Chapter Fourteen

Strategy

Queen Gaia insisted on recruiting her brothers into the war. She reasoned that they would need all the help they could get and who would turn away family? Apollo and Dagda wisely kept their opinions to themselves on this matter and agreed. Queen Serenity was reluctant at first but she realized it might lower the body count on the battlefield she quickly relented.

They decided to start with Oakspeare, Illuseon's neighbor to the north. It was several days' ride there and the length of the journey was spent in brief chatter broken by long lapses of silence. Queen Gaia did not say much, but was deep in thought. Even though she insisted that it would be a good idea, she was still worried. Oakspeare was her native country, her homeland. The people there were loving, loyal countrymen who would lay their lives down for their sovereign if asked. She only hoped many of them would not have to.

King Dagda was also hesitant but for a different reason, although no one could pin it down. Every time someone would venture near the subject he would immediately attempt to change it. It wasn't clear to anyone exactly what bothered him until they were received at the Juniper Palace, Queen Gaia's ancestral home.

The Juniper Palace was huge, surrounded by miles and miles of forest. (Hunting grounds, they were later told) It was a large formidable battle-scarred castle that was highly fortified. It was more like a fortress really and clear to everyone that the wars fought here would fill accounts scribes would kill for. Inside it was dark, and as they entered the ante chamber, they saw tapestries of battles and hunts cover the dark wood walls. A sumptuous jewel green carpet was crushed beneath their feet. While waiting for the King to arrive, Queen Serenity spied a case full of swords and other weapons. Clearly, the master of the castle was a lover of war and hunting. She only hoped he would take on an enemy not quite his own.

"Dagda!"

A red-haired giant of a man and what appeared to be two of his brothers came down the steps to greet them. All of them were enormous, far larger than even Dagda with powerful builds and contradictory boyish grins. Their names (in order) were Faunus, Aaron, and Elsdon. Despite their They greeted their sister warmly and with enthusiasm. The leader grinned and looked down at Dagda "I'm surprised you came back, runt. I assume you're back for more?"

Dagda groaned. "I can't drink with you anymore, Faunus."

"And besides, I'd box both your ears if you tried to do that again." Gaia said swiftly, shooting her brother a dirty look. Faunus had the grace to look ashamed. "Why are you here exactly?"

"It's a long story-" Apollo offered but before he could explain, Faunus cut in. "I'd love to hear it but I can only imagine how long and hard a ride you've had. Dinner first, and then we talk. I'd rather not face my wife's wrath."

It was truly a wonderful dinner. The three brother's consorts were not there unfortunately, (they had other business that their husbands had preferred not to get into) but the meal was managed well enough and they dined on the finest venison they had ever tasted, the result of a rather successful hunt of Elsdon's.

The meal had ended and everyone was sleepily content and well-fed. The candles, burned low, the flames slow and mellow. The glowing light reflected and flickered on the faces around the table. Aaron decided to break the silence. "Apollo, tell us the long story."

Apollo had been sipping his wine and upon hearing this, lowered his cup. "Well, Calpeart declared war on us but the reason for that goes back further-"

"War? We'll support you." Aaron said unhesitantly. King Apollo looked as if he thought they were insane. "You didn't even let me finish!" He sputtered uncharacteristically. "It doesn't matter to us. We're a country that likes war, we just don't like to start it."

"You're mad," Apollo retorted, causing the three brothers to chuckle. "Reckless yes, but mad, no.

"We need to see Lord Zeus right away," Queen Gaia said firmly. "Prince Aaron shrugged. "That sounds like a good idea. That way you can meet our wives, see our Knights, and start training with us right away." He said unconcernedly.

Gaia stopped stock-still,

"You're a Knight of Apothesis? You know you're a knight? When did this happen?" She exclaimed, glaring.

The three brothers looked at each other a little uncomfortably. "When we turned eighteen?" Elsdon volunteered meekly. Gaia lost all composure. Sensing her anger, the three took off running and the Queen of Swenyos gave chase, leaving Sir Juno, Queen Serenity, King Dagda, and King Apollo as spectators to the sight. Queen Serenity watched wide-eyed as the three men fled from her friend like bats out of hell. Out of the corner of her eye she saw her husband silently observing them while he raised his eyebrows, apparently impressed. King Dagda chose to comment. "For the first time in my life, I think I'm grateful I never had siblings." He looked suddenly thoughtful. "I wonder if that will be Martha and Peter a few years from now."

"Well, if my daughter ever acts like that I'll send her off to become a priestess somewhere, never mind her mother's profession." SirJuno said flatly.

"I hope you've got a temple in mind," Queen Serenity replied softly.

Once things calmed down (or rather once Queen Gaia was finished berating her brothers for their secrecy) the group headed for the shrine, They were just coming up a series of wooden steps when four figures appeared at the top of the stairs. "Faunus? Aaron? Elsdon? Who is with you?"

Queen Serenity took a step forward and stared. The fourth figure remained shadowed but stepping into the light, three women peered at her and the other in interested curiosity, all of them exotic and beautiful in their own way, dressed for some reason in plain morning gowns. The woman who spoke held a haughty pose, her dark eyes twinkling with mirth in her moon-white face. Her dark ebony hair stream down her back, not daring to trail over her should in insubordination to her will. Serenity sensed that this was a woman inclined to be strict but rarely cross. She was not disappointed. "Faunus? You know you should introduce us. Did they freshen up first or did you just bring them here without concern for their comfort?" Faunus tried to look hurt. "And if I did?" He enquired mildly.

His wife looked affronted. "Then you can stay in your own chambers, tonight, my dear." King Faunus broke into a shameless grin. "Then it's a good thing I didn't. Serenity, Apollo, Juno, this is my wife Yolande. You've already met her of course," He said, nodding at King Dagda and Queen Gaia. Dagda' mouth thinned at the address but he said nothing, noticing the sharp look Gaia shot him. Yolande stepped forward, smiling widely. "Forgive me for my earlier forwardness. My husband sometimes forget the courtesies he should extend. Serenity, Apollo, Juno, May I introduce my sisters-in-law Elpis," She motioned to the white –blonde woman in cornflower blue on her left, who curtiesed. "And Sati," The handsome dark-skinned woman in saffron on her right inclined her head. Queen Serenity curtsied as well. "It's a pleasure to meet you but I'm afraid this visit was not borne of pleasure."

"That's why we're here, isn't it? Sati interrupted. "There could only be one reason why you would come to see Lord Zeus with such a purposeful step or such non-descript expressions and that would be to break the news of war to us in the most gentle way possible. Am I right?" Queen Gaia looked impressed. "Your insights are getting more and more exact, sister."

"That, or your heart is slipping into your sleeve, Ella." She said, flashing gleaming teeth. Gaia smile smiled wryly at this but she continued to talk. "We came here to ask you to join the fight, just as you predicted. But the reason for war is well-"She glanced at Apollo, whose face was stubbornly stony. "difficult to explain."

"Well, we won't be able to hear it if no one says anything, will we?" Elpis said brightly. At this Serenity visibly whitened. Noticing this, her voice grew gentle. "We will not judge, only listen."

Apollo explained everything while his wife leaned against him as if hoping to siphon strength from his warmth. The others did not interrupt except to ask a few questions, faces grave with seriousness. When he finished, they were left in silence until Princess Sati spoke.

"Did my husband agree to this alliance?"

Serenity nodded numbly.

"I'll go with you then." She declared. "If my husband believes in you then so do I."

"And I," Elpis chirped, slipping an arm into Aaron's. "Because Gods know he'd try to debate with me or worse.": Aaron rolled his eyes but smiled anyway,

"If Faunus didn't agree, I would make him," Yolande stated seriously. "But as it is he's a fighting man."

Lord Zeus watched this exchange in mild amusement. "Am I so unimportant that I have no say?" He rumbled in his deep voice from the top of the stairs. Everyone turned to look.

He was a vast, hairy man with a long shaggy mane and beard and a good-humored face, dimpled still beneath the whiskers. He came down the stair with a dancer's grace uncharacteristic of a man his size. "Ah…Lord Zeus, I didn't know you were there," Faunus said, faltering a little as he blanched. "My apologies." He added meekly. "If you were a child again I'd tan you, sire, but I'll spare you further embarrassment." Dagda' face positively shone with glee but a look from his wife made it retreat. "I received a letter from Lady Setsuna three days ago about this." Lord Zeus continued.

"Three days ago? We'd only just decided to come here three days ago." King Apollo said quietly.

"Exactly. Now coming back to the subject, Lady Setsuna told me to expect you to arrive today with the news. Between the two of us and Lord Helios we assumed it would be a month or so before Beryl brings her army to Illuseon's border which gives you some time to summon more allies to join."

"You made battle plans?" A note of irritation just barely colored Juno's voice and her expression became forbidding. Faint as it was, it was unsettling. "Peace Juno," Lord Zeus said soothingly. "This is mere premonition. Whatever your tactics will be, we'll see the possibilities."

Juno pursed her lips slightly but catching her Queen's eye she reigned in her displeasure. "So based on your observations, we should expect the war to come to our front door."

"That is correct, But Juno-" He said this a little louder, for he could already see her impatience to plan. "Bear in mind that this is a defensive war, because should you lose, what is most precious to you will be lost to us, and even Rhea herself would not be able to amend it."

"I don't plan on losing anything." Sir Juno said shortly.