Dream Valley Estate, South Western Midlonia
“It’s a simple case of facing the realities of our situation, your majesty. Internationally.” Billy Bagnall lifted the tea cup to his lips and sipped slowly, one finger held away from the handle as was always proper. “While we are indeed a great power able to stand against many threats. That being said we find ourselves still critically short in a number of areas. Not least space defenses and wider standing on the international stage when not bound to Earth.”
King Henry II sat quietly across from his Prime Minister as he too lifted a cup to his lips and took a sip, before running a hand over his short red beard. “You know a lot of what you’re saying sounds suspiciously like what the Phoenix Conspiracy was espousing.”
They were sat outside in the extensive gardens, meeting as they often did at the summerhouse which was the size of a normal family home. It was frequently used as a pleasant guest house for Vogue and Freddie to stay in when they weren’t at the Black Keep. The first breaking of spring meant the first flowers were in bloom at last.
“The things they were saying were hardly… incorrect though, were they? It’s a terrifying universe out there with states who are quite happy to violate national sovereignty, commit terrorism cause masses of damage and loss of life...”
“With justification.” Henry replied, looking over his cup to William.
“For one life?” Billy replied, a slight bob of his blonde moppish hair as he shook his head. “All of which spurred on both the conspiracy and the Ctan’s own actions after The Shelter Raid.” You could hear the capitalization on the wording. “Couple that with their continued steely silence, their resistance via proxies such as the Council to our peaceful colonization efforts and we’re becoming highly concerned at what may occur. Indeed we believe that the turning of their otherwise close allies, the Allaneans, is the only reason their efforts haven’t gone further.”
“You would have expected something to occur after the Fargon naval incident.” Henry mused.
“They have long memories and plenty of time on their side.” Billy noted as he sipped his cup again then helped himself to a biscuit. He dipped it into the tea and then bit into it with relish. “They’re distracted for now, but who’s to say they will be in a decade? Or even a century? They don’t comprehend time the same way we do. They don’t need to.” He placed the biscuit onto the saucer and shrugged a little as he set both down.
“Sounds almost like we’re being driven there out of fear.” Henry noted, one eyebrow raised.
“Realities. Would probably be a better term and a multilateral approach allows us to start from a stronger position in diplomatic dealings. You forged a closer relationship with the new Dominion Imperatrice because of the possibility of war, did you not?”
“I did.”
“We granted her permission to deal with both the Lost and the acquisition of her SCU as a bodyguard unit to this effect also.” Billy replied. “We were already drawing up plans, had the Ardan’s and Dominion’s suspicions been confirmed we’d have applied for membership to the Triumvirate also in order to be able to properly counter the threat, and merge our efforts.”
“Yet this reality is not one coming to pass, is it?” Henry replied. “Arda has vanished, Naiya’s in a position she wasn’t expected to be and we’re now sat here with the Ctan Empire as a greater potential threat.”
Billy picked up his teacup again and recovered the biscuit. “So we have to face this new reality on the basis of its uncertainty and to emphasise our own positive traits. Our desire for peace, security, co-operation in trade and philosophy…”
“I’m aware of our own propaganda.” Henry smiled to Billy.
“Quite. So, now to the actual point, your majesty. We require a sponsor from an existing member state and as you’ve helped develop such good relations between ourselves and the Dominion and their new leader…”
“You want me to ask Naiya?” Henry smiled a little.
“We’d like you to work as our diplomat, yes. They’ll have questions and you’re in a better position than I am for long term foreign relations like this. You’re not facing re-election after all.” Billy smiled.
“Who will be making the overtures?” Henry finished his cup of tea and set it down on the small patio table.
“That would be you, again, your majesty.” Billy smiled widely and continued to as he sipped his cup.
Henry gave his cheeky Prime Minister the flattest of looks he could summon. Then broke into a grin and shook his head.
A week later
The problem with spring time is of course the unpredictability of the weather. Where he had shared a good cup of tea out in the gardens with his Prime Minister barely a week ago now he was confined to the entrance hall, staring out at the lashing rain and the sudden crackle of thunder and flash of lightning. Plans already drawn up for a meeting in the summer house, which had been made secure, were now hastily being applied to one of the smaller rooms within the baroque style palace that had been designed by a Dominion Architect during the 18th Century and in many ways took from various locations familiar to Devrasians. The location was hardly a mistake after all.
Henry could have just as easily moved somewhere more dramatic in the Black Keep, or traditional in the Castellion but another nod to people past who had helped influence Midlonian Architecture would hardly go amiss, would it? Subtle nods were appreciated after all.
He felt sorry for the poor sods of the Life Guards, who had adopted their usual position of a small honour guard either side of the stairs outside. They’d put on their thick, grey overcoats but Henry could see the storm was soaking them through and as a result also eschewed the red carpet outside, but was traditionally laid out indoors.
He was wearing a simple suit, another D’Maco design sans a tie to at least give a partial air of informality during what was a somewhat awkward feeling for him. He’d considered Naiya an equal, a princess in waiting that was now a queen and at least someone to consider a friend. Now his own government was instructing him to exploit or use that relationship somewhat to gain membership of the Triumvirate…
You’re over thinking, dear. He heard Sarah’s voice in his head and smiled a little before straightening up as he heard the gravel hiss of the convoy approaching.
One of the guards stepped out first, raising a large black umbrella for the slender woman who exited the vehicle next, both wearing black long coats, along with the third who exited directly behind. The first gentleman was fairly tall. Naiya was easily recognizable, and the auburn-haired woman that took up the rear made up the last of them.
They hurried along up to the stairs, laughing and chatting between themselves, commenting on the downpour, before announcing themselves formally to the guards.
“The Dominion Imperatrice Naiya D’Aquisto, to see His Highness The King, Henry Hykar,” Christof said, offering a respectful bow in which he kept his eyes on the guardsmen.
Boots still managed to crash even on the dampened gravel and weapons crashed onto the ground as the small guard moved to formal attention. One at the far end turned on his heel towards the door, water pouring off of his peaked cap which effectively covered his eyes. He pulled a sword from his side and saluted Henry with it.
“Your majesty a visitor approaches!” The man barked in a loud voice, the sword still held before his face in the salute.
“Whom seeks me?” Henry replied, standing a little straighter now as the traditions began to kick in.
“The visitor is Imperatrice Naiya D’aquisto of The Dominion.” The Guardsman replied, his posture still perfectly held with obsessive practise and the same, far too loud voice..
“They are friends of the Kingdom, they are to approach freely.”
The sword swept downwards and the soldier bowed deeply, the sword was sheathed at the same time as the soldiers behind him shouldered arms and crashed their boots again. Finally they heads turned in unison 45 degrees and they all saluted, the salute was in order, from those closest to them to those at the doorway. The sworded officer moved quickly down the group of waiting soldiers and saluted, this time without the sword.
“His majesty calls you friend, advance freely unto his house.”
“I thank his Majesty for his hospitality, and accept his offer in the spirit of friendship it is offered in,” Naiya replied in a clear voice, both guards having stepped back to either side of her, half a step behind. Each of them returned the salute, Christof managing while holding the umbrella over the young woman. With a polite nod, she began her ascent, Elena and Christof keeping in step just behind.
On reaching the top, she smiled warmly, extending her hand to Henry. “It’s good to see you, your Majesty. And to see you haven’t managed to wash away in all this rain.”
“Comes with the territory.” Henry smiled easily as he took it, and surprisingly bent to kiss it briefly. “It is good to see you here, Imperatrice. The weather is sadly unpredictable at times.” He nodded for the big, heavy doors to be pulled closed by two soldiers outside and he finally seemed to relax some more and rolled his eyes slightly. “Sorry for the daft show just then, the Palace does like to keep tradition no matter what and I managed to whittle them down to a much shorter version of that arrival. Trust me, we would have been washed away if we’d gone for that option.”
“If we let our traditions and niceties fall to the wayside, we’d be naught but barbarians,” she said somewhat archly, then spoiled it with a slightly mischievous grin. That red hair of his, his usual charm - it was good to see him again. “That’s the party line, at least. There’s nothing wrong with politeness in any case. Though I’m glad to know we were spared a thorough soaking all the same.”
“So am I, wouldn’t be very good would it? I could see the tabloids now. ‘Tradition gives foreign dignitaries pneumonia.’” He laughed and then looked to her guards. “Major Lombardi,” He extended his hand. “And… I don’t believe I have met your colleague?”
“Elena Romano, your Majesty,” the woman said and offered a bow as Christof shook the king’s hand firmly and smiled. “Part of the crew.”
“An honor, your Majesty,” Christof said simply.
“I couldn’t function without them,” Naiya admitted. “All of them, really. I’ve been pleasantly surprised how they’ve all adapted and blended over the months we’ve spent working together. Of course Christof has been with me since nearly the beginning.”
“Yes, with you on your… first visit if I remember rightly?” Henry tilted his head in thought, looking between the two for confirmation.
They both nodded, exchanging a brief glance that spoke volumes. “It was … an eye-opening experience,” Naiya said, summing it up simply.
“Usually is, I got stuck out there for a fortnight once, never again.” He mock grimaced. “Still, it’s quite beautiful out there.”
They began to walk, heading up a set of wide more stairs after crossing the entrance hall to reach the central landing before the stairs split off in either direction. A pair of footmen bowed deeply to the group when they reached the balcony. They were twins, it seemed. A pair of dark haired men who bore the same face and markings right down to the slight crease in their balding foreheads. They were immaculately dressed with long tailcoats and knee breeches and shoes which had been shined to perfection.
They both bowed in unison before the one on the right spoke. “If your escorts will follow me, we have a place to await set up for you, as well as refreshments.”
The one on the left then spoke. “While I shall escort your majesties to the Library.”
“Go ahead,” Naiya confirmed, nodding to the two guardsmen. They murmured a brief confirmation, retesting their Spook sets in the process. A brief twitch of her fingers, and all was in order. They bowed to Henry, and followed after the footman, while Naiya turned her attention back to her host.
The footman led Henry and Naiya to the left, up yet more stairs to the first floor. They walked along the plush, quiet, corridor past the large windows which attempted to let in light but today, because of the weather, failed miserably.
The doors were a good 12 feet or more high and painted in a soft green and cream, a nod to the height of the Empire when a good chunk of its citizens and servants were semi or even non-human and buildings had been made to accommodate this fact. It was one of the few places a Ghoul would never have to duck, even outside the Commonwealth. That was a rarity in and of itself.
The library itself was covered in bookshelves that reached half way up the considerable walls. Some of the bookcases seemed to shake and shimmer at the edges as if the contents were trying to get out, and they were covered in some form of heavy cage with red studded gems that seemed to shimmer a little every so often. The fireplace crackled happily and several comfortable chairs were arranged around it, the small tables in between had been cleared and set out with a small tea service set complete with an embroidered tea cosy. Small plates of sandwiches and other refreshments had been laid out, and the footman glanced at it, a moment of irritation passed his face as he spotted one of the sandwiches had already been taken, spoiling the symmetry.
Naiya brightened visibly at the shelves of books. She had always had an affinity to them, given the many hours she’d spent tucked out of the way, and out from underfoot when she was younger. And later, more to sate her inexhaustible curiosity. The odd shifty shelves immediately piqued her attention, but she was careful not to so much as brush them with her mind. Best not to meddle with things one hadn’t the least clue about.
A single figure was already waiting inside the library next to a large heavy looking desk made out of some sort of tropical hardwood and carved with various stylish designs and motifs. He was reading from a book, a sandwich in hand which he was chewing slowly. The person didn’t seem to acknowledge the two at first, turning the page of the book carefully as he continued to chew on the sandwich. This caused the Footman to quietly fume some more, he bowed to Naiya and Henry and then left quickly, shutting the doors with a slightly-too-loud clack.
The door closing seemed to wake the figure up, and he turned slightly with a smile as he closed the book and paused in his eating. The figure was tall and lithe, with black hair slicked back with grease. The silver-flecked eyes smiling but the smile itself was closed, limited to the lips. An impulse of the two ab-human races which were part of the Greater Kingdom’s makeup to appear less threatening.
Porphyrian.
