then, out of the corner of her eye, she noticed something coming down the street. It was a horse-drawn cart. As it stopped in front of the orphanage the girl turned to Eliari and said, "What's that?"

"I don't know," Eliari said as the driver opened the door of the cart.

Out came a regale figure, an ambassador from the government. She stood about five and a half feet tall and wore a uniform almost like a military uniform. "I'm here to speak with the curator of this establishment," the officer said.

Timidly the owner of the orphanage walked on to the street. Behind him stood about twenty orphans ranging from the age of two to ten. Inside were about five infants, the youngest was born only three days before. It was strange that Eliari was the only kid in the entire orphanage over the age of eleven.

The officer took out a roll of parchment and unrolled it. Reading from the parchment she said, "This orphanage, by decree of the Council of Matriarchs itself and having that decree signed by Her Royal Highness, Empress Illiana Galenodel, is herby stripped of its royal charter. Therefore, unless you can pay 2,000 credits today, this orphanage is shut down."

"And what about the children," the tall thin owner said, "We have several infants and all except one is under the age of ten!"

"I'm sorry but we can't keep this particular orphanage under charter," the officer said sympathetically, "As you know the infants and all the children under the age of five will be sent to another orphanage; the rest will have to fend for themselves."

"But that's a death sentence!" the owner said emphatically, "Sending children out into the streets by themselves! Only one of them is old enough to get a job!"

"I'm sorry," the officer said, "someone will be around to pick up the young ones." The officer turned around sharply and walked into the cart. Soon after she was gone. The entire population of the orphanage, minus the ones unable to get out of their cribs, watched as the officer of the government rode off towards the palace.

The girl next to Eliari, who celebrated her tenth birthday the day before, turned to Eliari, "What did she say?"

But Eliari didn't answer, her eyes showed her sadness. The owner motioned her over to him. Eliari walked as if all the life was drained from her over to the sullen sitting on the stoop of the now extinct orphanage. "Yes sir," Eliari said.

The owner sighed, he knew what was about to be said was going to be a burden on the young child, but if the group was to survive, she would have an impossible task ahead of her. "You've been through this before," the owner said, "You know what it's like out there alone. You've got to help them survive."

"I know," Eliari said sadly.

"I know you know," the caretaker said, "That's why I'm telling you that you are the only hope those kids have left."

Eliari stood there silently as she choked back tears. Mournfully she looked at the Council Building in the distance whishing that she could change their minds.

Meanwhile in the basement of the Council Building in a large dark room, almost like a dungeon, the door was slammed open by Proteus, "Blast! I forgot about the bloody Princess!"

Two figures followed the Council Leader into the room, their demeanor cold and calculating, "Don't worry sir, we can take care…"

"Wait," Proteus said turning around quickly; his actions silenced the night clad men, "We may still be able to do what we planed, if we act…" But the Council Leader didn't finish that statement as the door opened revealing a certain woman. Almost instantly his demeanor changed to that almost of the happiest man on Alrond, "Ah, my favorite servant. Tell me, has the Rite of Succession been preformed yet?"

"No," Nydewien said, "But we'll have to act fast."

"I agree fair servant," Proteus said, "So here's what I ask of you. You need to go to our beloved Empress and tell her that there is an important resolution that requires her immediate input."

"As you whish Lord Proteus," Nydewien said as she bowed and left the room.

Proteus watched as the door closed behind her before sitting behind his desk. "You two," he said addressing the gathered assassins, "wait until the Empress enters the rotunda room of the Council Building, then kill her."

"Yes sir!"

Meanwhile Princess Lia Galenodel sat in front of her mirror. A servant brushed her shoulder length auburn colored hair gently while saying, "Today Your Highness, you are fourteen. You will finally become a member of your mother's court."

"I know," Lia sighed as the servant put the brush down, "but that means I'll also be forced to pick a suitor."

"But there are many who would…"

"I have seen many suitors!" Lia said exasperatedly as she stood and faced the servant, "They are all arrogant and selfish! All they want is the prestige of being the boyfriend of the next Empress of Alrond!"

"But…" the servant said until she was interrupted by a door opening.

"Thank you," the opener said, "but I will talk to my daughter alone now."

"Mama!" Lia said running up to Empress Illiana.

The Empress led her daughter to the grand bed at one side of the room. When they sat on the edge the empress breathed a long sigh before speaking, "Lia, someday I'll be unable to rule…"

"Don't say that mama!"

"No, unfortunately I can't stay in this plane of existence forever," the Empress sighed again leaving a long unsettled tension in the room. She decided to break the tension by continuing, "I want to tell you one piece of advice: when it is your turn to rule, rule wisely and be firm with whatever you decide."

There was another uncomfortable pause, the tension not as relieved as the Empress would have hoped. It finally broke, however, with the opening of the door, "Ah Nydewien," the empress said, "what brings you here shortly before the Rite of Succession?"

"Council Leader Ismutund requests your presence in the Council Chambers immediately," the servant said out of breath.

"Did he say what for?" the Empress questioned.

"Only that it couldn't wait."

The Empress sighed as she stood up, "I guess I got to see what he wants. I've been meaning to give him a piece of my mind anyway," Turning to Lia ha said, "We'll go through the ceremony when I get back."

"Okay mama," Lia said as she stood up as well and hugged her mother before she left.

The Empress rode her carriage quickly over to the Council Building. She made her way up the steps as fast as she could.

Meanwhile inside the two assassins lied in wait for the unsuspecting Empress. One of the assassins looked around and noticed another blackened figure converge on their hiding spot, "Who are you?" on asked.

"Don't worry," the newcomer said, "I'm here to make sure that you don't mess up."

"Who sent you?" the second one asked.

"Council Leader Proteus," the third said with urgency, "Now quiet fools, here she comes!"

Just then the Empress' footsteps were heard by the assassins. As the Empress entered the rotunda the third assassin sprinted forward with knife drawn. Empress Illiana had no time to react as the assassin covered her mouth and stabbed her in the back. The assassin whispered hideously in the ear of the still alive Empress, "Long Live Empress Illiana Galenodel!" Satisfied that his work was finished he released the dying ruler and let her stagger forward. As he and the other two assassins escaped the Empress walked forward to the center of the rotunda and fell forward. Expending her last breath she turned to her back and mouthed a word. But whether or not she said anything was unclear as bells tolled in the distance.