Chapter 53: A Game of Shadows (1)
The burden of leadership had set in faster than Thutmose expected. Despite being the designated heir, assuming control of the clan’s administration was more than a simple transition of power.
The bureaucrats—senior officials and influential figures who had long maintained the delicate balance of the Earth Clan’s vast system—were less than cooperative. Delays in approving decrees, hesitation in carrying out his directives, and endless formalities turned what should have been a seamless command into a tangled mess of red tape.
Reports of unresolved disputes piled up. Clan resources were stretched thin from the aftermath of the beast tide, and any attempts to allocate them efficiently met with resistance. Some elders subtly pushed their agendas, withholding key approvals to stall decisions, while others questioned his right to make significant changes so soon after Khepri’s departure.
Seated in the central administrative office, Thutmose exhaled sharply, rubbing his temple. He had expected opposition, but not to this degree. He needed to end it before it turned into full-scale obstruction.
"Call a meeting," he ordered his attendant, his voice cold with frustration. "Summon the prince and princess, including their mothers, the clan’s key administrators, and elders. If they refuse to move forward under my command, I’ll remind them exactly who the Patrician left in charge."
His attendant bowed and swiftly left to carry out his orders. Thutmose leaned back in his seat, his fingers tapping against the armrest. This was an early test of his rule, and he would not fail it. They were gravely mistaken If these people thought they could undermine him simply because Khepri was away.
One way or another, he would make them fall in line.
....
The Earth Clan’s grand meeting hall stood as a symbol of authority, a structure separate from the main mansion but still close enough to remain within the heart of power. The chamber was immense, more of an auditorium than a simple meeting room, with towering stone pillars etched with ancient runes lining its walls.
A vast ceiling stretched above, adorned with intricate carvings depicting the clan’s legacy, from its earliest conquests to its modern reign.
Hundreds of seats were arranged in meticulous rows, all facing the front podium, where two chairs dominated the space. The first was an imposing throne, more significant than any other seat in the room, carved from obsidian and inlaid with golden hieroglyphs—a clear representation of the Patrician’s supremacy. The second chair, though more minor, was no less significant, signifying the authority of the heir.