The Emperor sat at the table, with Clovis across from him . The elder man looked at his 4th son with interest . Years had been kind to the once weak, shy child he had been as a youth .

Though still seeming delicate as a fairy and as calm and reserved as a duck on a pond, there was a strength and confidence that he hadn't noticed before . Perhaps the palace duties were doing him more good than The Emperor had realized . The younger man poured his father a cup of tea and pa.s.sed it to him before pouring his own .

Advertis.e.m.e.nt"Long live The Emperor, and good health to my father . " Clovis spoke with respect, but not the reverence he had as a child . Try as he might, no matter how often his mother tried to defend him, he could not forgive the Emperor's blindness . His mother had suffered as has his daughter because The Emperor could not see the snakes on his arms .

"And to the good health of my Fourth son . " he replied nodding at Clovis as they both drank the tea . A deep sigh escaped the Emperor as he waved the attendants away . "Clovis, I know you are unhappy with your mother's situation . " he began . Clovis had to restrain himself from laughing . Unhappy was a understatement .

"As would any son who knew his father punished his mother for protecting his daughter . " Clovis replied, daring to cut his father off . This conversation could easily get b.l.o.o.d.y if the Emperor didn't mind himself . The Emperor raised an eyebrow, a rare show of expression . "Father, you are Emperor and your decisions are final . If you come to regret it or not is your choice, but my brother and that woman were in the wrong . "

The Emperor was unsurprised at his son's honesty . There was a certain understanding between father and son . Something the pair had learned long ago was one would not bow to the other, but perhaps that was as it should be . Clovis could challenge him, but only in private and not often . He could never interfere with matters but, there was no harm in voicing displeasure .

"I do not know what happened there . No one explained it at the time and when I asked the meaning of this your mother did not explain . I did what I believed to be best . " The emperor countered calmly, as if it was the weather .

"I know, and that is your right . However, I will not stand back and wait for my mother and my daughter to be subjected to any more… misunderstandings . " Clovis replied sipping his tea, watching his father from over the rim of the cup . The Emperor stopped mid drink and lowered his cup toward the table .

"Oh?" the wheels in the Emperor's eyes were clearly turning . He had an idea of what Clovis meant but… . It wasn't in his nature .

"I want to place my name back on the Tree of The Phoenix . " he replied smoothly . The Emperor's brow furrowed .

The Tree of The Phoenix was a large cherry blossom tree . It was beautiful and tall, older than the palace itself . The normally pale pink blossoms were crimson at the edge and golden at the center like a burst of flame from a phoenix feather . It was said the palace was placed here to surround that beautiful tree, for no others like it grew here .

Ever since the tree was graced with lanterns and charms, each Lantern held the name of a past emperor, extinguished on their pa.s.sing . One made of jade still glowed with Kavorn, the current Emperor's name painted on the delicate material . There were 5 charms, one for each prince who was in the running to be Emperor . Clovis's charm hung quietly from the wall beside the tree, where all the princes long past had hung once the Emperor was crowned .

"That has never been done before . . . but there is no Law against it . As long as your motives are pure, I will allow it . " the Emperor replied honestly happy to hear this . Of all his sons, only Clovis showed any talent for running a nation . The others wanted the power but did not understand at what price power was bought . Relinquis.h.i.+ng the tree had been the first hint that Clovis was the right choice, ironically enough .