Into the Elves' Mound

By David Applegate

As Kaede nears his eighteenth birthday he makes new friends and tries to enjoy life. But a dark cloud hangs over him. Galené, a rogue knight, breaks into his room and tells him of a threat to his life. To further complicate matters, the Dökkálfar come out of hiding. Under pressure to maintain peace, Kaede tries to please everyone, while enacting his own plans, but as some friendships grow stronger, others grow weaker, and he struggles to please his demon. Will his desires cost him his life?

This book contains non-standard relationships and adult situations.

• Language: English
• Publisher: David Applegate
• Release date: May 31, 2022
• ISBN: 9781005485986

Book preview

Copyright and Disclaimer

About the Author

Dedication

Acknowledgements

Books by David Applegate

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Appendix: The Thirteen Houses

Endnotes

Copyright and Disclaimer

Copyright © David Applegate 2021. All rights reserved.

Reproduction in whole or part of this publication without express written consent is strictly prohibited.

This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, businesses, events, or locales is purely coincidental.

About the Author

David Applegate is an Australian based in Brisbane, Queensland. From early childhood, David had dreamt about elves, space travel, and magic. Having placed those dreams on hold to focus on family and career, now he can concentrate on writing.

Dedication

For my son, Daniel.

Acknowledgements

I want to thank my sister Kelly for her support, encouragement, and assistance.

I also would like to thank my fellow indie author Micah Z’Dar (The Orion Crucible & The Electric Archipelago) for his help with my work.

Books by David Applegate

The Empire of Elves

The Boyhood of Kaede

Power Games

Into the Elves’ Mound

Chapter 1

January 3, 11575. Imperial City.

At 4 am, Kaede, in his pyjamas, left his change room. He pushed the stem in, and tiny green numbers appeared on the side of the faceplate. He turned the faceplate to six and released the stem. The second’s hand slowed.

Benzaiten, dim the lights, Kaede said as he lay upon his futon beneath a red quilt with gold trim, covered in the outlines of many tiny green eastern winged dragons made from gold thread. He rested his head on a wooden redwood roll pillow and closed his eyes.

In the middle of the large room, a fire pit sat at the foot of his futon. Inside were red-hot glowing coals resting on an electric heating grill inside. Underneath the grill, a vent blew scented air into the room. The smell of flowers filled the air. The stopwatch sat on the edge with its face open.

Kaede meditated.

***

Toshiko peaked in on Kaede, inspected the knights at Kaede’s door and headed to the roof. She entered the flight deck and ran out the open door. As the wind picked her up, she spread her arms, gripped her quarterstaff, and cast ‘Fly.’

Toshiko soared over the lake towards her mansion and landed by the covered pool. A small drone over her mansion slowly circled. A security officer in the Palace Security Centre watched her go inside.

Toshiko entered the enclosed pool and placed her bag by the door. Toshiko locked the door and tapped the control panel beside it. The structure’s clear exterior panels turned white.

Toshiko stripped off and entered the water with her staff. She lay on her back spread out as a dozen young, naked flower elves unknotted her hair, trimmed her nails, trimmed her pubic hair, scrubbed her skin, and curled her lashes. They rubbed her feet, hands, and shoulders.

They formed a circle around her and joined hands. The surrounding water glowed, and the group teleported into a ghetto below ground. They exited the pool of warm water. Toshiko walked over to a stand and put on a red kimono. As one girl tied it, Toshiko asked, Any progress?

The demonic mirror howls, and the Books of demons chant tonight she comes, but neither will not give us details.

You and the others go back to the crystal ball, see if you can detect any threats. I will be in the mirror room.

The flower elves bowed.

A pair of Knights opened the double iron doors, through which Toshiko exited the chamber into a long hall. She walked past many double doors to a set of black double iron doors, guarded by a pair of knights, at the end of the hall.

Toshiko bowed to them and entered. She closed the doors behind her. She clapped once, and a lamp shone on an oval silver mirror with a dark oak frame in the middle of the room. It stood facing the wall opposite the doors inside the darkroom.

Toshiko stood behind it and said, Hello, mirror.

A twisted face appeared in the mirror. In a deep, loud voice, it said, Why have you brought me here?

To protect you.

When will you bring me the demon?

Mirror, tell me, what is going to happen tonight?

It did not reply. Toshiko stepped in front of it. She stood near the edge of the circle of light around the mirror. Speak or forever be silenced. I warned you if you cease being useful, I will break you. The Book of Demons tells me disembodied demons do not last long.

It whispered, Tonight, the queen comes.

Toshiko mumbled, Stop wasting my time.

That is all I know. I swear. Every ghost, poltergeist, Yōkai, and wraith have gone into hiding.

Toshiko clapped twice as she left. The light over the mirror turned off, and the mirror turned into an ordinary mirror. The doors opened as she walked toward them, and they slammed closed behind her as Toshiko walked down the hall. She entered a pair of doors halfway down the hall. The cavern inside was filled with rows of bookshelves, each brim with books. Now clothed in red kimonos, some of her witches dusted and sorted books.

Toshiko headed to the back room with two knights on duty. She pulled open a bookcase against the back wall. Behind it was a pair of black iron doors. The handles were bound tight with a silver chain and a lock. On either side of the doors was a large black iron keyhole in the wall. She tapped the locks and the door with her staff. She asked the Knights, Any trouble?

After sunset, it chanted for an hour. But it has not attempted to escape its confines.

Good, I will be in my chamber, Toshiko said. She closed the secret door and left the library. She headed to the double doors opposite. Inside was a bedroom with a luxurious queen-size bed, covered in a red quilt with large pillows. It was on a dais, in the middle of a dark room and surrounded by four knights. She removed her clothes and floated over to the bed. Clinging to her quarterstaff, she got under the covers. Two attendants came. They sat on chairs near the bed and watched over her while the Knights watched the dark.

***

Nearly six hours later, Kaede opened his eyes. He stood and picked up the silver pocket watch beside the bed. The lid was open, and the second hand was barely moving. Nearly six hours had passed.

He pulled the watch’s stem out, walked over to the middle of the north wall, and tapped the wall screen. It came on, and the clock displayed ‘5:55 am’. Kaede adjusted the pocket watch. He touched the icon, and a menu appeared. He turned off the alarm, which he had set to six am.

Kaede walked into his bathroom. Instead of his shower cubicle, he saw capped pipes and a notice on the wall, No Hot Water. He shrugged his shoulders and looked at his vanity. Hand creams, shampoos, body washes, bubble baths, and grooming products covered the unit. He selected one of the bubble baths and started filling the tub. He had cold water only, so he stood outside the tub and watched it fill.

‘My fault. I asked maintenance to install the mist shower.’

As he waited, one of the robot vacuum cleaners entered. It zipped around the room, almost noiseless, and stopped in front of him. Kaede leaned over to look at it, and then the light went off. He felt a surge of magical energy behind him. He reached for the panic button by the door, but a hand grabbed his arm. Kaede kicked the person beside him, and again he tried to press the alarm button. She placed her soft hand over his mouth and pulled him backwards. He bit down hard on the gloved hand, but to no effect.

Kaede head-butted the person behind him. His attacker grabbed his head, twisted it behind him, spun him around to face her, and pushed him against the wall. A soft hand searched under his robe, then lifted him and put him into the cold bath.

Kaede saw it was a female, likely an elf, about his size in a black, rubbery full bodysuit with a solid mask. He tried to fight her off, but she kicked the back of his knees hard. The blow forced him onto his knees and held him in a chokehold. He struggled to escape and to breathe, but each time she slapped his hands for trying to grab her. She put her lips to his ear. She felt different, somehow cold. Even her breath on his neck felt cold.

I don’t have long, Galené whispered.

Kaede recognised her voice. Galené, let me go. If you hurt me, Toshiko will make you suffer.

I am not here to kill you. Shade has spies inside the palace, and they are using your robot cleaners to watch you, Galené whispered, then let him go.

Next time, a simple note in my sock drawer would suffice, Kaede said, rubbing his wrist.

The lights came on, Kaede looked up, and Galené was gone. Kaede’s red silk pyjamas with green trim. Soaking wet, he stepped out of the bathroom as Toshiko raced into the room. She looked at him in his nightdress, covered in soapy bubbles. Kaede smiled and said, This is embarrassing.

A short time later, Kaede, dry and dressed, entered the kitchen.

Something went wrong with the cooling for the servers, and the crash caused the Palace power plant to reset, Toshiko said.

I need to speak to Patya about staying with him, Kaede said.

Why? a puzzled Toshiko asked.

While we have work crews to fix that, I am thinking of having a pool installed, and I am sure you would have issues with me watching you swim laps of your pool naked before sunrise.

What makes you think I swim naked?

Why else put a transition cover over such a beautiful pool?

Toshiko stared at him and said, You have a satellite that can count the hairs on the back of my neck. Kaede grinned. She then asked, Why do you need to move out to install a new pool?

I want to raise the dome and put a large and deep pool under the dome. As well as a pool on the level below mine. While the workers are here, I will have them install a gym, salon, a fifty-seat theatre, and many other changes to the residence’s layout. I already have a list, Kaede said. As he spoke, Kaede entered the message on his phone, Inform Patya and Yaotl that there are bugs in my robot cleaners. He held the phone up to Toshiko.

That is a long list. You are going to need specialist engineers. But what makes you think Patya will give you a room?

I don’t mind living with you. I, too, like to swim in the morning. But Patya might be upset if I don’t ask him first.

I will talk to Patya. Toshiko laughed.

***

Kaede stood in the doorway, and he looked around the throne room. The other twelve senators watched him. In the rightmost chair sat Dain with an angry scowl on his face. The room went silent as Kaede entered. He looked at the Imperial Crown. It sat on a pillow, upon a stand beside the throne,

The knights closed the door behind him. Kaede adjusted the jade seal of the Empire around his neck on a gold chain and waved to Dain.

He looked at Patya Petrov, who sat in the leftmost chair. He wore a black suit, shirt, shoes with a gold tie with a White Russian Bear motif. Kaede nodded to him, and Patya nodded in return.

Kaede looked around the large round chamber. The twelve screens on the outer walls were all off. The double doors, the only way to enter the chamber, were sealed. None of the air vents on this level is big enough to crawl in.

Yes, when you were small, you tried more than once.

Yes, lots of dusty air ducts and crawl spaces. No place to hide.

Yeah, we need to make some in the new palace.

Kaede’s throne was an oversized red leather reclining chair with gold trim. The other twelve sat on black leather reclining chairs in a semi-circle around the three-layer dais beneath his throne. The throne was luxurious. On either side of his ears was a speaker. Each had a touch screen on a retractable arm on the left. Kaede looked at the cameras, then back to Patya and nodded. Kaede pulled his screen up.

All eyes turned to Kaede when Patya stood without warning.

Yes, Patya? Kaede asked.

Emperor, my inquiry into the missing Stealth has ended, Patya said.

You have the floor, Kaede said.

Galen crammed in the ogres inside stealth’s empty missile bay while the goblins were distracted with an illusion. They drifted out of the station in the lowest power setting. Galen turned the craft on its side and floated between two shuttles outside. After that, he just waited for a ship to move, and he left, Patya said.

Two illusions, Kaede said.

How? Maharajah Desai asked. We have goblins reporting the ogres running away and Galen firing magic at them.

Clearly, Galené created the illusion of the three ogres running for the empty room. Since there were only three of them in the asteroid, it means the ogres fired the spells at them, Kaede replied.

How come goblins were not blown or burnt by the exhaust? Dain asked.

The goblins were to the rear, and he only needed minimum power to roll out. With the outer doors open and no gravity, he needed only a quick burst to drift out into space and disappear, Patya replied.

Thank you, Patya, Kaede said.

What about the fuss over boot prints in the empty room? Dain pressed.

A hoax perpetrated by the ogres to confuse us, Patya responded as he looked at Dain.

That concludes today’s business, Kaede said, standing. The double doors opened. Kaede held a finger to his lips and went and closed them. He looked at his phone, opened the Palace application, and zoomed on the red dot representing his location. Then he tapped the room and, on the menu, selected security, then camera status. Cameras were marked as off, and cleaning robots were disabled.

Sorry, everyone, that was a performance for the camera. I received an anonymous tip that the Palace network has been compromised, Kaede said.

That is not possible. After the theft of the stealth fighter, I checked the system. No one has successfully hacked the Palace network in over a century, Yaotl said.

Someone hacked one of the Palace servers this morning and sealed the cooling vent in the central column. That resulted in several systems crashing and a brief power outage, Kaede said.

How is that related to the stolen stealth? Dain asked.

An informant told me they are related. Patya will send his Inquisition agents, and Yaotl will send data security officers to the palace undercover as work crews. I will tell the public I am having some remodelling done, Kaede said.

How convenient, Dain remarked.

I have asked Patya if I can stay with him, Kaede said.

How long will this operation last? Adalwulf asked.

Until Patya and Toshiko think it is safe for me to return, Kaede replied.

***

It was nearly 7 pm when Kaede entered the elevator and went up. He strolled over to the kitchen and entered the private dining room. He sat down to dinner with Toshiko.

I am sorry about this morning, Toshiko said.

Any idea how she got in? Kaede asked.

None. Nor can I identify the spell Galené used to leave your bathroom, Toshiko replied softly.

We have an hour before I leave with Patya, Kaede replied.

What did you want to talk about?

I know my busy schedule is a routine that you prefer I change and not be predictable, but there is a method to my madness.

Toshiko stopped eating and looked at him. If they know where you are going to be, it makes it easy for them to attack you.

Yet they have not. I am building a following, and I already have many fans.

I am worried about you.

Enough to have me live with you?

Sure. I have a basement, a metal chair, and duct tape.

I need an entire floor at the Lilith Foundation. Rip out all internal walls. No security, no cleaning robots. Internal server and guarded 24/7. I will install a magic laboratory that will take up most of the floor. I need books on how to create spells, casting targets with force registers and everything on making wands, staves, cauldrons, and brooms.

You are too young to do a degree in magic. You learn how to make spells in advanced magic.

I promise to behave, and you will not catch me watching you swim. I need to learn from the best.

Toshiko laughed. Patya and Kenta are your guardians. I will talk to them, and if they agree, you can do a degree in magic, but you need to qualify. But you need an exemption from the Ministry of Magic. I am sure Georgi will give you an exemption as you show no sign of abnormal behaviour.

Really?

Yes, and I hope you continue to behave as if you are normal.

Freya knocked on the door. Toshiko looked up, and then Emi escorted Masako and Freya into the dining room. Toshiko resumed eating.

Kaede ran over to Freya and hugged her. She lifted him and said, No tears. Your father is fine and will wake up one day.

I know, Kaede said. She put him down.

Masako tells me you’re going away? Freya asked.

Remodelling. I want a dance floor under the dome, a pool, and stairs to the Empress’s private bedroom. Also, I need more bathrooms, a bigger gym, and a salon for the girls. Also, a dance studio for Izanami and me, Kaede replied.

Will you be staying in your old room? Freya asked.

Toshiko came over and said, He is staying with Patya.

Why? a confused Freya asked.

Because he is one of my guardians. Kenta already has Sora, Akiko, and Izanami, staying with him, Kaede replied.

What about security? Masako asked.

He will always have at least two knights with him, Toshiko replied.

Is that enough? Masako asked.

It is, Toshiko said before she left.

Freya, are you going to marry my father? Kaede asked.

What? a blushing Freya asked.

"So, I can call you mother," Kaede said.

Freya kissed Kaede on the forehead and said, You don’t need me to marry your father. I love taking care of you. She turned to Masako. Don’t you dare tell Takahiro?

You can trust me. I am trying to get Takahiro to marry me, Masako said.

What is his excuse? Freya asked.

He keeps going on business trips, Masako said.

I’ll find him a desk job. The rest is up to you, Kaede said.

Maybe if I walk around in a wedding dress, he will get the hint, Masako remarked.

I have known Takahiro my whole life, and even that might be too subtle for him, Toshiko said as she re-entered the room.

Masako looked worried as Toshiko walked up to her. But then Toshiko hugged her and said, I will help you even if I must drag him to the blood witches by his ears.

Wonderful, Freya said, holding her cheeks.

Emperor, you need to change the marriage law, Toshiko said.

Why? a curious Masako asked.

Currently, people who work for someone or their family cannot marry them, Toshiko replied. Also, anyone over a thousand years old cannot marry anyone under five hundred.

It means my grandfather will have no excuses left. Toshiko is not only a brilliant lawyer, but he listens to her, Kaede responded.

Exactly, Toshiko said.

A Knight entered and bowed. Excuse me, Emperor, Czar Petrov is waiting for you in the Palace.

Lady Toshiko, Lady Yuki, come with me. Freya, Masako, goodnight, Kaede said as he left.

Kaede sat in the back of an SUV beside Patya, with Lady Toshiko in the front, beside Patya’s driver. The rest of Patya’s guards were in the SUV behind them, driven by Lady Yuki.

Patya, why is Dain worried we would take funding from the dwarves? Kaede asked.

Thirty years ago, the dwarves had a disastrous war with the orcs over a rogue planet. Both sides suffered heavy losses, and neither has recovered socially or economically. Fortunately for us, the ogres are unable to take advantage of this, as they have their hands full with pirates, Patya said. Dain fears many dwarves will turn to piracy.

I thought we ruled the dwarves? Kaede asked.

Yes, and no. We ensure non-elves impose Imperial Law and institutions, but we do not have direct rule over the vassal kingdoms.

But most work for us?

Yes, over half the adult population works for elves. Mostly on their planets. Most who come here are females to work in the service industry.

If they are that dependent on us, I think we should annex the dwarves.

The ogres, goblins, and orcs would likely respond to that by declaring war.

We are not going to invade anyone. We have no need. The others can sabre rattle, but at the end of the day, we have all the power.

Really?

Two years ago, King Weyland left his wife and moved in with Dain. Since then, Dain has controlled the dwarves for his benefit. This has lifted the dwarven economy, but not by much.

True. But that is not enough to persuade the dwarves to end their independence.

The rogue planet the dwarves and orcs fought over is now nearly mined out. We are sitting on a mine the size of 319 worlds. Patya, it is simple economics. We need the labour, and the dwarves can be that labour.

Do you think that is enough to get them to agree to end semi-autonomy?

With wage reform, which includes unskilled labour, including…do you know what I mean by ladies in the service industry?

Yes, but you have a conflict of interest. Takahiro has many tea houses.

A hurdle, I agree. But wage reform is needed, including lifting a ban on unions, because the dwarves will never give up their Federation of Mining Workers. The other hurdle is immigration. We will need to guarantee to the people we will not allow dwarves to flood into our cities. However, we need their labour. Also, we establish a greater presence on their planets.

To annex a member of the Dragon Council under the treaty’s terms, you first need to have most members of the Dragon Council agree. Then you need to hold a vote in both states. Then if the majority in both states vote yes, the smaller state will lose its seat and be considered a vassal state. It is unlikely to pass the Senate, given how expensive it would be to hold an election and the fear it would set a precedent with the people. It could be quicker if we invade them, but the Senate opposes a military solution.

Dain is an advocate of expansion. The vote isn’t a problem.

What is?

I know the ogres will accept the new treaty. The problem is Caesar Giovanni. He wants to annex the orcs, who are weak from losing a war with the dwarves. But the orcs refuse to believe it. Pilu is clever. Nothing is in writing or even widely known beyond a handful of his advisors.

Another reason the Senate will not agree.

Patya, we need to annex the dwarves. We must lift them out of poverty, or it will become an embarrassing propaganda tool against us. The problem is the female service industry; most of these workers are dwarves who work for less. I think we need all non-elves, not just dwarves, on the same pay scale as elves. I do not think it is a conflict of interest to give all adult workers the same pay.

Your grandfather is the largest adult services provider in the Empire. He will spank you for raising their pay.

Wage reform is not aimed at prostitutes but cutting costs and prices. We need to give workers thirty-hour weeks with a living wage. My system uses a rating from one to seven for deciding income. Regardless of how many qualifications you have, your job’s rating decides your wage.

Only from one to seven?

Yes. Welfare is level one. This payment will only be for those who cannot work or are seeking work. Unskilled workers, housewives, and those on maternity leave will be paid a level two wage. As for housewives, the payment will be extended from three to five. All skilled workers, including professionals and artists, will be rated from three to five, depending on the level of education required. Most artists will be rated on popularity. Medical workers, mages, and specialist engineers will be paid at level five. Depending on their force rating, the employee will be paid in one or two categories higher for any job requiring magic. Anyone under force-twenty will be paid one level higher, and those over twenty will be paid two levels higher. With level seven, the maximum rate for employees.

What about managers? Directors? CEOS?

The wage guide is not absolute. Companies are free to pay anyone a bonus. But part of the reform is workers below management are to be paid forty per cent of revenue. Their wage reduces this payment. Thus, if management gets a bonus, workers get one too. Studios will only pay directors, producers, and actors a normal wage as part of my reforms. But, must share twenty per cent of the profit with all those involved in the primary production.

You risk a backlash. Dain and Takahiro will join forces against you.

Wages are already highly regulated. I want to reduce regulations, but we must have a comprehensive system to keep costs down and stabilise prices. Patya, Imperial wage reform is key to internal peace. Low wages and only a few workers get a share in a company’s profits are a common criticism used by dissidents to incite hatred of the successful.

The film industry will oppose you. Actresses are very influential.

The film industry is an accounting nightmare. I am going to end tax incentives for the film industry. Too many films don’t make a profit.

But most studios need tax credits to survive.

I know the program results in tens of thousands of jobs each year, but many cities have pulled out of the program as they did not make money. We have limited revenue. Without the fines for my excess wealth, we wouldn’t have the money to build a new subway in Imperial City. We cannot keep printing more gold notes only to pile them in banks.

Still, many films will never get made without incentives.

More tax money goes to film studios than the tax revenue they generate. I am to give the people better-made films, as the studio will have to compete for the public’s coin. We will give studios time to adjust. To protect magicians’ jobs, we will ensure CGI is limited to thirty per cent of special effects. Any adult performance, including movies, can have actual sex and nudity. Allow studios to hire strippers and prostitutes as extras. Under my reforms, sex workers are ranked so all citizens can afford a sex worker. All companies and self-employed individuals will have a book with wages, pricing guides, and workers’ rights. The treasury will not micromanage but will publish the guide. I hope the competition will lower prices without needing to increase regulation.

You’re going to make many enemies.

Patya, the wealth control act needs to be reformed. Instead of punishing success, we need a framework to expand the economy. Instead of selling off excess assets, we will form partnerships with lords and the people. Under the New Wealth Control Act, the top thirteen will be limited to thirty per cent of the wealth. We will have partnerships with lords and the people. The nobles below us will be limited to thirty per cent of the wealth. But instead of reducing our wealth, we should work to increase the people’s wealth.

Many will oppose you because your clan is the richest. Many could see your reforms as a way of putting them out of business.

If you do not mind answering, Patya, do you hire any companions?

I am sure you already know I employ a female centaur and a female dwarf, Patya replied. He looked out the car window and hoped Kaede would stop talking.

After a pause, Kaede asked, So are female centaurs the fashion statement? Does the wife or husband groom them?

Patya frowned and turned to Kaede. I am not a hedonist. Anna and I have a meaningful relationship. I groom her and give her a place where she can roam free and have privacy. I don’t think you and I should discuss my private life.

Fine. Do you know if Yaotl has a mansion in the city? He lists his address as his ministry office. It is near the airport, but he drives south every night.

Yaotl and his followers live in tents in the city wildlife preserve in the southern mountains.

Oh. Also, I heard Dain is having an affair with his personal assistant, Roland. I heard he is a Mountain elf. I haven’t met Roland. Is it true?

While it is true that Roland is a Mountain elf, she is female. Her first name is Greta. She wears a male suit because she is what you would call jendaresu-kei.

I don’t think you or her understand what a jendaresu-kei is. They ensure their appearance is gender-neutral.

Given how you dress, are you jendaresu-kei?

Again, you do not understand. Historically, the wealthiest nobles wore women’s clothing in private to signify wealth and power. Nowadays, it is an exchange of clothing between lovers. Now, as for those who may oppose my reforms. Most will have a conflict of interest, as do I. But I am trying to abide by the wealth cap and grow the economy. However, I would rather not exclude anyone from the discussion process. I see this as a chance to effect change without waiting for disaster, Kaede said as he looked out the window. He turned to face the front and said, Patya. What if the New State conveniences many people we keep the dwarves poor? At least by annexing them, some opponents might support it or, at the very least, do nothing to stop us because they believe it might further their cause. I think the New State is not after wealth or titles, but power over government.

That makes no sense.

Patya, if all our enemies combined into one army, could they defeat us using direct force?

No.

What about a vast conspiracy?

I would detect one.

Like the New State?

Yes, it is a large radical group linked to the Dark elves in the free states. They are focused on recruiting university students and hide behind free expression and free association to call for an end to the Imperial State.

Professors radicalise students. These students go on to be professors and teachers. They spend their life protesting and do not debate. They are wearing society down with ignorance, stubbornness, and hostility. I believe we are at the tipping point. I have seen students so obsessed with emotions and desire for power that they operate with no logic. They attack anyone who just questions them. For decades, little was done about them because of free speech. Yet, most professors and staff members support or are members of the New State Movement. The movement used to be harmless, but there has been a consistent rise in violence at protests in the last ten years. If we don’t act, the level of violence will become a threat to social stability.

What do you propose we do? We cannot jail them for life. We cannot jail them just because they oppose you. The charter grants all citizens freedom of association and expression. They are not a criminal conspiracy or in open rebellion.

We must defeat them, and we must do so before they are a large group. Because if we do not, once the Empire is in turmoil, they will aid our enemies. But we cannot break them with force. We must carefully undermine them. To break their grip on students, we should find ways to reduce their power and influence. We can jail some of them for incitement to violence. But we strengthen existing laws, particularly for repeat offenders. I think we should reduce the number of public institutions and shift our recruitment from large public institutions to our own schools.

We can and should tolerate some descent. It keeps us honest.

Patya. It will not be the first, second, or third civil war that finishes us. It will be the centuries of regression that comes with oppression. The New State claims to be fighting tyranny. Yet, history shows, contrarians always accuse the ruling powers of the crimes the contrarians wish to impose.

You are right. I don’t like it, but you are right.

Annexing the dwarves is a necessary move, and wage reform needs to be part of that. I hope you will see how it would shift people’s focus. We need positive attention from the public. But lifting the dwarves out of poverty is only a start. It will not defeat the conspiracy that is based on envy.

I see some merit to your proposals, but I think you overstate the benefits.

Even a slight change in opinions of us could help reduce their recruiting power and reduce the number of potential enemies we face.

True Emperor. But many lords will oppose it, which could damage us.

We need to end widespread poverty for the dwarves. To do so, we must impose price, land, and wage. They neither have the experts nor the infrastructure needed to do so. But given we run their population control program, it should be easy for us to take control of all institutions. Dain may oppose us. We need to convince him how much we will lose if the dwarves turn against us. We need to work on winning over the dwarves as a step to winning back the trust of the goblins. Like it or not, we need the dwarves. Thanks to their unemployment problems, they have a pool of labour we can use. Not just for asteroid mining but infrastructure programs throughout the Empire, including vassal states. These workers will move from planet to planet on long-term work visas. Most will require holders to return home after each project. The idea is to give them the skills to maintain their economy. We will allow every family in the Empire to hire females as maids, cooks, cleaners, etc. Again, most will be on a long-term work visa. The workforce needed for the artificial fuel plants and other large projects, such as terraforming, space stations, and arcologies, we need to train more mages and build androids.

Dain will be furious, as he has many farms with cheap labour inside and outside the Empire.

I know without Dain’s help, this will be a long process. Dain needs to think of this as a long-term investment. Ending the self-rule of the dwarves is to strengthen the Empire and secure our prosperity. It will be cheaper to increase the working conditions for the dwarves than to fight a dwarven revolt. Such a revolt would spread to the other Kingdoms. Everyone knows the ogres, orc, and goblins love to fight.

Yes. I will talk to Dain.

Patya, the Empire needs wage, price, and education reform. It may sound naive, but it annoys me that unskilled women are paid so much while working men struggle. It is unjust. Some make millions by sitting in front of a camera. I am not going to stop prostitution, just make it cheaper. We already regulate the incomes of most workers. We will pay slightly more in wages to the unskilled worker but less to the higher end. Our costs will come down in the long-term, as we have cheaper energy, cheaper resources, and high production. This allows us to lower the cost of living and provide workers with cheap entertainment. I believe if we give workers a fair deal, they will be less likely to turn against us.

Reforms are more complicated than just ensuring workers get a fair deal.

Only to those making easy millions of the workers. To me, it is simple. If your job does not require a recognised skill, you should only earn enough for a basic living, especially those in services. No prostitute or drug dealer should earn more than the average worker. We must put value into hard work.

How will they get an education?

We declare the liberal university system a failure. Teachers will have no autonomy. Enrolment will be simplified, and the curriculum standardised by the Ministry. All students will take an exam to enter university. The majority will be from that state’s ethnicity. Each planet’s top university will take in the top students. Of those, the best students will attend the Imperial Academy. All university students will wear a uniform and attend regular classes. But to reduce the cost of university education, it will not be enough to cut the professors’ pay. We must also reduce the length of most courses and the number of art colleges. Too many get a degree and cannot earn a living. Competition between students will see the best artists get trained. We only need one college in each city for cultural studies and art. The rest can learn from a private arts course.

You will face mass protests.

Yaotl has information about some professors in the Imperial University. Until now, he has sat on these scandals. We must shift public opinion. Use those and many other scandals. Hold an inquiry into university nepotism. We know social minority groups hold most positions of power where they control hiring and student admission to bring in more of their own at the expense of the majority. However, in the public arena, we must make it about the spread of misinformation about the Empire.

You need to make the public care.

Good point. We need to show that we can bring private school success to public education with large classes, self-learning programs, and higher standards. The savings will be used to improve healthcare. I know young people don’t care, as we can survive horrific injuries. But older people living with the scars and lost limbs do.

Emperor, this is a can of worms you may later regret opening.

I understand you and others do not want sex scandals to become a public issue, as moral outrage would divide the Empire. But I am talking about people with no merit promoted over those with merit. I understand nobles wanting to keep university education a privilege, and I sympathise. But many end up in government service, believing they are entitled to our money, wealth, and power. Our wealth and power depend on the people, and we are slowly losing the people’s trust.

It is only the bottom ten per cent of society. They always had no faith in the government.

More like twenty, and it should be at most five. But I am not telling you to find the first loudmouth contrarian and blame him. I want the most scandal-ridden professors driven out. The high cost of education is caused by overpaying professors, unnecessary classes, and wasteful spending on non-educational events. But we can keep taxes low and fund a third of education for everyone.

Will you tell me now or wait for me to hold my inquiry? Patya asked.

Kaede nodded and said, We should be the ones to talk of education as a right. Everyone should be able to read, write, and know basic maths. As for higher education, in my experience, courses are padded with extra material. Besides medicine and engineering, many courses can, and should, be reduced to two years. We shall streamline many courses and bring back industry-funded training. Courses such as languages, culture, dance, art, music, and many other courses should not be publicly funded, except for the government employees. We have too many art schools. The treasury is preparing a range of cuts. Private schools will increase competition and reduce fees.

Why should I hold an inquiry?

I want your inquiry to classify skills from one to seven. I will not introduce an education reform bill without input from you and the other senators.

Many companies will oppose any price reduction, and all institutions will oppose a funding cut.

Reducing the cost of education is in all our interests. We will reduce our costs and keep taxes low.

I expect you to present me with the details before I hold an inquiry.

Alright. I think we should hold the inquiry into robotics first. We need to make robotics a third of the workforce, including replicators and androids. We should have a third of our resources recycled using replicators. All replicators will be regulated, and a paywall system added to collect fees using electronic transactions.

How does that help with funding?

Sorry. I am getting ahead of myself. After high school, most students will go to either a technical school, trade school, farm school, magic school, university, or military academy. After five years, the Ministry of Health and Welfare will evaluate people who are not in education, employment, or training. Those who can work but don’t are unable to claim welfare. They must either work on an Imperial work farm, live in a tribal zone, or receive support from a legal source. I know soon we will have a spike in unemployment as more mines close, but I plan to refill the mines.

That isn’t funny, Patya growled.

I am serious. We fill the mines with rocks, rubbish, and waste. We seal the mines and send in elementals. I know the transformation will take time and require millions of magicians. But we cannot build new reactors and increase power production simultaneously. While building new reactors, we cannot let waste build-up. Plus, many mines are already loaded with chemical waste.

That could work. But our education system is in tatters. We have a growing distrust of the government, as youth think the Empire is nothing more than a playground for the wealthy elite at the expense of the majority.

I want you to talk with Árni. This is his failure. You know him well. I can solve the fuel shortage, increase power production, reduce the cost of living, and expand the number of magic schools, as magicians are the future. But Árni is the Minister of Education, Employment and Training. He has allowed universities to become political Petri dishes. Liberal education has produced a system that wants to expand its reach into and control private and public sectors. To reform the education system requires a soft purge of its worst elements. We must replace the silent moderates with those who will push back against the dogma of academic elitists. Put an end to the worship of the university system as a sign of intellect. We must implement an enrolment system that favours the ethnic majority of each state. To do this means we must end the requirement for all government employees to have a degree. To reduce the cost of government to the taxpayer must be a priority, which starts with a bloated education system.

Árni will not like you interfering.

The Senate has become too friendly with each other and too focused on popularity. You are all afraid of the popularity polls and sales trends. I am telling you, as a friend, dissidents are your job. Dissidents are breeding corruption. I want you to guide Árni to make this reform his idea. In public, he can save face. In private, you make arrests. Árni hasn’t stood up to interest groups. If allowed to fester, a dark future is certain. I do not want credit. I expect each minister to do their job. As Emperor, it is my duty to point out problems to each minister. In return, each must make me aware of issues beyond their duties.

If this is about predictions, every seer claims to see a dark future.

This is not about predictions. We need to slash the Imperial budget, cut waste, and ensure the Empire and our race thrives. I plan to slash the cost of education, entertainment, holidays, food, and cars and encourage marriage. We shall fund three legally married wives in a monogamous relationship and give every male a free education. This will include a degree, trade schools, or a farm school.

Are you insane? I cannot speak for Árni, but I doubt the education department has the resources or the budget to do that.

"No. Insane is doing the same thing we always do and expecting different results. We’re not in debt, but we cannot keep mining space to keep adding wealth. Eventually, people will just go into space, find minerals, and flood the economy. Eventually, no one will work.’

True. But it will be your fault. You started it.

I am not the first, nor can we stop it. All we can do is give the people a reason to stay. But to give the people a simple, comfortable life, no one reform can be done on its own. If we slash one budget, the money must be spent elsewhere immediately or face demands for tax decreases. But the free market will feel threatened. So, we expand private education. That helps reduce costs per student and reduce the number of students in public education. The savings will fund programs to upgrade our communications systems, hospitals, and transport systems. Quietly, we upgrade the army and navy.

Shocked, Patya asked, You have spoken with the Treasury committee?

Yes. The committee believes it is possible to annex the dwarves and reform their economy. At the same time, we reform our wages and education systems. All reforms must be done as a single package. If we don’t do it as one package, we will be bogged down trying to tweak past reforms while implementing the next stage.

Patya frowned. He asked, What about this security breach you claim exists?

I know you have doubts. Given the temptation you face to increase the security budgets for the houses and Empire, I am pleased you have not. That is why I can trust you. But if you doubt me, ask Viktor, and he will privately admit piracy is up.

Yes, the Imperial Navy has seen an increase in attacks on ships over the last ten years. Mostly ogres. Nothing to worry about.

I don’t think the ogre pirates are working for Caesar Giovanni nor King Chronos of the titans. Pilu has no heir, and Chronos is in poor health. Chronis fears one of his sons might stage a coup.

I know Chronos wants out of the ogre Alliance, but he doesn’t have the will or might to do so.

I feel the pirates are funded by lords behind the scenes who benefit from the chaos and corruption. I suspect many embedded in the security agencies are purposely inept.

My money is on Atlas.

We need to pick one and cultivate a relationship. I don’t like Atlas or Zeus, but we cannot support both and splitting the titans into smaller states will result in war. We don’t want war. We don’t want to split up the ogres either. Maybe it would be better to have Zeus replace Chronos, but the question remains, what to do with Atlas. I am sure we could convince Chronos to retire.

I find it odd that the ogres have not exploited the tension in the titans. Pilu and Chronos do not get along. But he has made no overtures to either son.

This is an opportunity for us. I say we talk to the titans about a new trade deal that extends the length of long-term work visas and sees new investment into their economy. We see who gives us the most favourable to deal with and favour him as the leader. Then we give the other two leaders enough work contracts to make going to war unprofitable to them.

Many titans are opposed to anything that expands outside interference.

Yes, it must be done. Once we have the titans, it will be easier to deal with the ogres, goblins, and orcs. Once they see the titans making money off us, they would rather make deals than miss out. It is worth spending a little more on them to reduce the possibility of war now than rebuilding them after a war.

You know Dain, well, most of the Senate will only vote for a spending bill if it benefits them.

I plan to annex all the known worlds in five hundred light-years. We shall split the Empire into fifteen provinces. The navy has documented hundreds of inhabited worlds, and many are only small settlements. But there are far more worlds that are not inhabited. Some of those only need atmospheric processors to make them inhabitable. The Hyades may pose a threat. We know only a little about its inhabitants. But we know there are twenty-eight inhabited systems.

Why? Most only have small populations.

True. Some have Elven populations, most of those left the Empire long ago. Many systems within a thousand light-years only live in a low to medium technology society. Other than the Hyades. They are more advanced than us. If the Dökkálfar wanted, they could flood worlds around us with starships, and potentially we could face an Empire more powerful and much larger than our own.

Now I know you are insane.

No, what is crazy is that the biggest threat to our people is our people. I have had Fukuhina search records for information on missing ships. She found the same group of people piloted these ships. So, I had my agents find and interrogate them. They piloted the ships to the Utopia system. Over the years, they have flown ships into the traps set by pirates and used the ships to spread anti-Imperial activists throughout the Free States. Many members of the New State were born on Utopia, a star system core side of the giant’s kingdom. Most have assumed new identities and moved to the Empire from the free states.

Yes. Yaotl has lost many agents trying to infiltrate them.

Our communication system is compromised. The enemy knows our every move. We traced signals to Utopia.

If that is true, why haven’t I heard of this?

No offence, but large volumes of Imperial secrets were found in the hands of goblin scavengers. It seems many data drives we thought wiped are found in dumps intact. I hope you will look into this?

I know that group. They were suspected of aiding Galen. They had outdated codes. Mostly Galen provided the goblins with the codes, Patya replied. But I will look into how they got those drives and take action.

Good. This morning, Lady Galené paid me a visit in my bathroom.

What? Now you tell me? an angry Patya asked. He went to grab Kaede, but Toshiko took a step toward him. Patya stopped and asked, You know I issued an arrest warrant for her after she failed to appear at my inquiry.

Galené got into my room undetected. She could have killed me, but she didn’t. She told me Shade has spies inside the palace and uses my robot cleaners, Kaede said.

Patya looked at Toshiko. Her face went red, and then she took a deep breath and looked straight ahead.

Why use robot cleaners? Patya asked.

Not only do they go all over the Palace, but the computer that controls them is in the Data Centre, Kaede replied.

I don’t get it, Patya said.

The Palace has many networks. But they are all connected to the Data Centre in sub-basement twelve, Toshiko said.

Even the Imperial Command Centre in sub-basement eleven and Palace security in sub-basement ten? Patya asked.

Yes, Toshiko replied.

Now I see. While my focus was on the staff nearest us, spies used our technology against us, Patya said.

Right, Toshiko said.

Patya, remember what I said about dust? Kaede asked.

Yes. You said it is mostly skin, Patya replied, looking puzzled.

It has been bothering me for a while. The vents under some floors are dusty, Kaede replied.

Why didn’t you tell me? Toshiko asked, looking in the rear-view mirror.

I was little. It seemed to be nothing until now, Kaede said.

Toshiko, please do not be angry at him, Patya said, looking at Toshiko, I have often seen him dusty. I thought the air vents were a low priority for the cleaning robots back then. I was wrong. Our cleaning robots were used to spy on us instead of cleaning. We have to assume many cleaning staff within government buildings are infiltrated by a spy ring so cunning and sophisticated that they avoid detection.

You are right. I should be mad at you and Yaotl. You are supposed to find and arrest traitors while Yaotl disrupts and breaks up radical groups. If agents have access to the vacuum robot server, they have access to all the others. I believe they would know and even use all the hidden cameras and microphones in the palace. Worse, the palace has records of every secret mission in the last one hundred years, Toshiko said in a soft voice.

What now? Patya asked.

You and Yaotl need to spy on all the top officers who know about stealth. Try to link them to Palace staff. We need to look long and hard at those who operate and repair the robot cleaners. Also, revisit the Stealth case until we find the ringleaders. Now, by you and Yaotl, I mean personally, not agents. No official records, no mission reports; the only help you get is Toshiko, Kaede said.

What if your friend Nori is an agent? Patya asked, looking at Kaede.

I am sure he isn’t. Nor do I think Lady Emi and her friends are spies or leakers. I don’t know how, but they are being spied on. But to answer you, I would put Nori in prison, but I will not kill my friend, even if he has betrayed me. But I know many will die for betraying their oath of office, Kaede said, looking at his phone. He texted Izanami. I want you to catch the vacuum robot in my room, replace it with the broken one from the workshop and take it home. Only tell Kenta.

Just issue its orders, Izanami texted back.

No time to explain. The cameras are off. Work crews come tomorrow to rip it all out. Just do it.

What about dance practice?

You can afford one night off.

You are hilarious ‘Nami. I need you to do this for me.

All right, I can afford to be late for dance practice. Just be there waiting for me.

Kaede put his phone away.

Chapter 2

Kaede’s room had a massive walk-in closet and change room. A tablet with a menu system hung on the back of the change room’s door. While maids took clothes from his closet, knights scanned them. The servants then scanned the item’s tag on the tablet, sealed them in plastic, and put them on that numbered mobile stand.

Masako led an engineer to the bathroom. The Emperor designed a new hot tub and toilet. You need to remodel the bathroom and install another bathroom. Also, build a set of concealed stairs to the bedroom below.

What about the mist shower unit? the Engineer asked.

The Emperor still wants that installed, Masako said.

What can you do with a toilet? You know gold seats don’t come cheap? the Engineer sneered.

It is not gold, but a gel cushion with a soft, warm cover with an electric warmer. The Emperor added a bottom washer, dryer, and a dual flush to save paper and water. It has many features, including a Smart Screen, such as an auto seat closer, perfume release with each flush and music. Remember, he owns the mist shower, the luxury toilet, and the super-hot tub designs, so don’t use them on jobs other than his. He wants them installed in all bathrooms in the palace, many of his hotels and other places.

I need the original plans if I am to knock out a wall, the Engineer replied, looking at the far wall.

My office will provide you with the detailed plans as you need them.

I will need a bigger work crew, the Engineer said, looking at Masako.

All you need to do is make sure it is done before his 18th birthday, Masako said, glaring at him.

Wait, the stairs to the room below, his bathroom, a second bathroom, a gym, salon, game room, and pool? That will take almost two years, the Engineer replied.

The residence will be divided into four wings with a passage between each ending in stairs. The bedrooms are on the east side. Kitchens and dining areas will be on the north side. Private offices will be on the south side. The entertainment wing is to be on the westside. The central foyer, on each floor, is to have a shallow pool with a walkway to each door and one around the inner and outer edge.

How?

Teams ahead of you will alter the top twenty floors to give you room for a metre deep pool.

How?

There are floors not in use.

He looked up and around. What is the internal diameter of the tower?

Five hundred metres…are you writing a book?

Trying to work out the size of the area to know how many to hire.

You will have hundreds working on everything from a balcony facing the sunrise on the solstice to a salon with massage chairs to a game room to keep a boy busy for years. Others have done all the planning. You will manage those teams.

I prefer to do the hiring.

Come, Masako said. She left the bedroom and walked across the foyer to Kaede’s office. This will be the entry to his offices. It will be an entirely self-contained three-storey building inside the residence with toilets, a washroom, and a break room with a kitchenette. Like the other sections, it will need stairs and an elevator installed.

I have nothing to make notes with.

I will give you the details later, Masako said as she walked through the foyer to the west door. In the west wing will be a small theatre, relaxation centre, yoga room, gym, dance studio, a large salon, toilets, large washroom, hot tubs, and massage centre.

She walked around the central column to the kitchen. The Engineer looked at the group of knights at the Central Column. Each stood silent and stared with their Viper-2 at the ready position. He raced up to Masako.

"…and in the north wing, an entirely new kitchen on each floor. Including one in the