Tomas’ expression struggled to maintain composure as he came striding towards her, a mixture of stress and worry, she thought. He bowed quickly

“My Lady.”

She nodded curtly, “Another one?”

He wiped his brow. “Yes the third in as many days, one Liam O Flynn, he claims to be one of Brandubh’s closest and personal aides.”

Saoirse rolled her eyes to the sky, “They are all Brandubh’s closest and personal aides.”

“So it would seem. That aside however we cannot keep denying them an audience. By their own words a new messenger will be sent out each day. Each one with the same goal and each one with the same purpose. Whatever your future plans we will need to hear them out in any case. Sooner rather than later.”

Saoirse tightened her grip on the throne, she knew he spoke true but she still felt deeply the betrayal and taking of power by Brandubh and Harfrigh. It had taken all her will and many words of caution not to have the envoys sent back to Brandubh, minus their heads. She brushed back a loose strand of hair and forced a smile.

“Three is lucky to many is it not. Very well send him in.” She glanced towards Cara alongside her on the dais and she began to usher out any of those hovering in the Great Hall.

“It may prove useful to hear what our new Rulers have decided upon as their rationale for sacrificing all Aileann is, and has stood for in order to achieve their own lofty ambitions.”

Tomas gave her a concerned look but turned to signal back to the guards waiting by the door.

The man named Liam came strolling confidently forward with all the airs of one freshly exposed to power. He bowed elegantly and deeply and gave what he likely supposed was an alluring smile. Saoirse made no move or reaction but merely stared.

He coughed and arched his neck.

“My Lady, on behalf of Aileann and its new Leader I thank you for this opportunity to meet and discuss with you. All tales of your beauty have not only been proven true to my eyes but have indeed been exceeded.”

Saoirse flashed him what she knew was a brilliant smile and raised her hand to her chest as if flattered.

“Exceeded? My, I can see now why Brandubh sent you to meet with me. You speak so elegantly sir.”

Liam shrugged but could not hide the pleased look creep across his face.

“I speak only the truth my Lady.”

“Oohhh the truth, well then.” She paused and leaned forward, “Tell me then what exactly was it Milesia promised the great Brandubh and Harfrigh? I beg you please do not tell me they actually believe they will be allowed to rule once the Empire has got its hooks into our Lands. Or are they truly so ignorant?”

Liam’s mouth gaped open in surprise. He really thought a few sweet words would gain him favour.

He straightened the ridiculous hat upon his head, no doubt a new purchase for his esteemed new position. He grimaced. “My Lady, you should have a care not to speak so...rashly. Because of Brandubh and Harfrigh Aileann will be allowed continue in its growth and prosperity. They are both now in grave grievance at Breogan’s death.” He paused and sighed mournfully, “However. Try as they did the old King would not be swayed from his path of war and destruction, a path instigated by the Druaidíi as they sought to win back control for themselves.”

Saoirse laughed. “Oh I see how foolish of me, it is the Druaidíi then that even now spread themselves outwards demanding access to each city and its supply and trade from which they will now command.” She adjusted the diadem atop her head. “You may not care who it is that rules so long as you attain and keep whatever prestige and status it is you have but I and many others yet do. They are not so secure as they believe.”

Liam smiled a crooked, vile smile. It suited his face.

“Really?” he enquired.

“Has not Brandubh all but ruled this land these past ten years? Has not Earl Harfrigh the largest host of any in this land? And has not two thirds of the Earls already sworn allegiance to the New Order?”

He raised his arms airily with a bemused look on his face.

“Perhaps we have different understandings of the word secure my Lady. Brandubh has not wished to begin his reign with pointless and trivial war amongst ourselves, thereby he has excused such Earls as yourself from the War on the Druaidíi so as to allow you time to… reconsider your future. However there is a limit to the new regime’s patience and there are those which have put forward that perhaps Árann would be better served with a new ruler.”

A silence fell over the room. Saoirse allowed Liam’s words linger in the air a moment. A flicker of doubt shot across his face.

“So you have come here today to tell me that I am to be replaced is that it? That unless I give in immediately I’ll be disposed just like Breogan and just like his replacement a puppet ruler put in. Is that it?”

Saoirse bit her bottom lip. “You're not very good at this are you Liam? I see now why the other two were chosen ahead of you. However be that as it may you are right about our new leaders. They appear to have won or forced over enough to their side. For now that is. Do not think that I am alone, indeed Earl Deirfuar and Ní Bhadha, they too are absent from this march on Belvoir are they not? And those that do already support them, one wrong move, one wrong step, one sign that this new Alliance can be put aside and they will soon prove their loyalty.”

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

She stood up from her throne. “Well then you have served your purpose here I feel. If you’ll excuse me I have more pressing matters to attend. I bid you farewell.” She began to walk towards the royal chambers.

Liam’s eyes narrowed in annoyance. He shows his emotions too readily, he truly is not familiar with the court.

She felt his eyes on her as she departed. “Very well then, I shall return to Brandubh and inform him on all you have said.”

Saoirse halted in her steps. “To Brandubh?” she asked puzzled.

She shook her head laughing, “Oh no forgive me I believed you had understood. You won’t be returning anywhere, though Brandubh will have an answer. Just not from you. You, you shall be heading to an altogether different audience.”

A look of bewilderment and confusion hit Liam. As the guards came up behind him, his face changed and twisted in a mixture of anger and fear as realisation came over him.

“What? Do you mean to arrest me? To throw me in some dungeon as if I were a common thief? YOU cannot, I am an envoy of the Lord of this Land, ruler of Aileann.”

He seemed to gain confidence from his words, “I demand you to set me free.”

Cara whistled through her teeth and winced on his behalf, Aoife brought her hand to her open-mouth. Saoirse swivelled to face him. “You demand? Oh my Liam but you really aren’t good at this.”

She waved her hand to the two guards by the door and they snatched Liam as he stood mouth gaping open stupidly. He was taken out screaming and threatening all the while. Saoirse looked to Tomas who had kept the troubled expression on his face throughout the entire affair. A silence filled the room.

“I know, I know but it can wait for now. Come we have much to speak on.”

She didn’t wait for a response but instead led Cara and Aoife into their private quarters away from the outside world. Her head ached, as it had done for some days now. So much turmoil and change, and none of it good. Not for her, for Árann, for Aileann and especially not for the Druaidíi.

She sat down leadenly gratefully accepting Cara’s offer of a drink and took an eager mouthful of the sweet honeyed wine.

Last in was Tomas and he shut the door carefully behind him.

“Was that wise? A snivelling little shit of a man he may be but he was still a man of Brandubh.”

Saoirse rubbed her temples methodically, “Brandubh will not care either way what happens to the man, all he cares for is my response, Árann’s response. Besides he can hardly blame me for his man becoming overly drunk and lashing out at an innocent tavern girl can he? The law of Aileann is clear and I am well within my rights as Earl to do so.”

“Is that what happened to him?” Tomas raised his brows. “Very well then let him rot a while. What then is our response to Brandubh, for that is something we must decide.”

Cara swirled her cup in the air. “We can’t seriously consider agreeing to this new disposition. Brandubh and Harfrigh are fools to think that Milesia will truly grant them power. Once they are settled and established and their role fulfilled they will do as they always do and have one of their own come in. We all know it to be true.”

Aoife looked at her with custom appal. “What then? We declare ourselves independent and take on the might of Milesia and the other Earls both, is that it? We will all die a pointless death. If we know what happens then we must be smart and work sensibly to stop it. Even if that is from within.”

Saoirse regarded Aoife equal parts impressed as surprised. Perhaps not so oblivious as I thought. She placed her cup down.

“My sister is right, though I have not hid my feelings well these past days I know I must. As of now there is precious little options available to us than to wait and bide our time until opportunity arises. What I said to Liam, heated or not, is true. Brandubh and Harfrigh along with the Milesians do now command an imposing force. Enough to have those that disagree or despise their betrayal remain silent for the time being. But they are out there and if any sign of a likely revolt were to arise then they would soon join us.”

She tapped the table for emphasis. ‘Yet there is no guarantee now of anything and we cannot afford to risk Árann because of our emotions. Árann comes above all else. As Aoife said we must be smart and sensible. Until such a time as we can act, we do not react.”

Tomas scratched his tightly cut beard and looked on inquiringly. “So?”

“So, we let Branudbh and the rest to their war on the Druaidíi, meanwhile we prepare and try to reach out to others of a similar mind to ourselves. Discreetly of course, whatever of Brandubh Harfrigh will no doubt have his own plans for Árann. We must give him no excuse.”

She paused and focused on Tomas, she tilted her head.

“But enough about that for now, what word from Marc? Has he discovered where they are being kept?”

Tomas sat back in his chair bobbing his head, “He has. And by his accounts they are being given all comforts from within the Guest Chambers at Gorias.”

“They are to be kept there?” Saoirse frowned.

Tomas shook his head, “No not there, not for long anyhow. Marc has gathered word that they are to be shipped off to the continent to be forgotten in some corner of the Empire, as is the Milesian tradition with conquered royalty.”

Saoirse drew her finger across her lips thoughtfully. “Then they will sail from the Abhainn as soon as an appropriate vessel is found for them. Have every move watched and the dock closely observed at all hours. The orders remain the same. They may yet be of some use.”

Saoirse drained the last of her honey wine and set it down in front of her. She refrained when offered another by Cara. She shrugged and poured one for herself instead. Saoirse zoned out in her own thoughts as Aoife began to berate Cara for her drinking.

If luck was on her side then perhaps the men she had sent to Belvoir would reach the Druaidíi in time to warn them. Luck however did not seem to be following her much these days. Yet there was little she could do. Her own feelings accounted for little when put them to that of Árann and all her father had built and fought for. She couldn't help, doing so would affect little but cost much. Too much.

She resigned herself to the fact and reached out for the beaker off Cara.

I must wait. But when the time came and an opportunity arose she would act. Hard and fast, just as she had done before. That had worked out then and it would work out again. No matter who or what stood in her way.