Tension was all that could be felt within the royal court. But courts wanted to talk with their own King, leading to two individual court meetings. As much as a shock that Shir and the rest of Vallendrconis felt, surly the Montes kingdom cannot be happy with the loss of gold. And as great it would be to have more gold in the royal vult, the loss of farm land can lead a starvation in winter. Hunting can only go so far to feed the people. Shir looked over the court, at front was her brother, Prince Bosse. He sat, deep within thought as his knee bounced anxiously. Shir sat next to him, her own anxious thoughts looping her mind.
On her other side is her younger brother, Prince Angus, the younger Prince more concerned about the stress. Beside him is Toney, the court mage fiddling with his robes sleeves in thought. His expression not as tense as Prince Bosso's. Infront of them is Commander Kyree, the older Knight looking juat as stressed as the Prince but more so out of concern. And next to the Commander is Sir Qiaw, a quieter noble but her father likes him in court with his more empathetic judgments.
The royal court only sat in silence as they awaited the King and Queen. Queen Yobel had taken King Arvin aside for a private discussion. Shir knew that her mother would be more mad that he made a decision this big without her more than the loss of land on its own. "But why?" Shir thought to herself, "King Shev's punishment makes sense since he was the one who started the last war. But we're being punished for the actions of dead King's, father had never declared a war!" She furrowed her brows. A mixture of hurt and confusion wrapping around her heart. "Is that what that weird and magical voice was warning me about?" She asked herself, in even more confusion.
The large doors opened and King Arvin walked through. A glaring Queen behind him. They both took their seats and for a few seconds he was quiet. When he cleared his throat, he asked, "any thoughts?".
"Why!?" The whole court was shocked to see the eldest Prince to snap. Especially to his King and father. "Last winter had been kind enough to not kill any crops but there is no guarantee that it'll be the same this year!" He argued, anger phoming from his throat.
"I know, son, I know" King Arvin spoke softly, a calmer tone than the court had expected.
"But we all know that I will not let our people starve" he added, looking over the court before his eyes landed on the mage, "Toney?".
"You want my opinion?" Toney spoke in a dry tone, unnerving to hear from such a laid back mage. "I have no idea why you'd think this is a good idea- let alone how you plan to feed everyone" he gave a stern stare at his King, his gaze questioning.
With a deep sigh, King Arvin spoke calmly again. "I guess, this is about time I let you all in on my plan" he declared, his tone growing more serious. "Like how I'm assuming you all, I've been doubting that this alliance will last. So I've been thinking" he began, the court falling silent to listen. "So he does have a deeper plan" Shir thought to herself, waiting to hear him out. "The next few months, perhaps even years, we'll act "submissive", giving the impression to Montes that we'll do anything for them. That we'll crack to anything they ask, let them grow comfortable" King Arvin announced.
Prince Bosso narrowed his gaze but his knee did stop bouncing from under the table. Commander Kyree titled his head slightly whilst the noble looked to be interested. Shir looked to Toney, recognition his expression of doubt. "After King Shev and his men grew comfortable, too used to us doing the harder work" a grin formed on the King's lips as he turned to Shir. "Princess, by that time you would have been married to Prince Rknom. I would like to request that you hold off on having any heirs, after all he is a Prince and won't be a King for a while" King Arvin began his explanation. Shir crossed her arms as she began to hear him out, admittedly curious of his plan.
"When given a signal, I would like you to give the oder to send an assassin on our "dear friend". Let old King Shev remember that we don't forget those who were lost in the war" the King explained in such a sickly sweet tone. His voice so soft but yet full of a resentment.
"You want me to hire an assassin?" Shir raised an eyebrow, "whilst living in their kingdom? Do you want me to be killed?". The Princess gave a stern glare back, her own safety in that plan didn't sound to be considered. Did her father and King really expect her to make it out alive?
"I've seen you with our own guards" King Arvin began softly, complementing. "All you need to do is have their castle guards grow a bond with you, trian with them and sway their loyalty to you" the King chuckled to himself. "I'm sure if I got the group of guards you trian with and asked then to attack you, they'll hesitant, maybe even defy my order, you just have to do that with theirs". It sounded dark to the Princess, toying with the loyalty of King Shev's own men. It does not sound like the honourable code the Knights follow or even the type of strategy that would be sung about.
"I grew up with those men, I didn't bond with them just because I trianed with them" Princess Shir explained calmly. "I do not know if I would be able to replicate that with a bunch of men I do not know" she explained, the King loosing his grin.
"So what would you do?" He asked after a pause. The Princess not used to seeing her father have such a cold state, like he was trying to stay positive but not happy with her response.
"I do not agree with assassins, father" Shir spoke her mind. It is the whole point of the council, "they almost always lead to a war".
"That is the point, Princess" the King spoke softer now, so sure of his plan.
"To have the Montes kingdom in a comfortable and relaxed state. So when we do attack, they would be unprepared, King Shev is growing older and he would want to have a smooth end to his rule" King Arvin explained. "Why not let him go peacefully whilst his Kingdom falls after his death? You see, everyone, I want another war, to be in a superior postion. So when we do attack, we'll over power them, then once we take down the last of the Montes monach- capture the rest. I want you, Shir, to take that throne" the King didn't leave room in his speech for other to cut in. The last detail of his plan leaving the Princess in a shock.
"Can I actually go through with that?" She thought to herself, feeling her stomach twist at the thought. She was already engaged to Rknom, when they marry she would be the next Queen but her father plans to betray him. Even if Prince Rknom is a pain in her ass and she wouldn't want to be his bride, he hasn't deserved a betrayal like that. He may be a brat in Shir's eyes but she also feels that the Prince is about to suffer for no reason. The only reason being her father taking over the kingdom. His plan is a loose then win and gain. This was not something she expected him to propose. And from the slight glances from Toney, the mage agrees with her.
"For now, Toney I want you to continue your investigations in the volcano, take as much time as you need. Do not rush" King Arvin began his next orders. The mage only nodding silently in response. "Commander Kyree, I want you to ensure that all of our Knights would be in battle condition" the Commander nodded to his order. An honour in his eyes. "Prince Bosso, I wish for you to continue trianing with your men, once you're ready, of course. Spend as much time with your new family as you need" he added the last part. Shir looked at her brother, he to seemed unsure but bowed his head to the King's order. "Thank you all, keep this plan private and you are all dismissed" the King dismissed the meeting.
The court leaving the room and everyone went to the respective places. "What do you think I should do?" Prince Angus jogged his way over to his sister. Shir was walking with Toney, the two had an unspoken agreement to go there to his tower.
"I don't think you're expected to do anything" Shir smiled softly at him, ruffling his hair. The little Prince whining when she did.
"Hey!" He pouted before speaking again, "I'm going to go trian then- tonight do you want to see me progress!?". Prince Angus asked in an excitment, his eyes shined with a pride, making the Princess smile back.
"Sure thing, not gonna beat me though" Shir challenged, shrugging playfully. Earning a determined expression from her little brother.
"Just watch!" He declared, "I'll be the best Knight that Vallendrconis had ever seen!".
"And I'll be watching" Shir nodded back, Toney walking just ahead. "But I have to go, have fun" the Princess patted her brother's head before catching up to the mage.
"See you!" The little Prince called back, making his way to the trianing grounds.
"Toney" she greeted, her tone hushed so no-one can overhear, "there's something I'd like to talk to you about".
"I know" the mage giving a slightly cold glare. Side eyeing the Princess in thought, "not here". Shir felt her heart beat after as she followed the mage, her nerve picking up from the number of events that day. From the windows of the halls, the deep orange lights of the sun setting casted long shadows. Usually a pretty sight but after today, she felt her anxious thoughts race over her mind.
Traveling up the winding stairs never felt so endless. Never felt so impossible. Near the top, Toney spoke more softly, "you know I felt something?". The mage asked, his gaze more gentler as he looked at her before opening his doors. With a nod, Shir added.
"I have some concerns" she spoke nervously, walking through the old doors and into the messy lab. "When you startled or well, when you felt it, I heard a voice" she explained, sitting at his desk.
"A voice?" Toney lost his suspicion now looking at the Princess in a concern, "what kind of voice?".
"It... was soft but stern at the same time" she began. She could already tell that her expression betrayed how shaken up she was. Her heart still pounding as she remembered what it said. "It- he... he said to be careful of who I trust and... chanted" her tone shook as she remembered how she had heard it sounded.
"Chanted? What did it say?" An alarm flared into Tonies voice, his tone worried for her well-being, "it didn't curse you? Did it?".
"I don't know" Shir choked out, bouncing her knee at the thought. "It kept rambling on about how the whole situation wouldn't bring peace and... again, I should watch who I trust" she looked into Tonies eyes.
His eyes narrowed but still filled with a concern, "do you... recognise the voice?" He asked. His unsure tone made it all the more unnerving for the Princess.
"No, it also... he almost had an accent that I can't quite place- I feel like I've heard it before but barly?" The Princess sighed, unable to explain how it sounded fully.
"What kind of accent?" Eoviet suddenly spoke, causing both the Princess and the mage to jolt. Startled at his sudden presence in the corner, pen still in hand.
"Ah!- how long have you been there!?" Shir asked in an alarm as the smaller boy looked over in a confusion. A concern of his own in his eyes.
"I've been... working I guess, just a few more pages and I would have fully translated the book for you" Eoviet muttered, he looked startled himself. As if the boy was worried he was in trouble but Shir decided to look at the positives. They have new potions to try, any other books found in the volcano ruins can be translated too. And, as a bonus, Eoviet looked to be doing better with cleaner clothes and his hair seemed to have been trimmed.
"Oh yes, thank you" Toney smiled at the boy, sitting beside him to look through what he had written.
The original demand the voice had told her was "find the withered Prince" and on that day she had found Eoviet. Questions surfaced again but no matter how much she looks at the boy, she could not see a Prince. He looked like the average citizen who had unfortunate times. But then today the voice had warned her not to trust someone and then her father declared a not so honorable plan. Shir had no clue on who this voice is and even less on what its desires are. But its accent was far too similar to the slight accent that Eoviet had. So easily missed before but clear to her now.