reports.'
BOOM, for New Brunswick.
Winterburne looked across from his vantage point near the Watch Headquarters. It was as close to a perfect spot for watching the parade as he was going to find and from what he could see it seemed that most of the city had turned out to watch the Emperor's return. Estimates from his men suggested that there had to be somewhere in the region of eighty thousand people in all, many of which held black and white fabric flags, tied onto a length of turned dowel, and they waved them as they waited patiently. Someone in the market would have made a killing selling those, he thought.
The noise of the crowd was already deafening and he had only just been able to hear the first cannon. This was a sight the like of which he had never seen before in his life and he was astonished at the outpouring of emotion that the people of the city were prepared to show for their Emperor. The Imperial family had had its share of problems over the centuries but it was a constant that the people of Highport, at least, seemed to appreciate. Then again, Frederick was also good man, and he had always taken the needs of his people into account, so perhaps he shouldn't have been surprised.
Although it was not usually on this scale, the city had become used to the comings and goings of the Emperor and his family and they were a fairly regular occurrence. In reality, there was little way to avoid the pomp, especially when the Palace loomed large and imposing smack in the middle of the city. Winterburne peered up the road to see if the Emperor was in view but he had not yet reached the Inner Gate. It shouldn't be long now, he told himself.
BOOM, for West Romana
Just when Winterburne thought that it wasn’t possible, the crowd noise rose a notch further as the Emperor came through the gate. His distinctive white charger, Caballus, a celebrity in its own right amongst the people of the city, made him stand out even more so. Flanking him were his two banner-bearers, on black mounts, and carrying his black and white banners. It was customary for the Emperor to forego armour during parades and today was no exception. Winterburne could clearly see him from his vantage point; his black hair was cut short, and his white tunic and leggings were pristine, and as he watched him he considered that the man looked much older than his thirty years.
People in the crowd were throwing flowers that they had brought with them and as his horse walked along the cobblestones he waved back at them with a wide smile. Behind his lead party rode a mounted contingent of Imperial Guard, assigned to protect him on his journey and given the ultimate honour of receiving the thanks of the people.
BOOM, for Arboria
Luke Vawdrey looked down the ranks of townsfolk that lined the street and smiled to himself. This was a great day for the Emperor but it would be an even greater day for himself. If he was smart about it, and he was smart, he told himself, he could make more money today than in the whole of the last month or two put together and he and his mother would be looked after for a while longer, at least. He had never planned to be a thief and a pickpocket, but as he had told his friends, working yourself half to death all day for one of the marketeers to toss over just a couple of coins was not making best use of his time.
In the line of watchers stood a fat man wearing fine clothes; a green hat, a black velvet coat and a pair of deep blue leggings. Luke looked down at his own rags, frowning at what he saw. Maybe one day he might be able to afford something a little more than he currently had.
He walked towards the man dipping his hand into the folds of his clothing. He could feel the man's money purse bulging in coins but it was well fixed to his belt. It wouldn't be easy to pull it free. He reassessed his options as he stepped away. This would have to be a Luke Special, he thought, as he looked down the street. Hmm, he mused, it was all in the timing.
A woman and her man walked in his direction behind the main crush of people, arm-in-arm along the pathway that had been kept clear for promenaders. Luke set off, judging what might be just the right moment. As he reached his target, the couple were level with him and he barged the fat man, who looked around at Luke and then the couple, clearly unhappy at the interruption.
'Watch it!' Luke said, to the couple, pulling on the man's money bag at the same time. It came away in his hand and he looked up into the man's face as he pushed himself away. He frowned down at him, a look of distaste on his face.
'Sorry, Mister,' Luke said, putting on his sweetest face and touching his forelock before walking away as quickly as he could without looking back.
BOOM, for New Dacia
Winterburne could no longer see the front of the line of men as the Emperor and his train had now reached the turning that would take them up to the Palace. The cheers continued in waves as the Emperor reached each new group of onlookers. It was a truly remarkable day and one that he would remember for a very long time. As well as that, there had been no reports of disturbances, or major crimes for that matter, and for that he was grateful. As a consequence there would be very little, if indeed any, paperwork and he smiled as the thought crossed his mind. In the distance, Winterburne could just make out the Palace steps, and the small figures of the Empress and the Chamberlain waiting for the Emperor to join them.
BOOM, for Almeria
This was so easy, thought Luke, just like taking mince pies from the baker in the market. The man's purse weighed heavy in his hand and he smiled as he looked at it. The counting, well that would have to wait and would be the surprise for later that day. What next? he wondered.
He looked along the row of people again. There, up ahead, was another man, wearing a white tunic and brown trousers. He was quite tall. On his belt was a bag, clearly visible and not hidden at all. This could turn out to be the easiest catch of the day.
Luke, set off, clicking his knuckles as he walked. His mother had always told him not to do it as she said it would give him arthritis in old age, but he had seen the men in the market do it, and their hands all looked fine to him, so he did it again anyway. His mind was already back on his next target. A quick dip into the bag and out should do it. He approached the man and reached into the holdall, his small fingers slipping in with no difficulty. He pulled and out they came, a nice little pile of...
'I think that's quite enough for today, don't you Master Vawdrey?' Sergeant Moore grabbed Luke by the collar and pulled him close so that he couldn't break free and run. 'I've been watching you, laddie,' he said. 'It looks like you've been a busy boy. It seems to me that you're not as clever as you no doubt thought you were.'
'Get lost, plod,' Luke said. He hated the Sergeant and his self-righteous spouting. One day he would give him what for alright.
Moore laughed. 'Proper little gobshite, aren't you? I think it's time that you came to meet the Captain.'
'Let me go, granddad.' Luke struggled, but Moore held him securely and he couldn't break free.
'I think not.' Moore smirked. 'But, let's see how much you shoot off that mouth of yours when the full weight of the law smacks your backside for you!'
BOOM, for Peravia
Kateryn's pulse quickened and she felt a rush of excitement as Frederick came around the bend. He had not changed a bit, she saw, but then she smiled as she found herself wondering why she had even thought that he would have. He was waving at the crowds on either side of the street and still they threw flowers for Caballus to walk on. It was remarkable, she thought, and she had never in her life seen so many bouquets thrown away. She couldn't help thinking of how much money the people had spent on their tributes.
The crowds cheered as the Emperor reached the square, still riding just ahead of his two flanking guards.
Kateryn looked up at Courtenay. 'I've missed him so much, My Lord.'
'I know Your Highness.' Courtenay smiled back at her. 'He's nearly home, now.'
BOOM, for East Romana
The procession of Guards stopped at the edge of the square but Frederick kicked his horse on as he and his two flanking men broke off and rode into the square itself. Flowers of all colours lay around the edge of t
he square and as far into it as the people could throw them. He had asked for a parade, but this time the city had outdone itself.
With no warning, a small girl broke from the crowd and ran out into the square. Frederick supposed that she was no more than five or six years old and her long fair hair fell down around a dirty face that matched her dirty clothes. In her hand she carried a small blue flower and she was running directly towards him. Behind her, he noticed, in the crowd, a woman, her mother he guessed, screamed after her to come back. The girl ignored the woman and kept running.
Frederick looked across the square at the child. She was getting closer by the second and he held up his fist.
'Halt!' he ordered.
He pulled up his horse, and all three men stopped in unison, as if the very act had been rehearsed a thousand times before.
Frederick dismounted, swinging his leg across the beast and sliding down its side, dropping onto the stones of the square. The cacophony of noise from the shocked crowd subsided into a hushed silence.
BOOM, for Karelia
The small girl ran up to Frederick and stopped, holding up her gift. Frederick knelt in front of the child, carefully taking the flower from her hand.
'What's your name, little one?' he asked, lifting the girl's hair out of her eyes and brushing it to one side.
'Rosalee.'
Beneath all the dirt, she was a pretty girl. 'That's a very nice name,' he said. 'You're very lucky to have it. Did you come with anyone today?'
Rosalee nodded. 'My ma,' she said, and pointed to the place in the crowd from where she had run.
Frederick looked across the square to where Rosalee had indicated. He could see the woman, alarmed, and holding her hands over her mouth. Frederick waved at her, and slowly she lifted a hand in return.
'Well, Rosalee,' Frederick said, turning back to her, 'thank you so much for the present. I will ask the Empress to press it and I shall keep it as a treasure. It will always remind me of the day that Rosalee came to see me.'
He reached down and lifted the girl up into his arms. All around them, the crowd cheered. He laughed as the girl put her finger into her mouth, suddenly becoming self-conscious as she realised the number of people that were watching her.
'Did you enjoy the parade?' he asked.
Rosalee nodded. 'Yes,' she replied. 'But it was very loud.'
BOOM, for Westmoreland
Frederick laughed as Rosalee flinched at the sound of the cannon. The final shot seemed to echo around the arena that Imperial Square had become, even more so since the crowd had quietened again, eager to watch the unexpected drama that unfolded before their eyes.
'Yes, it was wasn’t it!' Frederick watched the child's face. 'Do you think it might be time to go see your mother, now?'
Rosalee nodded.
Frederick knelt and placed the girl on the ground. 'Go on then,' he said, 'go stop her worrying.'
Rosalee ran back towards her mother, not thinking to take a second look back at Frederick.
'Take care little one!' he called after her.
The crowd erupted again as they saw the girl reach her mother. She picked up Rosalee, and hugged her tightly. Rosalee seemed none the worse for her encounter and the woman waved to the Emperor in thanks for returning her daughter. Frederick waved back, smiling.
He turned to face the Palace steps where the Empress and the Chamberlain stood together, waiting. Frederick had looked forward to this moment for what had seemed so long, but had tried to put it to the back of his mind, preferring to focus on the talks and other matters but he could hardly contain his excitement as he looked across at his wife. He marched to the