Part 3
“Really now your majesty, did you have to come down here in person?” Sirene asked, lounging on a chair in the Customs Office. “I know the letter you sent to the Inn, good idea by the way, said this was important, but I didn’t know it was this important otherwise I would have come directly to the capital.”
“Hmm, no, I understand your point of view, Sirene, but it was best we do this little bit of theatre.” the Emperor replied, taking a drink from his mug. “We put on a little bit of a show at the Office, pretext of wanted criminal, I get teleported in here, and we have our little meeting with only Imperial Guards present.”
“So how do I get out, then? The people will be expecting something, eventually.”
The Emperor smiled. “That’s where you come in, actually. Walk the shape. This is such a sensitive topic that I can’t afford to even remember this conversation taking place. The only person who should know is yourself.”
“Oh, now I am definitely interested, your majesty.” Sirene sat up straight. “You’ve planned ahead for a conversation that’s never going to happen. But how will you pay me for my services?”
“That was arranged before the letter was even sent. When the problem is solved, simply request an audience with me, and you will report to me on what happened. If it is a failure, then simply use the arranged code word, otherwise I’ll be expecting a full report.”
“As devious as ever, Emperor.” Sirene replied, then smirked. “So let’s hear it then.”
The Emperor laid out his problem and he and Sirene discussed the options available and possible solutions over the course of many hours. In the end, they narrowed it down to one of 3 possibilities, none of them better than the other. The Emperor made a decision and chose one of them.
“Well then Sirene, good luck.” he said, raising his mug. “To your success!”
“To my success indeed, your majesty. I look forward to working with you again.” she bowed, then the space around her began to distort as she began to walk backward in time, until eventually she was at the entrance to the Customs Office again, at midday the day before. Her hood up, she walked in once more.
“Next please.” the Customs Officer called out, as he stamped the same traveller’s documents again. Sirene approached the Customs Officer’s desk once again, but this time with new documents, and she handed them to the officer.
“An Imperial Visa?” he asked. She nodded. “Right this way, we’ll process this privately, ma’am.” he gestured to the office door in the corner. “Begnus, take over, I got a VIP!” he called out to the dwarf looking over some documents. Begnus nodded and walked up to the counter.
“Next please!” he called.