September 9th, year 948

Great Meeting Hall, Palace of High King Rhoden IV - Holun Caras (Old City)

Noon

Vrastus stood outside the meeting hall with the other assistants. Only the principal Advisorship councilors remained inside; and they were currently locked in heated discussion.

It wasn’t long after both Zorren and Regalus had independently confirmed the sighting of the dragon that the tone of the meeting changed quite drastically. The discourse had escalated rather quickly, and soon all but the highest officers were removed from the meeting hall to minimize interjection.

There were nine other men and women standing in the hallway just outside the southern entrance to the meeting hall. Vrastus, who stood apart from the others, casually looked between the two sentries that stood guard at the doorway. From this position, his exquisite hearing allowed him to know clearly what was being said from within the room. He was, after all, an intelligencer by trade.

Another man, young and regal looking, walked slowly away from the group and toward Vrastus. The attendant was a man in the employ of the Archduchess Catherine Kendrich; and Vrastus knew all too well how she and her company operated.

“Caleb, what do you think they are saying?”

Caleb was that new name which Vrastus had recently adopted, after adjusting his face to that of a well-groomed young man with light brown hair, green eyes, and distinctly plain features.

“It is hard to say, Jasper.”

“Zorren seemed quite concerned. Not his usual self, at all,” Jasper sneered.

“I trust Virtua Zalphineas,” Vrastus said, “As well as the others, with the security of our nation.”

“As do I, Caleb. As do I.”

Just beyond the door to the meeting hall, Vrastus could hear voices rising once again. Thoroughly unamused with Jasper’s meddling, Vrastus proceeded to ignore him and instead strained his senses to focus on the meeting…

“It cannot be done, Zorren! It simply cannot be done!”

Regalus was standing now, his volatile temper on full display.

“You would miss this opportunity to fell the creature?” Zorren asked.

“It cannot be done!”

“If the beast goes unchecked, it could do irreparable damage to this nation, Regalus!” Allan insisted. “Lady Kendrich?”

Catherine remained seated, though she was, in her own way, quite tense; and if it was not for a lifetime of court etiquette, she too would be standing in frustration.

“Allan is right, Regalus.”

“Precisely, I—”

“Regalus is also correct, Allan.”

Allan left his mouth agape for a moment.

“Well we cannot do nothing! Zorren!? Speak some sense to these people!”

Zorren stood up slowly from his chair to face Regalus who puffed out his chest in response.

“Thus far the creature has made no attack on our land. While it is unsuspecting, this could be our only opportunity to catch it off guard. If we do not, Viemen will be—”

“Bah!” Regalus waved his hand dismissively and turned from the table to begin pacing the floor. “To march the number you are suggesting to the south would not only take well over a fortnight, but it would be visible— especially from the skies!”

“And if we wait!?” Allan interjected. “If it is allowed to begin an assault on Eadenfros then it will kill thousands before we have any competent retaliation! And if it sets fire to the roads? To the store houses? To the armories? Then we will have lost our chance for a counter offensive! We should strike while the beast is near Viemen and—”

Regalus slammed his hands down on the table in a fury.

“Let it burn Viemen to the ground if it must!”

The room fell silent, save for the sound of Regalus’ labored breathing.

“Could we evacuate?” Catherine asked after a few moments. “Send just enough men to escort the nobility and officials from Viemen?”

“Lady Kendrich!?” Allan asked in shock. “How dare you!”

Catherine remained seated but leaned forward to address Allan directly.

“Sending so many men south would cost lives and money, neither of which we have in abundance to spare. A small battalion of men would be enough to escort the nobility and government officers safely out of Viemen, without risk to our assets.”

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“What good would it be to save Marquess Viemen or Lord Mannigold if their producing lands are burned to ash?” Allan shot back.

“Assuming Eadenfros does not fall under siege by this creature,” Zorren answered, “It would behoove us greatly to remain in favorable standing with the nobility. The citizens elsewhere may have their qualms with our decision, but they will be glad above all else that they were spared the horror of its onslaught. But to insult the nobility by leaving their own to die? That is a slight which will not be forgotten. Least of all by Archduke Mannigold.”

Allan sat back in his chair, defeated.

Catherine glanced over at Zorren who settled himself back in his chair. She could see no fault in Zorren’s reasoning; in fact it was precisely the same reasoning that she herself had employed. For once, it seemed the two were of the same mind.

“Still…” Regalus spoke in a low tenor, “This situation is worrisome.”

“What do you mean, Regalus?” Catherine asked.

“A dragon has not been seen this land for over a millennium,” Regalus started, “Zorren can no doubt confirm this.”

The table looked to Zorren who nodded his head slightly.

“It is true. At least with the degree of certainty that my office can provide.”

“And from where did you confirm this information?” Catherine asked with a tone of intrigue.

Regalus hesitated, no doubt due to the fact that he had resorted to the same resources as Zorren himself. Though, of course, Zorren did not share Regalus’ reservations for the inchoate musings of Omnirius’ ancestors.

“The Halls of Marvello carry many ancient records,” Zorren offered. “It is within those tomes that the old accounts of the land are kept.”

“Treatises of the Omnirs?” Catherine asked half-mockingly. “Can such documents be trusted?”

“What matters most is that our infrastructure is unable to handle such a threat!” Regalus shouted, eager to change the subject. “The creatures’ bodily machinations are beyond our ken. To engage with it, except in the direst of circumstances, would be ill advised.”

“So you are in agreement with Zorren, then?” Allan asked with a stern voice. “Let the beast devour Viemen and hope it becomes sated!?”

Regalus stared stone faced at Allan.

“If it must be done.”

“Then I am sorry, Allan,” Catherine said softly, “But it seems the decision is already made. The Royal Army shall remain stationed in Eadenfros.”

“And of the nobles?” Allan asked.

“We can presume that, for the time being, only the south is in danger,” Zorren answered.

“Which places only Marquess Viemen, Lord Mannigold, and their estates in danger,” Catherine added.

“What of Lord Thistletwat?” Regalus asked.

“He is far from risk,” said Catherine. “It would be of little sense to send an envoy there to retrieve him. He will be safer in Edge.”

“Sir Perry will not leave Viemen,” Zorren said as he sat back down.

“He will not have a choice,” Regalus answered.

“Even still, he will not leave,” Zorren insisted. “That man abandoned the wealth of his own family in Eadenfros to remain in that town. He will not leave it, especially when it is in such dire straits.”

“Sir Perry is too great an asset to lose to such a calamity! A martial prowess and mind for war such as his is not something that can be raised through hard work alone.” Regalus leaned his hand on the table and pointed a finger at Zorren. “He must be brought to Eadenfros.”

“Would you be the one to force him?” Zorren asked with a snide tone.

Regalus scrunched his brow at Zorren’s comment.

“The man is not so dumb as to try and fight such a creature!” Regalus reasoned, mostly for his own comfort. “He will listen to reason!”

“Enough of this,” Catherine cut in. “Sir Perry may have his military value, but on the matter of maintaining good-will with the nobility, he is of little concern. An envoy shall be sent to Viemen to retrieve Frederick and his house. If Sir Perry is keen to flee, then he may join them. Otherwise, he may remain of his own free will.”

“How many men will you send?” Allan asked.

“How many would satisfy you, Allan?” she responded coldly.

“Any men sent will die regardless,” Zorren added. “The number should be large enough to convince the naive people of Viemen that there is a chance they may survive, but not so large that their loss will greatly affect our ranks.”

“Should the people not be told to flee?” Allan asked with a frustrated tone. “Be brought to Eadenfros for protection?”

“If such a large mass tries to flee, there will be chaos, more so than we are equipped to handle,” Zorren said with a sigh. “Their migration will certainly upset the other towns and before long the entire region will become disordered.”

“If such a number were to head toward the city,” Regalus added, “It may draw the beast north.”

Allan shot Zorren a ferocious look; half a look of anger and half the look of a pleading man.

Zorren and Allan saw eye to eye on many things, but Allan was, to Zorren’s occasional frustration, not one to get his hands dirty. Truthfully, this was not Zorren’s ideal way to conduct business either, but the circumstances were unprecedented. A direct fight with such a beast had to be avoided at all costs. They were hopelessly out of their depth, both in terms of knowledge and capability. Even Vrastus had been of little help to them; indeed his only useful contribution was merely to confirm its existence.

“Fifty men,” Allan said, finally. “Ten to escort Frederick and his family north and the other forty to provide aid to Viemen.”

Regalus nodded; there was a touch of sympathy in his expression.

“It can be managed. I will have the assignments drawn up at once. As for Eadenfros,” Regalus added, “There are tunnels beneath the old city that may be used in the event of a siege. We will stock the area near to the tunnel entrances with provisions, weapons and soldiers. Those noble houses residing within Eadenfros should make their way to these areas. If the beast attacks the city, you will not be far from the tunnels.”

Catherine stood up from her chair. “I will let the family heads know. And what of the other noble houses?”

“Those lands beyond the vicinity of Eadenfros are likely to be spared. If the creature decides to attack anywhere other than Viemen, it will no doubt come to Eadenfros.”

Catherine raised an eyebrow at Regalus.

“How can you be so sure?”

“Dragons delight greatly in the utter conquest and humiliation of their opposition…Or so the texts say.”

Without warning, the door to the meeting hall swung open to reveal the Archduchess of Locture, Lady Kendrich herself, who stood tall and wore a stern look upon her face. She eyed Vrastus, who stood closest to the doorway, before turning her attention to the others as she stepped into the hall. The nine other attendants immediately jumped to attention and bowed their heads. Catherine’s own attendants then assembled themselves in rank order and fell in line behind her.

“Caleb…”

Vrastus turned over his shoulder to see Zorren now standing in the doorway.

“Follow me,” he said as he folded his hands behind his back, “There is much to discuss.”