CHAPTER 5: THE WINNING SIDE Written by: Dryst Starring:
Zemeckis	Victoria

--- Sacred King Calendar, Month 8 , Year 216 ---
-- Castle Logres --

With a dramatic swish of her purple robes, the red-headed witch entered Zemekis' chambers.

Zemekis only half-paid attention to her when he asked, "And who are you then?"

"My name is Victoria. I used to work for King Dryst of Iscalio."

"What brings you here?"

"It was a very strong country, but even a strong country like that had to surrender to you"

"Get to the point."

"I'm attracted to strong people. People like you. If you will have me, you will have my support from now on."

Zemekis was unimpressed. "Feh. I have your support until someone stronger defeats me."

Victoria moved closer to the towering Emperor. "I can't imagine anyone on this continent stronger than you, my Lord."

The scent of Victoria's spice-like perfume tickled Zemekis' nose and eased a few of the worry lines from his forehead. "Well then. I can think of some ways I can use you."

Victoria bowed slightly, then chanced to move closer, placing a hand on one of Zemekis' thick arms. "My Lord, my Emperor."

"I take it you Iscalians have no love lost for Caerleon?"

Victoria's face cringed as if she had eaten something sour. "More so, there is a sorceress there with which I have a score to settle."

"Good enough. I want to form a wedge between Caerleon and New Almekia."

"I don't understand."

For the first time, Zemekis looked straight into Victoria eyes. "In Iscalio did you pay no attention to the world around you? Or did you simply waste away your days drinking?"

Zemekis didn't even seem that angry, but the intensity of his eyes caused Victoria to step back. "Well, I, uh-"

"New Almekia will surely seek to form an alliance with Caerleon. The weak always form alliances. They'd probably make a treaty with Leonia if they could reach them."

"And Norgard? Won't Lance try to rally support against you?"

"Are you so stupid? Prince Lance may be young, but he's not so naive that he thinks Norgard will ever be anything but his enemy."

"I...I see." Zemekis looked away again, and Victoria steeled her courage to again move close to him. "Forgive me, my lord. You truly are superior."

Zemekis took one of Victoria's hands in his own. A kind of smile trailed across his mouth. "I shall send you with some troops to assault the castle at Squest. If we close off the only border between New Almekia and Caerleon, I can leave Lance and Vaynard to gnaw at each other like stray dogs."

"I have no fear you've thought of a way for me to get past Castle Baynock?"

Zemekis' other hand moved to the low neckline of Victoria's blouse, where a single ornate chain seemed to keep everything in place. "For tonight, all you need fear is me."