Icy winds screamed across the city and the peasants bundled in rags huddled together in alleyways. The snow in the roads was turned into a brown slush by the passing carriages. The peasant gazed at the most grandiose of the carriages, which carried the Imperial Seal of the Shuisky Dynasty.
Inside were Tsar Nicholas and his son Alexius. The Tsar was an obese balding man, the hair he had left around his temples was graying. The military uniform he wore was tailored to accommodate his large belly and was often stained with food. He glanced out the carriage window at the gaunt and haggard faces. “Bah!” he sneered “Scum.”
Alexius looked out the window with concern. He was everything his father was not. Fit and trim he resembled a military officer more than a noble who according to the stereotype of the populace were obese and corrupt. He brushed his blonde hair aside as he stared into the stricken eyes of a girl lying in the street nothing more than skin and bone. “It shouldn’t be like this.” He said quietly
“Eh? What was that boy? They are serfs, scum of the earth. Completely worthless creatures”
Alexius’s blues eyes turned icy and he was about to give a reply when suddenly the entire carriage lurched throwing them both forward. The carriage came to a sudden stop.
Alexius threw open the door only to be greeted by an icy blast of air. Nicholas stepped out as well and began screaming at the carriage driver “What the hell was that you fool!” his face turned bright red “I should have you shot!” The carriage driver began to stammer apologies and bowed repeatedly.
Alexius meanwhile turned around to find what looked like a bundle of rags lying in the street. A man rushed forward shrieking wildly. “My son! My son!” he screeched.
Nicholas turned around and contemptuously eyed the man as he began weeping and wailing. A crowd of people began gathering muttering angrily and glaring at the Tsar. Nicholas reached into his purse and flung a handful of gold coins at the man. “There take it!” However the man ignored this and continued his wild ululations clutching the dead body of the child who could not have been more than eight years old.
The crowd began to close in now visibly angered. The Tsar’s eyes widened in outrage. The horse mounted Royal Guard surrounded the Tsar and the carriage holding back the crowd. “How dare you!” shouted Nicholas “You scum! You are dirt on the street! I should have you all killed!” he furiously remounted the carriage and shouted, “Go! Now!” scarcely waiting for Alexius to scramble in.
The carriage took off leaving the crowd and the man clutching the dead body of his son behind.
*******************************************************
Alexius paced up and down the grand chamber of the Imperial Palace. Ornately decorated with gold, silver, and other precious metals, it was well furnished and warm. A stark contrast to the outside world.
Vasili Seyevna, the Prince’s tutor and oldest advisor entered the room. Gazing at the young man pacing angrily up and down he cleared his throath and said “You seem troubled Alexius” Alexius turned and faced the old man who had been with him for years. He had a grandfatherly look about him but underneath was a sly cunning that made him a most invaluable advisor.
“This cannot go on. My father’s rule is destroying the Empire!” Alexius snarled “He is turning the entire pouplace against him! The arrogant fool!”
Vasili raised his eyebrows “Be carful to whom you speak of such. It is treason punishable by death.”
“Treason….” muttered Alexius slowly “Treason to want the people to be treated like people rather than animals? Have you seen their conditions? They are apalling. And meanwhile the nobles who never set out of their mansions and who have never done an honest day of work in their life treat them like dirt! The nobility is corrupt, fractious, squabbling. A group of people who know or care nothing about the Greater Good of the Empire, instead their sole concern and pursuit in life is to fill their own purses and and grab as much power they possibly can! I can’t stand them!”
Vasili held up his hands motioing him to be silent “Alexius be catious!” he whispered urgently “These walls have ears. And might I remind you that you need the nobility to come into power? Despite what you may think about them the elite will be the one’s to sanction and support your rule.”
Alexius nodded and resumed his furious pacing.
“Have you heard of a sea serpent that lies on the bottom of the ocean floor and pretends to be wounded to lure its enemies?”
Alexius frowned “Why are we discussing wildlife when there are far more important issues at hand?”
“Hear me out impatient one” replied Vasili “ The sea serpent lies there and its enemies begin to approach it. But still it does nothing. Then the enemies begin to take bites out of it and yet it does nothing. It simply lies there. Then suddenly once all the enemies have come it strikes!” he slammed his hand down on the oak table to accentuate his point.
“ You must be the sea serpent. Pretend to go along with the current state of events. Be patient, bide your time. Wait for all those who oppose you to come forward. Let them become complacent. Then strike hard and without mercy."