"That could have gone worse." Nicholas IV observed as he left the meeting hall. He had just attended a regional Althing, a public gathering that would discuss the issues of law, justice, and governance of the moment. No small part of that one was focused on a pack of marauding weasels who were responsible for all manner of havoc.
Not so much harmful as bothersome. When caught, no one could agree on any suitable punishment. As the matter was mostly lost property, normally restitution in coin, kind, or labor was the common solution. But the little beasts were poor, landless, and seemed both too incompetent and untrustworthy to work off their penalties.
The King proposed a shrewd solution. He would bestow upon them the role of boarder guards, a patrol in a rather empty quarter where they could do little harm. And if the rest of the realm was lucky, get captured by some band of Northerners to become their problem.
The King's address, regarding his resolve to continue with the Great Peace, despite the Empire's wishes, had been mostly well received. He had to hope that those who were less enthused was due to thwarting the Imperial Will rather than the opportunity to prey upon their neighbor's change of status.
His plea for accommodation for the refugees coming out of the south was more contentiously met.
For some, any outsider, especially from the not well-regarded central empire, were too many, with their foreign ways and unfamiliar species. Others fretted about the burden of hospitality they were obligated to offer to ever growing numbers. The matter of security also came up. How many of the refugees might be spies or assassins, or even infiltrating troops?
He countered with the fact that these were, by and large, obvious victim species, prey folk, who had lost everything to the Imperial edicts. Too many had tales of cruel abuse, even horrific losses, now that they could be enslaved or even considered simply food by anyone who wished to do so.
Then, on a more practical level, the North was sparsely settled, and the added paws and talent could more than offset the added mouths that came from the South. A point that was at least grudgingly acknowledged by the various landholders.
Afterwards, well out of earshot, he mused to his Hand, the diminutive Sand Fox. "I swear, if I gave them all a bonus in gold, all they would do is complain about the added weight."
"Well, you are asking them for an investment most won't see a return on for seasons to come. But, yes, even in the face of opportunity, all most will see is the inconvenience of the moment." The little beast huffed. "But in the end, your folk will do the right thing and profit from it. Even if they won't admit it."
The larger fox beamed at that. "See. You are beginning to understand us of the North."
"What I'm learning is that you fool beasts are the most contradictory creatures I've ever had the misfortune of knowing. Must be all the cold, grey climate. Now all we have to worry about is that source of madness from the South."
"The Empress? I honestly doubt she will trouble us directly any time soon. But I don't want the folk to become too lax. She can still send instigators north to stir the wild tribes. But she is still too fearful to extend herself very far. Even now she hasn't moved against the Little Queen."
The smaller fox rubbed his muzzle. "I don't understand that. After her route of Kang, one would have thought the Empress would be on her with a vengeance."
"So would we all. But the Empress is one of those who only see things through her own flaws. Celia is a monster, and can only see everyone around her as bad as she is. So she cannot trust anyone and instead pointlessly abuses erstwhile allies in her fears. Not a good way to rally the empire to action."
"Or so my spies and my own impressions tell me."
"And regarding spies, I suspect Queen Judith is up to something."
"Oh? I hadn't heard anything."
"Exactly, nothing at all. All my spies in the 'Burrows went silent a fortnight ago. Then any follow-ups went silent in turn as they crossed the boarder." Finn considered that for a good while. He had helped see to it that his King had the best, most subtle eavesdroppers that kinship, even more than gold could secure. That they were gone was personal to him.
Nicholas gave him a sympathetic look, knowing of his concerns. "From what we had heard earlier, The Rabbits tend to seize simple spies for some kind of ransom, so we can hope for a diplomatic inquiry at some point."
"A small hope, M'Lord." The smaller Fox muttered.
"Well, I'm preparing some quiet diplomatic contacts with the Little Queen. Though, as there is hostile territory between us and them, it will have to be a bit on the covert side as well." He gave his diminutive friend a hopeful smile.
"Oh?" The Fennec priding himself on keeping his rather oversize ears in on the various intrigues of the court.
The King's brow made a knowing arch. "Passage through Imperial controlled territories not only means a predator, but someone who would not be an obvious diplomat or courier. So I have some candidates in mind."
"And for extra safety, not even trying to smuggle documents." The Fennec's mind began to consider the new scheme. "A full embargo or blockade isn't possible, too wide a boarder, but you can't risk having anything intercepted." He growled a little addition, "You're luck has never been worth counting on."
The larger Fox initially huffed at that, but ended in a sigh. "You're too right. Hard to call my history one of success when all one could say is it could have gone worse."
Later, back in his own keep in the modest town claimed as his capital, King Nicholas began in interviews with potential covert diplomats. Of course it was never as obvious as that. More a matter of finding those traveling traders who knew persons who had the Queen's ear, directly or indirectly.
With the fate of the various spies in mind, he cautioned them to not get too inquisitive, explaining in a round about way that they might bring unwanted attention to themselves and confine themselves to being informal messengers.
And, of course, he kept an ear open for general news and talk coming out of the broader Empire. As expected, Celia seemed to be fretting, sending out any number of decrees and demands, mostly seeking demonstrations of obedience among the various lesser Lords. That meant more aggressive repression and abuse among the prey folk. More and more were turned over to become Imperial property, mostly as slaves, mostly. No one talked about what happened to others.
Then, there was his other plan.
"I need an envoy who can convey my full and true intentions to the Little Queen." The King looked to the Badger Maiden who stood before him. While she was well regarded in wit and appearance for her kind, others would tend to dismiss her as just a dull lump of a creature. Nicholas knew that, counted on that, for his intended mission.
"I will need you to attend me for a time, that you may observe my true nature. I will strive to remain candid, and avoid some performance to favorably color my character."
"My Lord?" The Maiden cocked her head in puzzlement. "I don't understand."
The Fox offered a small sad smile. "I need her to see my heart, my true, full intent for an alliance between us."
"Forgive me if I speak out of turn, but this sounds more like you intend to court her?"
"In a way, perhaps I am." He rubbed his muzzle. "But I want, I need her to have as full and honest a view of me as possible. So you will need to see me at my worst as well as best, and be willing to honestly report such to her."
Nicholas struck a pose. "To her, I am a fox, though no longer the ancient predatory threat, with the Empresses' revocation of the Great Peace, the old fears will no doubt return." He folded himself and glumly looked off. "And I lack much of a reputation outside our boarders. For too many I am the illegitimate self-proclaimed 'king' to a vast, vague land full of dull brutes, little better than the savages of the northern wilderness."
He looked to the Maiden for debate, and was pleased that she had to reluctantly agree to his assessment. "Very good. That you can be honest with me will be vital. Further, there is no question too critical, too challenging," A little chuckle, "Or too intimate, that you cannot ask."
He could tell she pinked a tad at that and had to smile. She was a young Maiden after all, and he had an undeserved reputation as an aggressive male.
"But I would hope any conversation wouldn't need to go that far." And they shared a little chuckle at that.
"As you'll be at paw most of the time, your official role will be as my assistant secretary, a task which I'm told you would be able to perform, yes?"
"Oh yes, my Lord. I can read the three tongues and I'm told I have a very legible paw, but must admit to some weakness in my spelling."
"Well, fear not on that account, I don't expect you'll be doing all that much, and most of my correspondents are barely literate, so small words, simply put."
Nicholas clapped his paws together as a satisfied conclusion to the interview. "The Steward will help you get settled in and all that. And remember that you must not hint at any special status, not that anyone pays me or mine any special attention." He snorted.
"My Lord! You are the King in the North!" The Maiden was shocked at that.
"Yes, but its the collective will of the North that they obey me at all, and I'm not the one to demand any special observance." He gave her a half-smile. "You run along and take care of yourself. I'll be easy enough to find later."
The young Badger bowed and retreated. She ought to do. And she was too right about the 'courting'. Not that he would ever consider that literally, but alliances were often much like marriages. King of the North and the little Coney Queen, a Fox and Bunny, was too much for anyone to really consider. And in that, he hoped such an unexpected pairing would catch everyone off guard.