6 years later.

Avern pawed at the ground before rearing up to his full height to let out a roar of challenge to his foe. The beast opposite him answered in kind.

Avern sighed deeply, savoring the thrill of battle inside of him. He had bonded with his own beast earlier than most had even managed their first transformation. They were one now, him and the Chimera inside of him. His youthful divided mind had been moulded into steel. In this form it didn’t matter who or what was in front of him, he would never lose. They both had Royal blood but only he had the blood of a King.

He began to prowl forward, he kept his head down and his horns lowered in case his enemy charged him. But he didn’t, the Chimera opposite replictaed Avern’s methodical approach, matching him step for step. They had been fighting for some time, both were more conscious of wild attacks now, both wishing to conserve their energy.

Avern stopped when they were almost within reach of each other’s long tails. Then he began to circle. He waited but his opponent made no move to attack. He’s finally learned a bit of patience.

Avern decided he needed to be the one to initiate and launched himself forward at his foe. They met in a vicious embrace, claws and horns clashing into each other. He waited for his opponent to lash out, he knew he would and he saw it coming. The sharp steep-tipped tail rushed towards his face, but he was ready. With his own tail he deflected the blow and used the momentum it gave to swing it around to snap the front paw of his opponent. Unbalanced Avern was able to easily force him down onto the earth. With a final flourish he pinned the smaller Chimera down to the ground. He raised one paw with claws spread wide and brought his tail to hover over his foe’s ahead to emphasise his winning position.

“Yield?” He spat the word out. But he spoke clearly.

“I Yield.” His foe whispered even as he continued to resist.

Avern didn’t release him, instead he put more pressure down on him.

“Fine, I yield. I YIELD.” This time there was no whisper.

Avern let go of him and leapt back.

It was enough for today. Satisfied he placed his paw to his head and shut his eyes. He breathed in three deep breaths to calm and focus himself. When he opened them again he saw through human eyes once more. He no longer felt the beast inside of him spurring on his battle lust.

“You two work too hard.” Andol shut his book and jumped down from the balcony he’d been reading on.

“Chimerean or not you can still die with such reckless fights, even if you do call it training.” He came forward to help his brother up off the ground, Savar’s changing back had been far less polished than Avern’s.

“I could never hurt my cousin.” Avern smiled, “Not truly. Besides he pushes me harder everytime we do fight, soon I may not even be able to get the better of him.”

Savar laughed as he dusted himself down, “I have still a way to go yet cousin.” He sighed, “We need a drink, you too Andol, we should enjoy these moments when we can.”

Andol wrinkled his brow, “These moments? Is training so precious to you.”

Savar shrugged, “If you did more of it you’d understand.”

“I do enough,” Andol tapped his head, “it is more than just the body that needs training.”

Avern stretched deeply and began laughing, “Come on, that is enough for now. Let’s head in. There is something I have to tell you.”

Avern raised his hand to stop Savar’s incoming question.

“Wait. Inside. Let us get some food and drink first, we will need it.”

It was late and the palace was quiet. Just as Avern liked it. The servants seemed to have finished their tasks for the day and the only people they encountered as they made their way to the his quarters were members of the Royal Guard.

Avern led the way to his own room. Inside the table had already been laid out before them. He relished the sight as he sat down to it.

He waited until both of his cousins had eaten their fill before he got up and took the beaker of wine from the table, he poured them both fresh cups. Sitting back down Avern drained what was left of the goblet in front of him.

“Look, I have made my decision. I am sick of waiting and wondering what is the Houses will do. I am King. I lead, they follow. I have listened to their calls for patience long enough. The Vampiri already control Sangar, now they move against Chairn. It is too much. There is nothing more to say. ”

Andol scoffed, “Nothing more to say, there is mountains more to say. Namely the fact that there can be no decision without them.”

“Then isn’t that the real problem?” Savar laughed throwing his hands up in the air, “The Vampiri would have us go to war for all and every city we now control. The Houses would have us go to war in our very own city. I know who it is we must deal with first. Before it is all too late.”

“It is already too late,” Andol replied, “by about two generations. The Forty have grown too powerful, they should have been culled years ago. But they weren’t. And we must deal with the reality.”

Avern sighed, both of his cousins were right. The Houses were both the biggest problem and the greatest asset to the King of Gorias. His finest warriors and his most stubborn opposition.

“I have no choice Andol. I am sure my father thought the same thing. And my grandfather before that. Each one believed the Houses too powerful to go against. And where has it left us? Our House holds the Kingship yes. But in name only it seems. What good it is being King if my every order is granted only with their approval. There is no law which says it must be so.”

“No law no, that is true. You are king and your word is Law. Or it is in theory. Unofficial laws can be just as powerful as real ones Avern. You know that. If you don’t get the support needed to go to War then Gorias will not go to War. Remember how it went for us the last time. You barely kept our family’s position intact. The Lords saw that as proof that any decisions made needed to be made together. Your father-”

“Made mistakes.” Avern slammed his fist down on the table. “He made mistakes. But he had the right idea. He knew he had to do something to show who was Gorias’s leader.”

“Then let us weed out those which conspire against our House, against the King, against you. Cousin,” Savar turned to face Avern, “You know we have to address this. We can not go on like this. Our House built this city. The Kingship is ours not only by right but by Blood, by sacrifice, by history and whatever other measurement one might use. It is our right to rule. Let us show those which would stand against us why the blood of all Chimereans starts with us, and ends with us.”

Andol shook his head, the older of the pair he was far more cautious and weary of rash moves than his brother. Typically it was to him Avern turned to for advice on such matters. But he was convinced. Drastic action was needed. Savar might go too far at times but on this matter they were in agreement.

Avern raised his hands, “I do not want to create chaos. I only wish to ensure Gorias’s future. Besides this War against the Vampiri is necessary even without the trouble from the Houses. They must see that. It may be the exact thing we need to unite our City. And to solidify our Family’s position at it’s head.”

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Avern stood up and walked over to stand behind his cousins, he placed a hand on each one but leaned down towards Andol.

“Call a council cousin. We shall see how the Lords of the Houses view my proposal. Through it perhaps we may see just how many dare defy us. If at all.”

Andol patted Avern’s hand, “Very well then. Perhaps Forty Houses is too many anyhow. To War cousin. To war.”

The Hall was full. It was always full but Avern thought it looked particularly so today. From his throne atop the dais he could see everyone and no one. My subjects. Though after today he wondered if they would remain so. Below him the Chief Herald was busy naming out the Lords and Ladies of the Forty. He was still only on House fourteen.

Avern let his eyes wander over the room trying to pick ou the faces in the crowd’s anonymity. There were supposed to be no set places or preferences given to those standing beneath the throne. But there was. As real as any Royal decree.

The most powerful Lords to the front, the weaker to the back. Predictable. If they were smarter they would hide themselves better.

“Lord Dentad of House Danann.” Twenty four.

Avern gripped his throne tighter, it wasnt a lack of intelligence which made them so bold. It was pride and a lack of respect for the crown which did it. My crown.

He began to drum his fingers on the arm of his throne, to the left and right of him he could almost feel the shaking of his Royal ‘Advisors’. Cowards all, not one supported him in his idea. They at least had the sense to keep shut about it, even if their eyes screamed out in protest. But he had made his decision, and now he would keep it. Besides, his cousins were the only advisors he needed. Those in the employ of the Families were merely pawns designed to guide him to the correct conclusions according to their donor’s wishes.

Finally the Chief Herald came to the end of his announcements and with a low bow to the King made his exit. Avern gritted his teeth when he saw the man give an equally low bow to the Lords of the Families.

He got to his feet and stood up straight with his arms out wide.

“My Lords. My Subjects.”

Avern stifled a smile at the many grimaces to the word subjects. They needed to be reminded that though a Lord might not answer to many, they did have to answer to one.

“I will not waste time on idle chatter. I have called you all here today for one reason and one reason only. There has been much debate, much treatising and a immense deal of back and forth. I have watched it all closely from my throne. But as your King I must and will have the final say on this matter.”

He paused and delicately wiped away a loose strand of hair. The entire room seemed to be holding it’s breath. Avern smiled.

“We will have War.”

The room erupted in noise. Avern strained his ears, there were some sounds of agreement mixed in the chorus, but they were being drowned out by the cries of protest and anger.

As expected. They do not even have the courtesy to fake it.

The Lords and Ladies focused only on the desire to share their own feelings about the announcement. They did not even look up when Avern leisurely drew his sword. No one paid any mind to him, too busy in their mindless babbling. He let the sword fall and hang by his side, the blade’s tip barely touching the stone steps. Slowly but nonchalantly he began to walk down. His sword was truly that of a King, handed down through a dozen generations. The steel was Adronian and the sound it made as it slid down the steps was piercing. By the time he’d reached the final one no voice could be heard. Avern raised his sword from the steps but didn’t sheath it.

“You are not pleased by your King’s words?” Avern spoke softly, “Has something I said caused you stress? Is war so frightening to you?”

For a moment no one dared speak. But only for a moment.

“My King. There are procedures, we cannot make such a rash decision without vote. We must be agreed on this, the Forty must have it’s say.”

Of course it was Lord Farda who spoke. His House, Aureate, had grown too wilful with it’s abundant wealth and riches and it’s Lord had followed suit.

“There are no procedures Lord Farda, there are certain privileges which my grandfather King Asa granted. He, it is true, began to consult the Council on all matters before making a decision. But that was done out of his own generosity and willingness to share in responsibility. I have no such need. I am the King, and I say War.” Avern lifted his sword onto his shoulder, “So it will be. The Forty may agree with it, or they may not. But they will obey it.”

The room took on a frosty air at that. Let’s see how far they will push.

“If there is to be War then we will all suffer, us, the Houses more than anyone.”

Lord Grendal stepped up beside Farda, his House, Atlantian, was one of the highest rising of the newer Families. The Old and the New, both are against me.

“If you wish for war then you will need us. All of us. And our support.”

“You are right Lord Grendel.” Avern agreed, “I do need your support. And as your King I will have it. Infact I demand it. For that is a King’s right.” He pointed his sword at him, “Is it not?”

Lord Grendel cast a quick sideways glance before turning back to the King.

“It is a King’s right. But a king must answer to his people also, he must put their concerns over his own in order to best rule his Kingdom. Your family has always done that. I advise you now do the same, my King. Do not dismiss the wishes of the Forty for the one. For it may be costly.”

“Costly? Watch your tongue Grendel and have a care how you address me.” Avern waved out to one of the ceiling-high windows, “I have a Kingdom to rule, it may be hard for you to imagine life outside of our inner walls but we have a city full of people here outside of the Forty. Them and three more cities full of people besides. Am I to abandon their concerns over yours? When they are so threatened? We have already lost much to the Vampiri. Can we afford to lose another. Chairn is our ally is it not?”

“It is, but be that as it may, the Forty are the ones who helped build this city, and the Kingdom which you now rule, without us there would be no people to worry about.” Lord Grendel frowned, “The Vampiri are a threat. But we must be sure of victory when next we meet them. We, the Houses of the inner ring will be the ones who suffer most if we fail. Our allies may be threatened but if there is war it is us and all our Chimeras which will be key. We must take precedence.”

“Precedence? Over who exactly? The People.” Avern took a step forward, “Or me?”

Grendel didn’t answer, instead Lord Tregar came forward to bow before him.

“You are the King. No one takes precedence over you. Your Highness.”

Avern nodded his head at that. Lord Tregar was the leader of House Fortan, an old and proud Family closely aligned to his own. I have some support it seems.

“But is a declaration of war truly what you want? The Vampiri wish to entice us in doing just that. We would be playing into their hands.” Farda turned to implore his fellow Lords as he spoke, and he got approval from many as he did so.

“The Vampiri always want War, if not now then when? The King has made his decision and we must follow it.” Tregar actually moved forward now, he stood directly opposite Farda.

Avern turned and walked slowly back up to his throne.

“I have made my decision. There will be War. Some of you may disagree with that decision, as is your right. I cannot control that. But remember this, any act which goes against the King is punishable by death. Not just of the one who commits it but his entire House.” Avern let his eyes linger on Farda and then on Grendel, “Should any of you choose to disobey me then I will not hesitate to use my own right as King to have you killed. If we are to defeat the Vampiri then we must be united. We need to face them as one, as a Kingdom and under my rule.”

Avern paused, he tilted his head slightly, he waited to see if any would take the bait but the Lords had pushed hard enough it seemed. He had surprised them with his speech. They are not used to having their King be a King.

“I have already made the necessary arrangements and tomorrow we will meet with the army beyond the outer walls. We must not delay, the Vampiri have already moved against Chairn, we must begin our march immediately if we are to come to the city’s aid. If it is lost then the entire Northern Front will be open to them. I will not have that. Chairn has been a close friend of ours for too long to abandon it. We are bound by history and blood.

Each House is to fulfill their obligations, half of their Chimeras and two thirds of their House guard. We will not leave our city undefended but we will make a statement at Chairn. It will be a show of force and a reminder to the Vampiri that we are not for breaking. I will command myself. Tomorrow at noon all Lords are to meet with me in beyond the city walls where we will outline our plans before we depart.”

He placed a hand on his chest, “Today marks a new age for our State, one which will put us firmly back to our glory days. Together we shall place Gorias back to where it belongs. On top.”

Avern waved the Chief Herald forward and he hurriedly made his way back to below the throne. As he began a formal closing of proceedings Avern looked back to the crowd of Lords. Grendel and Farda stared up at him. Their faces showed nothing but he knew. He had made his move before they had thought to make theirs. He smiled down at them and they smiled back.

War is a dangerous thing, many people would die, some Lords included perhaps. They will not smile for long.