Ochsner saw Kaira’s jaw clench, the steel-like muscles underneath tensing as her teeth ground against each other. Thrakaduhl fidgeted like someone who was trying to look at something without actually being seen looking at it.
It was strange enough that the woman looked so much like Kaira; she also sounded like her. It was unnerving to Ochsner; in some ways, the woman seemed less like Kaira’s mother and more like her evil twin. The fact that the two of them hadn’t made eye contact this entire time did nothing to mitigate that perception. Still, the elf woman wasn’t wrong; it was a significant decision, and Azraea hadn’t even discussed it with Ochsner, her regent ad manum and best friend.
“If Lady Vaerla Asterigennithika has something to say, she is invited to approach the throne, and address the Queen directly.”
Vaerla proudly left her place standing next to the man at the side of the room and marched towards the center of the room, to stand before the throne. Like Kaira, of course, she was very tall, but while Kaira often made a habit of slouching a bit to downplay it, Vaerla clearly took pride in her inhuman height. From what Kaira had told Ochsner of her posture lessons as a child, height was an unmistakable mark of elvishness and therefore, in her mother’s mind, it was an unmistakable signal of superiority. Vaerla strode confidently up the steps, and began to set foot on the top level without taking a knee, but Azraea cut her off.
“When I said that you could approach the throne, Lady Asterigennithika, I was not inviting you to sit in my lap.”
Vaerla stopped immediately and stepped back down the step, frowning for a moment, and then breaking into a broad smile, “First, let me formally extend my gratitude to you for your decision to appoint my daughter, Kairumina, as Captain of your Queensguard. I know that you won’t be disappointed, and I’m sure that given time to prove herself, you’ll see that she’s a competent leader. Perhaps, one day, she might even make a fine governor – surely, with a ruling queen on the throne, no one would object to a woman governing the eastern kingdom?”
Thrakaduhl looked uncomfortable, embarrassed. Kaira’s fists clenched as she bit her lip, and Azraea glared at the older woman with smoldering anger. Ochsner was not the most adept conversationalist, but she could see that Vaerla had managed to politely insult all three of them in a matter of seconds.
“Captain Asterigennithika performed the duties I assigned to her faithfully and with great bravery,” Azraea said, “And has provided me wise counsel in many troubling moments. You have my thanks for raising such a wise, even-minded, and courageous daughter.”
“The Queen is too kind,” Vaerla bowed with false humility, “and please, allow me to also express my gratitude for giving me this moment to stand before you and make my voice heard.”
“You seem able to make your voice heard just fine from anywhere in the room.”
Vaerla’s face betrayed annoyance, but she ignored the jibe, “As we have only just pried our kingdom from the claws of the dragon, Syliva, it seems hasty to hand it over to another power so quickly. I feel that it would be best not to rush into anything of such importance too quickly. It’s something that bears extensive discussion as well as more involvement from… experienced statesmen.”
“Lady Asterigennithika,” Azraea addressed her, “I would like to once again thank you for the reinforcements you provided for the protection of the Kingstown refugees who were attacked in Mudville. Had Gentleman Haorzawa not called for your aide, I’m afraid many innocent lives would have been lost.”
Vaerla curtsied slightly, and smiled, very proud of her contribution, but then Azraea continued, “And I’m sure that your opinion on this matter will be shared by many Caelians. Certainly, history has made it very clear to my generation that it is not in our people’s nature to rush into anything important. After all, our parents, and grandparents, and great grandparents sat by for two hundred years while a dragon slowly ravaged our kingdom. Tell me Lady Asterigennithika, since I’m sure you must remember, how long did Caelia’s experienced statesmen discuss the matter when the dragon arrived before deciding to do nothing at all?”
Ochsner heard Jericho mutter something like, “Not long,” under his breath.
Vaerla glared at Azraea with a sour look, “You would have to ask Marcus,” she said, “I was in Quinox with Kairumina’s father when the dragon arrived.”
The elf man Vaerla had been standing with spoke up from the back of the room, “Then perhaps you could tell us, because I have always been curious, how long did it take you to reject my call for help two hundred years ago? Or were you still considering it when I asked again a couple of weeks ago?”
Vaerla didn’t fully turn to face the man, but glared over her shoulder as she balled her hands into tight fists, a mannerism that was, again, very familiar to Ochsner. “I decided to act when the time was right,” Vaerla said, “when there was a real possibility of defeating the dragon. I had no intention of carelessly tossing away my men’s lives.”
Azraea stood up and stepped towards the woman to address her face to face, “And I can respect that,” she said, “A wise leader must pick her battles. She must fight when she can win, not simply when it benefits her personally. Right now our kingdom is drowning, and Verax’s people are reaching out to us with an open hand. Accepting their offer may be an unpopular decision, but I don’t intend to sacrifice the welfare of my people in order to preserve my popularity.”
“Are you saying you would go through with this, even if you knew that it was against the peoples’ wishes?” Vaerla asked.
“Whether they realize it yet or not, it’s the best thing for them in the long run.”
Vaerla spoke so quietly, Ochsner could barely hear her, “And what gives you the right to make those decisions for us?”
“The right?” Azraea asked quietly, “It is the duty of a Queen to provide the governance her people need, when they are unwilling to provide it for themselves.”
“But who gave you the right to declare yourself queen?” Vaerla asked in hushed but angry tones.
“No one. I walked in and I took the throne because – for one thing – I was here, Lady Asterigennithika. I did something. I took the initiative, and I’m taking it again now. If you want to challenge my decision to join the Gnoman Empire, then challenge my authority, but don’t bother trying to take the throne from me unless you’re prepared to take on all the responsibility that goes with it.”
They stood with their gazes locked for several long seconds before Vaerla finally backed down and stormed back to her place at the edge of the room, “I’ve said what needed to be said.”
“Your opinion has been heard,” Azraea said loudly. “Praetor Vexarius?”
Verax let out a breath. As he later told Ochsner, court intrigue always started sooner than you thought it would, but even so, the bad fruit in that throne room seemed to ripen especially fast. “Thank you, your majesty. As I was about to say, Legate Kaorus will prepare documents for delivery to your regent ad manum,” Verax nodded to Ochsner.
“Excellent,” Azraea said, “But let us save that for tomorrow. I have been cooped up in this castle for too long, and I’m afraid if I stay much longer I’ll grow scales. Captain Asterigennithika, Regent Dragonslayer, we need something that passes for a banquet hall as our current one is filled with gold coins that are still being counted. See what you can do as far as arranging a secure but accessible place for ourselves and the Gnoman dignitaries to break bread with the people in town tonight. I believe at least one night’s celebration is warranted.”
“Yes, your majesty,” Kaira bowed.
“And steward?” Azraea added.
Ochsner struggled to maintain a straight face, as she could guess what was coming next, “Yes, your majesty?”
“See to it that twisty bread is served.”
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