Behind him the thick, oak doors trimmed with silver metal that gleamed harshly in the light that permeated the interior. Guards remained outside, members of the Special Judicial Branch in their dark black uniforms and visor equipped helms. Already seated, Colonel Deshad, High Judge of Military Operations Overseas, Colonel Siem, High Judge of Military Intelligence.
Also present, High Judges of the Court, Thedon Hurra and Fa'halik Surreen. The pair represented the civilian courts, and dictated the course and flow of rule and law to the lower court systems. Near them both, Jemar Yazmin, High Judge of the Finance Ministry, and Thurfur Elemara. A noble and a High Judge, representing the Ministry of Technology.
Before them all, stood Lithu with his hands neutral and at his sides. " Ladies and gentlemen, I would like your approval to send a writ of invitation to the scions of the growing dynasty in the making. I believe that we must come to terms with our past, and while we cannot forget it, we must pursue the future, and in that future, we must have relations with both the Batory Empire and that of the now Hiendor influenced Xukuthite government." He slowly put his hands forward, forcing any dissent of words to spring forth.
" Rest assured colleagues, fellow judges, that I do not say this lightly, nor without apprehension as well. Only to well do I know what our history has been. I do not say lower our guard, nor let our senses be blinded." He paused before continuing as his hands came down. " I ask that the scions of this union be allowed here, within the holds of Arvanneth. There is no other safer place within the Confederacy, and a place that ill will could not happen to us from either of them easily enough."
There were murmurs as his request ended, and then a voice arose. Of course it belonged to none other then that of Thurfur Elemara. " I will allow such, with the presence of the Batory, it would appear that the Xukuthite hunger has been appeased, tempered even with the rise of House Hiendor. We have seen much change within recent months concerning our former progenitors if that is the term that we are to use for them, a more polite term. I concur with my fellows that we must observe this of course without our guard dropping. However, we cannot allow this chance to slip. We already know of the more militant members of the council who are not here, who have their own agendas, otherwise would they not be here?"
Fa'halik Surreen spoke soon after. "Judge Elemara brings up a good point. If the others could see your wisdom Prime Minister, they would indeed be here. I will support this cause as well. We could gain from this." She turned towards her counterpart Thedon Hurra as if to get his thoughts. Judge Hurra seemed to be quite relaxed, and he spoke after some length of time. " I was leaning towards denial, but I hear your wisdom Prime Minister, as well as my colleagues. You have my support. Bring them to Arvanneth, let us speak with them. Perhaps we can build a new dawn for the Confederacy."
Colonel Deshad and Colonel Siem didnt seem to offer much in the way of a retort, at least until Siem coughed a bit and then spoke up. " I and Colonel Deshad have at length already known you would come to the council and request this. You need not ask how, it is our duty. In regards to this visit, we have at length already discussed such a visit, but we could not agree on whom should be requested. Your request however Prime Minister, would be perfect. Intelligence on the Batory clan's daughter, and the Hiendor scion, are not as extensive as we would like, but they do offer some insight."
Deshad added to this as he lit a non-filtered cigarette and let the bluish-grey smoke hang in the air a bit before ashes were tapped into a waiting ashtray. " Aytep Hiendor is not a politician. A commander of a military forces, roughly two regiments worth of Xukuthite kommandos. Mierin, appears to be groomed from a more political background. The pair would be ideal for us, as Aytep has a massive following from the soldiery of the Xukuthite, even beyond his own house. Mierin for her personal connections to the leading clan of the Hyperborean empire."
Lithu nodded, quite pleased the council would be unanimous in their agreement of a visit." I am pleased that we are in agreement, and I thank the Judges of this council for their support. I shall direct a writ of invite to the pair, and request they come to build relations with the confederacy." He offered a slight nod of head, though his mind was not upon the writ, but the lack of presence by Kos and several of the other Judges that made up the council in total. He would ask why at a later date, there was enough on his mind as it was. Rumors of a dark rising elsewhere in the realm was also news of the ill kind. Perhaps Mierin and Aytep knew more.
He strode from the hall, hands behind his back as he walked along the path towards the waiting elevator. His aide appeared, the young woman dressed in shades of grey, knee length skirt and looking as professional as Lithu himself. " Jenara, scribe these words, and send the missive via the relations line to the Duke of Hiendor. Hopefully it still works. We've not spoken to him or any of his family in decades.." He clicked the button to close the door and begin their descent from the fiftieth floor towards the very bottom, towards the under panel of the hive-city of Arvanneth.
To the esteemed and honorable Regents of Batory-Hiendor, the Council of the High Judges on behalf of the Kritarch Confederacy, request your presence to solidify a future and perhaps lasting relations.
Transcribed with this message is a series of coordinates to the Arvanneth International Airport. Please limit your entourage to four personnel. Security will be provided by the Special Judicial Branch, of whom shall take your safety as its highest concern.
Duly and Sincerely Yours,
Prime Minister, Lord Lithu Everhate