"So you kicked her out and she left?" Noughera asked in an incredulous voice and when Kael kept quiet Odo spoke.
"That might cause problems with her father don't you think? He is definitely planning something and we cannot be on opposing sides."
Kael raised an eyebrow but before he could say anything, Kaemon interjected quickly with narrowed eyes.
"Are you insinuating that our king should bend his knee to the vampires? He has never liked Althea that way and the silver moon coven is not scary enough for us to be quaking in our boots." He sneered condescendingly.
Odo glared at Noughera before turning his attention to Kael, "it just makes sense to be on good terms with potential allies." He tried to explain, as always the diplomat.
"Kael is the Lycan king, he is not some second rate monarch who is going to cower in the face of threats by some jealous girl." Noughera snapped.
"Of course not, that is not what I mean." He said with a sigh. "It is my job to ensure that our relations with those around us is stable."
"If this is how you feel then why did you bring the human in the first place?" Kael demanded at last with a raised eyebrow.
He wondered why his uncle was so invested in Althea being sent out of the kingdom.
"The council chose the human and if you had not rejected everyone else then you would already have a suitable queen, it still does not change the fact that you should not have sent Althea way like some riffraff."
"Are you questioning my decision as king?" Kael tilted his head and looked inquiringly at his uncle.
And even though he was a lot younger than his uncle, his gaze was strict and so powerful that Odo lowered his head with a grimace.
"Never your highness, I only act as your uncle and advisor. I do all this for yours and the favor of the kingdom." He said humbly.
He slowly raised his head from bowing and Kael waved dismissively and he stepped to the side, seething inside but retaining his outer calm.
He was glad to know that Kael had turned down Althea because he would have been able to broker a marriage between the daughter of the head of the vampire coven with Ara his son and then he could have the coven on his side.
But now that Kael had kicked her out, the vampires were not likely to want to have anything to do with them.
As far as he was concerned, he not Kael should be on that throne. After the unfortunate death of his brother the king and his wife and their younger sister, he had believed that he would be crowned. Unfortunately Kael had been crowned even as young as he was.
He kept him on as an advisor, a measly role that had no power. For all intents and purposes he was simply just an ambassador for the kingdom. Not even Kael's disability kept him from the throne and unfortunately the people loved him because his reign was like his father's, prosperous and strong.
"Let them in." Kael said and Noughera nodded to the guards who opened the door letting a stream of people in.
They were seated in the throne room where Kael was supposed to give audience to leaders of the masses who had come with their disputes and suggestions in hopes that the king would intercede in.
Because they had quite a number of people to attend to, the day dragged on until at last Kael had attended to the last complaint. It was already early evening by that time but Kael did not look the least bit tired. Meanwhile the people around him where however were ready to retire, Noughera's belly could be heard growling with hunger and he was ready to eat the first thing he saw.
Even though the king had attended to the last person, as a formality Odo stepped forward and spoke in a clear voice.
"Is there anyone else that has something to speak about to the king?"
The hall remained silent.
"Then I declare this session end—"
Abruptly the doors opened, interrupting Odo.
"I have something that I would like to say to his highness the king." Ara said, stepping through the doors and causing the seated people to turn and look at him in surprise.
Kael remained emotionless while the rest who stood around him narrowed their eyes in suspicion as they wondered what Ara would have to say that he could not have met his cousin Kael in private but had instead chosen to come out in public with.
Kael's second and third in command smelled trouble and they stood alert to any danger.
Ara continued to walk down the aisle as people whispered, sending the once quiet hall humming with nerves as they waited for what was to come.
Ara finally came to a stop before the throne and did not acknowledge his father, instead bending low then raising his head with a smirk.
"Your highness." He greeted, "Today i would like to invoke my right to challenge you for the throne."