The Sacred Monolith
an excerpt

† A Ruler, Fallen †

The shouts of legislators filled the Interdiction Board’s assembly room. Sylivia sat in the wooden stand next to Camellia’s chair, patiently waiting for a moment of order to continue her testimony. She gazed up at Valere and Bernard as they sat in the benches on the second floor, overlooking the assembly. They returned her stare with grave looks. With a sigh, she turned towards Camellia, who was shouting at Lady Clara, trying to raise her voice above the crowd’s. Finally, hair frazzled, fists clenched, Camellia rose from her chair and roared:
“ORDER! ORDER!”
Silence befell the chamber. All eyes turned towards her.
Camellia stood still as her shout echoed throughout the room. She appeared surprised by her intensity, her eyes slightly widened. “That’s enough, all of you! Sylivia is trying to recount what happened. I’ve sponsored her long enough to know she wouldn’t stretch the truth. Now, I suggest you give her your undivided attention, so we can get through this as painlessly as possible.” Her eyes burned with fury, staring down any member of the Board who seemed about to speak. “Now Sylivia, please continue.”
Sylivia swallowed and cleared her throat. “Well, after Rihanna continued accosting Camellia about Emperor Ambrose’s death, she confessed that she was aware of the severity of her proposed legislation, during the fiscal depression a few years ago. It then escalated to a more...physical...fight, which, as you know, is why we are here today.”
Clara stepped forward, rising from her chair gracefully. “Tell us Sylivia, who initiated the assault, Empress Rihanna or Lady Camellia?”
Sylivia swallowed again. “In all honesty, I would say Camellia initiated the fight by spilling wine on the Empress, but Rihanna, in her anger, was the first to strike.”
A gasp came from every Board member.
Rihanna growled.
Lord Sebastian rose from his seat and said, “Then our course of action is obvious. The Laws of Interdiction vehemently condemn any behavior of this sort, thereby giving us the power to strip the throne from Rihanna.”
Rihanna released a grunted screech. “NO! No, no, no! This is mutiny! Treason at the highest level! After all I’ve done, after all I’ve sacrificed for the Empire!”
“Irrelevant,” said Sebastian, “The Law established by our ancestors stands above all else.” Sebastian glanced around the room, at Camellia, Clara, and every other Board member. Each of them nodded as he met their gaze as if giving approval.
At that moment, every Board member rose from their seat and began forming a circle around Rihanna. Tears began to well in the Empress’ eyes. She still mouthed the word, “No,” as they closed in on her. Camellia stepped forward into the circle, holding a copy of the Book of Interdiction in her hand.
“Rihanna Siela Morelaina of the High Court, Empress and Ruler over the people of this good Empire, I hereby strip you of all power and responsibility, by the power of the First Law of Interdiction, Paragraph 4, Section 12, clause 11e.” Clara joined Camellia in the center of the circle and tore the tiara from Rihanna’s hair, smashing it on the floor. Soon, all of the Board members were upon her, stripping her adornments, her fur stole, her gloves, until she was forced onto the floor in a submissive bow.
“You can’t do this to me!” she screamed. “I’ll make you pay for this, you selfish little wretch! You can strip me of my title, but don’t think for a second that my Empire and my power will fade!” She rose from the floor.
“That is enough from you, Fallen Empress,” Camellia said, looking Rihanna square in the eye. “Guards! Remove this disgraceful woman from our presence at once!”
A swarm of iron clad men invaded the circle, grabbing Rihanna’s arms, dragging her from the room. Rihanna squirmed, strands of hair falling over face, eyes red with ire.
She screamed, spit flying:
“The wrath of Corellia be on all of you! Damn this Empire! Damn you all!”
The large doors slammed shut, silencing Rihanna’s cries.
The legislators parted, returned to their seats, and resettled as if nothing significant had happened. After they dispersed, Trivana Maire stepped into the center of the medallion, staring at Camellia. “What is to become of the Empress’ administration, Lady Camellia?” she asked. “What do you want us to do?”
Camellia sniffed. “Go wherever your loyalty lies.”
Trivana looked dissatisfied, almost in tears. She turned towards the door, clutching her notebook to her bosom. She exited the room quietly, turning back only once. Camellia sighed.
“What now?” asked Clara. “Word of this will spread quickly. We must begin our search for a new Empress as soon as possible.” She turned to Sylivia and said: “Thank you for your help, Ms. Rapstine. You and your friends are excused from the assembly.” She spread her hand out towards the door.
“Yes, Lady Clara,” Sylivia said with a curtsy. With that, she stepped down from the stand, walked towards the doors, and pulled them open. Rihanna’s indignant cries still echoed through the hallway as Sylivia walked away from the assembly room.

Rihanna flailed into the courtyard outside the Hall of the Interdiction Board. The guards turned and walked back into the building without a word, undaunted by the fact that they were throwing out the Empress that had ruled over them just moments before. Rihanna rose from the ground, and howled, shattering the calm air of the Imperial Capital with a bitter, hate-filled cry. She stopped and scanned the courtyard. She was alone, no one tending to her every need, no one rushing to her aid. Anger swelled within her, her breath heavy, her teeth clenched.
“Milady!” Trivana’s voice cried out, “Milady! I’m here!” She scrambled down the stairs leading up to the Hall, still clutching her notebook while trying to bundle her dress in her hands.
Rihanna grunted. “You! What do you want?”
Trivana raced to her side, panting heavily. “I remain forever loyal to you, Milady.” She curtsied clumsily.
“I see,” Rihanna muttered, her voice hinted with suspicion. “How far does your loyalty span, Trivana Maire? What are you willing to do for your Empress?” She smiled.
“Anything you ask, Milady,” she responded over a harsh breath.
Rihanna stood still, staring at Trivana, examining her from head-to-toe. She began pacing around the scribe, stroking her chin, smile becoming broader and broader with each minute.
“Milady?”
Rihanna halted. “I have waited so long for an opportunity like this to come, an opportunity to show the world the extent of my power.” Trivana squinted warily. “You see, Trivana, I sent a research team, a group of warriors and scientists, to travel to the peak of the Sacred Mountains nearly three months ago.”
“Yes, I am aware of that, Milady,” Trivana said, “you sent Master Nils, the Head of the Imperial Guard on that mission as a defender, no?”
Rihanna tilted her head. “The mission was to be kept a secret, in order to avoid interference from the Interdiction Board. How are you aware of it?” She began to tap her heels as her fists settled on her hips.
“I-I...Master Nils, told me, Your Majesty.”
Rihanna sighed. “Ah yes, Master Nils. Your suitor.” Trivana blushed. “Don’t underestimate my knowledge, Trivana Maire. I know everything that goes on in my administration. Now, I assume you probably know that I expect the researchers to return any day now, no?” Trivana nodded. “Good. Then we shall wait for their arrival. If my theories about the Monolith are correct, I may be able to finally destroy the Interdiction Board and reverse the termination of my rule.”
“How do you expect that to happen?” Trivana asked, “What does the Monolith have to do with the Interdiction Board, Milady?”
Rihanna smiled deviously. “Everything, Trivana.” She started pacing around her again. “Researchers in my administration have informed me that the grounds surrounding the Monolith incur strange phenomena, in which the very fabric of time seems to warp and bend. My theorists say that the cataclysm that caused the Monolith to fall from the sky, may have locked the stone in the era of Lucretia’s reign.”
“So when the Monolith fell to the earth from the heavens a millenium ago, the angel Corellia, who is said to lie asleep within it, somehow locked the Monolith in a separate period of time?”
“Precisely. I sent my team of researchers to confirm these theories. If they are, indeed, true, then I may be able to prevent the Interdiction Board from ever organizing.”
“How, Rihanna? What are you planning to do if your theories are correct?” Trivana stared directly into Rihanna’s eyes, her face filled with wary curiosity.
Rihanna glanced around, checking for eavesdroppers or spies. She then leaned forward and whispered into Trivana’s ears: “I plan to kill Corellia.” She chuckled as she pulled away and watched the shock spread on Trivana’s face. Her laugh grew louder and louder as she walked towards the gates, throwing them open and entering the city streets. Trivana stood with her mouth open, words escaping her. She just watched as Rihanna joined the crowds of people walking down the city streets...