The Sunfire Queen sighs, her posture relaxed and her chin propped on the palm of her hand. Her court has been squabbling for hours now, debating whether the humans that robbed their kingdom were worth pursuing.
The council had only just received correspondence that these particular humans were from Katolis. Of course they were. Katolian humans were the worst of the lot. The other human kingdoms seemed to have no regard for Xadia. Katolis, on the other hand, was known to send spies and soldiers across the border. It was also the only kingdom foolish enough to position its military forces at the border.
Personally, Khessa felt that the relic was not even worth the resources they drained protecting it, never mind the manpower they would pour into ripping it from human hands. But when Sol Regem had tasked her people with protecting it several decades ago, her grandmother saw it as a great honor.
What an honor it is to be aligned with the first Dragon King to be stripped of his title because he could no longer serve his purpose, she internally scoffs.
It was pointless to try to get it back. The strength of the dark magic within that staff would lead to the gradual decay of any human daring enough to use it. And by the time they figure out how to do any real damage, they would probably already be dead. Though, a portion of her council insists that they err on the side of caution.
Janai is speaking now, and Khessa wills herself to sit up. The court stills.
Her sister has always been quite the traditionalist, advocating for the customs of the city that had been established long before either of them were born. This, of course, includes the protection of Ziard's staff. Though they did not always see eye to eye, Khessa would be lying if she said she didn't hold her sister's opinion in high regard. This is part of the reason she has allowed this discussion to go on for as long as it has. Janai knew where she stood and was hoping that something would change her mind.
But no, not a single argument for the retrieval of the staff has compelled her to do so. The humans were harmless, with or without the staff—pesky, but ultimately harmless.
Still, she knows that she can't have things her way. Situations as polarizing as this required careful solutions. She couldn't let the crack between differing opinions in her court tear her whole kingdom in half—she wasn't going to give humans the satisfaction of knowing that they caused this rift.
Janai concludes her point and the leaders of Lux Aurea resume drowning the silence with more of their incessant, pointless bickering.
Khessa decides she's had enough and rises to her feet, allowing a moment for the arguments to die out. The Queen speaks and her subjects listen.
"We have deliberated over this matter for quite some time now," she pauses, intentionally looking over the individuals in attendance. "And I am sure that there are several compelling arguments that are left unsaid. However, I have heard enough from both sides to come to a decision." She carefully observes the reactions of her people as she gestures for the High Priest to bring her the sun staff. He complies with her request and she takes it to her sister, pressing it into Janai's palm. "We will judge the High Mage of Katolis and execute him should the Light reveal any darkness within him."
She saunters back to her throne. "That way, the humans get to keep their toy," she waves her hand dismissively. "And because the staff is only dangerous in the hands of someone who knows how to wield dark magic, we destroy the only human that does. Thus, ensuring the safety of our people. Any questions?"
An advisor steps forward. "Your Highness, with all due respect, what if the humans respond with a declaration of war?"
"Up until my proposal there have only been two options: wage war on the humans and retrieve the staff, or leave it be. The former guarantees the loss of our soldiers on human lands with limited possibility that we will get the staff back, the latter guarantees that we will never get the staff back and risk the lives of our people should the humans get too… confident." Her lips twist into the beginnings of a snarl before she composes herself. "Either way, the threat of war exists. My recommendation is simply to show the humans that Lux Aurea is not to be trifled with. If they are foolish enough to declare war, it's a war that will be fought on our territory which only assures our victory." She takes a seat. "Any other concerns?"
Khessa smiles as she is met with silence.
"Very good. In that case, Janai, select your troops and prepare for departure. I would very much like to move on to our next order of business."
"Yes, my Queen," Janai bows, though Khessa knows the look on her face is communicating a different message: We'll talk later.
"Be careful, Sor-bear," Lissa calls.
The child wobbles on the stone parapet and sends his mom a pout for breaking his concentration. "I'm fi-Oh!" He stops and crouches, gripping the edge of his perch as he reaches over to a nearby bush and breaks a twig off it. "Look, ma, a sword!"
"That's nice, sweetie," she replies, but her attention is on Callum as he wriggles in her arms and lets out a noise of objection. "I know, I know. You can play with Soren after you finish your food, deal?"
He tilts his head, but still squeaks a jolly "yes" in response, holding out a half-eaten fruit in his hands.
They had spent half the day looking for the other parents, but to no avail: Sarai wasn't in her room, Adriel wasn't in the infirmary, and Viren wasn't in his study. They also went through other public-accessible rooms, but the adults were nowhere to be seen. Lissa was absolutely exhausted. Even Claudia and Callum seemed tuckered out from their trip around the castle. All that was left was—
"En garde, foul elf!"
—Soren. Who is fervently attacking passing foliage with his newly acquired weapon.
The courtyard was really the only other place left for them to check after they stopped by the kitchen. Lissa suspected that she might not find anyone of interest there, but knowing that there was ongoing training at this time of day, she had hoped that Soren would join them and wear himself down a little bit.
Where in his tiny body does this child store all his energy? Lissa wonders, a tired but genuine smile gracing her features.
When they reach the courtyard, Soren races up to a group of resting soldiers proudly flaunting his "sword." Claudia releases her hold on her mother's skirt, plops herself onto a patch of grass, and proclaims that she's going to take a nap. Lissa settles next to her daughter and lets Callum go. With a squeal, he drops his food and begins running towards Soren only to be abruptly scooped up.
Lissa is alarmed when she doesn't recognize the assailant right away, but her nerves calm when she sees Sarai lingering behind him. She's not as familiar with Adriel, but his vivid, forest-green eyes and tousled light brown hair should've served as a clear indicator of who he was—she feels embarrassed that she hadn't realized sooner.
When Sarai first introduced newborn Callum to her family, he was as much of a spitting image of his mother as a baby could be. He had her straight, dark hair, her cute button nose, and her smile. The only thing he seemed to inherit from his father at that time were his wide, inquisitive eyes, but their likeness only grew over time. He never lost his mother's smile, though: bright, sincere, and unwavering.
"Oh my goodness you've gotten so big," Adriel croons before blowing raspberries into the child's tummy, evoking peals of laughter punctuated by lighthearted protests. "I can't even carry you anymore, you're such a big boy!" He adjusts Callum with a hop, and it's at that moment Lissa notices the crutch under his left arm.
She clears her throat. "Good to see that you're up and about, General." Both the current and former generals acknowledge her statement at the same time.
"Ah just—"
"It's—"
Adriel shoots his wife a questioning but playful look, and Sarai responds with a stare that seemed to jestingly dare him to challenge her. They hold each other's gaze for a brief moment before she nudges him with a laugh and takes Callum from his quaking arm. The duo join Lissa on the ground, Sarai placing her son on her lap.
"I apologize, I meant General Adriel. I thought that would've been clear since you're Just Sarai now," Lissa teases with a smirk, but she sobers up to address Adriel. "So, why the cane? I was informed Viren had healed you last night."
"He did," he confirms, laying the crutch on the ground next to him. "But there's this... pinching sensation in the left side of my hip as I walk, and it's only gotten worse since I got back. Also," he clears his throat, "We don't need honorifics among friends, just Adriel will do."
She smiles politely but mentally fights to stop herself from calling him Just Adriel. "And did Mathias give you anything for the pain this morning?"
He gives her a sheepish smile, his eyes briefly darting to his wife whose eyebrows are also raised in question. "I didn't get a chance to see him before I left—I'm alright though! I got here without a hitch." He flashes an exaggerated grin.
Lissa presses her fingers to her forehead, muttering something about soldiers being impatient, and Sarai "tsk"s at him. "That may be the case, but we'll still have to take a look," the Doctor informs him.
"I'm fine," he insists, not completely paying attention to her as Callum toddles over and flumps onto his lap. He rhythmically pokes Callum on his nose, then his hip, then his cheek, and the toddler is shrieking with joy as he tries to capture his father's fingers.
Adriel then starts humming a poorly-composed song of his own creation, holding onto his son's wrists and making him dance. Sarai laughs as Callum joins in with a mess of incoherent notes, kicking out his legs to complete the routine.
Lissa hides her own grin, turning her head to check on her children. Claudia's still asleep, curled on her side in a fetal position, and Soren is sparring with a soldier, both using sticks as swords. "Hey, Sarai," she says, eyes lingering on her son for a little bit longer before turning to face her. "Will you take care of Claudia for a bit? I still have to look for my husband and I don't want to wake her."
"Of course, that's not a problem," Sarai beams, still watching her husband and son play. "I'm sure Callum would enjoy the company."
Lissa thanks her and calls Soren over, taking his weapon-free hand in hers. "I'll pick her up tonight when I stop by to check on Ju-Adriel." She dusts off her skirt. "Don't let him run away this time," she calls over her shoulder as she walks back into the castle.
"No promises!" Sarai replies before hoisting her son up and clumsily twirling with him to the beat of Adriel's melody. It's chaotic, it's loud, and quite frankly doesn't make any sense but even though all eyes are on them, appalled to see the generals behave this way, the family pays them no mind.
They were finally reunited and there was nothing else in the world that mattered.
Next chapter out 08/14/20~