"Your majesty, the situation at the Northern Border is hopeless," sighed one minister, "the crown prince is more or less held hostage. General Zarin has left the border garrison for Savitro Zhan--"
The king knocked his fist against his table.
"Gather the troops! Move all out against Savitro Zhan!"
"Your majesty, it would be better if we rescue the crown prince first," Lord Tarnn muttered, "Savitro Zhan will want to use him to bargain. They might even threaten to kill him. However--"
"Prime minister is right, your majesty," chipped in Noble Lady Kilhan, "we cannot possibly attack the garrison when the crown prince is held hostage. We need him here also."
"Who then will lead the troupe to rescue him?" The king asked.
A young man stepped out from the Left Assembly, causing everyone present to gasp. Regal. Handsome. Intimidating.
Price Coran.
First son and second offspring, the king had bypassed him when selecting his heir. He bowed.
"Father, I will lead the troupe to rescue my brother."
My brother. Not crown prince. Even Princess Selwyn, the eldest offspring, still reffered to Theon as 'crown prince'. And Princess Selwyn was a hundred times worse than Prince Coran.
"You?--" the king asked dubiously.
"Do you doubt Prince Coran's abilities, father?" A shrill voice queried. She stepped out too, her robes sweeping out behind her. She did not bow.
"Princess Selwyn, his majesty is only being cautious. It will not do to loose two princes of Valencia in a day," Lord Tarnn chuckled with an evil smile. He, he, had lost his own two sons in a day. He had not complained. Now, the king was worried about loosing his own sons. Ha!
Princess Selwyn gave the prime minister a fierce look. She then turned her fiery gaze back to the throne.
"Father? Do you doubt Prince Coran?"
The king sighed deeply. The last thing he wanted was to be pushed into this kind of corner by his two elder children. Everything pointed to their displeasure at being bypassed when he selected his heir.
"I do not doubt Coran," he said finally, "but, the more princes Savitro Zhan captures, the more disadvantaged we are in this war. Coran would be useful if he stayed around to aid the preparations--"
"And who would you commit my brother's life to?" Prince Coran interrupted, causing everyone to gasp. Everyone except Princess Selwyn, who backed up his every move with the sheer power of her faction within the Inner Palace. No one dared to oppose Princess Selwyn's faction. Not even Lord Tarnn.
The king looked to the queen. She nodded once and he nodded back.
"Officer Moran will lead the troupe that is tasked with rescuing Prince Theon."
"Officer Moran?" the officials started whispering among themselves. They knew something the king didn't. A huge issue at the Investigation Bureau Office which hadn't reached the king's ears. Prince Coran smirked, stepped towards his sister and whispered in her ear. Her stony expression cracked. She smiled.
The king was feeling that something was off. The prime minister signalled to everyone from the Right Assembly to keep quiet. The hall became silent. They all looked eagerly at the king. After deliberation, Chief Investigator Sharhan decided to speak.
"Your majesty, pardon my incompetence, but the said Officer of the Investigation Bureau Office is missing,"
The king did all he could to stop his jaw dropping.
"Did you mention that she took with her when going 'missing' the best trained officers?" Lord Tarnn grinned in a conspiratous way. Chief Investigator Sharhan decided it was a bad idea to own up, anyway.
"Officer Moran is missing?" The king didn't have time to dwell on it before Prince Coran stepped out once again, bowing.
"Father, this situation is too urgent to let it sit. My brother has been at the Northern Border for some time now. We have not heard from him. We are not sure of his state. I have already prepared my elite soldiers. On your command, I will depart without any delay to the North,"
On Princess Selwyn's order, more like, the king thought bitterly.
There was nothing to do. The prime minister seemed satisfied enough with the plan. The king wondered if he had connived with Princess Selwyn....but no, that was impossible. They were the spearheaders of the two strongest factions in the Inner Palace. Lord Tarnn over the Right Assembly, and Princess Selwyn over the Inner Court. Naming it the Inner Court made her intentions known. The king kept a very watchful eye on the faction.
"In that case," the king voiced out eventually and all eyes turned to him, "Prince Coran will lead the troupe tasked with rescuing Prince Theon. You must be careful," the last sentence was said to Prince Coran who looked very pleased with himself. One would wonder if he was really on his way to the North, where rebels and magic users flowed unrestrained.
"Rest assured I will be back in a few days with my brother safe with me," Prince Coran said as he bowed. He then took his leave at once.
The king gazed after him, a little distracted. Lord Tarnn coughed quite clearly.
"Your majesty-- I'm certain that the safrohi at this point are not idle. We do not wish to underestimate them. Therefore, I put it to the court that we should not make a move until we are certain of their hidden resources,"
"One of them being a powerful person like General Zarin," General Husaad sighed regrettably. The other ministers all nodded sombrely. The news that General Zarin was on the magic users side had dealt a huge blow to the Court's morale.
"And the spy?" Noble Lady Kilhan asked no one in particular. All eyes swiveled to the king.
"Any volunteers?" The king refused to be stuck with the decision this time.
There was a buzz of whispering. Finally, someone stepped out and bowed to the king. Marquis Janus.
"You-- are you not known for your position in the Royal Assembly?" The king asked, "will you be able to shuttle between the Northern Border and the capital with information?"
"Rest assured, your majesty. I will be your eyes and ears at the Northern Border,"
Another buzz of whispering.
"Fine. You have my support," the king said, and Marquis Janus departed.
.....
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