Rebellion

You whisper a single word in my ear. A word I never expected to hear again. I can't breathe. Shock locks my body and you smile at me. "Give me your oath, brave one, and I promise you will not be forsworn."

"How? Why..."

"Because to defeat the largest of monsters, you must first climb into its belly. You and your friends were fools to attack openly. You were not the only ones to fight."

~~~~~~~~~~~~

You give me your oath easily now. But I know the truth of men. Your real oath came when you turned from the door and gave yourself to me.

Tomorrow I will take you before the Emperor. We will show him how once again I have tamed to my hand those who would threaten him. You will hate that. You will hate the parade of media making you the empire's mascot—the Rebel Repentant. But you will do it. You will do it because I ask it. You will do it for love of me. And you will gain me another measure of the Emperor's trust. Bring me another step closer to his inner circle.

When I am close enough, you will help me plant a dagger in his back.