Chapter 39: The Imperial Court
The Black Dragon Banner still moved above Blackwood Manor long after the selection ceremony had ended.
The western field had not emptied. Families remained in clusters near the temporary stage, discussing the fifty names that had been chosen and arguing over which parts of the trials had been exaggerated in the retelling. Children had already begun tying scraps of dark cloth around their arms and chasing one another between wagons while declaring themselves Black Dragons.
Near the forge wagons, Garrick was trapped in an argument with three smiths over how quickly fifty sets of equipment could realistically be produced. Rowan had joined only to point out that armor would be useless if Kael expected soldiers to sleep outdoors because Blackwood still did not possess proper barracks.
Kael had heard enough to know tomorrow’s list of problems would be longer than today’s.
That was appropriate.
A military unit did not become real because a banner had been raised.
It became real when somebody had to feed it.
Inside the manor, the fifty founding Black Dragons had been gathered in the largest hall Edwin could make usable on short notice. The room had once hosted formal dinners during Augustus’s years in Blackwood, though age had stripped much of its grandeur away. Several wall hangings had been removed because Lily discovered mildew behind them, and one entire row of windows remained shuttered until Rowan could inspect the frames.
Nobody seemed to care.
The fifty stood in loose rows wearing the black armbands they had received that morning. Their equipment remained mismatched. Some wore mail. Others leather. Several still carried the same weapons they had brought to the trials.
Kael looked from one face to another.
Elias Thorn stood near the middle, somehow still appearing surprised that he had been selected. Leon Ashford had already positioned himself as if waiting for formation instructions. Marcus Wintermere seemed more interested in the hall’s old support beams than the ceremony. Iris Hollow stood toward the side where she could see both doors. Hugo Stone looked uncomfortable anywhere that did not contain an anvil. Damien Ravenmoor waited quietly, and Victor Ravenshade was making a visible effort not to look pleased with himself.
Grom Ironfang stood among them.
Not above them.
Among them.
Osric Hale was absent because he was not one of the fifty. Kael intended to speak with the retired border captain separately about logistics once the immediate work settled.
Darius stood near the front with his spear resting against one shoulder.
Kael faced the new unit.
You earned the right to stand here
The room quieted.
He continued before anyone could mistake that statement for praise without conditions.
That does not mean you’ve earned the right to stay forever
Victor’s expression changed slightly.
Kael noticed.
Good.
The trials are finished. Your evaluation isn’t
He walked slowly in front of the first row.
Starting tomorrow, Sir Darius begins training you as an actual military unit
Several people glanced toward Darius.
Darius smiled.
Nobody liked that smile.
Kael continued.
Some of you performed well because the trials suited your strengths. That advantage disappears now. A scout still needs discipline. A swordsman still needs endurance. A leader still needs to follow someone else’s orders. A blacksmith still needs to know when putting down the hammer matters
Hugo frowned.
I knew that last one was about me
A few people laughed.
Kael smiled.
It was
The tension eased slightly.
Kael turned toward the Black Dragon Banner hanging at the rear of the hall.
No one outside Blackwood knows most of your names
He looked back.
That’s fine
Some applicants straightened.
No songs have been written about you. No armies fear you. Nobody in Aurelia is discussing Elias Thorn because he redistributed a pack well
Elias looked relieved.
I’d prefer they didn’t
More laughter.
Kael let it settle.
The point is that none of that matters yet
What matters is whether fifty strangers can become a unit without becoming fifty people wearing matching cloth
Darius nodded once.
Kael continued.
Your job isn’t to become legends
Your job is to become reliable
That landed differently.
Less glamorous.
More honest.
Kael preferred it.
Before he could continue, hurried footsteps sounded beyond the doors.
Everyone turned.
The doors opened, and one of the villagers currently helping with the manor watch entered with Edwin close behind him. The man looked uncertain whether interrupting fifty newly selected soldiers was more dangerous than whatever message had sent him running.
Edwin saved him the decision.
Your Highness
Kael looked toward the steward.
What happened?
Edwin’s expression was serious.
An Imperial courier has arrived
Darius’s eyes narrowed slightly.
Already?
Edwin nodded.
At the eastern gate
Kael glanced toward the fifty.
The celebration outside suddenly felt much farther away.
Bring him in
The courier entered several minutes later.
He wore crimson-and-black riding armor bearing the Imperial Dragon, though there was nothing ceremonial about the mud covering his boots or the road dust caught along the edge of his cloak. The insignia identified him as a Crown courier attached directly to the Imperial household rather than a regional messenger.
Everyone in the room recognized what that meant.
He had not come because some ministry clerk wanted clarification.
The message came from the palace.
The courier stopped several paces before Kael and bowed formally.
Prince Kael Asterion
Kael nodded.
You found him
A tiny smile appeared on the man’s face before discipline erased it.
I bear a sealed summons from His Imperial Majesty
He removed a scroll case from inside his cloak.
Crimson wax sealed the document.
The Imperial Dragon had been pressed into the center.
Kael accepted it.
Darius said nothing.
Edwin looked unsurprised, which somehow made Kael more suspicious.
You expected this
Edwin answered quietly.
I expected Aurelia to respond
Not this quickly
No
The courier remained formal.
The summons requires your presence before the Imperial Court three days from today
Kael looked up.
Three days
Yes, Your Highness
That’s not much notice
The courier wisely did not comment.
Kael broke the seal.
The document inside was shorter than he expected.
Prince Kael Asterion, Tenth Prince of the Empire and Lord of Blackwood,
Reports concerning recent developments within your House and territory have reached the Dragon Throne. You are commanded to present yourself before the Imperial Court in Aurelia three days from receipt of this summons.
You will answer questions concerning Blackwood’s administration, your newly established military household, and matters arising from your recent territorial actions.
Attend without delay.
Augustus Aurelius Asterion
Kael read it twice.
The wording was formal.
Not openly hostile.
Not warm either.
He rolled the summons again.
Does His Majesty require anyone else?
The courier shook his head.
The summons names only you
That answered one question.
Grom was not being directly summoned.
At least not yet.
Kael handed the document to Edwin.
The courier bowed again.
My duty is complete
You’ll eat before riding back
The man hesitated.
Your Highness—
That’s not a royal command. It’s food
That earned the slightest smile.
Then I accept
Edwin motioned toward one of the attendants.
As the courier started toward the door, he paused.
Kael noticed.
Something else?
The man looked toward the fifty soldiers, then Darius, then back at Kael.
He lowered his voice.
Only advice, my Prince
I’m listening
The courier chose his words carefully.
Blackwood asks people what happened
The palace asks why you allowed it to happen
Then he bowed.
Different questions require different answers
Kael considered that.
Thank you
The courier left.
Walter, who had entered during the exchange and somehow found a chair despite not being invited to the meeting, exhaled.
I don’t like him
The courier?
No. The capital
Kael smiled faintly.
You’ve barely been there
Exactly. It has a reputation
Darius finally spoke.
The summons is faster than I expected
Kael looked toward him.
Because of the Black Dragons?
Partly
Grom folded his arms.
And partly because of me
Nobody contradicted him.
The atmosphere among the fifty had changed.
Minutes earlier, they had been listening to instructions about training.
Now several looked toward Grom.
Not suspiciously.
Concerned.
Marcus Wintermere spoke first.
Can the Court order him removed?
Grom answered before Kael could.
Of course it can try
Victor looked toward him.
That’s not reassuring
I wasn’t trying to reassure you
Leon frowned.
Would they arrest you?
Grom shrugged.
Depends which law someone decides to remember loudly enough
Darius gave him a look.
Helpful
I’m seventy-four. I stopped being helpful by accident decades ago
Kael raised one hand.
Enough
The room quieted.
He looked toward Grom.
You’re staying in Blackwood
Grom’s expression became serious.
Kael—
No
The goblin’s eyebrows rose.
Kael continued.
You entered the trials legally. You met the same standard as everyone else. You were selected as one of the fifty
He looked around at the rest of them.
If I remove the first person who becomes politically inconvenient, then every promise I made during the trials becomes decoration
Grom’s gaze hardened.
And if keeping me costs Blackwood?
Then I’ll deal with the cost
That’s easy to say before you’ve seen it
Kael walked closer.
Then I’ll see it
Grom held his gaze.
The room remained quiet around them.
Kael continued.
You don’t get to decide alone that leaving protects me
Grom’s mouth twitched.
That sounded almost like an order
It was
Darius hid a smile.
Grom noticed.
Don’t encourage him
He’s my prince
You barely listen to him
Exactly. Someone should
Kael rubbed his forehead.
This unit is going to destroy my patience before training begins
Elias raised a hand from the formation.
Does that count as our first victory?
A few people laughed.
Even Grom.
The tension broke enough for everyone to breathe again.
Kael looked over the fifty.
Training continues tomorrow
Several faces fell.
I leave for Aurelia after the first morning session
Darius raised an eyebrow.
You’re training before traveling?
Yes
You’re injured
Barely
You keep redefining barely
Kael ignored him.
While I’m gone, Sir Darius commands the Black Dragons
That part required no explanation.
Every member straightened.
Darius looked toward the unit.
You will hate me equally regardless of race, birth, wealth, or previous occupation
Victor muttered.
There’s the fairness we were promised
Darius heard him.
Ravenshade
Victor immediately straightened.
Sir
Five extra hill runs tomorrow
Victor stared.
For what?
For making me laugh while I was trying to establish authority
The room broke into laughter.
Kael shook his head.
Somehow that felt like the most stable thing that had happened since the courier arrived.
The council room filled again that evening.
Kael, Darius, Edwin, Lily, Bram, Walter, and Grom gathered around the same table that had carried mill plans, tax ledgers, military surveys, and Black Dragon evaluations over the past several weeks.
Now the Imperial summons sat at the center.
Darius leaned against the map table.
Before we discuss Aurelia, understand something
Kael looked toward him.
The Court isn’t summoning you only because you recruited fifty soldiers
Kael nodded.
The Council already knows about my one-year Blackwood test
Yes
The audit
Yes
The mill
Probably
The forge
Likely
Grom
Definitely
Walter looked toward the goblin.
You’re very popular
Grom smiled.
I have always been charming
Nobody responded.
Darius continued.
Your actions are beginning to overlap
He pointed toward the Blackwood map.
You challenged revenue reports in Council
His finger shifted toward Oakridge.
Then began rebuilding infrastructure while reviewing collection records
Toward the western forest.
You uncovered organized bandit activity connected to an unknown supply network
Then toward the Black Dragon field outside the manor.
You established a professional military core under one of the Four Imperial Shields and selected a goblin veteran as a founding member
Kael folded his arms.
When you say it like that, it sounds dramatic
Because it is
Lily looked toward the summons.
Who’s going to oppose him?
Darius thought before answering.
Seraphine will object to Grom
That came as no surprise.
The Empress?
Kael asked.
Darius’s expression became more guarded.
She will object to anything that increases your political weight if she believes it threatens her children
Cassian?
Different
Kael looked toward him.
Meaning?
Cassian doesn’t need to invent reasons to fear you
Walter blinked.
That’s either reassuring or terrifying
Both
Darius looked toward Kael.
Your eldest brother is powerful enough to judge your actions as they are. Don’t mistake disagreement from him for hostility
Kael nodded.
Elena?
More likely to listen before choosing a position
Adrian?
Military questions will interest him
Marcus?
Darius smiled faintly.
Your brother Marcus will probably ask whether your fifty can actually fight
Reasonable
Very
Kael looked toward the Imperial map.
And Father?
Darius became quiet.
Kael noticed immediately.
You’re thinking too long
Because Augustus is the one person in that chamber whose questions may not mean what everyone assumes they mean
Explain
Darius walked toward the window.
Your father knows I came here
Kael’s eyes narrowed.
You already told me that
Yes
He knows what you inherited in Blackwood better than almost anyone
Also true
He knows what House Halwen was supposed to be doing
Kael’s expression changed.
Darius turned.
So if Augustus asks why you recruited fifty soldiers, he may not actually be asking why you recruited fifty soldiers
Kael understood.
He might be testing whether I understand why I needed them
Exactly
Edwin added quietly.
The Imperial Court will also hear the same facts through different sources
Kael looked toward him.
Halwen
Possibly
Roland’s observers
Almost certainly
Other Houses
Yes
Grom leaned against the wall.
And whichever people were watching the trials
Kael nodded.
They still did not know who had sent the observer found near the old training valley.
That uncertainty would remain.
Darius looked toward Kael.
Your greatest danger in Aurelia is answering accusations instead of answering facts
Kael raised an eyebrow.
That’s annoyingly vague
Good. You’ll remember it
Kael waited.
Darius elaborated.
If someone says you are building an army to challenge the succession, don’t spend ten minutes insisting you’re loyal
Explain what fifty soldiers actually cost Blackwood
Food
Wages
Training
Equipment
Then explain why the territory needed a professional core after armed bandits operated near broken trade routes while local defense had collapsed
Kael nodded slowly.
Make them argue against the facts
Exactly
Grom crossed his arms.
And when they call me a monster?
Kael looked at him.
I’ll ask what crime you committed
Grom smiled.
I remember that answer
Worked the first time
Darius shook his head.
The Court is not a military trial field
I know
Do you?
Darius stepped closer.
A young noble can lose an argument and walk away embarrassed
A court faction can lose an argument and spend six months making sure you pay for winning it
That silenced the room.
Kael understood.
Winning the session was not enough.
He needed to leave with Blackwood’s authority intact.
And preferably without giving his enemies a reason to interfere in everything he had just begun.
Later that night, Kael stood alone on one of Blackwood Manor’s upper balconies.
The celebration had finally ended.
Only a few lanterns remained lit in the field where the trials had taken place. The fifty Black Dragons had been assigned temporary sleeping quarters across several usable sections of the estate until proper barracks could be constructed.
Tomorrow, Darius would begin turning them into something resembling soldiers.
Kael would train with them for part of the morning.
Then he would leave for Aurelia.
His eyes moved toward the distant eastern road.
Three days.
The System appeared.
[Imperial summons received]
Destination: Aurelia
Requirement: attend Imperial Court within three days
Another notice followed.
[Blackwood governance challenge: political review]
Key issues likely to arise:
House Kael military authority
Selection of Grom Ironfang
Territorial administration
Ongoing financial audit
Potential consequences depend on argument, evidence, and Imperial judgment
No reward.
No failure penalty.
No ridiculous promise that surviving one court session would unlock some legendary power.
Kael appreciated that.
He dismissed the window.
Then another thought came to him.
The ledgers.
He turned from the balcony.
If Aurelia wanted answers, he would bring them answers.
Copies of the tax discrepancies.
The old defense records.
Bandit reports.
Witness statements.
The route-security failures.
The Black Dragon selection standards.
The exact cost of maintaining fifty soldiers.
Everything.
Kael was not going to stand before the Imperial Court and ask them to trust his intentions.
He had already learned a better lesson from Augustus.
Give them a reason to believe the result.
Kael entered the council room again and found Lily still organizing travel papers despite the hour.
She looked up.
You’re supposed to be sleeping
So are you
I asked first
Kael ignored that.
We’re bringing the evidence
Which evidence?
All of it
Lily stared at the mountains of records.
You can’t bring Blackwood
Not with that attitude
She gave him a flat look.
Kael smiled.
Copies of the six-year audit discrepancies. The collection notices. Defense reductions. Bandit reports. Anything tied directly to the questions they’ll ask
Lily nodded.
That I can do
And the Black Dragon roster
Including Grom?
Especially Grom
Lily looked at him for a moment.
Nervous?
Kael considered lying.
Then decided against it.
A little
Good
He raised an eyebrow.
Darius has infected everyone
Lily smiled.
No. It means you understand this matters
Kael looked toward the sealed summons.
The Imperial Court would be different from Blackwood.
Different from the trials.
Different even from the earlier Council debates.
There, Kael had challenged a tax proposal.
This time, he was the subject being examined.
His decisions.
His soldiers.
His territory.
His authority.
And perhaps, beneath all of it, the question every Imperial heir eventually faced.
What kind of ruler are you becoming?
Kael picked up the summons.
He still did not know how Augustus would answer that question.
He intended to make sure the Court heard his answer first.