Throughout the Queen’s land, her jurisdiction reaches throughout Zemkiya. Her Royal Court of the founding families surrounds her kingdom, each a ring upon the kingdom’s ever-growing trees. Upon a wall, hidden deep with the Kingdom is a memorial. The Age of Terror had made many a sculptor familiar with them. Yet on this one is where the surviving members of the Royal Court must go. A tradition. A white wall is written with black names. The lines upon its stature were written in black and paved in blood.

“The Royal Court of Damocles and their familial lineage fell in the Age of Terror.

The Royal Court of the Khans and their familial lineage fell in the Age of Terror.

The Royal Court of Johannes and their familial lineage fell in the Age of Terror.

The Royal Court of the Hills and their familial lineage fell in the Age of Terror.”

Enough names to fill the wall in its entirety with the same ending repeated. To remind the children of their status in the world. What being above the masses truly means. Their children do not remember, but the parents do. As the Black Death took everything from them.

The Queendom of Calia Talisandra was the latest in a line of Kings and Queens who faltered during their Golden Era. Her Royal Court was made up of those whose blood came from the earliest founders, back when all they had to their name was bloodlust and sharpened rocks to defend their homeland. Now the court was made of aspiring magicians and bureaucrats. Men and Women would never have to waste their energy on lifting the essentials and could afford an extra vacation by quick replacement of a digit in the payment of their subjects. Glistening towers and churches made for those a step above lined the streets as they led into the center of the estate. A towering castle purposed to defend against siege now made to be the shining star in the middle of a royal galaxy.

“You may rise for your Majesty! Queen Talisandra!”

“Always with the kneeling”, thought Lucia. Visiting the Queen and going through these motions always made her annoyed. Staying and waiting while the security guards looked at them from miles away was fine, it was security after all. The real issue was all this grandstanding and false civility with the nobles around her court. All of them trying to get close to the two of them and get in their good graces. Ave’s easy flattering all the while was the only keeping her from pushing them aside.

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“So, how did the Conners fare on their latest mission?” The Queen's voice was one that radiated around the throne room, filling her subjects and noblemen with awe. The cape that draped over her shoulders was one passed down since the second king of Zemikiya, relentlessly stitched and fabricated to keep history’s weight pressing on her.

As her voice finished ringing in his ears, Ave’s head met her face with pride. “It went flawlessly, your majesty. Work on Bertham’s estate should resume rather quickly.”

“Excellent news. Do you have any other such requests to fulfill?”

“Well, no your majesty,” said Avean. “We’re currently free for a good while.”

“Then if you indulge me for a bit longer, it would seem that I have another request for you. The town of Khannis has been indulging in business that is… not representative of our kingdom.”

At the sound of this, Lucia decided to finally speak up. “What kind of business?”

“The kind to attract the Black Death.”

A silence went over the court. The nobles who stood to the side gripped their pearls and men shivered in the boots they had yet to fill.

Lucia stepped forward in anger. “Even after all that, they still continue?!” Ave raised a hand to keep Lucia from going any further but with a raised finger, Queen Talisanda stopped him.

“No matter the atrocity, there will always be people who seek to further their bottom lines. And with foreign nations encouraging this behavior, it was a matter of time before one of them took the bait.” For a brief moment, her eyes glanced at a wall of rulers. Portraits painted of Kings and Queens, the earliest in their twilight, but several rows leading up to her not seeming to even pass an early maturity. “Now it is up to us to set an example.”

Lucia had followed her eyes, her head down. “I… understand, your Majesty.”

The expression on Ave’s face said otherwise but Lucia knew exactly what she was implying. It was the reason for the Kingdom choosing them as their enforcers in the first place.

“They will be regulated properly, your highness.”

“See to it that they are. You may go.”

The duo bowed before they went on their way. The eyes of the Queen, her guards, and her court following them all the way.