Laris Rychart was sitting in his study going over reports when the door opened and his seneschal Yokir shuffled in. Laris knew it was Yokir, because he was the only person with permission to enter the study without announcing himself first. Anyone else who tried would be cut down by the guards.

“Good morning, Your Highness. Good news from the mainland.”

“Oh? Well that would be a first,” Laris said. Yokir chuckled. It was an ongoing joke in Osh’riyo, and probably every island kingdom in history. “Well, tell me of this wondrous good news.”

“The Court has vindicated us, my Lord. They say those wretches in the dungeons aren’t true Imperial citizens and thus, aren’t entitled to the same protections as you or I. So even though they didn’t directly rule on your use of tactics, it is clear that they will side with you when the issue comes up.”

Laris looked at Yokir as he digested this news, though it was clear he wasn’t seeing him. The wheels were turning in his mind. This development was unexpected. He had honestly thought that the Court would rush to the aid of the desert folk. The fact that they didn’t….

He could guess what motivated some of them. No one wanted a confrontation between the Courts and the Emperor. Usually, he suspected, the Courts would win. But his cousin was clearly not himself. His grief had pushed him over the edge, into acts of cruelty.

Laris’s sharp mind saw a way to turn this to his favor. If everything went according to plan….Yes. That would do nicely. He finally spoke. “Yokir.”

“Yes, my Lord?”

“Tell the men in the dungeons to cease their interrogations.”

“My Lord?”

“You heard me Yokir. All torture and questioning of the prisoners is to cease immediately.”

“Yes, my Lord. But, if I may ask, why?”

“Has it been working Yokir? Have we gotten any information?”

“Well, no my Lord. But the Court--”

“Has said we may torture them. But that doesn’t make it effective. No, we’re going to stop.”

“But the Emperor—“ Yokir tried again.

“Isn’t here.” Laris was unaccustomed to being questioned by Yokir. Yokir was a shrewd man. That’s why Laris made him his seneschal. But even he couldn’t be let in on Laris’s plans. So Laris needed to come up with an explanation.

“Do you know what they call me, Yokir?”

Yokir swallowed. He did know. He didn’t think Laris did.

“Laris the Cruel,” Laris continued. “The Emperor orders the detention and torture of these men and women and I’m the one they call ‘the Cruel.’ That’s not how I want to be remembered by history. And so I am taking steps to change that. Yes, the Courts have said we may torture these people. That doesn’t mean we have to. Now, see about my orders.”

“Your will, Your Highness,” Yokir said, bowing low and backing out of the room.

Laris turned back to his desk. His subtle plot hadn’t worked. He may have to take more direct steps. And if so, he would need the support of the people. Better to be seen as a liberator than a tyrant. With that thought, he returned to studying his reports.