"Greetings on behalf of Eddard, beloved monarch of Alatir, to his esteemed ally, the illustrious king of Middewold."
The new envoy from Alatir was a lean, hungry-looking man compared with the late Lord Phaon. He dressed less elaborately as well.
"We are pleased to accept the greetings of our allies."
Gorogon sat with perfect posture at the head of the council table. His eyes were clear and bright, and his mouth maintained a pleasant smile, but Luvenia could see the exhaustion and frustration he hid so well.
"We understand that you have come bearing another proposal for a joint venture between our kingdoms."
"Yes, your majesty. If you would care to read it..."
A footman carried the written proposal from the envoy to the king. Gorogon broke the seal on the envelope and held up the paper at just the right angle for Luvenia to read it without it being too obvious that he was showing it to her.
"In light of our alliance and of our union through your marriage to our beloved princess, we petition you to consider the following venture:
"That a goodly number of knights and soldiers of Middewold be dispatched alongside those of Alatir to defend the border between Alatir and Peresse, as the latter has made incursions upon our sovereign territory with the apparent intent to incite a war.
"We eagerly anticipate your favorable answer.
"Your friend and ally,
"Eddard, first of the name, Rex Alatiri"
"You have our thanks for conveying this message. If you would kindly wait without, an attendant will see to your needs while we compose our reply."
The envoy from Alatir bowed deeply and departed. As soon as the door closed behind him, the assembly—all high-ranking nobles of Middewold—began to buzz with questions for the king. Gorogon held up his hand to quiet them.
"The king of Alatir requests our assistance in defending their border with Peresse."
This pronouncement resulted in a greater hubbub than before. Gorogon very subtly slumped in his chair.
"Well?" he murmured.
Luvenia took the letter from his hand and smoothed it out on the table. She didn't recognize the handwriting. Her father must have chosen a new scribe since her departure.
"I don't think he's serious about the threat of war," she said quietly. "Otherwise he would have asked for Iron Hans by name. Iron Hans was his secret weapon in maintaining peace with Ferifa."
"So this is, what, a bluff? a test?"
"Both. He wants to know how much you're willing to commit to supporting Alatir."
"What do you recommend?"
"Let me think about it. I expect everyone else wants to offer their own advice."
"I know. I was hoping you'd have something so I could just ignore everyone else's opinion."
"That's very naughty of you," teased Luvenia. "Just because you're madly in love with your new wife doesn't mean you can ignore your faithful subjects."
Gorogon laughed, which is what she'd hoped would happen. He seemed less tense than he had just a moment ago.
"Very well, my dear." He raised his voice: "Lords and ladies of Middewold, I would hear your thoughts on the subject of this proposal."
A few of the nobles started talking over each other, but fell silent when Duke Ruolu, the most senior and influential of Middewold's nobility, began to speak.
"Your majesty, I believe that the most relevant persons to evaluate this proposal are Margrave Ullor, whose land borders Peresse; Duchess Irein, whose duke-consort was born in Peresse; Count Duronen, commander of the royal order of knights; and Viscount Scirol, general of the army."
"But no one below the rank of margrave is privy to these meetings," insisted the new envoy of Middewold, whose name Luvenia did not recall.
"That's not strictly true," the duke observed mildly. "You yourself are permitted to take part in this council, despite your lower rank."
"Ambassadors are honorary margraves, as well you know. Your own nephew, Caradon, was elevated by his role as my predecessor."
Luvenia saw the tension in Gorogon's jaw. She took his hand under the table and held it gently until he unclenched his fist.
"You would be wise to speak favorably of your predecessor, who gave his life in the king's service." Duke Ruolu sounded calm, but Luvenia sensed his anger. "He earned his position through diligence and absolute dedication. See that you uphold the dignity of the office with the same assiduousness."
"Is it not an exaggeration to say that Caradon died in the king's service? Surely–"
"It is not an exaggeration." Luvenia kept herself perfectly poised, though rage boiled in her heart. "I can personally attest to that."
The envoy was momentarily at a loss for words. This was the new queen's first time attending a council meeting; the previous queen had died so many years ago that few of the nobles recalled the correct protocol.
Ultimately, this did not stop the envoy from running his mouth.
"Your majesty, with all due respect, the words of a foreign princess who was sole witness to the–"
"She was not the sole witness." Gorogon's voice rang out over a room suddenly gone silent. "And she is not a foreign princess, but my beloved wife, my companion and equal in all things—and your queen."
The envoy finally stopped talking. He seemed to realize at last that he wasn't doing himself any favors by dismissing one half of the royal couple.
Luvenia smiled at Gorogon, then looked over at Duke Ruolu.
"Your suggestions interest me, sir. I agree that the commander and the general should be consulted with regard to this proposition. As for Margrave Ullor, his opinions will also be valuable. However, if I recall correctly, Duke-Consort Volante has been a citizen of Middewold for nearly a decade. His knowledge of Peresse's current political climate may be lacking."
She met Duchess Irein's eyes and nodded slightly. The duchess, a mature woman of great dignity, gave her a nod in return.
"I had thought," countered Duke Ruolu, "that his wife might possess some insight into the national character of Peresse."
Duchess Irein shook her head. "I believe, sir, that the national character we must consider is not that of Peresse, but rather of Alatir."
The duke paused thoughtfully. Luvenia took the opportunity to build off the duchess's words.
"While I confess ignorance to any political interaction between Alatir and Peresse over the past few months, I am well acquainted with the relationship between the kingdoms prior to my departure."
"In my opinion–" began the envoy.
"Lord Neulen," interrupted Duchess Irein in a pleasant tone of voice, "be quiet while the queen speaks."
The envoy crossed his arms, but kept his mouth shut.
"Thank you, madam. As I was saying: to the best of my knowledge, Peresse has not threatened the borders of Alatir since it was first established. While not officially allied, the two kingdoms have maintained cordial relations, just as Alatir and Middewold prior to the recent alliance."
"Then why this proposal?" demanded another noble. Luvenia was reasonably sure that he was Margrave Ullor. "Why incite us to anger Peresse? Why provoke Peresse at all?"
"To test the strength of our new alliance," suggested Gorogon. He winking at Luvenia.
Luvenia gently pinched his arm under the table. "My recommendation is to determine the lowest number of knights and soldiers that would satisfy the terms of the proposal. By dispatching a minimal force, we could avoid any appearance of hostility toward Peresse."
"And now are we supposed to determine that?" grumbled the envoy.
"By consulting the commander and the general. My own estimate would be ten hand-picked knights and no more than fifty soldiers."
"Why that number, my dear?" asked Gorogon, in a friendly rather than challenging tone.
"That's exactly half the size of the force the king of Alatir sent to the border of Ferifa."
"If I'm not mistaken," piped up the irrepressible envoy, "that was a token force sent alongside the mercenary—oh, what was his name? Iron Hands?"
Luvenia only just managed not to flinch.
"You are correct, Lord Neulen. They were dispatched alongside Iron Hans as a show of strength, not as an act of hostility. Alatir was able to avoid outright war with Ferifa as a result."
"Isn't Iron Hands in Middewold now? Why don't we send him along as well?"
This time it was Gorogon who took Luvenia's hand, and Luvenia who had to deliberately unclench her fist before speaking.
"Iron Hans has previously represented Alatir's interests in a military context. To deploy him alongside Middewold's forces could lead to Peresse misunderstanding our intentions."
"Then what's the point in having the strongest man in seven kingdoms at our disposal???"
Gorogon regarded the envoy with palpable disdain.
"Iron Hans is the queen's personal guard. He saved her life within our borders, and he will continue to watch over her for as long as she wishes."
Luvenia looked at Gorogon in surprise. They had not really discussed Iron Hans' place in their household, but he had been ready with a perfect answer.
"Duke Ruolu, I will entrust you with the arrangements for a meeting between Margrave Ullor, Commander Duronen, General Scirol, and myself at the earliest opportunity. –and Lord Neulen," he added as the envoy started to open his mouth. "Now, recall the honorable envoy from Alatir."
As a footman opened the council chamber doors, a shrill voice pierced the room:
"–useless slab of meat! If you know something–"
The envoy from Alatir cut off in mid-sentence when he realized he was being observed.
"I humbly beg your pardon," he said smoothly with a bow and a flourish. "This insolent man refused to answer my questions."
He gestured to the cloaked figure waiting quietly by the door.
Fortunately, Luvenia's anxiety helped her to suppress her laughter.
"I pray you forgive my guard," she said in a carrying voice, "who does not speak."
The envoy from Alatir looked genuinely shocked. Gorogon filled in the silence with a kingly pronouncement.
"We will send our response to Alatir in three days. Until then, we are pleased to offer you the hospitality of Middewold."
Alatir's envoy, unlike his colleague from Middewold, knew how to be gracious in defeat.
"Your kindness knows no limit, your majesty. I thank you on behalf of Alatir as well as for myself."
"An attendant will show you to your quarters. This council is hereby dismissed."
Luvenia promptly reseated herself on Gorogon's lap. This raised some awkward laughter from the nobles, but none of them attempted to approach the king, which was Luvenia's design.
"Why would the envoy be yelling at Iron Hans?"
"The short answer is that I told Hans not to talk to him. The long answer is extremely long, I'm afraid."
"Then let's discuss it after lunch."
"Yes... I think we'd better."