Chapter 1
Fue de Joie sat at home sipping his hot tea. He smiled looking at his beautiful wife. "I'm so lucky," he told her. "Why you say that," she asked. "Cause I got you," he complimented her. "Silly Fue," she said laughing. "You know it's true," he insisted as he stood up coming close to her. She entered his embrace and held him. "I love you," he whispered into her ear. "I love you too," she said almost silently. They held each other close until they heard a knick on the door. Fue looked at the door and asked, "Do we have to answer it? Couldn't we just be alone together all day?" His wife gave him one of those looks. Fue sighed and walked to the door. "You sure," Fue asked again this time putting on a fake pouting face. "Not gonna work. You might as well just open the door," she commented.
Another knock came on the door. Fue opened it to see a young man outside. "What can I do for you," Fue asked. "I presume you are Fue de Joie," the young man inquired. "That I am. Judging from your uniform, you are part of the Secfenia Central Guard," Fue said scanning him. "That is correct, sir. My name is General Jonathan Pickett II and I am appearing on the behalf of Elizabeth Smith. She requests your company to discuss matters of grave concern. I am not at liberty to state what any of these matters may be nor do I know to what extent it involves you," the young man told Fue. "I see. And if I refuse to come," Fue asked. "Then you don't come and you never find out what she wanted to discuss with you," Jonathan commented. "Well, then I have no choice. I will come. Let her know I will depart sometime shortly," Fue instructed him. "Very well, I will deliver your message," Jonathan said with a bow. He turned away and began his journey back towards his home.
Fue closed the door. "What do you think she wants," Fue's wife asked. "Probably, just politics. After all, I am Puria's Head Senator," he said with a smile. his wife came up to him and kissed his lips. "My lil head senator," she said teasing him only a little. "And I am the silly one," he said tickling her sides. "Yeah," she commented tickling him back. "You keep this up and we're going to have a tickle fight," he informed her. "That may delay you," she teased. "That's it...," he said tickling and running after her. They ran around the house and tried tickling each other. Their laughter filled the streets around them. You could hear it echoing here and there.
In a place far from where they were, Viceroy Chryssa was laughing as well. She didn't have a husband nor was she being tickled. Instead, she was laughing at the jokes that some of the rebels had said against her and the emperor. Some even claimed that they were having an affair. "Yeah right, like there was a chance of that," she joked to herself. "Let's read up on the news around the empire," she said outloud at her desk picking up the Imperial Tribune. "Another provincial riot in Ameriana, I'll have to try and deal with that. Maybe try and bring the Fire Dragoneers to deal with them," she commented. She slipped a page. "Another small disturbance in Secfenia. That one I may have to attend to personally," she said with a sigh. "Why must they always be troublemakers? Maybe we should drop the false charges against Robert Russ III and just make them happy. We need their support," she commented.
"Maybe I should take a visit to Viceroy Smith's palace and discuss these matters. I'm sure I can get them resolved. Or if not, maybe I should take over there as temporary Viceroy. They don't seem too happy with her. At least not happy enough not to cause problems," she commented. She stood up from her desk and opened the door to her office. "I'm going away. If anyone stops by asking questions like they did before, send them to General Angeliga. I hear he's looking to take off some hears," she told her secretary. Her secretary kept her head down and nodded. Viceroy Chryssa left that moment to deal with Viceroy Smith.
A gentle breeze blowed across the town of Fenia. General Pickett smelled the fresh air and smiled. "It's always good to be home," he said with a grin and glow. He walked into the palace and up to Elizabeth's office. He knocked on her door. "Come in, Jonathan," she told him. "Good day, my lady. The message was delivered and he said he would be here sometime 'shortly'," he informed her. "Excellent. I was worried he might not come. I think me and him have not had the best... how should I say it... political relationship. I think he finds me repulsive sometimes in my ideas," she noted. "It is paramount though that things go according to plan or else Secfenia will find outself in a very critical situation. Provinces are falling apart. Stability and order are essential. We must do something," she continued.
"My lady, do you think he can help? He's not exactly the most influential person in some areas of Secfenia. Some think he has just ridden the coat tails of his father. Some think he's just a rebel and a trouble maker," Jonathan added to the conversation. "I don't know. I think he might just be the perfect person for our plan," she told him. "The Secfenia Central Guard will support whatever decision you make," he informed her. "I know. Your loyalty is above any. I just hope that holds true forever," she told him. "Always," he commented. "If only there were more of you," she dreamed out loud.
[ Bonfire, Part 1, Chapter 4 ] [ Chapter 2 ]
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