After an early breakfast and sparing with Findel, a few flakes of snow started to fall on what was a rather cold winter morning, which seemed like a harbinger for a frozen winter where the Northern passage would freeze and the war would come to the Northern Shore, this all too likely turn of events left Theria introspective and pensive, it was clear the Icekin Alliance thought so, as it explained their actions.
Passing the large Brown Wyvern that sat upon the imposing central plinth, gazing at all who passed, guarding the Courtyard that led to the Palace. Theria examined the gothic architecture of the Palace, the large glowing Ward runes, heavily armed guards and the yellow roses that grew everywhere, Theria thought about how these flowers were the Queen’s favourite flower, and the King insisted that the Palace gardens grow as many as they could.
They walked through the Palace admiring the arches and pillars till they reached the Council Chamber, Findel waited in the lobby, and Theria walked in to take her ancestral seat for the first time; then she listened and considered the other members of the Council while she waited for the lunch to start, the informal time before the King would call the Council of War to order and start the meeting.
Theria had severe concerns as it was uncharacteristic of Baron Icemauler’s failure to show up on time for today’s Council of War meeting especially given his background serving in the Army. She wondered if he, too, might have faced an ambush or an assassination attempt as he had won his Barony through martial prowess a decade ago fighting the Icekin alliance.
Theria considered each of those present at the Council while looking at her ring of discernment, those it glowed green suggesting as benevolently inclined towards Theria and her interests and, therefore, safest for her. Tall King Leonardis V wore a grin, a bright yellow doublet, and olive green leather hose. The ruling Monarch, who had always been a staunch ally to the Adalbern Clan, seemed very happy and appeared to look on Theria with considerable favour, she wondered if there may be more to this than usual, but she couldn’t put her finger on anything other than recalling the two week secret fishing trip the King and Queen had gone on back in May but other than that she could think of nothing unusual. Theria’s train of consciousness considered that it was odd that the Queen was absent today; perhaps she was unwell? Next was the King’s second oldest brother Marquess Leonardis Purple, Warden of the Northern Shore, who she had already heard loudly complain to others about his men tackling nightly boat incursions dropping off small groups of Icekin on the Northern Shore. Then lastly, Viscountess Hope Joy seemed quietly to be gaining in confidence and now seemed happy in herself. Hope Joy remained watchful and taciturn, despite Baron Pecharti regularly trying to engage her in conversation, which she continued to decline.
Her ring glowed blue for the largest group suggesting they meant her good will but could not be entirely relied upon. The King’s oldest brother Duke Leonardis Gold the second in line to the Throne. He was tall, blonde athletic and had a very large beard but wore a light grey nondescript outfit. Countess Threadstore the King’s youngest sister, someone Theria always thought of as a Matronly Aunt with sticky fingers who wished to be involved in deciding Theria’s fate much more than Theria was comfortable, someone she generally tried to avoid spending time with. From the far south of the Kingdom, friendly old Earl Bloodburn. Viscount Smart was a balding, seemingly jovial man, although Theria couldn’t tell if he was as smart as his name implied. Baroness Elwin a sharp angular-faced stern looking woman in her thirties to forties who seemed to be passing judgement on others with her eyes, she was known not to be afraid to cause offence. She was also known to love hunting with hounds and favoured the use of blunt force weaponry in battle. Talkative Baron Pecharti always seemed to be looking for a way to engage a woman in conversation; although he didn’t seem to care much what the particular woman in question at the time had to say in reply, he was known to be good at cards and to favour heavy infantry weaponry and heavy armour.
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The ring glowed orange suggesting these three Landed Nobles meant her no ill will but no good will either. Viscount Love Joy, a man who never seemed to think he could be wrong about anything and was happily volunteering his opinion on any topic asked for or not, Baron Grey from the Grey Isle to the West North West Admiral of the Fleet, he was quiet with a weather beaten visage, he was said to be in love with the Sea and to like tactics that favoured light infantry. Young Baron Masti, from the cliff top Barony to the North East, which borders the Dukedom of Leonardis Gold, he was known to have inherited a resource poor Barony, but he managed by being frugal.
Only two did the ring glow red, for it suggested these people meant Theria ill will. First was Baroness Rosen which was not a surprise but also didn’t clarify matters in any ways. Did she see Theria as a love rival or Adalbern as a political rival or both, and even if any is so, to what extent are they? Viscount Boon’s enmity was a surprise to Theria, although perhaps less so when she reconsidered her interaction with his representative.
The King ended the lunch by standing and welcoming everyone to Jade City, giving Theria a nod as he did so. A minute silence was then held with everyone standing respectfully in memory of Duchess Aurora Adalbern. Then the King gave the most recent news that he had heard of Baron Icemauler that with his recent poor health, he had been bedridden for almost two weeks, and a messenger with an update was expected later today, probably before evening. My mages and clerics all agree that this winter will be very cold. Therefore we expect significant fighting in the Northern Province to be nearly guaranteed.
Next, the King reported that after all that ill news, I think we all need some good news. Taking her cue as if this was carefully orchestrated, the Queen chose this moment to enter, she was wearing a bright yellow dress that seemed to highlight her distended belly, and to Theria’s mind, this could only mean we were about to receive baby news. The Queen stated, “One is pregnant”, and then she sat down beside the King. Theria was so happy for them; they had been trying for children for over a decade without success. The King explained that the due date was shortly after the new year.
Talk of War was forgotten for a while as, one by one, they all gave a speech celebrating this fortuitous good news for the Kingdom of Fecundity.
Then matters turned back to the agenda many had considered over lunch what to do about the defence of the Northern Province and whether the King's Army, plus the Muster, would be enough to hold the North.
The meeting lasted late into the night, and after much wrangling, the King decreed that the Northern Army should gather supplies and march north in three days under the command of Marquess Leonardis Purple. To save our ability to retaliate, our Naval fleet would retreat before the ice to find a safe harbour in the docks of Port Grey on Grey Isle under Baron Grey’s command.
The King ended the meeting by asking all the landed Nobles gathered that if they or any of those under their influence could raise additional troops, they should do so and all be ready to reinforce the Army or Farreap as required. The King thanked us again for our contribution and then dismissed us for the night.
Theria stargazed in the still winter night as she walked back to the Adalbern Embassy and was fascinated by a shooting star; her thoughts seemed to be elsewhere, so while Findel guided her path and kept alert to any dangers lurking ahead that night, none materialised, and they returned to the Embassy through the light snow.