Chapter 42


Day 24 of the Lone Moon, Imperial Year 1185


"Where have you been hiding this food, Claude? The last time we got something this good was for Iggy's birthday!" Raphael asked as he and the other Golden Deer devoured some choice ribs around a nighttime campfire. Though the category of meal was not normally to the liking of some people present, no one was complaining about having full platters.

Claude answered, "I told you, Raphael. Every victory in battle demands a special feast. And how could we call it special if we don't hold some of the good stuff back?"

"Did this even deserve to be called a battle, though?" Leonie questioned. "It was just a skirmish compared to Garreg Mach. It was almost boring, if you ask me."

Claude reminded, "It was a very important skirmish. It buys Teach and the Resistance Army crucial time to reach Myrddin and achieve the more glorious victory. And you do plan on being a mercenary when this war is over, right, Leonie? The combat you'll see in that profession will be on a scale much closer to this than the fall of Garreg Mach, so you might consider working on that boredom of yours."

Leonie sighed. "I know. I guess I'm just rearing for a chance at proper payback. I guess we can save that for when we're fighting the Empire head on instead of just Count Gloucester."

"I'm personally fine if the battles look a lot more like this going forward," Hilda declared. "Do you think you can work that into your strategy, Claude?"

Lysithea agreed, "I can't complain about having simpler battles. We did not have to kill many soldiers here, but that may not be the case at Myrddin. Lorenz is supposed to be defending the bridge, correct? I hope he comes out unharmed…"

Ignatz comforted, "Don't worry, Lysithea. Lorenz is smart, and I'm sure Professor Byleth would spare him if given the chance."

Claude was about to add his own opinion, but he was first beckoned by someone at another campfire. Not far away, Judith and Nardel were waving him over. Claude dutifully joined them and asked, "What's the topic of conversation?"

"You," Judith answered simply.

"Only praises, I hope," Claude said nervously.

Nardel laughed as he explained, "Neither praise nor scorn, Master Claude! We're discussing your future nuptials."

"I'm getting married? With you people for company, I guess I should have known that I'd be the last to find out."

Judith maintained, "Of course you're going to get married! Maybe not now, but you've surely been thinking about these things. So… who is it going to be, boy? I like a good surprise, but Hilda seems like the obvious choice. Shoring up House Goneril's support will be critical. Not to mention, you two seem very close, and I've been told that you have Holst's blessing. You have no idea how lucky you are for that."

"Ha! Oh, trust me- I know. If I made a move on her without Holst's support, I wouldn't live to see another morning," Claude agreed as he glanced back to his friends at the other fire. His smile then faded. "To be honest, though, you two… I actually haven't thought much about it. I mean it! I have things to accomplish first, starting with this war."

"If you plan on waiting until you accomplish every goal of yours, you'll be older than me before you make a decision!" Nardel joked.

"Maybe not every goal, but you know what I mean. I'm not committing to anything like that until I'm absolutely certain that it's the best course of action."

Judith laughed a little bitterly. "I had the same attitude, and look at me now! Forget Nardel's prediction; if it's perfection you're looking for, you'll be older than Nardel and I combined before you find it."

"Wait one second! It takes a lot of nerve to make a claim that false when you've got perfection sitting right next to you!" Nardel insisted.

Judith snorted. "You bring a lot to the table, Nardel, but I don't think those scars on your face are a product of perfection."

"Hey, you have to keep in mind the circumstances! I wa-." Claude glared at Nardel dangerously until the man realized his mistake. "… The other guy wasn't as drunk as I was, okay?"

That gave Judith reason to laugh. "I'm not sure that disproves my point, but I can't really judge you on that account."

Claude was grateful that the focus was diverted from him for a moment, but it did not take long before Judith and Nardel were interrogating him again. Judith advised, "You might be the Supreme Leader and all, but take some advice from someone with experience- leaping for the stars is great and all, and it's the surest way to jump as high as your body will allow. Just don't be surprised when you fall short, or you'll be setting yourself up for disappointment."

"I already made a promise, though," Claude muttered- a promise to split a mountain in two. He said louder, "But I get what you mean, Judith. It's kind of like Nardel setting himself up for disappointment by trying to flirt with you, right?"

This had the intended effect as the two older generals began to bicker over Nardel's intentions. Claude smirked as he slinked away and rejoined his classmates. All of those worries could still be saved for later.


The Unavailing Reach- Day 13 of the Harpstring Moon, Year 1187 (Fódlan Calendar)


Khalid rubbed his temple as he attempted to clear the headache that had developed over the course of a long council meeting in the Palace of the Basileus. Several dull subjects had already been discussed, and while the new topic was more interesting, the immediate argument it provoked had become tiring.

The council consisted of Khalid, his mother and brother, Demetrius, Senusret, and Kamran. Since the meetings were focused on governing rather than battle strategy, Dimitri, Marianne, and Sarina were not included.

Also joining the council was General Narses of Meteora. In light of his cooperation prior to the Battle of Metanoiapolis, Narses was quickly granted a position in the interim government to help blunt the image of a foreign occupation. Narses was a short, graying man who was prudent and somewhat soft-spoken. He could be strongminded when needed, however, and he was flexing that ability in a debate with Kamran.

"Meteora is a large land. Don't be fooled into thinking you can easily control it just because this city fell quickly. Those circumstances can't be repeated. You'll need to make use of our army, not disband it," Narses argued.

Kamran opposed, "Perhaps you can pick out a few officers you're certain will not cause any trouble, but we simply can't trust the Meteoran army as a whole. We've had five riots across four cities in just the last week, and I've heard that some of your soldiers have been among them."

"No thanks to you, Kamran," Narses retorted grimly. "I've received no less than eight complaints during that same week submitted by our merchant guilds, all accusing you of abusing your victory to extort them for favorable trade deals. That affects not just the tradesmen, but all of Meteora."

"Trade between Shomal and Meteora collapsed when the war broke out. All I did was help restore those connections on behalf of Soraya's council. Defeat has wounded the pride of your people, so they're interpreting every action we take as an insult."

Tiana interrupted, "That's enough. You are both getting off-topic. We're discussing the future of the Meteoran army, not trade negotiations."

"I've already made my stance clear," Narses insisted. "If you plan to handle the unrest, you'll need my army. You don't have the numbers or experience to address the situation alone."

Kamran countered, "Will they help calm the unrest… or join in with it? We'd be providing the nascent rebels with a direct supply line of weapons."

After taking time to consider the arguments, Khalid leaned forward and interjected, "I'm concerned, too, but tell me this, Kamran… do you really think it's wise to release thousands of unemployed trained soldiers into the public? You can control them if they remain in the system. Take away their livelihood, though, and you've got a recipe for a revolution, not just riots."

"I must agree with Khalid," James added. "Justinian, the Sentinels, and their ilk were the ones fomenting trouble in Meteora. They're all gone now. Any further changes are just going to destabilize the region. Never shake the foundations more than necessary."

Kamran was not convinced. "You think the foundations are cleansed just because Justinian is dead? No, the rot extends much deeper than one petulant man. If we're going to prevent another war, we must purge all notions of Meteoran greatness or independence. That starts with its ability to fight back."

Queen Tiana finally declared, "I'm sorry Kamran, but barring a few exceptions, the soldiers have not yet been an issue. Let's not go creating a new one out of a compulsive desire for action."

Senusret abstained from the debate, while Demetrius aligned with the majority. That settled what was intended to be final discussion point for the council. Just before they could leave, however, the doors were abruptly thrown open. A sentry stepped forward and announced hastily, "Your Majesty… Agha Nousha and Agha Ridwan of Saba request your permission to enter."

Everyone glanced between each other in surprise before their eyes settled on the queen, all questioning how angry she would be with Nousha.

"… They are permitted," Tiana allowed through gritted teeth.

Khalid's headache evaporated as he watched the new arrivals enter. Nousha's return was an event in of itself, but Ridwan's visit made matters that much more fascinating.

Nousha had survived her adventure unharmed, though she now wore a necklace consisting of a gold and coral chain bearing a pendant inlayed with turquoise. She was clearly exhausted from a long journey, but she still bowed and told the crowd, "I apologize for the delay, though I am thankful to see that victory was quickly achieved even in our absence."

"And what was the cause of the delay? Did you get lost during the return trip from Al-Amal? Even in Saba, the sun still rises in the east and sets in the west."

Nousha flinched but said calmly, "While in Al-Amal, we learned that the garrison at Maddaban would capitulate to Sreng raiders within a week or two. We were in the position and had the numbers to relieve the siege, so I made the decision to act. I understand that not everyone will agree with that choice, and I am ready to accept whatever reprimand is deemed appropriate."

Tiana's face underwent a revolving series of expressions before she clenched her fist and pivoted in an uneven voice, "And why are you here, Agha Ridwan?"

Ridwan bowed and answered, "The emir gave orders for the Sabaean army to follow Nousha's command. And thus… here I am, Your Majesty. I was hoping to make a dramatic entrance, but this probably seems far less impressive since Meteora has already fallen. Even so, we will go where we are needed."

Tiana's eyes narrowed. "Emir Dizhwar says that your army is loyal to Nousha… not to the crown?"

"You can ask him for clarification, but it's all to the same effect, correct? I would not worry too much over the semantics, Your Majesty," Ridwan said with a nervous chuckle.

It was not clear where the conversation was headed, but Senusret shifted the mood when he observed, "You'll have to forgive Ridwan's tardiness, Your Majesty. He hurt his back during the archery tournament, which he repeatedly referenced as the reason for his defeat. The injury sounded so severe that I can't imagine he gets anywhere fast nowadays."

Ridwan and Senusret stared at each other for a few seconds before both started to laugh. Senusret stood up and gave his friend an embrace.

Tiana sighed and said in defeat, "Nousha and Ridwan, I want full reports covering everything that has transpired since the Battle of the Pinnacula so we can discuss them later tonight. For now, you should rest. Khalid, show Nousha to the quarters next to yours. Senusret, find a place for Agha Ridwan."

"Is there a reason we don't want to discuss it now while everyone is here?" Nousha asked.

Demetrius answered, "It's already been a long meeting, and anything that's been discussed here is already going to be repeated tonight anyways. We're expecting new arrivals within the next few hours from Istakhr. This will include the incoming provisional government as well as Sardar Soraya, who is making her first formal visit to Sardar Juliana."

"This isn't the provisional government?" Ridwan queried. "I thought this was already a pretty impressive collection of names. I can't imagine who else you'll find more qualified."

"These will be administrative officials, not simply war commanders. Security forces are still necessary, but the absence of famous generals and royals will hopefully somewhat reduce our visibility. And more importantly, King Faruq has requested that we shift our focus to finishing matters with Darius and the Tabarzin. You arrived just in time to help with that."

Ridwan bowed again. "Defeating Darius doesn't sound quite as illustrious as a victory over Ghalib or Aurelian, but we have no place to complain. I hope you will make good use of our troops, Your Majesty, as I'm sure your own are quite weary by this point."

"That is true," Tiana admitted. "Be sure to include the approximate sizes of the Sabaean armies and how soon they can march in your report, general. I won't waste any more of anyone's time for now."

Khalid picked up a wrapped object at his side and motioned for Nousha to follow him once the council had dispersed.

"It's a bit of a walk to where you'll be staying. My retainers and I ended up in the chambers of Aurelian's nephew Florian. I have no idea who lived in your rooms, but I apologize if it's stuffed full of unwashed men's clothes or something."

"That's the least of my worries," Nousha said. "Something tells me I haven't heard the last about my choice to aid Maddaban. I thought the queen would be angrier with me, to be honest."

"Oh, make no mistake… she is angry. At the same time, how is she or anyone else supposed to act on that anger when you're the linchpin to our new alliance with Saba? She'll gripe about what you did in private, but no one can do anything about it in public. And once the Sabaean forces prove their worth, the private griping will eventually evolve into genuine gratitude. At least, I hope it will."

Nousha nodded in agreement with this explanation. She then asked, "We spent a night in Al-Amal on the way from Maddaban. I heard about your victory as soon as we got there, but I know very little about what has happened. So… how are things?"

"That depends on whom you ask. Some people think we're doing too much, others think we're doing too little. The first couple of days weren't so bad. Nobles, generals, and priests were scrambling over each other to disavow Justinian and explain how they had secretly been working to undermine him all along. It was like a sad bootlicking competition. No one cared that much when we imprisoned or stripped authority from anyone with too much dirt on their hands to make a convincing excuse. It's gotten more difficult after that, however. Justinian's death did not suddenly solve food shortages, more people are learning about relatives that died in the war, and it's become obvious that Meteora is not regaining any kind of autonomy in the near future. Juliana hasn't gotten to do anything other than release a few statements urging for peace and patience."

"Well… nicely done, Khalid, truly. I was disappointed I didn't have time to enjoy the beaches in Maddaban, but maybe I can go back for a visit since you've obviously got things handled here marvelously."

Khalid knew to expect Nousha's taunts, but there was something different about her tone. It sounded… a bit closer to her jokes from when they were children. She almost seemed to be smiling. However, Nousha continued to ask questions rather than let Khalid ponder the meaning of her attitude. After Khalid finished explaining who Narses was and why he was at the council, Nousha bobbed her head towards the object in Khalid's hand and asked, "What's the present?"

Her guide held up the wrapped object and replied, "Can't tell from the shape? It's Dimitri's lance. As for why I have it… well, that's a long story. Maybe another time. Your room is just around the corner. I'd invite you over, but I know you've got plenty of napping and writing to get done."

"I guess so. Hopefully the previous owner left enough ink to satisfy your mother amongst all that unwashed clothing."

Nousha opened her door, but Khalid stopped, "Wait, before you go…"

The prince set the lance against the wall and embraced his companion. She froze up at his touch but did not resist.

"I'm so sorry about your father. I miss him, and I know you do, too," he told Nousha.

"… Thanks, Khalid." She chuckled over her watery eyes when she added, "You know… this is probably a one-time event, but I think he'd enjoy seeing us like this."

"Heh! He'd know it doesn't mean anything, but he'd still have some snarky comment for sure."

Nousha eventually broke away from the hug and opened the door wider, but Khalid interrupted again, "And about what you did in Maddaban… personally, I think it was very brave. But if you're disappointed that no one has tore into you yet about doing it, I am willing to play the role for you."

Nousha rolled her eyes. "I'm closing my door now, Khalid."

Khalid grinned as he opened the ingress to his own living space. Dimitri was sitting at Florian's table while flipping through a series of sketches presumably drawn by the late owner, while Ariella rested at the window staring outside.

"There's a crowd just outside the gates complaining about something. Whatever the reason, it's bad enough that I can hear them from here today," Ella observed when she heard Khalid's arrival. "Did you learn anything in your meeting that would explain why?"

"It could be any number of a hundred reasons, honestly. It sure feels like we argued over that many problems during the council, but most of them aren't really worth talking about again," Khalid told her. He then glanced back at Dimitri, who was staring at a sketched portrait of a young woman with a jovial smile. He asked Dimitri, "Should we know who that is?"

Dimitri shook his head. "No… no, he didn't get to tell me the story." He suddenly took the stack of sketches and tossed it onto a nearby cabinet with a pained expression. He finally looked up and noticed the object in Khalid's hand.

"That's…"

"It's your lance, yes," Khalid said as he carefully unwrapped Areadbhar and set it on the table. Ariella immediately approached the group, while Marianne crept in from one of the side chambers.

"I… was beginning to think it was forever lost," Dimitri muttered.

"I wasn't ready to give up hope, though I'll admit I was pretty perplexed. We searched under every last brick and stone of that barracks. But then I considered the possibility that someone found it that night, realized it was responsible, and tried to dispose of it. I sent out several teams based on that hypothesis this morning. One of them came through for us- the lance had been tossed into the ocean near the boat launch you escaped from."

Dimitri observed quietly, "I wouldn't be surprised if it was Florian himself, though I guess we'll never really know."

He had not yet made any movement to take the lance. Khalid eventually asked, "Are you feeling any better about using it again?"

Dimitri frowned. "I don't know. But when hope started to dwindle for finding it… I'll admit… it was somewhat upsetting."

"That's because you know you're the only person with the right and the strength to wield it. It's yours, Dimitri. Don't let one tough choice convince you otherwise."

"My whole life is a series of bad choices. But… I understand your point," Dimitri conceded as he pulled the lance off the table and set it against the wall. "It's just… I feel like everyone else is growing, while I'm regressing as a person."

"That's just because you are more aware of your own faults than you are of others. Take me for example. You think I'm a hero because I eventually agreed to not bury hundreds of people in an avalanche? You wouldn't have even considered the idea. Meanwhile, I'm over here annoyed that I never got the chance to best Aurelian in battle. It means absolutely nothing, but knowing he was the smarter man will always hang over my head."

"Smarter man? He made decisions that led to his downfall, and you made decisions that led to your victory. That's all the evidence you need."

Khalid chuckled, "See? That's the kind of reminders I need in my life, and I'm glad you're here to provide them."

Dimitri was suddenly getting embarrassed between Khalid's words, Ariella putting a hand on his shoulder, and Marianne taking his arm. He stuttered, "Ah… well, forget I said anything. By the way… was that Nousha you were talking to outside?"

"Yeah… I guess I ought to explain that one," Khalid agreed. He told most of what he knew about the adventures of the wyvern corps, but he was eventually interrupted by his growling stomach. When everyone awkwardly paused at the noise, he observed, "I don't speak stomach, but I think it's saying I need lunch before Soraya and the others arrive. We confirmed during the council that army rations are still limited to dinner for at least another few days, though, until Brigid's fleet returns with supplies. No one has turned up anything else from Florian's cabinets since we last looked, have they?"

Ariella shook her head. "There wasn't much to begin with. However…" She hopped over to a cabinet and returned with a piece of written parchment. "I got a copy of this from Demetrius last night. It's a list of expected deliveries into the city. We can use it to figure out what vendors should have food available! I'm sure the lines will still be terrible, though."

"Nothing we can do about that. Pushing our way to the front by waving around our credentials probably wouldn't help morale around here." Khalid stood up and requested, "You'll need to lead the way, Ella. I'm in dire need of fresh air, so I'm coming with you. Dimitri, it's probably best you come along, too, just in case we run into any trouble. Do you want to join us, Marianne, or would you rather us bring you something back?"

Marianne shrugged. "I can come, if that's what you would like."

She somehow seemed even less enthusiastic than usual. Khalid asked, "What were you doing in there before I showed up?"

"Who, me? I was, umm, reading aloud from a book. I thought it would be good practice for my voice. The words aren't my own, so there's nothing to be nervous about. But I can still come…"

It was obvious that she did not actually want to go, so Khalid replied, "It's fine, really. You'll be able to practice even louder if we're all away. And besides… it could be dangerous out there. I might make you wear that armor from Sous River again if you came along."

Marianne's eyes widened. "O-oh! Well… in that case… I'll be here when you get back. Anything to eat would be fine, thank you."

Khalid opened the door for Ella and watched as Dimitri spent a few seconds staring at Areadbhar. When the former prince of Faerghus finally noticed that he was delaying the expedition, he quickly grasped his lance and followed them out.

After facing a bit of resistance from sentries at the palace walls that discouraged the idea of going out, the group of three eventually made it into the city streets. Some buildings bore scars of war, but any loose rubble had been effectively cleared. Most of the locals milling about did not seem to recognize Khalid, but everyone wisely kept their distance from Dimitri. Perhaps they heard stories of the Tempest of Fódlan, or maybe they decided that approaching a very large man wielding a glowing lance was a bad idea by principle.

Dimitri's ability to clear a crowd eventually came up short when they reached the destination, as nothing could disperse the winding queue down the street. A few nervous locals did offer to let them skip ahead, though the three declined.

"What exactly is this place, Ella?" Khalid asked. "We're still so far away that I'd need a spyglass to tell."

Ariella glanced back down at her sheet before admitting, "This thing just says it's a meat delivery. I think Demetrius mentioned that it involved goat intestines and offal, though? I'm sure it will be… delicious."

"Never go into sales, Ella, because that's the least appetizing description of meat I've heard in a long time. Thankfully, I can't imagine this many people would be lining up for food poisoning. Surely no one is that desperate yet."

"Well, they've been enduring hunger for a lot longer than a week, so you never know. But I'd like to think Demetrius would at least warn me before handing over a map to my early grave."

Khalid turned his head and noticed that Dimitri was observing their surroundings rather than listening. The Almyran prince used the opportunity to tell Ariella, "I'm actually really glad you're here, Ella. Dimitri and Marianne have a lot on their minds right now, but I've been trapped in so many meetings that I haven't had time to be there for them."

Ella smiled. "Of course. Though… you're a bit too quick to assume that I don't have anything on my mind, too."

Ariella's tone was not critical, but Khalid still found something odd about the comment. His eyes narrowed as he asked, "Is… there something you need to tell me?"

His retainer almost seemed to not realize that she uttered that comment aloud. She backtracked, "No, it's nothing. Forget I said anything."

After finally ordering enough food for four people, Khalid was handed a large sack made from animal skins that contained meat sliced into many small bands for consumption. Despite Ariella's poor description, it actually smelled quite good. Khalid was going to pick one out to eat along the way, but he was interrupted by the blowing of a horn as wyverns appeared circling overhead.

Khalid sighed at the terrible timing. "And that would be our new guests. Well… I guess I can eat quickly when we get back, but there's no time to relax. I'm not invited to Soraya and Juliana's talk, but we'll be meeting altogether soon after that."

"Why aren't they landing at the palace?" Ella asked.

She was right. The wyverns began to descend in the direction of one of the city's main plazas, which seemed like an unnecessarily dangerous alternative to the palace grounds. Khalid concurred, "That's actually a really good question. Why don't we go find out? Let's be honest… Marianne is going to hate this stuff whether it's hot or not."

It took several minutes to reach the scene of interest, partially because the streets began to crowd as others also investigated the commotion. Guards held the civilians away from the square as two lavish palanquins were lifted into the air, each carried by four strong men. The wyverns also cleverly carried food, which was quickly being passed out among the thrilled crowd.

Khalid was more interested in the occupants of the litters than the food, however. Not surprisingly, Sardar Soraya sat in the first one, waving to the crowd with her typical calming smile. The second palanquin was even larger than hers. There was only one occupant that would make any sense…

"Oh, you've got to be kidding me…" Khalid muttered as the litter carrying his father passed by. King Faruq was clearly in pain, but he did his best to cover his grimace and smile for the crowd.

Khalid shook his head, turned around, and began to walk away before his father could see him.

"This visit is a surprise, right? Not some stunt you didn't tell us about?" Ariella asked as she and Dimitri followed after Khalid. They both seemed disappointed to miss out on the spectacle that captivated the rest of the multitude.

"Oh… it's a surprise, alright… and a stupid stunt, too. He shouldn't be doing something like this in his health. Marianne won't be happy, nor will any other physician."

"He's made the journey between the Dunya and Istakhr before, correct?" Dimitri reflected.

Khalid frowned. "Well, sure. But that journey can be done within a day, and there was always ample preparation. Neither of those conditions are true this time. He's probably spent a couple nights in a tent and strapped onto a wyvern multiple times. And at the end of it all, he's going to be staying in an unfamiliar room in a city with a plethora of ongoing dilemmas. It's going to be lovely for everyone if he gets sick on some spoiled rations. And who knows- maybe Farjad and the others are still contagious from whatever that was going around our army. My father won't admit it, but his body isn't built for this anymore. It's not just the paralysis at this point."

Dimitri and Ariella either agreed with him or decided to let him cool off in peace, as nothing more was said on the walk back to the palace. It would have been difficult to converse much anyways, as the noise of the instruments and the crowd provided a significant distraction even several streets away.

Upon returning to their quarters, everyone took a seat at the table as Khalid set down their lunch. Marianne joined them, doing her best not to scrunch her nose at the smell.

"Umm… thank you…" she said unconvincingly as she poked at the single band of meat she selected. Quickly noticing Khalid's uncharacteristic silence, she asked, "Is everything alright?"

Ariella mercifully explained what was happening on Khalid's behalf. The rumpus of the parade crescendoed as it finally reached the palace, decidedly outperforming the volume of the protests that morning.

"I would not have advised that he come, but I'm sure he had a good reason for doing so," Marianne concluded.

Khalid explained, "It's obvious why he did it. He's juxtaposing himself with Justinian. Both wanted a parade to reiterate their authority. But unlike the dead sardar, King Faruq carries food and a final peace with him. He wants to show the Meteorans that they haven't been forgotten, and that the king himself is here to address their concerns. It's not an idea without merit, but the situation hasn't gotten bad enough yet for him to risk his health over it."

Ariella rapped her fingers on the table as she debated whether to speak up. She finally risked, "He's a grown man, Khalid, and he can decide for himself what is worth the risk or not. He's not stupid. And you'd best calm down before you see him later, or you're going to publicly embarrass yourself."

Khalid opened his mouth to counter her, but… he stopped. Ella was correct on every account.

"… I'll keep it in mind. Now, let's talk about something else," Khalid requested.

The conversation jumped between topics until there was a knock at the door. Marianne sprang to answer it, happy to have an excuse to move farther away from the food. When the door opened, a young soldier bowed as she told the occupants, "Pardon the interruption, Your Highness, but your father requests your presence in the council chambers."

Khalid's eyebrows rose. "So soon? Is this an assembly of the new government or something else?"

"Something else, Your Highness. As far as I know, only the royal family and Sardar Soraya are invited," she clarified.

"Sounds ominous. Thanks for letting me know."

The woman bowed again as she left. Khalid took one last bite of the remaining food and stood. He told his retainers, "I'd better get going. I'll see if I can get any of you into tonight's meetings. And… thanks for the advice. I mean that."

Ariella smiled in appreciation, and the three all wished him luck. Khalid could not shake the feeling that something was amiss as he walked, and that feeling lingered as he entered the council room alongside James, who had arrived at the same time.

The council room was a disturbing monument to delusion. Maps were painted onto the walls that marked Metanoiapolis as the unambiguous capital of Almyra rather than Istakhr. Territory exchanges were common during the many wars of the previous two millennia, and the maps blanketed any region that had ever been administered by Metanoiapolis as Meteoran land. Much of the claimed territory had never even been controlled simultaneously, but that fact did not constrain the artist. Etched above the maps were prayers for safety and victory that ultimately went unanswered. Despite the absurdity and failure of the claims, the conquerors did not care enough to amend the room's contents.

King Faruq, Queen Tiana, and Sardar Soraya were all seated at the long table once used by the Meteorans. The king waved to two seats across from them. He was smiling, but it was not entirely convincing. Soraya was difficult to read, but the glance Tiana offered her son made it clear that he would not enjoy the upcoming conversation.

"Please… sit, my sons! There's no need to look so grim. You aren't in trouble," King Faruq said. As Khalid and James took their seats, he continued, "I'm sorry that you weren't informed I was coming, but I thought it best that no one knew. An advance notice would have dampened the awe of the moment, and I also thought the news could introduce security concerns. I wasn't worried about being attacked by an old man that happened to be walking down the street, but it could have been a different story if rebels had time to plan and organize an assassination."

Khalid shook his head as he leaned back in his chair. "You don't need to apologize for doing the logical thing."

"In that case, are you two simply unhappy to see me? You both seem troubled. Are you worried my body isn't up to this trip? I assure you that I feel perfectly well."

James bit his tongue and replied, "I can't speak for Khalid, but that's certainly part of it for me. There's more, though. Respectfully, father… are you sure it was wise for the Meteorans to see you like this? It might have sent the wrong message if they perceived you as appearing… well… weak."

The king smiled again, this time with genuine amusement. "What… because they'll suddenly declare independence again now that they've confirmed that I really can't walk? No, I think they saw it correctly. I am not weak. I was wounded, but I got off the ground, held my head high, and restored my dignity. They need to do the same… to accept the mistakes of their past and restore the proper order of things."

Khalid finally spoke up, "I am glad to see you, father, and I'm sure James is, too, underneath his complaints. It's just that we've seen so much over the past couple weeks that it's become difficult to emote positive feelings right now. That should improve with time."

Their father rubbed his chin as he nodded. "I can understand that. I never even gave Nader a proper goodbye… we all know the risks of war, but he left for battle and returned home so many times over that I took it for granted. I'm thankful beyond words that you are all unharmed, at least physically."

"Well, you can thank the woman sitting next to you for that. I would have gotten myself killed if I had my way," Khalid mused.

"Oh, I know," Faruq said with a chuckle. "And I'm sure Tiana will remind me of that fact every time she wants something from me for the next five years."

"Ten years, more likely… if she's feeling merciful," Soraya teased.

"You're both ridiculous. I never needed a pretext to get what I want from this man. It's been that way since he first laid eyes on me. Only rarely does he feel the need to be stubborn," Tiana said with a smirk, though there was a tinge of bitterness in her final sentence.

Khalid and James were too eager to learn point of the meeting to get deeply invested in the fun. The others eventually noticed this, which fully restored the uneasy mood of the room.

King Faruq cleared his throat and interlocked his fingers as he said thoughtfully, "Now, you both have an idea why I chose to come here. I wanted the Meteorans to see my face… to know that even if I can't walk, they are important enough to receive a visit. I can't fight anymore, but I can at least do this much. However… there's more to my decision than that, my sons. I have a matter to discuss with both of you- a matter that deserves to be addressed in person."

"We're both listening," James said on their behalf.

"What I am about to ask you will seem sudden, but I trust you'll understand the urgency. Meteora is in chaos, and its people need something firm to believe in. The princess's survival provides us with the perfect opportunity to give them that."

Khalid started, "Don't tell me…"

His father ignored him and ordered, "One of you must marry Sardar Juliana. Doing so will secure the future of the Meteoran royal line, as well as guarantee their loyalty to us. The marriages that marked the end of the last war provided us with a quarter-century of stability. It might have provided even more if Lord Methodius had not passed."

Neither son immediately replied. James turned his eyes to his younger brother, probably waiting on Khalid's response before taking any action. Khalid, however, was also struggling to react. He needed to follow Ella's advice to not humiliate himself, but… his father was making that rather difficult.

"… And what are your feelings about this, mother?" Khalid finally asked in a low voice.

Tiana answered, "My feelings don't matter. I expressed them to Faruq in unambiguous terms, but his stance remains the same. At the end of the day, he is King of Almyra. Sardar Soraya also supports his decision."

That provided ample context for her previous comment. At least her opinion on the matter was clear, though it would not help achieve an acceptable resolution.

Sensing the agitation, Faruq tried, "Listen, sons. I don't ask much from you, but as members of the royal family, there are some responsibilities that cannot be escaped. Your aunt once had to do the same. People like us often don't get to marry for love."

Khalid finally chuckled and told him, "Responsibility? Father, you were so desperate to marry for love that you started a war over it. You are literally the last person in the world who can make this kind of request without sounding hypocritical."

Soraya was subtly shaking her head "no", while Tiana and James watched with curiosity. To his credit, the king remained calm as he replied, "Marrying your mother pushed Almyra to evolve for the better, while your resistance to this proves nothing. So, what is the issue here, Khalid? Juliana is by every account a good young woman. And even if you were just being shallow about it, she is by no means unattractive."

Khalid could no longer contain his temper as he pressed his palms on the table and declared, "This isn't about my wishes; it's about Juliana's! The bodies of her family aren't even cold yet, and you're already trying to pawn her off like a slab at a butcher shop! How do you think Juliana will feel about this? For all we know, she might slip some poison into my cup before bed if she gets forced into a marriage!"

Faruq claimed, "We have already discussed this with Juliana, and she agreed without complaint. Addressing the unrest now is more important than delaying the betrothal a few months as a courtesy. Her brother was already trying to marry her off to worse suitors, so I think this comes as a relief."

Khalid snorted. "I'd be relieved if someone offered to kick me in the stomach if the alternative was a kick in the groin, but that doesn't make it right. She's scared and alone right now. She's in no position to consent to something like this on equal terms. Where is Juliana now? If she's so fond of the idea, why not let us witness her euphoria?" He turned to Sardar Soraya and reminded, "You were also forced into a marriage without much choice in the matter. Does anything about this seem fair?"

Soraya averted her gaze. "I wouldn't say it's a marriage I would have chosen, but Methodius and I were able to make things work. You weren't there, Khalid, but it really did help ease tensions."

"And I'm glad for you, but that still doesn't answer if it's right or not. Would you bless Lydia being forced into a marriage if it was for the 'greater good'? Is this the precedent you plan to set for her future?" Khalid shook his head and turned to the man across from him. "I'm sorry, father, but I do think it would help Almyra 'evolve for the better' if we stop enforcing this practice."

That seemed to strike a chord with Soraya, but she remained silent. King Faruq was becoming increasingly frustrated. Before he could say anything else, though, James suddenly spoke up.

"I'll do it. I can marry her." Everyone turned to the middle prince, who had nearly been forgotten amid the argument. He shrugged awkwardly under the weight of the attention. "Look… I'm uncomfortable with it, too, but there's no better alternative. Juliana will remember me from our brief interactions when I studied here. You're right, father- she was always a kind girl. And even if Khalid becomes king someday, being married to a prince isn't such a bad consolation prize for her, right? Maybe I can convince Khalid to make me the next mirza."

Faruq shut his eyes, trying to hide his obvious disappointment. He finally asked, "Tiana, Khalid, Soraya… do you have any objections to that?"

"No objections," Tiana said. There was a look of sadness in her expression, but also pride.

"None," Soraya answered in her usual even tone.

Khalid shrugged. "If both James and Juliana agree, it isn't my place to intervene. I've said enough."

"Very well. We plan to meet with the full interim government in two hours, and we will announce our decision there. An official proclamation of the betrothal will be sent forth after that," Faruq said. He seemed less despondent as he embraced James's hand and told him, "I'm proud of you, son. I know you will make each other very happy."

James smiled. "I will do my best. I would request, though, that Juliana is invited to that meeting. Continuing to exclude her from important decisions regarding her people will serve as an unhealthy start to our relationship."

"I understand. That can be arranged for," the king agreed.

Khalid managed to get Dimitri and Marianne invited as promised, though his father's shame in him remained evident. He did wonder for a moment if he had just made a terrible mistake, but a final reassuring nod from his mother did help.

After they were dismissed and stepped outside, James quickly turned to his brother and told him, "Listen, Khalid. I wasn't trying to make you look bad in there. I understand your perspective, but I'm just trying to do what's right for our people."

"Don't apologize. It wasn't your idea, and you didn't force me into arguing with him," Khalid replied. "That said… are you really okay with this, James?"

"I stand by my words in there, but… yes, it feels strange, Khalid. We grew up being told that those unions secured a peaceful future for Almyra, and I never really questioned. But I never thought I'd be in the same position someday. Realistically, though, I was never going to do better than a marriage with Juliana. I know I wasn't mistreated the way you were, but it's not like I've got a long list of friends I could reasonably marry, either. Life as a royal can be surprisingly lonely when you have no peers."

"I agree- this isn't necessarily a bad deal for you. But what about Juliana?"

James sighed. "Was she realistically ever going to do better, either? I know it isn't ideal, but I promise that she'll be treated right. And combining my influence with hers, maybe we can do something to actually help the Meteoran people. I investigated those complaints against Kamran, and everything they said was true- these people are being taken advantage of. The interim government is less likely to do anything too radical when they know a prince of the royal family is now involved. I don't really know how else to deal with unreliable allies."

"Yeah, Farjad and I dug into those complaints, too. I think we knew what to expect from Kamran and the rest of Soraya's council, but we did nothing to properly prevent it. I feel terrible for Juliana, but… maybe you're right."

James nodded sadly. "Well… I'll see you soon, Khalid."

"See you, brother."

Once James had left, Khalid slumped against the wall and scratched at his hair in frustration. As horrific as the war was, he had hoped to use it to build a better Almyra like his father once had. There were a few successes along the way, such as the partnership with Brigid and the acceptance of Dimitri and Marianne, but the difficulty of his dream was beginning to come into focus. The lives of the Meteorans would not significantly improve, and Juliana was still a slave to her blood, even if her new masters were kinder than the last. The war seemed to be nearing an end without Khalid ever clearing his name, and now he had driven a wedge between him and his father.

Khalid's mother at least seemed to believe her son was doing the right thing, but simply being in the right was not enough- he had to make that vision a reality. Khalid had reached for the stars, but he now seemed to be on a quick trajectory back into the mud. He was just one person in a colossal system that had evolved to self-correct towards the ancient equilibrium. Was he naïve for thinking he could ever change it, or for even dreaming of doing so?

Before he could answer this, however, Khalid heard footsteps from down the hall. He quickly straightened up, smiled, and continued on towards his room.