The torches burned low in the council room and Queen Evelina sighed, sinking deeper into her chair while the Council bickered over her future. Arch-Meister Jallen was being particularly vocal as he agreed with her – for the first time thus far in the history of her reign – and the irony was not lost on her, but Lord Adimar, Commander of the Dawn Kingdom's army, refused to let his argument rest.
"Never mind a bloody marriage," Adimar repeated vehemently, "We should be calling upon the World Queen!"
"L-ludicrous, man!" Jallen scoffed, his wispy white beard trembling with his ire, "The World Queen will not trouble herself with p-petty problems from one of the Human Kingdoms! A marriage is the m-most sensible option!"
"We're getting slaughtered out there!" Adimar shouted, "If you ever left the bounds of the bloody Palace, you'd know!"
"And if you left the b-box of the front lines once in a while, you'd grasp a better understanding of matters of State!" Jallen shot back. "Human Kingdoms handle their own affairs! In light of the current situation, what Queen Evelina has p-proposed –"
At last, Evelina cleared her throat and held up her hand, cutting the Arch-Meister off mid-rant.
"Enough," she said.
In his wheedling voice, he objected, "M-Majesty-!"
But she sat forward and fixed him with a baleful stare, and he stuttered into red-faced silence.
When Adimar, too, had swallowed the scathing retort blistering his tongue, she said, "I appreciate all of your opinions, conflicting though they may be. Adimar, I understand your frustration – and I commend you for your unfaltering valour in the face of our torment – but it is true that the World Queen will not rise to our aide. She is responsible for the Keeping of Andoherra, and I would not insult her by sending a plea for help in the first place. What kind of Queen would I be if I did such a thing?"
She paused, eyeing each councillor in turn to drive her point home. They were all well aware that Human Royals were responsible for their own Kingdoms – the Witchkin handled the magic of keeping the world turning, had their own power dynamic, and did not interfere outside of their own Orders. Especially the World Queen.
Satisfied by their lack of response, Evelina continued, "As for the question of my marriage, we need not debate further – the matter has already been decided. If you recall, what I had actually asked, was for suggestions as to how to go about finding a suitable consort."
Chastened, the attendant councillors dropped their gazes and fell to fidgeting. As the silence stretched into awkward, a tall, serene-faced woman – who had been quietly observing the chaos – leaned over to speak softly to the Queen.
"Are you sure about this, Evie?" she asked, her melodious voice carrying a depth of calm unrivalled by anyone else in the room.
Evelina turned to face her aunt, and her expression smoothed with affection. "I'm sure, Natalia," she said. "A marriage is our best chance – we need allies to counter the beast threat from the Grimlands. As Lord Adimar said, our lines are run ragged along the border. I need to be able to leverage more soldiers, arms, and supplies." She sat back, and sighed. "Our reserves of coin and crystal are almost exhausted, and I'm running out of options. All I have left to leverage at this point IS my hand, and time is of the essence."
Natalia nodded. "Of course, I understand the intricacies. But I worry, Evie – you are a rare heart, and I'd hate to see your passion wasted."
"My passion is never wasted in pursuit of my Kingdom's survival," Evelina replied evenly. "This is perhaps not the most desirable course for my personal future, but it will yield the best results for our people."
Natalia's eyes creased at the corners as she smiled, and she reached to pat the young Queen's hand. "How much you remind me of your mother… Very well, my darling, if you are set upon your course… might I suggest a tourney?"
Around the table, the councillors lifted their attention.
"A tourney?" Evelina repeated.
"Yes," Natalia mused. "A series of trials designed to test the strength, cunning, and mettle of your suitors. From such an event, you may select a Champion. It is the fairest way – it will keep the other Houses peaceful at the outcome of your choice, and give you some chance to find someone worthy of you."
"Ahem, yes," Jallen agreed – though his endorsement counted for little in the eyes of both women, if either were honest, "Your Majesty c-can invite all of the eligible bachelors ac-cross the Realm." The old man glared around the table as if he, personally, had thought of it, and dared any of them to disagree. None did, not even Adimar, and he turned back to the Queen with a smug expression. "We will see the b-best man win."
Somehow, Evelina managed to resist rolling her eyes, and swallowed her dislike as one would a bitter pill. "I'm glad you approve, Arch-Meister," she said genially. "It is decided, then. I will leave you all to discuss the finer details; please excuse me, My Lords, while I retire. I must confess, I am rather jaded this evening."
As Natalia half-rose to accompany her, Evelina caught her eye, making her pause. The meaning in the Queen's expression was clear: do not leave these doddering fools to make a mess of this. With a wry sigh for fortitude, Natalia gave a half-nod, sat back down, and made herself comfortable. No doubt it would be a tiresome evening.
Evelina surreptitiously tilted her head to flash a grateful smile as she turned from the room, and then Natalia lifted her chin to face down the bevvy of stuffy advisors, adamant that she would not disappoint the child of her heart.
"Accordingly, My Lords," she breezed, "Shall we begin?"