Dukes Zelos and Aldan looked out over the Capital and its reconstruction from the highest tower of the castle while behind them sat the King holding his grandchild Crius. Most of the smoldering heaps of twisted metal, timber and stone had finally been removed. What could be salvaged neatly stacked ready for claim by a building project or removed from the city completely for true destruction.
Thirty-two thousand people had been left dead or severely injured because of the explosions across the city. It had taken many mages and regular citizens two weeks to pull both survivors and those not so fortunate from the rubble and the identification and burials took even longer following that.
Almost every single household in the areas had hung black sheets or curtains in the window to indicate a house in mourning. Many of those across the city had followed suit either because they knew some one or just in solidarity of those affected.
“Do we have any leads left to follow up?” Arien asked Henrick.
“I’m afraid not. There was just too much destruction. A few were captured in random gate stops but they are so far down the ladder they haven’t been able to offer us anything of use.”
“Thus, the deaths of so many of my citizens will go unpunished.” The king looked up from the quiet Crius for a moment.
“I’m afraid so.” Henrick spoke quietly “It has been two months now. Any chance we had of finding the culprits would have been in those first few weeks. I think all we can do now is put a bounty out for information pointing us to Nox Reges, but all intel gathered so far points to them having fled the capital with their tails between their legs.”
“He’s strong Henrick. The vitality and power I can sense in him is phenomenal. It’s almost like he is the Tempest.”
“I know, yet his core shows no signs of healing so I have no idea how he is so strong already. I’m just grateful his recovery was straightforward. I have no idea how I would search for Eluna while looking for every medicine under the sun for Crius.”
The King looked deeply saddened at this statement. He had allocated all the resources he could to the search upon awakening, but it had yielded even less results than Henrick’s original methods with Nathan. The other nobles had ensured that there was too many meetings and red tape for any fruitful campaigns to be launched demanding their attention in court on minor rebuilding questions that were nothing but a waste of time as they had to refer to the builder’s best judgement anyway.
“I’m going to improve your ranking in nobility Henrick. You to Arien.”
“Your Majesty?” They both queried at the same time.
“I’m sick of the politics but if I remove those stoking the flames then a full-blown civil war will erupt. I half feel like this is part of the reason Nox Reges left. They had created enough disruption for our own bickering to bring everything else down.”
“But why us? Surely there are others just as loyal to you?” Duke Zelos asked frankly
“There are! But Arien, none of them have stood by my side for as long as you have. None made sure I made it back from the front lines after that poison struck. Only the two of you did what was necessary to rout the wrongs in the capital while I remained incapacitated.” He spoke clearly and concisely like it had been well rehearsed in his head knowing exactly how his friend would react upon hearing the news.
“And yes Henrick, you too will be Grand Duke. Only right as the father to the next Crown Prince. While I will announce both of your increases in rank at tomorrow’s sitting of the Noble Council, we will announce Crius’s title at his first birthday. A grand event I expect to play host to Henrick.” The last part was said with a stare that said I will not take no for an answer here.
“Of course, Eluna will be ecstatic when we bring her home.” Henrick smiled and gracefully accepted.
“Good, good. Then it’s settled I shall have my people start making the arrangements tomorrow.” The King laughed. “A celebration and the announcement of a Crown Prince should be just perfect for raising the morale of my people. It has been too long since they had a reason to smile.”
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“I believe you’re right, Your Majesty.” Duke Zelos agreed. “I am sure that one day, your boy Henrick will be the one to rescue all of us and stop the Kingdom of Tempest falling to our enemies.” His hand clapping on his shoulders.
“That’s a lot of pressure to put on my boy Arien but I know what you mean. There is a certain feeling when near him.” Henrick smiled.
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On the other side of the city the newly wed Duchess Huntington and her husband Jericho Whitlock had just discovered they were expecting a baby following their quick wedding. At first Esmeray had been furious at the number of nobles who didn’t attend but then she had been the one to push ahead with the wedding after her organisations’ explosions had been rocked the city.
Still, she had managed to receive a lot of presents from her nuptial arrangement and even some compensation for businesses she had lost in them, so it gave her start up capital for her venture’s relocation. She had sent them to one of the northern port kingdoms, Ravenglass. It was a neutral territory managed by a council of merchants. Four Trading Companies sat at the top tier of the council and under them were seven other trading companies who were rotated in or out every three years based on their annual turnover, profits and taxes paid to the city.
Fortunately for Duchess Huntington, House Whitlock had a small trading company already established there and she had learned all the necessary steps required for setting up the firm through her husband.
“I do have a stake in the Whitlock Trading Company dear. I’m sure I could have talked the family into allowing you to invest in them rather than starting from scratch.”
“No. It will be good for me, you, and the baby to get away from the Capital for a little while. Besides you know I don’t like to rely on others. I would much rather see something I have built succeed rather than rely on nepotism and have people question my worth or talent.”
“I get that Esme but…”
“No, it is done. I’ve already told the council of my decision and that I’m taking a break and that they should expect me to be gone for a minimum of two years. We are going to build a trade route between the Tempest Capital and Ravensglass. When I return my wealth will eclipse Marquis Drax and possibly even rival that of the King.”
“Then at least tell me what I can do to help Esme.”
She smiled and gave him a peck on the cheek “Notify all our friends and make arrangements with the house manager to pack up a large quantity of our furniture.” As Jericho was about to leave the room she added, “oh and please would you send in Fawn.”
“Of course, my dear.”
Once Fawn had entered the room, she asked for a quick breakdown of how their other plans were progressing.
Fawn quickly summarised the migration of Nox Reges and how each of the top ranked had been allocated their next missions per her Graces instructions. Duchess Huntington had arranged for seven of the top ranking members to be given funds and five members to start up an office for her new trading company in each of the towns along the route between Tempest City and Ravensglass. Whilst the trading company would provide a fantastic amount of income could it be grown, the main reason for setting it up would be as a cover for the activities of Nox Reges. They were going to deal primarily in information gathering and discreet assassinations for the next few years while they rebuilt strength and numbers. The occupation of information gathering was a very lucrative enterprise, some of the top businesses sold daily and weekly packets. These updates could provide key information on breaking events in countries or even competitors in the same field if you were willing to pay sufficiently well.
Esme had decided that this would give her a firm grasp of who to strike and when. All she then needed was the how. Obviously she could start wars between Kingdoms with some propaganda but she also wanted her own force and recently despite all their individual skill she had found them lacking in warfare especially in the recent battle against House Aldan. They couldn’t even take a house so how could they be expected to topple a Kingdom. It was this matter she had entrusted to Fawn’s brother, William Thatcher.
“And your brother?” Esme asked as the rest of the reporting finished.
“Four is already at the training camp of the Mercenary King in Netheria’s Kingdom. He has taken the fifty people you assigned him, and they are slowly working to integrate themselves. Four was immediately promoted due to his level of strength but the others have all been inducted at a lower level.”
“And has he managed to establish a reasonable timeline yet?”
“Not an accurate one but he did say the fastest to make General in the Mercenary Army previously was General Wyvern, a title awarded by the Mercenary King, at his advancement after four years.” Five answered quickly. She had learned early on that One had a serious temper especially if she thought others were holding back.
“Four years before we can begin to whisper in his ear. Well at least we can train our troops and recruit from within during those four years.” The Duchess said aloud while pondering to herself.
“Anything else, Your Grace?”
“No, you may leave now Fawn. Thank you.” The Duchess said already starting to plan her future steps based on all of the updates she had received today.