ENOCH

Adler looks up at me from his plate of minced meat as he sets down his fork. The small chair beside his side of the table is empty.

"What are you smiling about?"

"Nothing, really," I answer in hopes of driving him off my case.

He inclines his head back, looking down his nose at me from across the long table. Mother left a while ago to her luncheon with one of her court ladies.

"Show some gratitude for the work I have done to bring food to your...shallow plate."

I grit my teeth while stuffing a forkful of food in my mouth. He smiles and waves for Urdmin to leave to join the other advisors waiting for him at his temple. For once, Urdmin pushes his chair back and strides out of the room without complaint. I scratch the side of my face feeling unsure of what the emperor wants to discuss alone with me.

We don't speak one on one much. He better not be sending me out of the city.

"You seem to be distracted lately. Your mother tells me Lucas is struggling with the bank's layout. I have been told you drew him a draft of the building yourself. You are to teach him, not do his work."

"I know. I have been."

The corner of his lip curves up. He picks his fork back up and picks the scraps of meat on his plate while staring at my forehead. Then he looks back down at his plate as his mouth forms into a hard line.

"I was doing some catching up this morning in the library." I try to look unbothered by his statement. His smile returns, "I am so relieved I will not have to carry out any executions this week. I'm sure you are as well. No attempted escapes from any slaves either. There must be something in the water. Speaking of water, I thought I asked you and Brometheous to keep Greta away from the fountain...and away from Rog. A little bird told me Greta almost fell in. She was found unaccompanied in my atrium at night."

I shrug my shoulders and continue eating.

"It is Brommy's duty, Father. I will inform him. There would be no need for concern if you finally removed the vile creature from its sanctuary - as your advisors requested, say, when was it? Twelve moons ago when Urdmin's hand was nearly bitten off after feeding Rog disobedient slaves-"

"I know you are displeased with my lag in action toward the enslaved of our population, Enoch. I think I will free them after the roads are done."

"I have nothing against that," I reply.

The emperor leans forward and clasps his hands together. It makes me wonder if I've said something he's wanted to hear. A strange glint forms in his eyes as he looks briefly at me and then down to the table as if considering whether to tell me something or not.

"I know your mother is cheating on me."

"Are you surprised? I did not think this was news to you."

"News? No, but I am interested to know your thoughts on the matter."

"I'm not sure I understand what you mean."

His smile widens and it makes me want to get up and leave. He picks up his glass and looks down into it while sitting back appearing deep in thought.

"I want to know how I can get my wife to love me again...and I want to know why she stole my sweet pearl away from me."

"Um," I spew out with a scoff. I shake my head unsure if he's being serious. Since when does he care? I tilt my head with a grimace still unsure of what to say. "Well, uh..."

"I'll give you a moment to think about it."

I feel like an idiot suggesting it, but I really don't know what else to tell him. I just want this discussion to end because I know it will not go anywhere.

"Why don't you just tell her how you feel?"

I look into my father's eyes really wishing I hadn't. It's like they can see right through me. His jaw twitches as his gray face turns purple. I stand up just in time to witness him toss his goblet at the guard's face by his side.

"Clean it up," Adler orders.

The guard bends down to pick up the glass he dropped and at the same moment he grabs their neck and throws them down on the table. Plates and food go flying as he draws out a knife he keeps hidden in his tunic sleeve. He slashes it across the guard's neck watching the poor soldier roll back and forth on the table.

Father purposefully didn't attack to make a quick kill.

He shoves them off the table. "Sit down, Enoch," he says calm and collected. "Tell me what I can do to keep our family together."

"I don't know!"

I bite back my anger and sit down unable to tear my gaze from the guard gurgling incoherent words on the floor as his life drains from him. Blood spills from his neck staining the white marble floor as he croaks like a dying frog for help.

Father's hands shake as he sits down looking excited as he thrusts the blade into the skull of the guard, cutting off the dying man's gurgled words.

"Those are my feelings. I look at you now and know you do not understand them yourself. Tell me how I can show her them in a way where she will finally begin to trust me."

"I-I don't know-"

"Tell me and be honest."

"I don't know, y-you two are nothing alike," I laugh nervously. He looks like he's ready to kill the guard on his other side so I keep talking. "M-maybe you were meant to be separate. I mean, this might be for the best. Some people are meant to be alone I think. Well, who knows. What we all know is that you have a horrendous temper and appear to be two different people. When no whores, wine or bint are available you are quite volatile. However, when you surround yourself with that supply you are temporarily calm, but I would not say happy. This only comes from my perception. Have I upset you by telling you this, Father?"

"I will consider your words, but I still do not see the problem. All men desire the same things I do. How am I any different from you? Those activities and habits are not hurting anyone. I can do, and I will do, whatever I want. It is my life and I am not harming anyone by it." He certainly has harmed enough people from his choices. In his mind, he is the very god the mongrels outside blindly worship. He stands up and brushes his hands off on his black tunic. "Thank you for joining me, Enoch. Now, the reason I requested you share this meal with me - I will be departing in the morrow. Urdmin needs to be reminded Femke is still my wife. I want you to kill him for me before I return from the south sea."

Of course, he wants me to do his dirty work for him. Typical.

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