* * *
Alestere
* * *

"Ales!"

I blink as Eistinn grins at me from the door to his and Valtoryeh's suite. I was certainly not expecting that nickname, and my face must say as much.

Eistinn laughs. "That face!  You fake surprise real well." He taps my arm with his fist in an imitation of a punch. "Well, enough joking around, there's been enough of that.  Come on in!" He pauses in the middle of backing away to give me clearance. "Err, that is, you were coming in, right?"

"I had a mind to."

"Good! Come on in!"

* * *
Alestere
* * *

I feel I've been put on the spot; as soon as Jhe Valtoryeh stops talking, everyone looks at me.  All I can do is hold this silly crown that's already caused so much trouble and wonder what to say to them.  Jhe Luci looks especially expectant.

Oh goodness, they think I'll know what this is all about.  They'll find out I know nothing, and then none of them will take me seriously again.  Strange that I don't feel so nervous about it, then, even though I've no idea what to say.

* * *
Alestere
* * *

While the two of those are out for awhile in my Emperor's head, I examine the crown that's been encircling it for the last two months. A crown that, I do admit, I have really wanted to have for myself. Legitimacy is slow for a person to establish and even slower for that person to notice it's there. The Crown solves so many problems - no need to establish what's plain to see, right on my head. It's so very simple.

And, well, Elete spent the last decade with it welded to his poor head, practically. I'd say he had a psychological dependency, but it was even deeper than that - without the Crown, he didn't have a reason to make himself go on living. It was his life in so many ways.

* * *
Calyx
* * *

My predecessor has certainly made things difficult for me, but that was his role, wasn't it? Make things difficult for those that opposed his and the Lady Thelea's agendas. In the end, I was lucky to get so close to him... and a bit chagrined to not be his undoing. I find it appropriate, though. I never had to commit an act of outright treason to come into power. I find that's another degree of separation between my predecessor and I - he had to kill his brother to become the sole Kommissar.

I just had to step back and watch.

* * *
Luciprochoros
* * *

I don't particularly want anyone to share what is almost my greatest failure, so of course Lady Tia allows 'Sy and Katherine into the chamber in the next moment. I get the feeling of someone waiting for Regeneration - not Elete, though. Gerald. Ah, he fell into some ill luck during the mission? He's not visually present - which means Lady Tia is waiting for something else before she allows 'Sy to bring him back.

Probably rubbing my nose in my shame--

My thoughts break off abruptly as I realize who else is in the chamber with us. Ebrelle is... not very recognizable without his makeup and with his hair gone white. He's also shaking and leaning on Katherine and 'Sy just to stand. He has an odd determination in his eyes, though.

I just don't understand why he's here.