“One thousand three hundred troops including officers. And yourself, Talah?”

Talah glanced down to the report Ricktor had given her, “Two thousand, including officers. Together we can form five armies, each strong enough to rival one of Otto’s own.”

King Derk pushed a pile of chips representing one of his armies against an enemy stack. Talah was new to the crown and he didn’t know how she would react. Would she be a courageous leader, or a vengeful tyrant? Would she squander her people’s wealth, or use it to bring them to greatness? He needed to test her, “Your father and I, we had a trade agreement between us. I can fetch a copy of it if you wish. I believe it greatly benefited both our doms.”

Talah reached across the table and pushed one of her armies deep into enemy lands. Her hand was bundled in bandages.

“I know of the agreement, and I will continue to honour it as long as you are king.”

“You have my thanks,” Had she really signed the surrender with a burning brand? A small smile tugged at the corner of his eyes. He could use that kind of passion against Lord Glove, especially if she tempered it with the wisdom of her father.

“Tell me, why do you strike at the center when King Otto’s other armies remain undefeated?”

Talah pointed at the enemy forces arranged along her border, “King Otto only has four armies within striking distance of our lands. If all goes as predicted, we can force a standoff by not attacking. Our fifth army is then free to capture the city of Blackearth.”

The strategy was sound in principle, but any idea which started with ‘If all goes as predicted’ was guaranteed to fail’, “And when his other armies begin marching to the border?”

“Hopefully we can disengage at least one army to reinforce—”

King Derk pushed one of Talah’s armies away from the enemy, and removed a token bearing the Blue Hydra from its top.

“On a map a disengagement appears simple. In truth, numbers being equal, it would destroy our army. We do not have enough troops to do what you say.”

Talah bent over the map, “What would you have us do?”

She would be her father’s daughter yet.

“We need additional forces; one or two more armies, three if we can manage it. We may then engage as planned. Once engaged, our excess strength may be sent to outnumber any Ganter army two to one. We can destroy them. After Otto’s forces are routed our own may then be sent to support the defence of Blackearth or our border as needed.”

Derk withdrew new chips from the bowl and placed them on the table, “This leads to two problems. The first is obvious. We do not have one or two armies. The second is predicated on the solution to the first. Even if we were to find more soldiers, neither of our doms have the resources to supply them.”

Talah pointed to a small dom on the other side of Talahdom, across from Ganter. “Here. Always was despised by my father. Very wealthy, but cruel to its citizens. The royal who owns it, a Queen by the name of Vesper, has countless children. Where Vesper is cruel her children are vapid and foolish. Her dom is sick, on the brink of self-destruction.”

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“We could easily crush them. And then what? We seize Vesperdom’s coffers for our own?””

Talah nodded, “Aye, and I have spoken to a mercenary captain, Broken Sword. He says his company is a match for any of Otto’s forces.”

Derk barked out a quick laugh, this new queen was impressing him, “So you thought all this through already. Of course, seizing the dom raises another problem. Have you thought of a solution to it as well?”

Talah frowned, “I’m not sure what you are talking about.”

“How do we seize Vesperdom? Who will oversee it once it is conquered? Do we place a puppet? or does one of us expand our borders? We cannot simply take the valuables and leave, for I have no interest in being made raider, even if it would save our domains.”

Talah’s eyes became hard, “I will do what it takes to ensure my people’s survival.”

Then she smiled sheepishly at Derk, “But becoming a raider is beneath me, fear not.”

Though her words sounded honest, Derk felt the colour drain from his face. He turned away to disguise it. “Of course.”

“What if we come as liberators? Depose Queen Vesper and free her people.”

Derk nodded to himself. Her idea was inventive, but flawed, “A people may appear oppressed from the outside, but that does not mean they wish to be free. If they wish to be free, it does not mean it is our place to intervene.”

“Why not?”

“Unless they ask for help; unless we are liberators in body and mind, we must question our true motivations. Suppose we do attack, and Vesper meets us for parley. There, she offers us treasure, enough to supply our armies, and a promise to spare her people from the whip. How would you react?”

“I would take her surrender.”

“And if she broke the treaty the moment we left?”

“As long as I have her riches, what concern is it to me?”

Derk would allow her to slip once, but the second would be fatal. “If you start a war of liberation and a bribe is sufficient to end it, you show yourself to be nothing more than a covetous coward. You would lose your queendom. You know this.”

Talah’s shoulders slumped and her eyes closed, “Yes, I apologize. It has been too long since I slept. My father’s death weighs on me.”

Derk could not allow compassion to enter his heart. Not yet, “It weighs on us all, but we cannot allow our sorrow to destroy us. You have demonstrated your need for council. Speak with your Conor. They can tell you which thoughts are rational and which are impossible dreams.”

Talah jerked her head in a nod and pulled her hand free.

He gave her time to think about what he had said before changing the topic. “Um… One last matter before I leave,” Derk felt his face go red, “Supposing our alliance succeeds, and we find an acceptable means by which to conquer Vesperdom… Well… One of us needs to become the ruler. We should decide upon this now, so it doesn’t divide us later.”

“What do you suggest?”

“You should lead.”

Talah cocked her head, “And in return?”

“We declare a formalized alliance between our doms.”

Derk didn’t think it was fair that Talah did not even blush. Instead, she raised an eyebrow, “A marriage? Who takes control of your kingdom after you? Myself or your daughter?”

“You would stay ruler, of course,” Derk found it hard to look at her, “If I die before my son comes of age, you’ll get the whole kingdom. Otherwise, the two of you would split it.”

“So you give me a kingdom and a half, or two should you die in the next, what, sixteen years?”

Derk chuckled, Talah seemed to be taking the suggestion rather well “My lad’s nine already. I need only live another ten years.”

“What is your benefit? You take from your eldest a chance at rule and give me more land.”

“Guaranteed unity between our doms is a great thing to receive in return. We must be inseparable if we are to face Otto. The people have always believed in the tradition of marriage over a declared alliance. ‘A piece of paper does little to please the populous.’ Can’t remember who said that.

“As for Camil, she understands such necessity. Besides, she’s always preferred warfare to diplomacy. She’ll be delighted to have a spouse to relieve her of her rule.”

“Then I accept your offer. A formalized allegiance and the rule of Vesperdom once we find a way to conquer it.”

“I will talk with my Conor and my daughter to tell them what has been arranged between us.”

Talah offered Derk her arm, “I would escort you to the door.”

Derk took it in his own, “My thanks, Queen Talah.”