Amelia Theran was not impressed with the so called hero of Xi Long. Nor did she trust her. While her father did not believe her she called it a woman's intuition. That person did not consider Myredien anything more than a backwater.

Behind the formalities she sensed an air of superiority. If she was being honest she know Maxius and believed he would be enough for Myredien and it was dangerous to bring so many foreign forces to their lands.

Her father however, Trevor Theran was a true believer in the Temple of Caphaine. Thankfully despite this he was still a good natured person and had not driven put all the mixed bloods from Myerdien.

Amelia was a pragmatist by nature. Her father always said she got that from her mother, but the reality is they had more than a few mixed blood nations right on their doorstep. The Katari tribe of werebeasts was quite at home in the forests to the north and not far from them was the Harpies of Areiat Peak.

Both of which were a significant headache, but the true threat was the Draakin empire. Isolationist and powerful they were not to have their toes stepped on. Plus they were much more united than humans were.

Xi Long had their own concerns as well.

Amelia walked down the halls. The envoys from Osland would not arrive until a few days later. So this gave Amelia some time to decide if Xi Long was going to be absolutely useful outside of vague promises from the Temple.

As she entered her chambers a shadowy cloaked figure sat in her chair near the balcony. “I see you made it. Did you get the information I requested?”

“Yes my Lady Theran” the man stood up and bowed.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“Good, give me a summary and then a full written report later.”

“As you say. My observations and information about the rising Felmark family uncovered a series of inexplicable events all surrounding them.”

Amelia nodded, a family rising from nothing in the matter of a years time was worrisome when Myrendien had enough external threats as it was.

“Many people who are key figures in other noble families will go missing soon after stepping on their toes and if they don't go missing their behavior inexplicably changes.”

“What of the Land purchases?” Amelia asked.

The man took out several rolled papers with seals on them. “I managed to get copies of the purchases. They have been buying up large swaths of territory near the border of Osland and the edges of our territory. Sparsely populated due to occasional beast tides that emerge from those areas.”

Amelia bite her lower lip this smells of imminent rebellion. What purpose was their to buy up land that no one lived on in a region famous for not being good for crops and is dense forest, bogs, and crags.

“One last thing. I discovered. The man who was incharge of the family is not the father of the Paladin Maeve he is in fact the young lover of her mother. Both of whom met while the mother was still a simple stewardess at the Blackwood’s manor. As far as I can tell Paladin Maeve is not privy to many of her families actions and is nothing if not loyal.”

Amelia raised an eyebrow; it was fairly unexpected. “How can you be certain?”

The man went into his cloak and pulled out a small book. “A word for word copy off her diary. It wasn't enchanted so it was easy enough for a simple seer copy for me. Read it she herself is conflicted and confused about the man who married her mother and finds her mother's behavior over last year completely out of character.”

Amelia grabbed the notebook. “It appears I have some reading to do. Tell your agents to keep an eye on the Felmark’s movements. I want you to report anything suspicious around Paladin Maeve.”

“As you say Lady Theran.” The man bowed and left the balcony seemingly vanishing.

Amelia walked over to her chair and sat opening the diary for the first page.