When Queen Illa received word that the Master Earth Elemental had escaped and the villagers had scattered to Gestassi, she called for an emergency council meeting. She wore a navy blue tunic with bishop sleeves under a black button vest. Her skirt was a matching black and blue, horizontally striped skirt that ended just above the ankle. Her black leather boots covered the rest of the way down. She also wore a matching silk cape with gold trimming, as the colors of her country.
The meeting room was rather old and weathered. The wooden floors creaked and the stone walls had dulled from the elements due to one of the walls having open air archways instead of a wall. This room was designed for people of all elements so in addition to the open wall that let in the fresh air, braziers were placed in each of the corners, plants covered every surface that wasn't already occupied with scrolls or knick-knacks, and a suspiciously placed fountain sat in the back middle of the room. Illa wanted a water wall but apparently that wasn't possible, not to mention they would need to move a ton of junk around to set it up. Oh well. She'll figure it out eventually.
Illa sat herself at the head of the long table, with Lord Chancellor Quince on her right, and Lord Marshal Eris, Lord Treasurer May, Secretary of State Arnold and Bookkeeper Novik around the rest of the table. Novik was the last to arrive. He was desperately attempting to keep his stack of notebooks and scrolls in his arms. Some of which were the previous meeting’s notes. He sat on the other side to Queen Illa, the only other spot available, and spilled the contents all over the table. A servant who followed behind him stepped up to organize it quickly into readable stacks.
“I’ve called a council meeting because the situation with Dawic has not been resolved. In fact, it’s gotten worse.” Around the room were groans and gasps. Bookkeeper Novik immediately opened a new notebook and began scribbling notes. She waited a moment for the noise to calm down. “Not only has the Master Earth Elemental completely escaped the area, but it is following the villagers of Dawic. There are reports that they have tried to run from it by heading to Gestassi.”
Arnold spoke up first. “I’ll send the update to the Lord of Diplomacy to alert our allies in Lacruss. They should be prepared if the creature were to wander into their borders.” He sighed. “Hopefully they can cut it off before it creates a diplomatic nightmare.” Queen Illa nodded. She didn’t want to think of what they would do if they thought Listhua sent a Master Elemental.
Eris spoke up to read out a piece of paper. “In addition to that, the report said they found the chamber where it once laid deep in the mines, behind a hidden wall. There was no other entrance, only a crystal that the company shattered. It stopped the regular sized earth elementals coming from the mines at least, but we hope it incapacitated the Master Earth Elemental, if not then at least hindered it.”
“Could the Obrarians really have commanded such a creature from so far away? Did the report say how far in that this particular chamber was?” Arnold asked.
“It seems the chamber was deep underground. About an hour’s trip down, from the company’s report.”
“It’s entirely possible the Obrarians used a ritual to awaken it, and a way to control the creature. Lord Marshal Eris, how are the new weapons coming along?” Queen Illa looked over to the Lord Marshal.
Eris cleared her throat. “The weapons are coming along nicely, and the residents of Keford have reported no incidents. As long as the creature continues it’s warpath south to Gestassi, the factories should be safe.”
“When do you think the first one could be ready?”
Lord Marshal Eris hummed as she began to think for a moment before Lord Chancellor Quince interrupted her. “Hold on, I wasn’t made aware of any new weapon factories.” They looked at Queen Illa, a bit upset and confused at this sudden piece of new information. As her second in command and trusty advisor, they had a legal right to know this information.
But Of course they didn’t know, she kept it hidden from them on purpose. Quince had a bit of a soft spot and would not approve of it. “I didn’t want to burden you if the experiment turned out to not be effective. Lord Marshal?”
“It should be ready in 2 days.”
Queen Illa frowned. “So far off. By then the Master Earth Elemental would have already reached Gestassi and done an incredible amount of damage to the town. That sort of destruction is unacceptable, especially to a farming town. We need a company or two to destroy that creature now, or at least slow it down enough to get our new weapons in place.”
The doors burst open, and Guard Captain Lisa stood in the doorway. The two guards who stood by the door looked alarmed and like they were about to stop her but failed. Guard Captain Lisa pushed forward and strode in towards Queen Illa to formally bow directly at her. Sea water dripped from her clothes and hair where she stood. Some parts of her guard uniform clung to her body as water dripped off of it. “Your Majesty. I’ve come to directly report to you and the Lord Marshal that a Master Water Elemental was just at our docks.”
There were a few shouts of alarms across the room and Lord Marshal Eris jumped up, her mouth wide open. “What?” Queen Illa asked, equally horrified.
Guard Captain Lisa kept her head down and her bowed position as she spoke, since she hadn't been given relief yet. “I was able to repel it for now with the help of my guards, but I don’t know when it will be back. It had already destroyed much of the docks and flooded the area when I arrived. Some of the buildings there are also partly destroyed due to its attack. I'm requesting for repairs to be sent immediately and for the navy to be engaged on lookout.”
Queen Illa looked at Lord Marshal Eric, whose face was pale in shock. Lord Chancellor Quince faced the wall, head down and presumably rubbing their eyes in frustration. She looked back at Guard Captain Lisa, who was still bowing and dripping sea water all over the floor. “Stand up. Are you sure it’s gone?”
Guard Captain Lisa nodded. Her face was stern but it still betrayed her emotions. Exhausted and scared. It must have been some fight. “Yes, madam. For now, at least. I saw it leave into the bay with my own eyes.”
Queen Illa immediately straightened her back and clasped her hands in front. The docks were extremely important due to it's constant imports of food and, more recently, materials to make the turtle tanks. Keford was by the ocean but it was too high up on a cliff for any docks. So any supplies it needed for the tanks needed to first be shipped here, to the capital, before being sent by carriage south.
“Lord Marshal Eris, gather a company to protect the docks, and the workers. Repairing it is top priority.” Eris nodded, and sat down once again. “Lord Treasurer May, see if you can find a construction crew to repair it as quickly as they can. We can’t have those docks out of commission for more than a day.” Lord Treasurer May snapped her fingers at Bookkeeper Novik.
“I know a few people,” Novik said. He paged through an older book and made a few notes in the new one.
Queen Illa cursed under her breath. “It has to be those Obrarians. They’re controlling the elementals to hurt us where it matters most. First our main mines, and now our docks.”
Lord Chancellor Quince finally turned around, their face as if a new horror had dawned on them. “They might hit the food next.”
“Guard Captain Lisa,” Lord Marshal Eris began. Lisa looked over to her. “Set a patrol outside the city around the farms and send another patrol to Keford for extra protection.
“Yes, madam.” Guard Captain Lisa bowed once again and left the room. Her boots squished on her way out, wet footprints pointing to where she went.
Once the door was shut, Queen Illa shouted out a groan and banged her fist on the table. “I can’t believe those Obrarian assholes! Sending those elementals to attack us instead of themselves. Who do they think they are?” Queen Illa looked to Eris. “Once we deal with these two Master Elementals, we will take care of Obraria once and for all.”
“A full out war? Half of the weapons we’ve ordered aren’t even close to ready. We’ve barely got the prototype ready,” Lord Marshal Eris said with immediate disagreement. She glared at Illa and crossed her arms. Illa didn’t think she would be the one to say no to war. She always said she was itching to use her army that is always training.
"I know our new prototypes aren't ready yet, but we've got a host of other options within the military. We could--" Another knock at the door. “What. Is it. Now?” Queen Illa said through her teeth.
The door opened and an elderly gentleman walked in. He bowed as far as his back could take him. He was slow as well, and the room waited in bated breath to hear what the old man would inevitably say in a whisper. “I apologize for interrupting Your Majesty, but Alos has called home the Secretary of State, Arnold.”
Arnold frowned. “I’m in the middle of work. He knows this.”
“I’m afraid I must insist. Alos has instructed that I cannot leave until you follow me out.” The elderly gentleman stood up tall, and respectfully crossed his arms behind his back. He stood patiently by a wall, as if he suspected he might be there a while.
Arnold looked concerned but conflicted. Illa knew he wanted to leave and could tell something was wrong, but his duty to work and formality to the Queen prevented him from leaving. Queen Illa sighed and waved her hand away. “Go, Arnold. I know your husband would not interrupt your work if it were not important.”
Arnold sighed in relief and smiled at her. He was halfway to standing up before he remembered, “Thank you, Your Majesty,” and formally bowed before he swiftly exited the room with his butler.
Queen Illa nodded, and waited until the doors were closed once again. She sighed deeply as she cradled her head in her hands. “I pray to the stars that the deities do not give me another interruption. Lord Marshal, your navy would know how to fight a water elemental, correct?”
Lord Marshal Eris nodded. “It should be no problem for them. I’ll send an order to Navy General Luena to head to the docks and keep an eye out. Guard Captain Lisa had some excellent suggestions, and I would consider following through the rest of them.”
Queen Illa nodded, and thought to herself for what came next but they were interrupted. “I don’t understand how the Obrarians would be able to control the elementals way out here. It doesn’t make sense.” Lord Chancellor said, as he finally sat down. “Something doesn’t add up.”
Queen Illa placed a finger on her chin. “I see. Maybe they have external help? Some foreign country we haven’t made contact with?”
“How would we even begin to plan for an unknown country?” Treasurer May asked.
Queen Illa frowned. How was she supposed to handle this? With two Master Elementals attacking her country, word will quickly spread. Her citizens will begin to whisper about how she’s failed as a Queen. Those unaware of the Obrarian plots and methods will think the Master Elementals were a divine intervention. She would have as well, if she didn’t know any better. If the citizens found she was going against the Deities, another possible assassination attempt might happen. She needed to live, if only for her children.
Stolen story; please report.
The army was spread a little too thin for her liking, so if someone or something were to attack, or if there was civil unrest, the guards would have to step in. If she were to call them in, they would be unable to do their regular jobs in the city, and crime would rise. Especially in the southern district. She needed to get a handle on these Master Elementals as quickly as she could before things got out of hand.
“Queen Illa?” Treasurer May repeated.
Queen Illa finally broke from her thoughts and looked up. Everyone stared at her with slight concern. “What was that?”
“We were looking for your input on wheeling in some ballistae from the east and north walls to the docks, in case the Master Water Elemental strikes again. The treasury can commission a few new ones for them later,” Lord Marshal Eris said.
“And I was saying that commissioning new ballistae for the walls would take time and money that we don’t have,” Treasurer May replied.
Queen Illa waved it all away. “Yes, yes. That’s fine. Move the ballistae but don’t commission new ones. Council dismissed.” She got up and didn’t wait for anyone to even stand up before she left.
Heavy footsteps followed close behind her. She groaned internally. They didn’t say anything, and only followed her to the office she escaped to whenever she needed to think. This one was different from her regular office, in a private and hidden area few knew about. Quince closed the door behind them. “Whatever it is, I’m not in the mood,” Illa said.
“What are these weapons you and Eris were talking about?”
Illa groaned and sprawled across the window bay seat and lazily pulled off her boots using only her feet. Then closed her eyes and leaned back. She didn’t want to deal with their lecture. Not today at least. No doubt he had something in store for her involving her "lack of consideration."
Quince pulled up a chair next to her and asked again. “What. Are. Those. Weapons?”
Illa sighed, and finally spoke up after another moment of silence. “Think of it as a large, metal turtle, with people inside. Some hurl out the elements, some have rifles, and some use canons. Mostly it’s a way for our non-elementalist people to participate in combat, instead of relegating them to a pure support role.”
“Metal turtles?” Quince scoffed. “You know we don’t have the resources for that sort of experimentation. How will it move? By pushing the earth under it? We cannot spare an elementalist to move those so-called 'metal turtles.'”
Illa shook her head and finally looked at Quince. “It’s floor is not bare, it’s also metal. It’ll move by the new steam engine. Again, so our non-elementalists can participate. There’s no way they’ll be able to push that hunk of metal by themselves.” She looked out the window again. It overlooked the city and from here she could see the docks, flooded and destroyed like Lisa said they were. She frowned. Income and taxes from the docks would see a large hit until it's fully restored. “The non-elementalists will steer and operate the machinery. I’ve had Eris training a small batch for a few weeks now.”
“And why wasn’t I made aware of this? I’m Lord Chancellor, Queen Illa, I should know these things.” Quince pulled out the title. So it was going to be like that.
“Despite the title, Lord Chancellor Quince, you are not privy to every move I make. I am not entitled to explain to you my thought process. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m a bit busy at the moment,” Queen Illa snapped. She oh so rudely pointed towards the door, and went back to looking out the window. She didn’t bother looking at Quince’s face before they left, though she could tell they were upset. They both knew that excuse was flimsy at best and illegal at worst. But Quince could tell that any further communication wouldn't be productive.
Before they left, Quince spoke a little quieter than before. “I may be religious, but my duty is to you. And I still don’t think the Obrarians did this. I think you’re making a mistake with using these new weapons against them.”
Illa jumped slightly when the door slammed closed. She brought a knee close to her chest. Her children would have loved the metal turtles. They loved anything that didn't require an element to use. She has to use them, even if she had to go to war with Obraria. Now that the mines would need to be put on hold,they couldn’t waste even a scrap of metal.
She eventually got to work in her normal office once she had calmed down. The office that had 2 guards posted outside and 1 inside ever since that assassination attempt. Eventually, a knock came at the door. Arnold walked in, having finished his urgent business.
“Your Majesty,” Arnold said once inside. He closed the door and bowed deeply, a letter clenched in one trembling hand. He took a deep breath and stood up after the appropriate amount of time. “I apologize for the interruption earlier.”
“It's alright, Arnold. I do hope it was important though,” she said, and went back to her work.
“That's why I've come here. It was important. I have, apparently, received a letter. From Obraria." Illa stopped writing at once and looked up. She hoped her face didn't betray any emotions. “A letter from Obraria after my daughter was kidnapped by them,” Arnold forced the words out, his face scrunched up in pain. They kidnapped his daughter? How could they even get in the country?
“Kidnapped? Let me see.” She held out her hand, which he placed the letter in. She could feel his eyes bore into her as she smoothed out the letter to read it. The letter said that they took his daughter as a political hostage because of her actions against them. They even said they'd give her back if she admits her defeat and sends home her spies. Her frown deepened the further along she got. “I offer you my condolences, Arnold. I had no idea they would go after your family for my actions.”
"Thank you, your majesty."
She read the letter once more. Carefully this time. Slower. She traced the seal in the corner with her thumb. It was an Obrarian seal, but not of the king. She had correspondence with the king before so she was familiar with it. And the wax was rather familiar but she couldn't tell how. “I assure you, the barbarians who did this will pay in blood."
“Please, your majesty. All I want is for Seila to be returned to me, safe and well.” Arnold quietly pleaded. His hands thumbed over a locket around his neck that she only just now noticed. It likely had Seila's likeness in it. She could understand all too well what he was going through.
“I understand your worries. I will make sure she is returned to you, alive and well, as you say. I will meet with Lord Marshal Eris, and see how we can best approach this as safely and quietly we can.”
Arnold nodded, and bowed once more. “Thank you, Your Majesty. I’ve also already notified Guard Captain Lisa of the situation and she will send word to the border guards to Obraria, as well as personally search the area where Seila went missing.”
“Those barbarians. Stealing children,” the queen mumbled to herself and scoffed. She looked back at Arnold. “I suggest you go home and rest. This situation must be terribly stressful on your family. I will handle it from here.”
“I think I will. Please send a messenger as soon as you hear anything regarding Seila.”
“The very moment.” Illa gave a small nod as Arnold left. Once the door was closed and she was sure he was out of earshot, sighed, which then turned into a shout of anger and threw her pen across the room. Those sneaky bastards are always one step ahead of her. That child is collateral for sure. If she moves her turtles on them now, Seila would be killed the moment they see the new weapons crossing their borders. Illa rubbed her temples for a few minutes to calm her frustration. Deep breaths in, then out. In. Out. In…
Out.
Illa began to pace around her office for a few minutes instead of sitting back down. The border guards will be of little help. It's highly unlikely that the spies who managed to slip in would be able to go the official way out. And they weren't even trained in spy work or espionage. She will have to send her own spies into Obraria. Preferably a small group. She'd need Eris' help. Illa opened the door to her office. The guards bowed to her, and kept their heads down. “One of you go and fetch the Lord Marshal.” With any luck, she would not have retired from her work by now.
“Yes, your majesty,” they both said. Illa didn’t wait for them to decide before she closed the door. Her heart ached for Arnold, truly it did. No parent should face the loss of their child. But Arnold still has a chance to get his back. Lord Marshal Eris arrived a few minutes later. Her black and silver hair was in a low bun and her glasses hung off her neck. The door closed behind her.
“What is so urgent that I had to stop writing my reports?” she asked, impatient as ever. She crossed her arms. Despite her anger, they were long-time friends. Eris was older than her by a decade though, and had always acted like this outside of the meetings. Illa allowed it. She found it endearing, in a way. It let her put down her regal attitude to just be herself.
Illa walked over and handed her the letter Arnold had given. Eris took it, now sitting, and looked quite suspiciously at her before she put her glasses on and read it. Her scowl never left her face. “Tch. Invaders of the highest spiritual order, huh? They know nothing of a growing society and an expansive economy!” she said when finished reading, and handed it back. The glasses dropped back down. “So what do you want from me? This is Arnold's problem not yours. I know you're worried about getting Seila back, but what you should be worried about is how a couple of Obrarian spies snuck into Listhua in the first place. No doubt they were behind the awakened Master Elementals. They question of how they got into those mountains remain, but it's no longer important. Give the order to engage the turtles and send them into Obraria at once. They can't get away with destroying out country."
Illa shook her head. "You're acting too rash. We can't rush in there just because you don't care about the hostage. How many spies are currently in Obraria?” Illa knew that she should already know this information, but with everything else going on it slipped from her mind. Why remember such trivial details when it was the Lord Marshal’s job to know it off the top of her head?
Eris sighed. “3, if they're still alive.”
Illa's thoughts began to swirl with ideas. “Send another spy to Obraria, with instructions to alert the ones inside they've been caught. This spy should then find the child and get out.”
Eris raised an eyebrow. “Did you even listen to what I just said? You're not invading? Not even negotiating?”
“Oh, stars no. Why would I negotiate with them? Instead, we should order a rush on a few of the Turtles already in production and immediately get them stationed near our Obrarian borders. As soon as Seila is out we'll attack. Those barbarians don't know who they're messing with.” Illa paused for a moment. “Do you have an idea for who should be sent to retrieve the child and alert our other spies?”
“I do, but he went with the previous company that went to deal with the Master Earth Elemental in Dawic.”
Illa nodded, but looked at the Lord Marshal with curious eyes. He? Men are not too often subtle for that line of work. “Very well. All of them should be arriving later today. Have them all meet me in the court hall so we can send him out as soon as possible.”
“Of course. If that's all, then, Your Majesty?” Eris said with a little bow. The last part of her sentence was merely a formality, as it was clearly said in a way that suggested Eris was tired of it and didn’t believe in such a formality. Illa waved her hand with dismissal and went back to sit at her desk. Eris quickly left.
Illa sighed. Those barbarians must know how Listhuanean society is slowly collapsing in on itself if their cheeky, religious filled letter was anything to go by. A higher amount of non-elementals are being born, and less ore came out of the mines. Trees mysteriously dying too fast and fishers coming back with less and less fish. Taking so much from the earth itself leaves little for her citizens. Producing any less is produced and the citizens will no doubt become restless.
Illa glanced at the clock on the wall. It was almost time for the court judgments. It should mostly be over by the time the company arrives. She put on her shoes and crown with a groan, and was once again facing the two guards outside her door. “After escorting me, I want one of you to keep an eye out for the company that went to Dawic. Let them in immediately and send them to the court hall.”
“Yes, your majesty,” they both said.
Queen Illa made her way to the throne room as she mentally reviewed what the cases that would be shown to her would be. Today she would be witness to a judgment of a few thieves, a famous pair of violent robbers, and a serial killer. The thieves were nobodies, only one time offenders so far but they stole highly valuable items. It's unlikely they would get the death sentence, unless something strange happened or was revealed during the trial.
But the pair of robbers were active for almost half a decade, and have almost twice as many murders on their hands. Thousands of pounds in coins and jewelry had been stolen, and only now have they finally been caught. Their base was also located just under the city, with many of their stolen goods still in-tact. They had only been caught cause they had trouble selling all of their stolen goods. The authorities in charge of this investigation were said to have been having a hard time returning it to the proper victims due to many of them dead or with no family. These robbers will most likely be sentenced for death.
As for the serial killer, she has been charged with 17 counts of murder. All of them either previous husbands or love affairs as well as their families. Illa read that the evidence was inconclusive for a few more murders the investigators were unable to pin her to. This woman will be sentenced for death as well. Luckily for herself, it is not the Queen’s job to be the judge. She is merely an official witness, and giving permission for the judge to use the royal judicial powers to execute criminals.
Illa already had too much on her plate, and had found this law to be much needed time saver. It was a rather recent law too, introduced only within the last 100 years. Once her mother passed her Queendom title to her, she simply needed to appoint her a judge and they would take care of the cases that would have gone to her desk. She need not waste her strength or time going over evidence and determining the guilty party for every cow thief or stolen wage. She only needed to review the extreme cases and make sure the appropriate measures are being taken.