Free Temple of the Traveler: Empress of Dreams by Scott Rhine Page B

you have a problem with me, tell me , not the public or your fellows. I’ll do the same.”
    “I want to hear more examples,” said the man in the middle.
    Pagaose shrugged. “Let’s extend the metaphor between a man and his wife to a king and his kingdom. I don’t tell them what to do in the bedroom or how to worship. The only time I should get involved in the outer kingdoms is when someone is held unjustly, murdered, or guilty of treason.”
    “How will you maintain your rule?” asked the judge with spectacles.
    “If I am just and reliable, people will trust me and pay their taxes. If they know I mean what I say, criminals will think twice. I don’t enjoy condemning people to death; it makes my herald cry. However, I can’t let some larcenous cad steal what is meant for others—even if that cad is me.” This last statement was a poke at Myron’s practice of retroactive taxes to seize property he wanted.
    “Won’t the aristocracy object?” asked the youngest.
    “Not unless they’re breaking the law,” he joked. “In all seriousness, I intended to strengthen the rights of the nobility. For example, as emperor, I can decide who may be fit to inherit or bear titles, but if a lord or lady chooses to marry an untitled person, I would allow them.”
    The room erupted into discussion. The bailiff had to smack his staff for a few minutes before the buzz was low enough for the chief magistrate to object. “This flies in the face of centuries of law!”
    “Not really. The emperor customarily takes a wife from each kingdom and he doesn’t lose his title.”
    “That’s so every kingdom can influence him unfairly equally,” stage-whispered the rake who had shouted earlier.
    “That’s a different standard,” said the judge with spectacles.
    “That’s the problem. With everyone held to the same standard, everyone will benefit.”
    The youngest judge raised a hand. “Pardon me, but you opened the door to this discussion, sire.”
    “Ask, if the ladies can bear it.”
    “What is to prevent you from making new laws to change all this once you’re in office?”
    “I will sign any reasonable procedure you name for removing any royally appointed figure, up to and including the emperor. I will grant the council the ability to impeach a civil servant for wrongdoing. This means his actions and orders, not his opinions or associates. If the wrong is not addressed, he can be removed by unanimous vote of the council.”
    “You would step down?” the chief magistrate said, awed.
    “We need such a measure after the last disaster, don’t you agree?” Pagaose insisted. “Power can corrupt any man, but take care using the removal. You’ll be left without a leader for up to seven years until the cycle completes.”
    “Court is adjourned,” decreed the chief magistrate. “You’ve given us much to discuss.”
    The crowd dispersed, and the young judge asked to shake the emperor’s hand.
    “Aren’t you concerned about my legal knowledge?” asked Pagaose.
    “You gave all the right answers before we started,” the judge confided. “We’ll help you manage the change at a manageable pace.”
    “I’ll have your vote?”
    “By the end of the week, sir, or I’ll turn in my robe.”
    ****
    While they waited for the judges to deliberate, Violet showed Pagaose how to pour water on the hot rocks to make relaxing steam. With Scribbles, he signed documents to sell off his second palace and discussed the idea of a Great Amnesty to call Imperials back to Center from around the world. Every time he entered a new room in the palace or pleasure dome, he used his special senses to tell if the person who entered the room ahead of him had hostile intent.
    He continued teaching his guards the Way of Water. Nightglow, her modesty veil in place, frequently watched from the balcony around the garden along with her bevy of female friends. This prompted several of the men to practice shirtless.
    On Fireday morning, his