Chapter Text
Maia woke to the presence of Pelchara in his room. The manservant was digging through the wardrobe in a hurry, making the barest effort to be quiet.
"What?" he asked blearily, instinctively searching out the crib next to him to make sure the babe had not awakened.
"You are wanted in the receiving room, immediately," Pelchara said. He selected a solemn gray outfit and shoved it into Maia's arms, not bothering to help him undress or dress. None of them ever touched him ever since the incident two years ago.
"There has been a messenger from the court."
Maia's heart did a little flip.
"A message from my father?"
"Dach'osmer Nelar did not say," Pelchara said, backing away. Maia slipped off his nightshirt quickly, used to having to get dressed in a hurry. He leaned over the bars of the crib. Chenela was still asleep, his tiny fingers loosely curled around his blanket. Maia spared a second to touch the soft cheek before straightening.
He followed Pelchara, barefoot out of the room. The servant was wearing the usual servant's jacket over a nightgown, indicating that he too, had been roused, probably by Setheris himself. Despite the fact that none of the people at Edonomee were particularly fond of Maia, they were less fond of Setheris and did not allow the two to be in the same room together. Maia entered the room and found Setheris already there, clad in full formal wear, the scent of smokeweed heavy even from where Maia stood at a distance.
The messenger was maybe a year or so older than Maia himself, elegant even in his road-stained leathers. He was clearly full-blooded elvish, as Maia was not, pale haired and pale eyed.
"Are you the Archduke Maia Drazhar, only child of Varenechibel the Fourth and Chenelo Drazharan?" the messenger asked, looking from Setheris to Maia.
"Yes," Maia said, bewildered. His father had not sent word of anything. Not since his mother died, not even when he had written, begging for help.
The messenger deliberately and with perfect dignity, prostated himself on the threadbare rug.
"Your Imperial Serenity," he said.
Maia could see that Setheris had something to say, but moved forward to interrupt whatever the man might have wanted to say.
"Explain quickly," Maia said as gently as he could. He motioned for Pelchara to leave, but the elf seemed reluctant to go.
"Bring refreshments for the guests," Maia said as an aside. Pelchara went, and the messenger seemed to hesitate.
"Your Serenity, the airship Wisdom of Choharo crashed yesterday, sometime between sunrise and noon. The Emperor Varenechibel the Fourth, the Prince Nemolis, the Archduke Nazhira, and the Archduke Ciris were all on board. They were returing from the wedding of the Prince of Thu-Athamar."
Maia blinked. He moved towards the only chair in the room. Setheris shot out of it like it was on fire, letting Maia have it.
"It crashed? Why? How?" Maia asked, lowering himself into the chair heavily. Setheris began to pace, muttering irritably under his breath. He did not once look at Maia.
"They do not yet know, but the Lord Chancellor has sent Witnesses, and it is being investigated."
"The messages!" Setheris blurted out angrily at last, unable to hold his temper. Maia winced, then berated himself for showing his emotion in front of the messenger. The messenger did not give any indication that he had seen Maia's slip in composure, or took offense to Setheris's lapse in control. Instead, he turned and picked up his dispatch case from where it lay on the side table. As soon as he opened the bag, Setheris snatched the letter and broke the seal. He scanned the paper, his frown turning into a scowl, then thrust the letter back at the messenger, stalking from the room.
The messenger hurriedly presented the letter to Maia.
Maia scanned the contents of the letter as quickly as he could.
To the ArchdukeMaia Drazhar, heir to the imperial throne of Ethuveraz, greetings in this hour of greatest grief. Knowing that Your Imperial Serenity will want all honor and respect paid to your late father and brothers, we have ordered arrangements put in train for a full ceremonial funeral in three days' time, on the 23rd instant.
We will notify the 5 principalities, also Your Imperial Serenity's sister in Ashedro. We have already ordered the courier office to put airships at their disposal, and we have no doubt that they will use all necessary haste to reach the Untheileneise Court in good time for the funeral. We do not, of course, know what Your Imperial Serenity's plans may be, but we hold ourself ready to implement them.With true sorrow and unswerving loyalty, Uleris Chavar.
Maia looked up. The messenger was watching him. To Maia's relief, this was when Pelchara re-entered the room bearing a tray of dried fruit and tea. The manservant had seen fit to put on pants under his nightshirt, and had redone his braid, making him look a little more respectable than usual.
"Please, help yourself," Maia said "I ... we must speak with our cousin."
Pelchara looked stricken at Maia's words, but dutifully followed Maia to Setheris's room.
There was light peeking out from under the heavy door, the moving shadows indicated that Setheris was inside.
Pelchara knocked for Maia, three heavy raps, before opening the door.
Setheris was facing the window.
Maia stepped into the room slowly.
"I would speak with thee, cousin."
The first words said to Setheris in two years, and it was over the death of his father. Maia kept to the other side of the room, unwilling to go any nearer, even with Pelchara present. The manservant had insisted on being present for every interaction between the two of them and Maia had been glad for it.
Setheris reached for the decanter - and Maia was pleased to see it was only water - and poured two glasses instead of one. Maia looked around the room. It was not the bedchamber Setheris had selected in the beginning of his exile. No, it was a smaller, less ornate living space with simple linens and it was the first time Maia had entered this one.
"Thou wish'st advice?" Setheris snapped, visibly trying to control his temper.
"If thou would give it," Maia said, picking up the second glass of water. It was refreshingly cool and helped to settle his racing thoughts.
"He presumes much," Setheris said "Uleris has made no mention of your coronation."
Maia thought back to the contents and realized it to be true.
"Thou must be crowned before the funeral."
"I have to reach the Untheileneise Court as soon as possible," Maia voiced his thoughts "But how?"
"The airship," Setheris supplied "It brought Chavar's lapdog and will return. Thou can go with it -" and here he faltered, turning to look at Maia with an expression that betrayed his fear.
There was an elephant in the room.
Or rather, in this case, a child.
---
The airship Radiance of Cairado hung ominously beside her mooring mast like an isolated thundercloud against the predawn sky. Maia had not been in an airship since the age of eight when he had been brought to the Untheileneise Court for his Mother's funeral, and his memories of that time were full of darkness. He remembered praying to Ulis to let him die too.
The crew of the Radiance were all very solemn; they knew about the Wisdom of Choharo. The grief and fear in their eyes were compounded with confusion when Maia slowly made his way to the mooring carrying a baby. With milkweed coloured hair but skin the colour of an overcast sky, Chenela was undeniably a mix of goblin and elf blood. Maia was the only half-goblin around, but who was the elf? Maia could almost see the question floating in the air as the crew busied themselves with preparations.
Chenela had not been happy at being moved from his crib, but Maia had wrapped his son in the soft blankets and rocked him back to sleep. The warm weight of his body and his head pillowed upon Maia's shoulder had only served to anchor him to reality.
To the captain's credit, he didn't ask any questions or stare as Maia approached.
"Serenity," the captain said.
"We have nothing but confidence in you and your crew."
The captain was startled, but bowed again deeply.
"Serenity," he repeated, in a much stronger tone. Maia carefully picked his way up the narrow staircase, accepting the arm of the crewwoman who was at the top.
"Thank you," he said, and was rewarded with a startled look as well. The other passengers - four couriers, two missioners, and an elderly maza - gaped at Maia, or perhaps the precious bundle in his arms. Perhaps it was for the best, Maia thought. With their attention on the presence of an unexplained babe, they would not remember that he had been dressed in garments unfit for mourning, or that the only tashin sticks he had were the pair that Setheris had brought him as an insufficient apology.
Maia inclined his head at the other passengers and took the seat furthest from Setheris, letting the Chancellor's messenger sit between them. If the messenger was aware how Maia's move would thwart Chavar's plans, he gave no indication of it, doing all he could to help with the travel arrangements. He even helped to bring up the basket of napkins, clothes, and mixed formula for the babe.
"Cousin," Maia said as he sat down. Setheris stiffened, but gave no indication that he heard.
Make no mistake, if there had been any love at all between them, it had disappeared two years ago. Maia could say he despised his cousin and would gladly go the rest of his life without seeing him ever again, but the gods had not seen fit to bestow upon him that boon.
Being relegated to the abandoned hunting lodge Edonomee had been as much of a punishment for Maia and Setheris Nelar. Maia had no clue why Setheris Nelar had been sent away, but he knew that his own punishment was for merely existing. The dislike, which began in earnest ever since Maia was placed in his cousin's care after the funeral of Empress Chenelo, only deepened when Setheris proved himself to be an impatient tutor with a fondness for metheligin.
When he was sober, Setheris had been mean. When he was drunk, he was unreasonable. When he was maudlin... he was unstoppable.
Maia had the misfortune of being present at one of his maudlin drinking sprees. Setheris had finished off several decanters of metheligin, his yearning for his wife like a lance through the heart. Maia, soft hearted and naive, had tried to comfort him in the hopes that Setheris would remember the small kindness and return it eventually. But a pat on the shoulder had turned into a surprise hug, which led to a forceful kiss, which led to Maia struggling on the floor of Setheris's bedchambers, screaming for help in the vastness of the hunting lodge.
In the morning, Setheris had been horrified with what he had done. But no amount of apologies could ever bring back Maia's innocence.
Despite the terror of that night, it had brought some strange allies. Pelchara and Haru had immediately sided with Maia upon realizing how Setheris had wronged him, taking it upon themselves to chaperone all interactions in case Setheris went mad again. Setheris himself had curbed his tongue almost completely, turning to smokeweed instead of metheligin to calm his nerves.
And of course, Chenela, the biggest surprise of all. Maia had not even realized he could carry life. It was not something that he had ever considered, having never bled. According to the doctors Setheris had brought in afterwards, it had been a freak accident, whatever vestigial organs Maia had within him, were not meant to work at all. It was purely bad luck. Maia had written to his father in the hopes of getting some help in the form of an allowance for his new dependent, or a maidservant to help with the babe. There had been no reply, or any indication that his father had ever received the message.
No, Maia gave birth under the watchful eye of two doctors and three nurses who raced to cut the babe out of him and stitch him back up before he bled to death. Setheris had written to his wife to beg for funds, pawning off many of his elaborate outfits and finery to pay the doctors, a small step in his endless penance. The small household had rallied with a grim determination, doing their best to raise the child.
Chenela pulled Maia from his megrims with a soft snuffle, shifting his face closer to the crook of Maia's neck. There was a squeak from the general vicinity of the passengers. Even the messenger's ears twitched.
"Pardon me, Serenity, what is his name?" the messenger asked.
"Chenela, after our mother the Empress Chenelo." Maia smiled, adjusting his position that Chenela would be more comfortable. He tucked one tiny hand back inside the swaddle of blankets.
Whatever else that the messenger wanted to say was cut off when the crewwoman stepped back into the cabin.
"Your Serenity, the captain has taken the helm, and we are preparing to cast off."
"Thank you," Maia said, inclining his head at the crewwoman. He briefly worried if the motion would wake his son, but it was alleviated in the next moment when the airship lurched ever so slightly, then rose into the dawn sky. Maia reclined in his chair, letting gravity rest his son on his chest. It was against court protocol, but Maia could not care less. His son's comfort was tantamount and Maia did not intend to hold his son upright for the two hours it took to get from Edonomee to the Untheileneise Court.
In the dim light, Maia cast a glance over at his cousin.
Setheris looked terrified.
He ought to be so, having raised a hand against the Archduke, now an Emperor. The evidence of his misdeeds was alive and breathing in Maia's arms. Maia could have him executed publicly as was within his rights. Setheris was right to fear retribution.
Maia set aside the thought. Chenela was all that mattered, he reminded himself. Think of thy son first, and thy responsibilities. Punishment may come later.
-----
Maia was roused from his light dozing by the presence of the crewwoman, kneeling in front of his chair.
"Serenity, the sun is rising and the captain wonders if you would like to watch. It is a beautiful sight."
Maia rubbed the sleep from his eyes. On his shoulder Chenela let out a yawn and stretched. Tiny pale-grey eyes blinked open slowly, fists clutching at the blanket's and Maia's jacket. Chenela raised his head blearily, taking in his surroundings. He seemed surprised at not being in his crib, pushing himself away from Maia's chest.
"Chenela," Maia called his name softly. His son frowned but did not cry, looking around at the airship. Maia held him close, getting up from his chair. Setheris made no move to get up, knowing that he was not wanted in anyway. Maia addressed the messenger.
"Would you accompany us, please?"
The messenger looked a little alarmed, but rose to his feet. The two of them followed the crewwoman to the cockpit where the captain and first mate shared a wide panorama of clouds and sky.
"Serenity," they said in chorus, sparing a second to stare at the toddler Maia carried in his arms.
"Look, the sunrise my darling," Maia whispered. His son's ears went up in interest and he reached out with a tiny hand, making grabbing motions at the instruments.
"Papa, pay?" Chenela asked, pointing at the array of levers.
"Not yet, elfling," Maia said. He couldn't help but nuzzle his son's soft downy hair as they watched the light creep over the horizon. The dark grey was awash with colours as the sun began to illuminate the sky.
"Look, Chenela, sunrise." Maia pointed to the rising star.
"Sawise," Chenela said, putting his fist in his mouth. He huffed, laying his head back down on Maia's shoulder, apparently no longer interested in the proceedings.
"We are most grateful, gentlemen. We will look upon this fondly as the beginning of our reign," Maia said by way of excusing himself.
He made his way back to the passenger cabin and sat down. From the basket, he withdrew a feeding urn that had been made up earlier. It was goat's milk, diluted with some water, sweetened with a spoonful of honey. He offered the spout to Chenela who accepted it easily, holding onto the urn loosely while staring up at Maia's face.
Maia was endlessly thankful that Chenela had not inherited Setheris's cold uncaring eyes. His son's silver eyes had flecks of dark grey in them. His lashes, like his hair, was the colour of milkweed, long and delicate. His light-grey skin was flecked with tiny freckles. He looked utterly innocent, a light in the dark days of he spent at Edonomee despite the pain of how he came to be.
Undoubtedly, the messenger and other passengers had a million questions. Maia could feel the tension in the air. But now that he was the emperor, Maia did not have to answer a single one.