“That does not bode—”
“Your Imperial Majesty!” Lord Gren came bursting into the room, a flustered Agal fluttering his hands behind him.
“It's fine, Agal.” The Emperor waved him away. “Come in, Lord Gren. What's happened?”
“He's killing them,” Gren said, his chest heaving and the tips of his Varraen ears red. “The Corrupted that were freed tonight told me their village was attacked and as they were corrupted, many of their neighbors were slain. Then the Corrupter went to the bodies and brought them back to life.”
“Holy fuck,” Kel whispered.
The Emperor sat back in his seat with a puff of breath.
“That's why they were fresh,” I said numbly. “He's killing them and turning them into the animated dead.”
“Why?” Xae growled.
“Because it makes them faster,” Rath said. “That's why they were harder to handle. Fresher corpses make for faster soldiers.”
“Great Goddess,” the Emperor whispered. “Very well, the time has come to enact my plan.” Then he waved at Lord Gren. “Sit down, Lord Gren.”
Gren stumbled to a chair and fell onto it.
“Your plan?” I asked. Then quickly added, “Your Imperial Majesty.”
“The last time you visited me, Lord Ember, an idea occurred to me,” the Emperor said.
“Yes, I recall you rushing from the room, Your Imperial Majesty.”
He nodded. “I've been going over it with my mages. They don't like it, they say it's too risky, but they agree that it would work.”
“What's the plan, Your Imperial Majesty?” Lord Loren asked.
“It's quite simple,” the Emperor said. “We need the Corrupter to make an appearance so we can end this war. To do that, we need to entice him. Set a trap.”
“A trap, Your Imperial Majesty?” Xaedren asked.
“Yes. We keep responding to his attacks, but it's rare to catch him at one. And we can't get through his ward to attack him, so we must lure him out. I will hold a harvest celebration in Tusara, one which I will attend.”
“Your Imperial Majesty!” Rath shouted.
“I am not without my share of power, Lord Ratharin.” The Emperor smirked at him. “I will be fine.”
“The Varraen will not appreciate your turning their village into a battlefield, Your Imperial Majesty,” Lord Jusso said.
“I know my people, Lord Jusso. You don't have to advise me on them.”
Jusso flushed. “My apologies.”
“I'm teasing you.” The Emperor waved his hand. “The village is mostly farmers. They will be evacuated, and Wraith Lords will take their place. It will be a fake celebration.”
“How can we be sure the Corrupter will hear about it, Your Imperial Majesty?” Keltyr asked.
“I will announce it, of course,” the Emperor said. “I will first let the villagers of Tusara know that it's a sham and then I'll have the word spread.”
“And what of others who hear of the celebration, Your Imperial Majesty?” Rath asked. “Varraens from other villages and cities may want to attend because you will be there.”
“Why only Varraens?” I asked Rath.
“Tusara is on Krix.”
