Chapter 462: Inevitable War

Alfred looked around the council. All the present members had grim looks on their faces, hearing his words. They all knew that war was coming, but finally meeting about it made the words a reality. "The incident with my daughter..." Alfred lowered his eyes and sighed, "I have no proof, but I believe it was a smokescreen. A way to distract us from the true threat." Clenching his jaw, he took a deep breath. "And whilst I want nothing more than to burn Severia," he spoke through gritted teeth, his voice barely above a whisper. "We need calm and logic."

"Your Majesty," William spoke up. Although he held no real title, even handing most of his power as Duke to Issac, his voice was still respected as one of the original four founders of the inner circle. "This isn’t what you want to hear, but I think we should use the Princess. Spread the word of the heinous crimes that Severia committed. We have never been above making the people want war; why not stoke their anger? Call for a cry of blood."

"Tell the people what happened to my family?" Seeing William nod, Alfred wanted to scream that there was no way he would do that, but a part of his mind stopped him, broke down the reason and agreed it was perfect. Everyone knew that Astrid had been taken, and Alfred made clear to spread the word of it to try to find her.

Tapping the table, he closed his eyes and slowly nodded, "Horace." With a quiet voice, Alfred turned his head left, "Tell every detail of the kidnapping and the incident to Issac after we are done. Issac, print the story. Make them angry."

"There is the issue of the actual war now," Marcus cut in, with a half-joking, half-serious voice. "We need to prepare, and if we truly wish to fight this alone, we need to be quick."

"The Tears of Gaia are being reinforced; do not worry about that. We are now mobilising the rest, leaving just enough to guard our other trade routes." Catherine cut in, already aware of Alfred’s plan to force the church on the water. Marcus frowned and looked into Alfred’s eyes. Even now, there was a distance between him and Alfred because of Raven. Whilst the rest could talk as his friend, he couldn’t.

"The Gothic border is a good chokehold, and Chent is relatively well defended, but it is not enough." Marcus paused, "That weapon you created, the cannon, we need it, Your Majesty, not just on the sea but on the castle walls."

"It will be provided, but I can’t spare many." Alfred turned to Abu, "How many men can you mobilise to Chent. I want to make the path look like a hassle to invade through."

"A few thousand, maybe. But we have to start now if you want it done. New castles are off the table, but anything else is fine."

"Done. Issac, prepare anything Abu needs. I’ll have the cannons sent to Chent. Train trusted men to work them. You won’t have long, but I will provide all the relevant information on how they work." Alfred looked around and smiled, "The goal has changed. I can’t trust keeping such a hostile regime alive. In this war, depending on how things go, we shall try to place Bardas Ammorian on the Severian throne.

"Can he be trusted?" Charles spoke, looking towards Horace.

"No." With a quick answer, he turned to face William, "But he will marry your daughter, to ensure that within this lifetime he does not bare his fangs our way once again. I know you don’t wish to wed her off without letting Elizabeth have a say, but for the good of the realm, she must. It’s not a bad offer, she will become an Empress."

"This wasn’t your decision, Horace."

"It was mine." Alfred spoke on Horace’s behalf, his voice cold, "I’m sorry, William, but there is no other woman in the Empire with a strong enough family. I could have had Ada marry him, but I don’t trust providing her with such strong support." William clicked his tongue but sighed, understanding that even if the Empire had changed, his daughter was still someone to be married off. Seeing Issac turn his head away in shame, he knew his son had some involvement in the plan.

"Do what you must. But if he can’t be made Emperor. What then?" William asked. He was fine letting Elizabeth be Empress, but anything less, and Alfred couldn’t decide, only himself.

"He will be sent across the sea, given the role of Colonial Secretary. The marriage won’t go through unless Elizabeth says she wishes for it." Alfred cooly answered. Thinking on it, William smiled and nodded happily at the conditions. Looking at the faces of the council and seeing no one had anything else to say, he stood up, "It is late, so let us all get some sleep. We will work out the finer details tomorrow. In the meantime, rooms have been prepared for all of you."

Everyone stood at once, bowing towards Alfred as he left the room. One by one, they all said their goodbyes, leaving William and Issac. "She won’t like that you sold her off, Issac."

"She won’t, but it’s for the Empire. She will obey." Although he tried to act cold, William heard the anger in his voice, an anger directed at himself for doing such a thing. Calming himself, he carried on, "She is the only one who can father. Elizabeth’s smart and won’t let herself be delegated to a prized gem whose only role is having children and being looked at."

"I worry. I’ve heard a little about this Bardas fella. He’s a sick bastard."

"Yes. But he’s smart enough not to sabotage himself. And considering he actually is a bastard, I don’t believe he will be the type to have a mistress on the side. In fact, I don’t think he enjoys sex at all." Issac chuckled and walked before his father. Patting his shoulder, he smiled, "Don’t worry. I am loyal to Alfred, but it doesn’t mean I would put us in harm’s way." Issac smiled, "If everything goes as planned, my nephew, your Grandson, could be an Emperor. Think of the Flanders legacy with that."

William took a deep breath and scoffed, "Don’t get too greedy, Issac. Remember, we are always the loyal guardians of the Lindonfall family and their realm."

"Don’t think I forget my place. Why do you think I am planning this far from our borders?" Issac chuckled and patted William’s shoulder a final time, "You should sleep soon, Father. You’re not as young as you used to be."

"Brat." With a chuckle and shake of the head, William followed Issac out, watching him walk to his office.

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Adrian walked through the garden of Prince Darius’ palace. The moonlight of the two moons beamed through the arches, casting a gentle shadow. Kneeling in the centre of the garden, he saw Darius, muttering a prayer, towards the two moons, before lowering his head and kissing the ground. He rose once more, praying to the moons before grabbing the symbol of Khoras around his neck and kissing it.

Adrian patiently waited. Although Darius had called him, he lived in a Khorish state long enough to know how rude it was to interrupt a prayer, especially one under the moonlight. The prayer lasted another five minutes, Darius repeating the same moves over and over. As he rose, he didn’t wipe the dirt off his legs and smiled to look at Adrian.

"It’s quite late to have a conversation, Your Highness." Adrian smiled and leaned against one of the arches that line the stone path around the palace walls. Darius slowly walked over and took his place next to Adrian.

"You spent a long time as a council member of the Safrid Sultante. Tell me, are you a Follower of Khors?" Darius turned and looked him in the eye, "And do not lie to me. His holy sisters watch us from above."

"No." Adrian flatly answered, "I hold no belief in any Gods. This world isn’t blessed, I’ve seen and experienced too much to think it is. No, my only belief is in power. Only that has the means to change our lives and only that will allow someone to have any peace."

"Yet, here you are. Your Emperor, so much power but none of the peace that comes with it."

In the face of Darius’s smirk, Adrian chuckled, "Because people are blind." Looking to the moons, he grabbed the mask on his face and stroked it before taking it off, "But soon, they won’t be." The two stayed silent for a while, enjoying the light breeze of the midnight air.

"I have received word from my brother." Darius spoke, "Under this moonlight, I dare not lie. Whilst you may not believe in the Gods, can you honour them and me and not do the same?"

"Of course."

"My father is happy to meet, but he wants something. Not small trinkets and gems. He has enough of those. He wants something more concrete."

"I have the power to make any deal that doesn’t directly involve His Majesty, Flanders, Godwin or Hardly. Anything with them requires their direct approval." Adrian answered honestly. When Darius heard that, he chuckled and shook his head.

"No, nothing of the sort. My father knows he won’t get the marriage he wants, and he has no sons or daughters to offer in marriage without causing embarrassment." Darius paused, "No, he is quite interested in the Pantheon that His Majesty has created. Whilst he finds the thought of Sol being a loving father ridiculous, this isn’t a spiritual matter."

"He wants a role within the Pantheon?"

"Yes." Darius smiled, "The only reason he is considering this is because whilst the Emperor is the head of the faith, he has left all religious matters to an ex-Sister of Gaia. He can trust them, not you. In return for this, and depending on how earnest the Emperor is, he may march alongside you. Doubtful, but who knows?"

"I need to send word home before I promise anything. Whilst I have been given freedom to deal, this is quite a strange request."

"Of course, but my father hates waiting." With a sly smile, he chuckled, "And when he is insulted after waiting, well, that’s when friends become enemies."

"I am eternally grateful for your warning." Adrian gave an exaggerated bow and fixed the mask back on as he rose, "But, if a deal can’t be made this way, I’m sure His Majesty will offer something just as good. Now then, is that all?"

"Of course not. On a clear sky like today, you will join me for a drink." Darius grabbed Adrian’s shoulder and led him to another part of the garden, where servants were already waiting to pour drinks for the two.