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Capítulo 6
Ratones rellenos
Sigues a Iki hasta la Torre Roja, donde se está revolviendo un torrente de actividad. Antes tenéis que atravesar varios puesto de guardia, y un hormiguero de sirvientes que se esfuerzan en dejarlo todo apunto. A Iki le interrogan, le firman con pintura en la frente y le dejan pasar, explicándole que la Torre va a quedar aislada del resto del palacio para servir de centro de mando. La Condesa Querenias ya ocupa el piso superior.
El chico corre por pasillos y escaleras, esquivando a soldados y sirvientes, parando solo en los puestos de control. Cuando llega a la planta noble se topa con siete guardas solemnes, que solo le dejan pasar con la escolta
% Iki only heard his own panting as he reached the highest floor. Seven heavily armored soldiers he'd never seen before, stood guard at the door, solemn and silent. This time the pin wasn't enough, rather Iki was escorted inside by two of the guards, who only withdrew when Countess Qerenias dismissed them.
% The countess' personal chamber didn't impress the boy as it should, for Iki had his eyes fixed on her patient. True, the room exhibited a mind boggling combination of spartan restrain
% at what it was there and grandiose art in its execution: even the last
% cup was a work of art on its own. But Frek, who so often had helped the
% Old Owl in her daily routines was quivering. The young boy had been at her side when the Emperor struck her; she should be dead, no matter how good Iki could be, and he wasn't. Iki, for his part couldn't believe the power that the ancient and dangerous art of magic had worked on the highest born.
% \enquote{Come, Ikardos, sit down with me, and eat, but have your ears open, there's a little something Frek has to share.}
% Frek shook his head. \enquote{The whole thing?}
% \enquote{No, just tell him how you got away}
% \enquote{I hid behind the curtains and nobody noticed me.}
% \enquote{And you did that because...}
% \enquote{The emperor was mad and I thought he'd kill us all.. and when you... shone I... thought you'd turned into a demon and eat me up}
% \enquote{And this boy, Iki, is my last personal servant, and don't any of you be afraid of me. I appreciate you very much. There's no much help I really need, and Frek can do it all, as for you, Iki, do you remember all the times you've substituted a prince or two?}
% \enquote{Only one, your Excellency}
% \enquote{I know, I know... ouch, you destroyed my phrase... well, there's a new play, one called the Emperor's gone but you Prince Sisu remained, and you're going to perform it until we can figure out a new plan. Hopefully, the Barbarians will be defeated by then. Understand that you cannot live as a slave for one second longer, the fate of the Empire, the lives of all its citizens, their freedom, happiness and safety all rest in that you will provide them with hope, courage and guidance. What are you going to say? That you're just a slave boy?}
% \enquote{I am sure you have... reflected on the matter and achieved the most adequate course of action.}
% \enquote{Oh, Iki, I would so much wish to be free, so I could ask you, but... anyway, let me at least explain you my reasoning. In a few hours the whole city would know that the imperial army has been defeated, and that the imperial family is gone. How would they fight? I'd gladly change the emperor with an actor, but the story of his return would be too unbelievable. But, what if this little prince that they have come to know, that has always behaved calm and solemn, who has never been drunk or insolent, what if that prince, you, had challenged the Emperor, his father, and remained in the city for the love of his people? Well, then, we, might, pull it off. It's not all up to you, the generals will need to plan and lead, the soldiers to fight, the administrators to organize supllies and so on and so forth, but you'll be the living hope that will be put all in motion. Iki, this can be the most important thing you'll ever do in your life; are you with us?}
% \enquote{Yes, I am!}
% \enquote{Ah... I'd rather guess you're not playing \textit{good boy} now. Nice, Frek, now serve His Highness with the breakfast reserved for the Crown Prince, he'll have to get used to the whole thing.}
% \sccn{Did you hear what they are saying?}
% \noindent Dawn blessed the walls of Æltria, bringing birth to a new day of simple concerns. This city, as many others, never truly sleeps, but the common folk who do the ordinary drudgery were getting to the streets, complaining about the usual subjects: weather, corrupt ministers and prices. Ah, there were interesting rumors about the war, as always. Somebody had heard that some palace maid had told that the Emperor had held a cabinet session in the middle of the night. And most believed it went on an exploration of the taste of spirits. Others than a pigeon had arrived to the garrison with news from the front. \textit{Well, that's how the commanders get the news, don't they?} And then there was this incredible story about the Emperor stabbing a countess and running away. \textbf{And he joined the Monastery of the Holy Humbleness, right?} Nothing to fear, the Æltria had known many wars, and it had always, sometimes dustier than other times, came up at the top. I wouldn't be different this time, surely.
% But, as the sun came to its full brightness, Fort Audacity relayed through flag telegraph a message from Fort Courage, telling that the barbarians were at their gate, ready to assault, begging for reinforcements.