A Meeting for All Councilors, ;Royal family, councilors, possibly Alys

[King Aldrin Seraphin]

September 20, 1031
Sapphire Room

He remembered her vividly. Dark curls springing from a pale scalp, and, below that hairline so thick and dark, a pale face with rose bud lips and sapphire eyes. She giggled now, her laughter pealing through her nursery and she even sat up. He had watched her roll on her back and onto her stomach so much that, even now, when she progressed so easily and hardly rolled much unless to crawl, he could see it clearly. Seraphina, he called her, and laughed and smiled as she crawled towards him, eyes wide with wonder. For some reason, fatherhood delighted him. The reason for this meeting, to make her the heir to his throne, was less delightful.

The chairs had been arranged around the circular table cleanly. Their wooden backs and arms glistened from being oiled. Some of them had a blue tint to them from the light hitting the sapphires and tossing it down onto the pale wood. The circular table itself, slightly darker than the chairs, had food and wine on it. Given the slight coolness of the air, the wine was spiced and warmed to comfort the nobility arriving as well as any members of the royal family that might join in the discussion that would rock the kingdom as a whole.

He had a feeling that Alys might not join them as she had given her opinion to him in private not a month before. Still, now in the beginning of September, he wanted to investigate the effects this would have on all areas of the kingdom before he put his idea into action. If he found that it was more trouble than it was worth, then he would simply have to wait for Alys to bear him his son and hope that he did not die before then or that all his children would be female instead. Fate was not looking too kindly on Aldrin in terms of children already and he knew it. As a result, he no longer wanted to depend on fate.

If life would not give him a son, he would simply change the rules and force the world to accept his daughter as his heir.

Even now, sitting at the table alone by himself, an empty goblet before him, he thought about his life. Thought about how it might play out. If he were to die early, Aidan would be regent by right and by blood. He would be a good regent, protecting Aldrin's son or daughter (if this worked and fate was truly unkind to him.) After all, Aidan had no desire for kingship. He was quite content with Anne and his estate in the Teeth which was even now producing some modicum of money that went to the crown.

Aidan would be a good regent if Aldrin died early. He would raise Isabel right and proper. Protect her birthright. Stand up for her. Realize that she was just as much a Seraphin and viable for the throne as Aldrin had been seven years ago.

By God, had it been that long ago? He could hardly remember.....

In any case, his mind twisted down corridors that it used to rebel from looking into before Jane Hart tried to end his life. Everything had changed when that blade she carried had clinked off his medallion and into his memory as deflected death. Luck had been on his side that day, luck and two people known as Julius and Aryith. Now...Now luck might run out for him and he had to make sure the kingdom was safe and one of his children would rule.

He waited for the councilors and that new ambassador from Liston to arrive, even his brothers and perhaps his wife. The goblet twisted between his fingers. The world twisted on a thread. His kingdom twisted on his daughter's life.

[Duke Michael Redalan]

The trip from Namaril had been varied to say the least. The Duke had traveled in a small entourage, limited only to a cadre of his closest servants, and one of his political advisors of the dukedom. They had ridden on horseback instead of the traditional coach, and the Duke had preferred it. He had long been a man of the stables, and had ridden into war atop steeds. There was something about it that just reminded him of the feel of the competition and he couldn't help but give that up in favor of a padded seat and a decorated interior. The summons from the King had been controlled at best anyways. He was obviously upset about some issue, and he had called together his Councilors in order to discuss the matter at hand. It wasn't that the Duke did not prefer the trip to the capital, it was just that as the most far-away dukedom, it was not something that he wanted to be doing in the amount that he did.

The Duke was wearing his normal attire, the navy and white colors of his house and the seal of the Redalan family emblazoned on the cloak that flowed from his shoulder-piece towards his feet. He was wearing a simplified armor suit, with just enough to seem impressive, but not enough to burden his body with every movement. It inspired some sort of bravado in him, and reminded those around him that above all, he was a soldier. He moved cautiously towards the Sapphire Room, with one of his servants on his left, and his chief advisor on his right. The servant moved more awkwardly, obviously unaccustomed to the high court of Sundri. The palace shone in the early autumn light, and the Duke saw it with the fervor that he wanted to, enjoying every moment of it. As the Duke prepared to enter the room, he was filled with some sort of feeling. It wasn't that he was afraid, it was just that he knew the King would not leave his things on a whim. There was some measure to this, and he couldn't think of anything but a bad thing that could put him into such a position. Preparing for the worst, Michael entered, and saw the King sitting alone with a goblet attached to his hand.

The issue must be very troubling, deduced the Duke, smiling as he entered. He did not know if King Seraphin had noticed his entrance, and so he spoke suddenly, as if wanting to startle him. "Greetings your majesty, I have come from Namaril to your high court in order to speak of this issue of such high prominence. Let us pray to the Lord that it is nothing too bad." His reassurances were flawed at best, and most likely hurting him more than he could know. So he decided that it would be better just to leave it at that, and to move towards him for the greeting that he knew would come next.

[King Aldrin Seraphin]

His contemplations, about life, his kingdom, his wife, his daughter, were interrupted by the duke of Namaril, a man that Aldrin regarded, sometimes, with suspicion, wondering if that soldier's garb made the man think he might one day host a rebellion against the Seraphin family. Indeed, sometimes he wondered if his answers given in the past as councilor hinted at treacherous thoughts and then he, the king, had held past judgment, realizing he was being ridiculous. Still, there was no reason not to be cautious and so since Aoife's arrival at court, Aldrin had been thinking of a special way to honor the duke and make it be a boon to himself as well. Now, while they were alone, he saw the time to act and do so quickly.

"Duke Redalan," he said, nodding acknowledgment of the man's presence. He then indicated the chair diagonal to him and stressed, "Please sit. While there is time before the others return, I wish to ask you a question in private." The king's hand lowered the wine to the table while simultaneously raising his eyes to key to the servants accompanying the duke that they should leave. As they did as the sovereign commanded, he looked back with dark blue eyes at the duke. The man was dressed in soldier's garb, his hair cut short and his beard trimmed. While the armor was seen, by the king at least, as slightly superfluous, he understood the meaning and so hardly spoke of it to anyone, except for Alys when it was night and they were all alone in her bed chamber. "It is a pleasure to have you back at court. The women missed your presence, as you should know, but none more than I, who hungered for your advice on certain matters. Still, I reigned quite well and managed to pull everything together."

He leaned a bit closer to the duke, careful to keep a calm smile upon his face and then asked, "Lord Michael, have you yet found yourself a girl to play as wife to yourself? I daresay the women in court would be most astonished to received such an honor, no doubt Lady Sarai the most of all. However, if you have no suggestion thus far, I might request a certain woman be brought to your attention."

His mind slipped to Aoife, with her beautiful face and fair body. He could see how one would think she was the court beauty and how she and Sarai could give each other a fair race in the end of it. Still, royal blood over a noblewoman who happened to behave like a ninny? Hardly competition, especially since Aoife had proven herself fertile by bearing Phillipe a son. A bastard son, but, still, a son. And the duke had no children yet, Aldrin knew, so a woman with a royal pedigree and has already proven herself capable of bearing sons would be quite a catch for any man.

Minus the scandal, of course.

He simply hoped that the duke could overlook all that and see what Aldrin was truly offering him: an alliance of the best sort, one of them with the royal house of Seraphin.

[Prince Anrai Seraphin]

The summoning was a surprise to Anrai. He was not accustomed to be summoned by Aldrin unless his brother wanted to play one of his tiresome games. So when he received the notice that his presence was required, he almost thought to be a joke. Nevertheless, he dressed himself impecable, like always, and walked towards the chamber where his brother was waiting. His ever working mind began to run a thousand miles per hour, like always. Most of the thoughts were about Sophia, Beatriz, the wedding of his friend Dameon, how best to use Elizabeth. Especially now that he got rid of Oran and she could be of help. He was also thinking about what other pieces could he move to push forward with his plans. Everything except why he was been summoned. He did not care, whatever it was, he was sure to analyze it and see if it can help him. He greeted people of the court that passed him by, mostly the Ladies. Always the charming smile… always the charming mask. But internally he despised most of them, just looking to land themselves a Prince. He did not understand why, so far he was Prince of nothing, but that soon would change…

When he arrived, he saw that Lord Redalan was already there. He nodded in salutation and then to his brother. “Your Majesty, here I am by your command.” He said, masking extremely well the disdain he had for Aldrin. Everyday was becoming harder and harder for Anrai to keep his mask in place, every single word out of his snake of a brother’s mouth was like a hot iron on his ears. But, he learned long time ago that in order to survive – and prosper – disguises were needed. Unknown to Anrai, he was thinking the same thing Aldrin was… Aoife. His sister was the catalyst for all that he was doing. If it was Anrai alone, he might had give up on this game and just got a life for himself somewhere, maybe with Sophia… or enjoy traveling abroad and visit Beatriz’s bed. She was engaged, but like he cared! He could be doing many things, enjoying the pleasures of life without having to play the game or constantly see the face of his tormentor.

But he was not alone, Aoife he could not leave behind. She had suffered as much – even more – than he did and he would not rest until justice be done. So, he had denied himself many things, although he was no stranger to that, his life had been one of denial. From birth to adulthood, everything had been done to break his spirit… and all had failed. Looking to Aldrin, he mentally warned him… and you will fail, you will never break me. He took his seat and awaited for the snake to speak. He was not sure what all this was about, which bothered the Prince, who always considered himself to be one step ahead of his brother in the game. Oh well, it would not be much fun if I knew everything, right? He said to himself with a mental smile.

[King Aldrin Seraphin]

Aldrin tore himself away from his conversation with Duke Michael as Anrai entered the room. In an instant, he felt tension between them, cold and smooth like ice over a lake. A cold stare was fixed upon this youngest brother, the last cub of the Seraphin pack, and Aldrin rose from his seat quietly, placing a calm smile upon his face that might trick everyone in the room. "Anrai. What a pleasant surprise! I did not think you would tear yourself away in lieu of the death of your great friend Oran Soradan. I hear the lady Sophia is grieving heavily in lieu of her loss. Still, at least she has a friend as yourself to help her through this most horrific time." He looked over at Anrai's style and then arched a black brow. "At least you still have time to manage your personal style rather effortlessly as usual, yes?"

An amused look flashed across his face as he officially welcomed his brother into the space by gesturing him to sit on either side of Michael or himself. "The duke and I were just discussing his potential matches in the marriage market. I was about to mention Aoife to him. She has most certainly proven her worth, don't you think? She's borne a strong, healthy...son." bastard son at that, "And has maintained her loyalty most publicly to our crown and throne. The nation of Sundaril most certainly does love her beauty and elegance in most matters concerning fashion and cosmetics. Such a beautiful flower, as I was about to tell him, can hardly be rivaled by any and must be given to a most cautious and diligent man." The dark blue eyed king sent a quick glance to Duke Michael.

The king resumed his seat at the far end of the circular table, the place farthest from the door. "I am hoping that the Listonese ambassador arrives soon as well as Julius." He turned to look at Michael and said, "The duke of Jola is expecting his first child with the duchess Rose. She's currently at her lying in and Julius will be leaving, no doubt, within the next month to join her there and tend to her care. After all, Rose needs her husband at her side in a time like this. No woman ever wants to face childbirth alone."

And yet, ironically, Aldrin had basically gotten himself so wasted that night his wife was giving birth that he hadn't been able to find his way back to his rooms to sleep. The fear, so suffocating and obscure, had led him to drink, fearful of hearing that Alys was dead and the child survived. After enduring such a thing from his own mother, Aldrin was positive he could not endure it again with his wife. Even now, he was getting nauseated at the idea of Rose dying in childbirth, that fateful woman that could have been his wife if Alys had not come along. Indeed, factions had been pointing him to Rose (who had been fifteen at the time if he recalled) without her knowledge and when the King of Liston put forth his daughter, Alys, again after so many years, Aldrin felt it best for all involved that he not get involved with his mother's niece, especially since she was so young and naive in the ways of court. Rose probably had no idea that she could have been queen. In fact, she probably had no idea that several families were encouraging Aldrin to take her as his wife rather than any other noble daughter closer to his age. "She is young," they said, "Healthy and vibrant. She has that Severalli look too." And yet it had been that Severalli look, so akin to that of his mother, that had at first led him to say no. How could he possibly bear to watch another woman so similar to his mother in feature die of childbirth again?

Nay, it would destroy him. It would have destroyed everything and so Alys was the best choice. Not just for him because he adored her, but for Sundaril for it needed peace and love and a new blood into its monarchy. And his child with Alys? Well, Isabel was Sundaril's future and he had to convince everyone of that tonight.

[Prince Aidan Seraphin]

It had been exhausting, a grueling ride back to the palace in Sundari and the prince had worn out several steeds from the royal stables that were kept throughout the land. While Aidan had not wished to leave his new country and the construction of his fine new house, it was times like these, most of all, that he owed his elder brother both his allegiance and his unwavering support. The political climate of the country was generally uneasy and the rumors were becoming very intriguing in their content. The result was Aidan had ridden in hast to aid the King and now, the crown prince was sore from altogether too much time in the saddle, crossing the country. Time riding was time spent thinking for Molly, his current horse and one borrowed from the couriers’ stable nearest the palace, appeared to know her way to the royal residence from the city’s gate by heart. She even looked glad to be home at long last and pranced slightly as they turned homeward.

Bits of news had reached Aidan from various sources, notably his own set of spies and Lady Anne. Apparently the king, his brother, had some sort of falling out with his former right-hand man, Lord Julius. Obliquely, Aidan was glad for he detested Julius on principal. That Lady Anne would suffer along with her brother, the crown princeconsidered a pity for he enjoyed her company. The news of his cousin Rosie's husband’s fall hopefully had not yet reached her ears, for it would be a shame to put stress upon a woman in her condition. She might miscarry, losing either her life, the child’s or both.

Aidan had also heard that a bevy of foreigners descending upon the royal court in his absence and he was glad that he had chosen to return when he had since the newest arrivals would make a refreshing change from the usual run of tedious courtiers. Though Ophelia would not be there, having gone off to be married to the boy-prince, Aiofe had returned home to court and the crown prince would be glad to see his formerly banished sister. (The only member of his family he distrusted naturally being Anari.)

As his horse entered the courtyard, the sound of hooves ringing off the flagstone, Aidan managed to startle a sizable group of servants, predominately comprised of matronly women. These stupid folk threw their baskets up in the air and screamed for no reason, clearly overreacting to finding an unexpected horse in their midst. Linens and various items of clothing flew from the baskets through the air in a dizzying array of colors and cloths. It seemed these easily excitable folk were the laundresses for the castle and a few hangers-on that were almost as dim-witted. The rider and his steed had been in no danger of harming anyone, up until the horse spooked at all the flying cloths, and nearly threw him off.

Though couriers’ mounts are supposed to be especially reliable, this one was still a bit green. Barely managing to hang on, Aidan scowled fiercely at the lot as they all scurried off with sincere-sounding apologies. As he jumped to the ground, he began to calm the justifiably annoyed animal, taking it by the bit and holding it in place. Even though the crown prince spoke in a calm tone to the horse, anyone who overheard would not have termed his words soothing. In fact, they were slightly profane.

A stableboy appeared out of nowhere and to him, Aidan tossed the horse’s reigns. He was followed by a member of Aidan’s household that had elected to stay behind in Sundari attending to business there, rather that risking the dangerous road. Baron Clark was man in his fifties and had been in poor health for several years, but his mind remained as sharp as ever. Having been Aidan’s tutor in his youth, the man had become promoted to chief of staff for Aidan’s small household. Given his recent promotion, the crown prince wondered if now would be the time to worry about enlarging his retinue but dismissed the idea. What bachelor needed a house full of servants, eating his food, gossiping and causing turmoil? “Your Highness,” said Clark, “You’re just in time for the King’s meeting. I believe he is having it now.”

Hurrying along familiar corridors, the prince soon found himself walking into the room where the meeting was held. Besides his elder brother the king, the room also contained the duke of Narmail and to his surprised the youngest prince of Sundari, his brother Anari. It was surprising what the three might have in common. The duke was possibly still smarting from the slight to his family when the king’s cousin married the fool rather than his only sister. It seemed the discussion had crept to possibly the duke wedding his sister Aiofe. While the prince had little dealings with the duke himself, Lady Katherine, the man’s sister seemed likeable enough, when he had met during the course of parties in Isobel’s honor. It seemed likely her brother was a decent sort of fellow. Having a child of questionable origin had made the former princess a liability on the marriage market. However, the duke was getting on in years, and he probably was interested in a wife that could produce healthy heirs.

As for his younger brother, Aidan shot him a questioning glance but did not trouble him to observe the man further. “Forgive my tardiness,” He said, mostly in the way of apologizing to Aldrin for both his lateness and his wind-tossed appearance. “Speaking of Rose, has she had her child yet?” Even Aidan for his blunt ways and generally frowned upon behaviors at court, knew better than to ask how Lady Anne did. A glance flickered over to Anari without meaning for it to. There were things it was best his younger brother not learn. Weakness, after all, ends in failure. He also was curious to know if Julius had truly fallen from grace or was merely being reprimanded for some trivial mistake. Again, it was not a conversation that could be had in front of younger brother whose loyalties had always been questionable. “And, on the subject of children, how is my niece?” Aidan asked.

[[if it's not my best- sry ]]

[Lord Rhys Blackwood II]

Rhys had not yet recovered from the tedious journey to Sundaril from Liston and already he was being summoned to a meeting by the King. He had grumbled as he rolled from his bed inside Seraphin Palace. When he had disembarked the large vessel that had taken him to Sundaril he had been informed that one of Sundaril's noble families would be chosen to give him quarters whenever he would be in the country. But the King had either forgotten, or thought it would be funny to delay, the selection of the family who would be sponsoring him. Nevertheless, Rhys didn't find the accommodations in Seraphin Palace to be lacking to greatly, and so had managed to muster a few hours of restless sleep together before being woken. Now, it was no secret that Rhys had always had fashionable tastes in his clothing but, during one of the stormier periods at sea, he had lost nearly all the belongings he had packed and was only left with a meager selection of attire now. There was also the problem of Sundaril seemingly having subtle differences in their fashion than what he was used to. Although he was not trying to necessarily fit in, he did not want to stick out like a sore thumb either.

Once he had dressed himself from the small selection of clothing he had to chose from, Rhys stepped out into the corridor and was met by a young man who appeared to be one of the Kings servants. "Ambassador, if you would follow me I shall escort you through the palace to the King." Nodding his head, Rhys was thankful this man had been sent to aid him otherwise he was certain he would have gotten lost inside the weaving passageways of the Palace. As they walked in silence, Rhys couldn't help but feel a bit nervous about this initial meeting. Especially given the fact that he had no idea what the meeting was about (though he knew the King had no reason to be inclined to inform him of the topic). Finally, they came to a halt just outside of the doorway that would lead into the room where the King and anyone else he had required the presence of was waiting. As he took a deep breath, Rhys nodded at the young man who made his way into the room first. The new Ambassador waited patiently for the boy to inform the King of his arrival and, when the boy had returned, Rhys ran his hands down the front of his shirt to smooth out any wrinkles before finally entering into the room himself.

As he entered his eyes immediately locked on the man who was easily recognizable as Sundarils King Aldrin Seraphin. Through his peripheral vision he noted the presence of three other men of power. Two of whom he recognized as Prince Anrai Seraphin and Prince Aidan Seraphin. The other, whose name he could not recall, Rhys took note of as a man he would need to be certain to make himself more aware of. Being that it was the first time he and the King had truly met face to face, Rhys walked confidently up to him and then bowed politely before him for a few long, exaggerated moments until he allowed himself to once more stand erect. "Your Majesty, King Edwin Howard sends his regards and hopes that the health of you and your family remains well." Unsure of what to do next, he simply waited for the Kings instructions. After all, the last thing he wished to do was to offend the King already. There would be plenty of time for that soon enough.

[King Aldrin Seraphin]

After sending Anrai a warning glance, Aldrin found himself smiling happily as his younger brother walked into the room. While he and Anrai hated each other, Aidan could not have been better as far as siblings went. Aidan was a man who knew that while he was Crown Prince, he was truly just holding it for when Aldrin had his first son. His younger brother had never been disrespectful towards him, had fought on the battlefield with him, and he had even been raised alongside Aldrin with the knowledge that Aldrin, not Aidan, would be Crown Prince and then King. The hierarchy between them was quite clear and it was something that Aldrin appreciated when compared to working with Anrai, who never seemed content.

So, when the king stepped forward and embraced his brother with a clap on the back and a one-armed hug, it was with true affection, like lion cubs who had grown together and established a pride together as well. The Seraphin cubs was what they had been called, all three of them, when they were infants and children and, even later, when they were teenagers. Even now, Aldrin had understood that Aidan might feel the need to establish his own power and his own land and so had given him an estate and his own right to chose a bride when the Crown Prince decided to marry.

Anrai, of course, did not have that luxury.

"Your tardiness doesn't even exist, Aidan," he said, amusement in his tone, "The meeting is going to start soon enough, but..." He chuckled, "I do believe you have time to sit for a spell, have some wine, and breathe deeply." His expression grew a bit tighter and heavily drawn when his brother asked about Rose. "No, the duchess has yet to have her child so far. However, when she does, you can certainly be in attendance at the moment. If Julius will let you, that is." He smirked slightly, considering the potential that Julius might be overprotective when his son was being born. Julius was like the illegitimate Seraphin lion sometimes for the mere fact that he was so close to Aldrin and the Seraphins themselves. He was a loyal and humble servant. Or at least, he was when he and Aldrin were on good terms. Otherwise, the two of them could be as ferocious as snakes when fighting one another before exhausting each other so much that they made up in the end anyway.

Aldrin's expression brightened upon hearing some title referring to Isabel. "The little Seraphina is doing wonderfully. She and her mother are together now, I believe, though Alys has expressed that she is feeling ill and has retreated for her chambers for the duration of this meeting. She won't tell me what it is, but, well, I am hoping she'll be alright soon enou--"

The king was interrupted mid-sentence as a page boy entered the room and announced the arrival of the new Ambassador of Liston. One of the king's brows arched serenely as he waited and his patience was rewarded by the presentation of the ambassador. To his surprise, the man was far, far younger than the man whose place he had taken. The one before this handsome man had been in his late forties, nigh upon death, and hesitant to give any quarter. Well-dressed in Listonese fashion, tall, and broad in the chest, Rhys Blackwood seemed like what Aldrin would consider a Sundrili man rather than a weak Listonese one. Still, the king of Sundaril greeted him with a charismatic smile and a nod of recognition, even gesturing to tell him to rise. "Ambassador," he replied, "A pleasure to meet you though I wish it were under less important circumstances when, perhaps, we could have enjoyed a private dinner to discuss the relationship between Sundaril and Liston. Nevertheless, becoming acquainted with someone from my wife's homeland is always a pleasure." He paused a moment and then answered, "The queen and the princess are doing wonderfully. The little princess has already begun to crawl and sit up by herself. She is babbling a bit too. Meanwhile, Her Majesty begged pardon from today's meeting with the council so she will not be attending. However, there is no doubt in my mind that once her illness today has subsided, that she would be incredibly happy to see you."

He looked around the room, sweeping it with her eyes and then said, "Well, I believe everyone is here. Earl Stafford claimed illness and resides at his estate. The Count of Mora recently had a heart problem and now is on bed rest. So, needless to say, we are all anxious to begin. I have already sent messengers to receive the answers from Earl Stafford and Count of Mora on their estates. Their opinions will be given to me a week from now. Now, then, shall we sit?" he asked. He himself returned to his seat and pulled it back before sitting into it. Once there, the king looked around the room.

"Now, all of you are here for a reason. The Ambassador is here because what is being decided will also affect Liston as well. Basically, we are here for a matter of succession and a matter of changing the law of Sundaril to allow women to inherit their father's estates providing that no male heirs exist from that father. Providing that there are no sons before or after the daughter, the daughter may inherit all. What I am proposing is a system similar to Liston's, but....women can inherit and the property does not need to belong to their husbands. Thoughts so far?"

He anticipated hell and there was nothing he could do but watch the questions and concerns rise and fall like the waves of the ocean.

[Duke Michael Redalan]

The Duke had obviously known of the King's intentions as he pulled him away for their private discussion. Emblazoned recently with the crest and position of the Lord High Admiral, he was now not only a Councilor, but commander of the naval forces that Sundaril had amassed. In essence, even though he had not captivated the sailors yet, he at least had their gratitude on paper. This not only made him indispensable, but also, everything that he had yet dreamed of as he had sailed across the channels so many years ago. It was he, and Prince Aidan Seraphin who controlled the masses of Sundaril's fighting force. If only the Duke could get another of his table at the position of High Cavalry Commander, he could be in a very strong position. It would never to be to overthrow the Seraphin line, but only to have a resolute power in the policy-making of the central court.

And so, briefly, he felt the motivation and the commitment to the King's message. The King had offered him the prestige, and he was his turn to do the same. While he never believed in blind faith or loyalty, he did understand the concepts of honor. He would not let such things go unnoticed, and there was much more at stake here then a wife, and perhaps, an heir.

Quickly, he thought about his position on the matter. Lady Sarai had visited his estate in the summer-months, but it had been a rather unpleasant encounter. Her unbefitting mannerisms, and general frivolous behavior were of great annoyance to the Duke, even if he had indulged her on a few of their occasions. He had even offered to accompany her to an event, but those plans had fallen through, and he had instead came to Sundri in order to settle this unexplained matter. The Duke thought of the King's estranged sister, who he had only met a few times before. She had seemed docile enough, although he was the type of man who wanted more than just a submissive wife. But love seemed aeons away, and the King would never hear of such prodigal desires. And then there was the scandal, and that bastard child.

"In league with your recent grace towards me, I shall see your offer. But I must admit that I do have my reservations, over her past transgressions and the status of her current child," he said rather stolidly. He did not want to give away too much, and he thought that this answer would be at least somewhat fitting. That way, it could keep things in order, and he could at least cave in to the whims. And it wouldn't hurt him to begin seriously the manner of finding a wife.

As soon as he had finished, the room began to fill up with a host of the other men of court. First came Prince Anrai, who the Duke nodded too silently. He had never really had the chance of interacting with him, and from the few encounters he seemed to not really fall in with the rigidity of the Duke's perceptions. He was followed closely by his brother Prince Aidan, whom the Duke had met on many occasions in their positions of high military officers. After that came a man that he had never met before, but had been told about as the new ambassador from Liston. The Duke had never held Liston in the highest regard, and always with the upmost suspicion. But the King had brought him here somewhat to ameliorate things, so the Duke would not interfere. Taking his seat when he was prompted, he was hinged on the King's announcement.

[Prince Aidan Seraphin]

The crown prince smiled briefly at his brother’s warm greeting and returned the gesture. The suggestion that he might help himself to some refreshment before the meeting was a good one so Aidan signaled a servant over to request not only a beverage but also something to eat as well for it had been a very long ride. “It’s good to be among civilization once more.” He remarked, as the servant scurried away, “I have missed both my family and properly trained servants. I did not take enough of the latter with me when I left.”

In response to Aldrin’s remarks, Aidan’s face lightened somewhat, though his countenance still appeared generally road-weary. “I might call on Rose and Lord Julius on my return home,” Aidan said, “By then, she should be out of confinement.” Amusement was present in his mind when the crown prince considered how vexed the infamous lord might be if his wife had a daughter, rather than the son he probably expected. The thought of his sweet cousin in childbirth was however, a sobering one. But Lady Anne would be there as well, so it might prove to be a worthwhile stop.

The king his brother continued to give the report on the Royal Family’s state of health and Aidan frowned at the news that the queen was feeling poorly. “I am glad the princess is well,” Aidan said, as his brother turned to engage the new Listonese Ambassador in a polite exchange of remarks of the sort he himself was not proficient. “And I hope Lady Alys recovers quickly.” He added, before his brother or the Ambassador could say anything further.

At the king’s suggestion, the prince sat down on one of the many hard wooden chairs in the room. Yet the subject his brother had chosen for the meeting was a controversial one. For a space of time, Aidan stared at the table before him, but the crown prince was hardly at a loss for words. “I have nothing against Isabel inheriting the throne,” Aidan said, bluntly, “If that is the reason for this discussion, but surely you and Lady Alys will have sons.” A curt laugh rarely heard issued from his lips, “Even old John Moranin did in the end.” He fell silent as the servant appeared bearing provisions and drink to which Aidan helped himself.

After partaking liberally of the bread, meat, and cheese that had been set before him, Aidan found himself fortified and thus prepared to further comment upon the unusual circumstances for the meeting. “Aside from the argument women have not the stomach to govern, there is great truth in that a woman alone may cause civil problems.” Aidan added, recalling his studies, “There are plenty of ambitious nobles who might stoop to forcing a marriage upon any heiress in question. History has many examples and we do not need such a person setting himself up as king.” At a signal from the crown prince, the servant disappeared back to where he had come from It was good to be among properly civilized servants once more.“These women would need protection.” Aidan concluded, taking a hearty sip from his goblet.

[[yeah, somewhat blah]]

[Prince Anrai Seraphin]

Blah, blah, blah, blah… that was all the Prince was listening to. Fake greetings, fake well wishes, the same all the time. Sure, Anrai could not blame the collection of sycophants seating at the table, they were playing the wonderful game of Court Politics… as did he. But listening to them prattle about… it was too much. He decided not to answer Aldrin’s sarcastic remark and just smiled at him with a nod. He thought he was so clever… well, everyone is entitled to their delusions. His interest peaked – although he did not allow it to show – when he had the audacity of speaking about his Aoife. Married Duke Redalan? He probably would not know what to do with her! He was furious at this god playing by Aldrin, thinking he could decide the fate of his sister like that. Aoife was his – Anrai –and his alone. He was the only one in this family from Hell who truly loved her! Who truly had her well being in mind. Damn Aldrin! Her past transgressions? How dare he judge my Aoife! It took all of Anrai’s will to keep calm after Redalan’s comment.

More blah, blah from Aidan. Anrai had no animosity towards his other brother, but he was such a good lapdog. Barking at Aldrin’s feet, begging for the scraps that the King would throw at him. Anrai had no animosity towards Aidan simply because Aidan was a non-entity. He looked at him, bowed his head with a smile and dismissed him. Irrelevant! Then the Ambasador from Liston arrived and this was a man Anrai had some interest in speaking with. Although he had to admit, Duke Redalan was also somewhat of interest too. A meeting shall be set. Finally, the meeting was starting, he wanted this to end soon. He had better things to do than to be listening to fools who loved to hear their own voices. He rather spend his time between the bosoms of Beatriz or Sophia or even Elizabeth. Much more pleasurable than to listen to Aldrin’s squeaky, whinny voice.

But then Anrai was surprised. Ha!, he cut Aidan’s legs right underneath him! Isabel will inherit, hence removing Aidan from the succession line. Take that, lapdog! Sure, removed Anrai too, but Anrai cared less. He was removed by the mere fact he was third in line… the chances for him to be king were bordering on impossible. But Aidan had a chance, if Aldrin did not have a son and died, Aidan would had succeed. If nothing else, it gave Anrai a lot of pleasure to see the little lapdog been put out of his misery! But one thing to say about Aidan, he knew how to bark. Here he was trying to make a case that women could not govern. That was rubbish… History had shown that some women were capable of it. He is just trying to protect his place Anrai thought.

Anrai decided to throw fuel to the fire, just to see the flames. “For my part, I think it is an excellent idea. Yes, my dear Aidan, our King and Queen may have a son, if God bless them. But is it certain? What would happen if – god’s forbids – our king dies before that happens? A clear line of succession should be established. He is not our father, my lord Aidan, he is his own King, so his own line should be set.” With that he was telling Aidan I will never be king, but neither will you. He looked at Aldrin and winked at him. “I for one, would love to see our beautiful Sundaril ruled by a woman in the future. It will show the world that we are a force of progress and give our King the legacy of a wise and progressive ruler… immortalize him for posterity”. It was no secret that Anrai considered women capable of many things… some good, some bad. He himself was surrounded by women who were even more capable than the men at this table.

“But you are correct, my Lord Aidan. Many would try to take advantage of this. I wonder what are your thoughts about our brother’s opinion, my King.” Maybe drive a wedge between Aldrin and his little lapdog… poor doggie. He was sure they all were thinking ‘what game Anrai is playing at’. Well, I guess you all have to wait to find out. He thought as he drank from his cup, staring at Aldrin.

[Lord Rhys Blackwood II]

While he was wary of King Seraphin, ruler of the barbaric nation that he now resided, the man truly did not seem all that awful. It was an impression that he had been encountering more and more with each passing moment. Already he had started to doubt all of the stories he had been told throughout his childhood. But, it seemed impossible that he could have been fooled on such a grand scale. Surely the rumors of the horrid things they were known for had some base to them. Perhaps the idea that the men were known to feast upon any children beyond the first born that a commoner might have was a bit absurd. There had to be something, though. There simply had to. It was bad enough that he was questioning his own judgement when it came to women these days. Now was he to also question the education he had received for so many years? All the while these thoughts were running through his mind, Aldrin Seraphin was speaking to him as though he was a visitor they had been waiting to see for years. A private dinner where they could speak with one another? Even in his homeland it had never even been considered that he would have such a blessing bestowed upon him.

Word that Princess Isabel was doing well and seemed farther along developmentally than he had expected was pleasing to his ears. "I shall write to the King of this joyous news as soon as I have a free moment." After another moment or two of polite exhange between he and the King, Rhys took a step back and decided, for the time being, to simply observe and listen to whatever it was he had been called to this meeting for. The subject matter at hand was, at the very least, extremely surprising. As the others began to respond, Rhys took a moment to contemplate the reasons why the King would have wished for such a thing. While, as the King had said, it would be similar to the way Liston did things it seemed a bit strange for the King to be taking such measures so early in his life. Was he that concerned that Queen Alys might not bear him a son in the future?

As light hearted and happy as he had felt a moment earlier, he suddenly felt a bit troubled by this revelation. Still, the idea in and of itself would benefit the Princess, so it would have been foolish for him to stand up against it. Not to mention that in his lifetime he had come across many women who were intelligent and more capable than many men he had dealt with. When silence fell over the room once more, Rhys cleared his throat calmly and spoke to the entire group for the first time. "Majesty, while many valid points have been brought forth I must first say that I am of the belief that progress for the sake of progress is foolish. Throughout your life you will be presented with many opportunities to define yourself as a progressive ruler. If your sole reason for enlisting the advice of us all is simply because you are looking for something to make a statement with, then I believe this idea to be unwise." Taking a deep breath, Rhys let his eyes meet that of the two brothers of the King and then the Duke that was in attendance before settling back into the Kings gaze.

"However, if your reasoning for this is because you wish to ensure the continuation of your bloodline and because you believe your daughter will be a capable leader should that be the hand that fate deals the royal family, then it is an extraordinary idea." A hint of a smile crossed his lips as he thought of his sister, who he was certain would feel an unimaginable amount of pride for him if she could have seen him then. "Your brother, Prince Anrai, is correct in the belief that there will be people who oppose this and people who will try to take advantage of it. But you are there King, and if this is what you wish then they should, and will, support you. As their Sovereign, they should look to you for your guidance and wisdom. A statement such as this, if made for the right reasons, will do nothing more than solidify that fact throughout the majority of your Kingdom. Allowing your decision to be swayed by the small minority who might oppose you would be foolish."

Drawing to a close, Rhys folded his hands together behind his back and resumed the stoic position that he had been in only a few minutes earlier. He did not know whether the King would value his advice or not, but he believed it was the reason he had been called before the man. Whether the others agreed with him or not he did not know, nor did he care. Though he would never intentionally offend any of them unless they had slighted him first, his business was with the King and solely the King until he was told otherwise.

[King Aldrin Seraphin]

There were three shocks in a short amount of time that Aldrin received in this conversation with his council and the ambassador from Liston. First: Aidan mentioned a good point that Aldrin had never considered (that others might take advantage of the valuable women that might rule.) Second: Anrai actually agreed with him without too much of a fight (that nearly made Aldrin choke on his own spittle.) And Third: the ambassador from Liston actually had things to say and, furthermore, didn't mind using it.

Aldrin hid his surprise, but then found himself smirking his pleasure on accident. The reason was primarily because most of the time when he called various members of the council to a session, they stayed quiet, unable to say much. Now, by dragging out a controversial subject for any man in Sundaril to speak on, Aldrin had forced them all to speak and talk with one another which had hardly been done since the council tried to decide how to deal with King Talan's slowly encroaching madness over half a century ago. Surprised, happy, and seriously considering what others were telling him, Aldrin decided to toss down all his cards on the table and then tell the council to adjourn to think about it more completely.

A decision such as this....it could change history and the way of Sundrili culture. It could change everything.

"Lords of the Council and Welcomed Ambassador," Aldrin said, meeting each man's eyes, "I seek to tell you a truth that might chill you to the bone, for it strikes to the very heart of Sundaril. As all know, Alys gave birth to our daughter, Princess Isabel, in May. The birth was quick, tumultuous, and, honestly, Alys was unprepared for it and it might have damaged her womb in the process. Shortly after her birth, once Her Majesty was recovered enough to be seen by the Royal Physician, the man came to me and told me that it was possible that Isabel might be the only child we have. Thus, it is a double blessing that Her Highness the Princess is healthy and sturdily built and thus why I purpose this course of action: to set, for certain, a legal heir to the throne of Seraphin blood. My blood in particular for it was my own blood that found itself anointed king some years ago. It is not meant, of course, to be an insult to Prince Anrai or the Crown Prince, Aidan, naturally. However, it is a mere man's pride to see his children, if there are no male heirs, to suceed him."

He paused and then said, "I had not given thought, Aidan, to the mention of women being...abused by men in such a capacity. But, I believe, to those special first born women who are their father's only heirs...We must grant them special protection. Indeed, we shall have them protected by the Crown itself though I am unsure of how to go about it. However, Liston itself is governed by a measure that I myself am proposing though I wish not for a woman's husband to gain the power of her estate, but, instead, for the woman to continue to govern and protect it as she sees fit, thus stemming the potential urge to force these women into marriage. Unless a woman were to....sign a contract, of sorts, ceding their will to their husband's in all ways...why, then, the Crown must honor it after a light investigation into the circumstances, to make sure no coercion was conducted."

His eyes met the ambassador's. "Tell me, good sir. How in your country does succession work? How exactly is it helped and aided? Are women there seen unfit to govern as well as men or are they seen more equal in that measure? How are they protected from the rogues or aren't they?" His head was tilted slightly, curiosity on his face. God be sure, he wanted this to work so badly! Isabel needed to be his heir! Needed to be...

God, why hadn't He given him a son?

[Lord Rhys Blackwood II]

Though King Seraphin was courteous and kind to him, Rhys also noticed that the man seemed to love the sound of his own voice and had a tendency to ramble on more than just a rare occasion. In fact, it seemed that every time the man felt the urge to speak it turned into a lecture that would have made any of his tutors jealous. Nevertheless, Rhys bided his time and tried to pay as close attention to the man as he could. Though all the while he was wishing the King could develop the ability to be succinct in whatever it was he said. Of course, there was the issue of Aldrin being a King and therefore able to speak however he wished and everyone in attendance would simply deal with it. But that didn't make his grand speeches and explanations any less tedious.

Of course, hidden in his words were bits and pieces of information that would need to be forwarded along to King Edwin Howard of Liston. Somehow Rhys sorely doubted his King had been informed that his daughters childbirth had physically damaged her and left her in a position where she might no longer be able to produce children. It was hard to think of the vibrant Princess Alys in such a way, though she was now Queen of Sundaril. How could such a testament to Liston be damaged so easily? To Rhys, the only explanation that seemed feasible to him was that the Sundrili physicians were simply not of the same quality of Liston. What other reason could there be? Alys was a healthy woman. A healthy Listonese woman. Despite the fact that she now wore Sundarils crown, it was Liston blood that pumped through her veins, a thought that affirmed Rhys's beliefs in his own mind even more.

Finally Rhys was drawn fully back into the conversation when the King spoke directly to him and questioned him about Listons laws of succession. Had Rhys not had so much time floating across the vast expanse of water that separated the two nations he might not have been as familiar with the laws of both countries. However, the laws of succession for both countries were fresh in his mind and therefore he was able to answer the question with ease, though he decided to break the ice a bit first. "Obviously, majesty, you have never met my sister Augustine otherwise you would know the women of Liston are perfectly capable of defending themselves against rogues. In fact, I am fairly certain my sister could have any rogue begging for mercy simply by talking them to the brink of insanity." Rhys cracked a wry smile, unsure if the King would enjoy his humor or not. Thankfully, though he had respect for the man, he didn't necessarily have to be exceedingly careful when it came how he spoke to the King as long as he remained respectful, which he had.

"Truthfully, I have met many noblewomen in my homeland who I believe would be far more competent at running their estate than their husbands are. Of course, that is not true in every circumstance. There are women who are far more interested in fashion and gossip than they are intellect and business." Pausing for a moment, Rhys contemplated how best to explain the way things worked in Liston. "Forgive me if I use my own family as an example to often. But, I have a younger brother, named Thomas. Though he is not yet married, if, when he becomes married, misfortune befalls him I do not believe his wife would simply be left to defend their estate on her own. I, myself, would feel an obligation to her as I believe her own family would as well." He hoped that would answer the question about protection satisfactorily enough. Unfortunately the man had asked for much more information and so it seemed Rhys was destined to go headfirst into one of the long winded speeches he had just spent minutes berating in his own mind. Such was life, he supposed.

Rubbing his chin in thought, Rhys took a moment of silence to collect himself before continuing. "Perhaps a better way of explaining things, majesty, would be by using Prince Edward and Princess Ophelia. Should, god forbid, King Edwin, Prince Edward and Princess Ophelia all meet their demise it is my understanding that the line of succession would then return to you, or.. well.. Queen Alys anyway, provided the Prince and Princess have not had any children of their own." Even as he spoke his mind seemed to be checking and rechecking the facts he had read on his journey to Sundaril. There was, of course, the possibility that he was inaccurate in his statement. But he didn't believe that was the case as it had been one of the more alarming realizations he had come to during his month long trip. Either way, Rhys decided it was best to take a break and allow the king to decipher exactly what it was Rhys had just told the man. After all, Rhys wasn't even sure he had stated it all that clearly himself.

[Duke Michael Redalan]

The Duke was overwhelmed with what he was hearing. King Aldrin, actually believed that his daughter could lead a country such as Sundaril. Many of the others at the tables were also agreeing, including Prince Anrai. There was something unsettling about the matter, and the Duke was prepared to play the devil's advocate. It wasn't an argument about feminism, or progress, or anything of the sort. It was simply based on the principles of power. It was true that Liston and Sundaril were on...cordial terms...but who is to say that the ambassador would not take Aldrin's change in succession as an opportunity for his country? One could never be certain of the intentions of other statesmen, and as a military-man, the Duke knew that all to well.

"Am I the only one with reason?" He began, obviously unsettled. "I mourn for our Queen and her current state, but I must admit my wariness at your current proposal, my King. I do not doubt that your daughter will be a wise and thoughtful girl, because she comes from the proud stock of the Seraphin line. But if we allow her to take the throne, then we only invite tyranny and beckon for war!"

The Duke, who had thus far been seated comfortably, stood and motioned with his arms. He chose not to point to the Listonese ambassador, but it was clear from his speech and the way that he carried himself, that he was mostly in fear over their Eastern neighbor. "My King, it has already been stated that many will take advantage of this. Whom more so then the nations who have always looked our for their own interests? We have not been at war for a time, but that does not mean that strife is not at our borders. Look only to the conflicts that gorge upon the continents and you will see how close we are to invasion! Giving power to a woman will only increase this risk, and I must beg you to at least consider another option."

The Duke paused, and took a brief sip from the beverage that had been placed in front of him. Calming himself, he tried to act with a little more reason, framing his argument in a way that would seem both objective and a necessary step. "We are faced now with a crisis. If the Lord does not see it fit to grant you a son, then it is pertinent that your line remains intact, and for now, this can be done with your daughter, or with your current brothers. If you so desire to place your daughter in the Palace at Sundri, then let us at least place her in the stead of a Steward. If we allow her to just take all the power immediately, we can't gauge what the consequences may be. But we can ensure that things are not disrupted by placing a Steward in power, which would guarantee she could ascend to the throne, and our power would not be diminished. These are only thoughts though mi'lord, from your Naval Commander. I look out only for the interests of our state."