Chapter 18 - The Shadow of the Imperial Palace
The Capital city was a sprawling metropolis of stone towers, gilded domes, and massive marble plazas, home to over half a million citizens. Perched high on the highest hill sat the Imperial Palace—a colossal citadel built over seven centuries of conquest.
Under the cover of a thick midnight fog, Elara, Aurelia, and Vance guided their cart down to the muddy banks of the Capital river, directly beneath the massive outer sea walls of the fortress.
"The ancient river entrance," Aurelia said, looking up at a massive iron portcullis submerged halfway in the rushing water. "My grandfather told me the imperial founders built this water gate to supply the castle during sieges."
"And to carry away the dead during times of plague," Elara added, pulling a set of heavy iron keys from her belt—keys she had taken from Dr. Malachi’s desk in the ruined cathedral.
Vance and his guards unloaded the two iron transport boxes from the wagon, carrying them through the shallow water toward the rusted iron gate. Elara inserted the key into the ancient mechanism. With a loud, grinding crunch of rusted gears, the iron portcullis raised just enough for them to slip beneath.
They stepped into the Imperial Catacombs—a labyrinth tenfold larger and grander than the tombs of Oakhaven. Carved marble statues of ancient Emperors lined the vast halls, illuminated by burning copper braziers.
As they walked deeper into the vault, the air grew uncomfortably warm, carrying the sweet, heavy scent of incense and burning lotus oil.
"Wait," Elara stopped, raising her hand. "Listen."
From the upper chambers of the palace above, a deep, mournful sound resonated through the stone ceiling.
BONG... BONG... BONG...
The great death-knell of the Imperial Cathedral was ringing.
Aurelia’s eyes widened in horror. "The death-bell... High Empress Valeria... she's died!"
"No," Elara whispered, kneeling beside an ornate bronze wall vent that connected to the Imperial bedchambers above. She pressed her ear against the iron lattice.
Voices echoed clearly down the shaft:
"...the Empress has succumbed to the sudden sleeping sickness... Lord Commander Vael has assumed control of the Regency Council... prepare the black sarcophagus for immediate burial in the lower crypts tonight..."
"They're doing it right now," Elara said, turning back to Aurelia and Vance, her face pale. "They didn't wait for Lord Aris. Lord Commander Vael—Aris's partner—has poisoned the High Empress! They are going to bury her alive tonight before the prince-heirs can return from the front lines!"
"If they seal Empress Valeria in the vault tonight, Vael takes total control of the Empire tomorrow," Aurelia realized, her hands clenching into fists. "We have less than an hour before the funeral procession descends into these very catacombs!"
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"Then we don't hide anymore," Captain Vance said, drawing his massive broadsword. "We stand in the center of the Imperial Vault and crash their funeral."
"No, Captain," Elara said, a dark, brilliant smile spreading across her face. "We don't crash it. We let them lower the Empress's coffin... and then we let the dead speak."
