Alone in the Dark

Patronization

"I still think that the Privy council could do a lot more if we remained in Aupana and left Alliance to the ambassadors, Regency." Lady Winfried said testily, repeating an argument that had been brewing in small snide comments through the entire meeting. "How can we govern our country from another territory?"

Rael felt her control waver, prompting her to stand up and lean across the table. "I governed my country quite well last summer from there, Lady Winfried. And as the representative for trade, it would benefit you to be making connections with the other nations, trade representatives, and merchants that attend the summer council sessions. I would have thought you would be the most supportive of this decision."

The woman paused for a moment; her face colouring red before she inclined her head. Rael, as Regency, had spoken and any more pushback would border on insubordination. Rael was relieved to know that Winfried was not at that point, yet.

Civil war was the last thing Aupana needed.

"Would it not be possible, Regency, for us to select our own stand-ins here, then? I've never met mine and have been working with my own people this whole time. It would be far more convenient for me to know who I am working with when I leave them in my place." Winfried's expression still contained defiance, though her fury was well leashed.

"You may bring your people with you, so you can continue to work diligently in the direction I set out for you, Lady Winfried, but I maintain my prerogative to place whom I believe appropriate for the tasks within Aupana, as always. Lord Syln will be the representative for trade while we are gone." Rael said firmly.

She had grown tired of the constant pushback from the woman, fighting the feeling that the challenges would never stop as long as the woman had a voice on the council. It was a voice Winfried had utilized for a very long time. Possibly too long, and with too much impunity under Rael's mother's reign.

"He doesn't have half the experience as my selected, Lord Anan, Regency." Winfried retorted. It was almost as if Winfried was on a mission to prove Rael's concerns right.

Rael smiled sweetly, though it did nothing to temper her glare. "Aye, but in Syln's short time in managing trade for his father's lands, he's completely turned around the failing fortunes of five generations and created more wealth than your own enterprises for the Crown assets, which have been lagging lately under Lord Anan and yourself."

Lady Winfried's mouth opened to retort when Lady Sylva smiled, her expression looking worried. "Regency, I think Lady Winfried was just surprised at your sudden change of heart but the whole council is ready and prepared to attend the meetings in Alliance with you, do we have time to sit down with our Second's and go over things before leaving?"

Rael looked to the other woman in surprise, Sylva rarely spoke up, and had never murmured much against Winfried before. After a few breaths to calm down, she responded. "Yes. We'll be leaving in a week."

"Would it be possible, then, to have at least four days to speak with our Seconds?" Lord Clarence pitched in, letting out a breath as he saw Lady Winfried sit down haughtily. The rest of the council appeared to be eager to prevent the woman from continuing to argue with their Regent, though Winfried looked as if she considered herself the winner of a debate. "Perhaps give us time to plan for the departure, then we'll meet again?"

"Of course. I don't need another meeting with you, barring any sudden changes, until the day before we leave. You'll have the record of our decisions from this meeting delivered to you by the morning, and I'll expect a daily report on any changes or progress made in the meantime from each of you. Go see to the things you need to." Rael inclined her head.

Murmuring polite goodbyes, the council bowed to her and left the room, leaving an echoing silence from the tension that had been thick since she announced that they would all be going to Alliance. She had made no indication otherwise, and it had been widely assumed that she would remain in Aupana this year, with Kannein's absence clearly noted. Whispers of troubles in Sellexu had reached the commoners here, and there were many people who thought that the peace between the two nations was being subverted. Her Foxes were picking up reports of mercenaries and merchants hedging their bets that a war would break out in the coming months.

Rael sat down on her chair and let out a slow breath, before she started shuffling through her papers to let her mind come to a peaceful state in the silence. She forced herself to relax and take a few deep breaths in the moment she was allowed before more concerns were inevitably brought to her attention.

She had been getting into more and more arguments with the Lady Winfried lately, as the older woman sought to influence her and demonstrated her lack of faith in Rael's decisions. Winfried was a strong, smart woman, who had been around to help her mother with a great deal of the issues that had been going on through Queen Allexior's reign.

She had hoped to have an ally from Winfried but was now regretting her decision at maintaining the older woman on the privy council and found herself suspecting that Winfried had expected to have the same influence over her as with the previous regency.

The woman was ambitious and prideful, but not keeping up with the new progress being made in the world. Rael was beginning to think Winfried was aware of these failings and knew her time on the council was coming to an end. Despite all the headaches, Rael could admire the woman for fighting to stay. She could even say she'd do the same if the positions were reversed.

Rael couldn't, however, figure out if the council was attempting to provide a buffer for her sake, or that of Winfried.

Who were they loyal to?

The thought made Rael smile bitterly for a moment until there came a loud and commanding knock at the door.

Recognizing her War commander returning, Rael felt herself relax a bit more. "Come in."

Lady Ocia strode into the room, offering a crisp bow before striding forwards with a couple sealed letters in her hand. "These just came in."

"Last I checked, you were not a messenger, Lady Ocia." Rael gently admonished as she accepted them, glancing at the seals then up to the other woman who blushed just slightly. Rael felt bad for censuring the person she trusted the most these days, but before she could apologize, Ocia shook her head. "No Regency, but I also wanted to update you, some of my reports came in during the meeting, I've just been told that three Sellexun ships flying the Regent's colours have departed from their port and are heading up the bay towards our coast. Lady Wyn has also cancelled a contract with one of my captains and sent him back to Alliance without her. It's believed she's among those on the ships."

"I told you that you should try to find Denzlin, Lady Ocia, not your own captain. Wyn would trust that man over one of yours." Queen Rael nodded slowly, letting out a breath to cut short her frustration, knowing that it had nothing to do with Ocia. "Give me a couple minutes, I'll call for you if you're needed. I'm sure you have better things to do than watching me read my mail."

Lady Ocia paused for a briefest moment, before bowing. "Regency."

She then turned crisply on her heel and strode out of the room. The door being shut firmly behind her. Another upset noble, though this one was entirely Rael's fault. Rael made a mental note to apologize to the woman afterwards. She had been unjustly short with Ocia. Though she knew Ocia didn't have the ego others seemed to, the woman was a steadfast and loyal supporter.

Rael shuffled through the letters once more, frowning down at the seals from Nerini and Wyn. "What are you two up to?"

With a sigh, Rael picked up the first one and opened it, frowning down at Nerini's brief words.

Found the castle last night. We go in at first light tomorrow. There's at least three of them there.

Rael stared at the words in trepidation, knowing that whatever else, she would soon hear the news she had been waiting all winter for. She was not surprised in the least to find Wyn's letter informing her of them sailing in all haste to launch troops to assist Nerini.

Glancing up from her letters, she called for Ocia. Aupana needed to mobilize the soldiers in their northern outposts, to prepare to deploy if things when badly.

They were quite possibly at war with monsters now.