Plots
The well-dressed Duchess of Alerna turned sharply and bowed before the king and queen of Yemen.
"Your Majesties," she began, "I am pleased to report success. Our spies have been placed in both of the allied countries, and they are surely close enough to the generals to gather all necessary information. Also, a dead man has been resurrected by our mages and will doubtless cause great confusion as he carries out his revenge. Cranan and Drokal will be destroyed before our mighty armies."
"A dead man?" the queen queried, digging her nails into her husband's arm. "Our mages have dared to raise a dead man?" The king winced as the blood-colored nails of his beloved wife opened small red holes in his flesh.
Duchess Marie watched nervously as the queen's eyes caught fire, obviously preparing for one of her famous, deadly outbursts. "Yes, Your Majesty, we have raised a dead man. Or at least, we have raised his spirit: I am led to believe that the body he chose was female."
"You had no business." The queen screeched in fury as her husband laid a restraining hand on her shoulder.
"Now, darling, I'm sure they meant no harm, and as long as you're sure that this war is absolutely necessary." the king's courage failed him at the look his wife gave him and he said, "yes, dear. I'll be quiet."
"I'm afraid," the queen grabbed her husband's arm and began to tug him towards his study, "that the king isn't feeling well and has said some things that he didn't really mean. You needn't mention this to the court." She flipped a golden coin to the offended Duchess and hurried out of the room.
Once alone in the luxurious study in which most of the business of the kingdom was conducted, the royal couple began to bicker.
"You are NOT supposed to let on that you are a weak ruler!" the Queen shrieked. "No one is supposed to know who runs the country!"
"Why not? Why don't you want to tell you is the power behind the throne? Modesty, or fear that my ambitious younger brother would be asked to take over? And please remind me, just why are we going to war with the Crananians and the Drokalians?"
"You are pathetic!" screamed Queen Amber. "You know that they have killed many of our loyal subjects!"
"Don't be ridiculous! The 'loyal subjects' they have been killing are mostly the same ones who assasinated my father. I have a good mind to abdicate and let someone else get our country into trouble. At least somebody else would have a better excuse for going to war!"
The queen frowned. Paber was being difficult and strong-willed again. She would have to do something about him before he carried out his threats. "Don't be so hasty, dear," she told the furious king. "You really need to consider what you are saying."
She muttered a few words under her breath and her husband's face went blank. There, she thought, that should convince him to go along with her.
The well-dressed Duchess of Alerna turned sharply and bowed before the king and queen of Yemen.
"Your Majesties," she began, "I am pleased to report success. Our spies have been placed in both of the allied countries, and they are surely close enough to the generals to gather all necessary information. Also, a dead man has been resurrected by our mages and will doubtless cause great confusion as he carries out his revenge. Cranan and Drokal will be destroyed before our mighty armies."
"A dead man?" the queen queried, digging her nails into her husband's arm. "Our mages have dared to raise a dead man?" The king winced as the blood-colored nails of his beloved wife opened small red holes in his flesh.
Duchess Marie watched nervously as the queen's eyes caught fire, obviously preparing for one of her famous, deadly outbursts. "Yes, Your Majesty, we have raised a dead man. Or at least, we have raised his spirit: I am led to believe that the body he chose was female."
"You had no business." The queen screeched in fury as her husband laid a restraining hand on her shoulder.
"Now, darling, I'm sure they meant no harm, and as long as you're sure that this war is absolutely necessary." the king's courage failed him at the look his wife gave him and he said, "yes, dear. I'll be quiet."
"I'm afraid," the queen grabbed her husband's arm and began to tug him towards his study, "that the king isn't feeling well and has said some things that he didn't really mean. You needn't mention this to the court." She flipped a golden coin to the offended Duchess and hurried out of the room.
Once alone in the luxurious study in which most of the business of the kingdom was conducted, the royal couple began to bicker.
"You are NOT supposed to let on that you are a weak ruler!" the Queen shrieked. "No one is supposed to know who runs the country!"
"Why not? Why don't you want to tell you is the power behind the throne? Modesty, or fear that my ambitious younger brother would be asked to take over? And please remind me, just why are we going to war with the Crananians and the Drokalians?"
"You are pathetic!" screamed Queen Amber. "You know that they have killed many of our loyal subjects!"
"Don't be ridiculous! The 'loyal subjects' they have been killing are mostly the same ones who assasinated my father. I have a good mind to abdicate and let someone else get our country into trouble. At least somebody else would have a better excuse for going to war!"
The queen frowned. Paber was being difficult and strong-willed again. She would have to do something about him before he carried out his threats. "Don't be so hasty, dear," she told the furious king. "You really need to consider what you are saying."
She muttered a few words under her breath and her husband's face went blank. There, she thought, that should convince him to go along with her.