Chapter Thirteen

Diplomacy Part II

ANNA

There it is. Anna tried to keep a straight face as she levelled King Prostenos' gaze. "What about them?"

"I find myself uncomfortable with the idea of the Coalition working with the League of Sorcerers."

Anna frowned. "The CAST has long since been repealed. Legally, people with supernatural abilities are now no longer considered as dangers to society that need to be imprisoned."

"CAST or not, I do not trust magic." Prostenos maintained, his face set in stone. "I do not trust these sorcerers."

"The League of Sorcerers saved us when we were ambushed at the river bank across from Korynes." August took Anna's side. "If not for their intervention, the Coalition would have been crushed that day."

Prostenos' eyes hardened. "Still-"

"Your Majesty, with all due respect, you weren't there," Horatio chimed in, surprising Anna thoroughly since he'd been one of those who'd voted in favour of the CAST. "Regardless of what you may think, the League of Sorcerers' presence has helped us turned the tide of battle many times over during the winter campaign. They chose to stick by our side even though we instituted the CAST and branded them as outlaws. They had no reason to help us, and yet they did. Shouldn't that tell you all you need to know about them?"

Prostenos looked like he was about to have a fit, shooting a furious look at Horatio, then at his mother.

"Like King Prostenos said, I don't trust them." The grand duke had his arms folded over his pigeon-breasted chest, while both the duchess and King Thesseus observed silently.

"Then you are rejecting Agrabah's help?" King Aladdin asked. "The Agrabanian Highlanders and the Desert Warlocks work hand in hand. If you refuse to work with sorcerers, then I'm afraid you are turning down my aid."

"I'm sorry. But whether you like it or not, we have struck an alliance with the sorcerers, both League and Desert Warlocks, and they are a part of our Coalition just as much as the rest of the divisions," Anna stated firmly. "I'm not sure if you are aware, but the emperor has turned to supernatural forces to aid in his conquests. Soulless, mindless beasts that sweep across villages and battlefields like a plague. If we're going to get through this war alive, we have to set aside our differences and work with the sorcerers."

From across the table, King Prostenos' jaw hardened, probably from the clenching of teeth. But he didn't press the matter further, and neither did the others. Thankfully. Anna heaved an internal sigh of relief.

"Excellent, then I think it is safe to say the negotiations are completed." King Aladdin stood. "Thank you all for coming. It is an honour to have you with us." He gestured to the retinue that waited on the other side of the audience chamber by the doors. "When you have had your fill of the refreshments, you may follow my ambassadors and they will show you to where you will be staying for the foreseeable future."

The Confederation members rose and began to make their way to the corners of the audience chamber, where local refreshments had been prepared for the guests and served in large, metal trays. Anna noticed that Horatio was intentionally keeping his distance from the duchess, and was frankly shocked to see this facet of his personality. Never had she imagined that Horatio - the hot blooded cavalryman - would be this uncomfortable in the presence of his own mother.

"Norman," Duchess Ester successfully caught his attention with her sharp eyes.

"Mother," Horatio said tightly as he moved grudgingly towards her. "I suppose I ought to welcome you to Agrabah."

Mother and son locked gazes.

"Hmmn," the Duchess said dispassionately. "Your father would be very disappointed if he were here today, God help his ailing soul. As am I."

"As you've constantly made abundantly clear, Mother," Horatio said stiffly. "But what exactly have I done to incur your disdain and tarnish the family name this time?"

"I never thought I would see the day when my son defends outlaws, much less sorcerous scum," Ester sniffed. "You have been spending too much time away from the duchy."

"As I should have. Or would you rather I remain cooped up at the manor as I had been my entire childhood?" Horatio narrowed his eyes. "Before you decided to finally get involved, we've all been labouring to save the continent. We've done good work here."

"Good work? Such as getting a fifth of the Xerflorian army wiped out?" Ester met her son's gaze with much contempt. "Your rash actions with the Coalition have gotten our own countrymen killed. And for what? Your glorious image and reputation as a fierce cavalry officer who won't back down in the face of impossible odds? In the end, what have you proved apart from the fact that you're a spoiled, temperamental, bloodthirsty child who's ill suited to lead the army?"

Fire burned in Horatio's eyes as he stared up at his tall mother, who looked down at him. Anna could see his fists clenched by his side, his shoulders tense with anger.

"You're not ready to sit on the council," the duchess went on. "Which is why I'm here. To help clean up your mess, as I've always done since you were a boy." She clicked her tongue and shook her head in disappointment. "Unfortunately, you've proven that you're still only a boy."

"So you're here to take the army from me?" Horatio growled. "To undermine my authority with my men and and embarrass me like you've always done?"

"No, you may keep your authority," Ester waved a dismissive hand. "For whatever that is worth. But effective immediately, you will relinquish your seat on the council to me. I trusted you to act as my proxy during the winter campaign, hoping that you would grow up and learn to act like the duke you're supposed to be one day."

"No, Mother. You sent me to be your proxy because you don't have the courage to do what needs to be done," Horatio hissed angrily. "To lead our people in war. I've done that countless times and emerged victorious, and still that's not good enough for you. Nothing I do will ever be good enough for the great Duke and Duchess of Xerflorn."

"This is not up for discussion," Ester said sharply. "You will inform your men that as of this moment, I am Xerflorn's representative to the Confederation and I am in charge. Until we arrive back in Xerflorn and report to the queen, you and your army will answer to me. Is that understood?"

"Until we report to the queen?" Horatio laughed bitterly. "You think she'll still be alive after everything that's going to happen? After you left her in the palace to fend for herself against the Empire?"

"Her Majesty was too old and frail to be moved, and she is well protected by the remainder of the army," Ester answered impassively. "I repeat, am I understood, Norman?"

A long, tense silence passed between mother and son as Anna discreetly watched the two nobles stare daggers at each other from a distance. Though it was none of her business, she still felt exceedingly sympathetic for Horatio.

The marquess had always come across as brash, fierce and hungry for violence. Who knew that beneath all that was a boy still fighting to earn his parents' approval and crying out for their love, and that in doing so, tried to fiercely overcompensate in the field?

"Yes, Your Grace," Horatio uttered the words with much spite. His face was red, a vein growing evident at the side of his neck.

"Good," the duchess clasped her hands behind her back, her gaunt chin held high. "I see you've at least retained some of the good sense I taught you."

"You taught me nothing but despair," Horatio said quietly, his words laced with acid.

His mother showed no sign of shock, only cold disdain. "You watch your tongue, boy."

"You say you are ashamed to be my mother. Well, that shame goes both ways," Horatio retorted with vitriol. "All you and Father ever gave me were a cold disposition and distance. I suggest we keep it that way." He made a show of adjusting the collar of his formal coat. "Excuse me, Your Grace."

Leaning against the wide pillar beside her, Anna hurriedly turned in the opposite direction and pretended to look elsewhere with an air of ignorance as Horatio spun on his heel and walked back the way he'd come with as much dignity and pride as he could muster. For all the good that did her, as she could feel the marquess' glare burning a hole at the back of her head.

"How much of that did you hear?" Horatio hissed.

Shit. Feigning surprise, Anna looked at Horatio with an innocent frown. "Hear what?"

"Don't bullshit me," the marquess said angrily. "I'm not in the mood."

By all counts, Anna could've had him punished for a lack of royal etiquette or just plain rudeness. A marquess showing such disrespect to the queen of another kingdom was just unheard of. She could've had his rank and title stripped from him. But she didn't want to do that to the man who'd proven himself to be an ally, a friend even. More importantly, she didn't want to kick the poor man when he was already down, having been humiliated by his own mother.

From the peripheral of her vision, she tried to see if Duchess Ester was watching them. She wasn't. In fact, she'd already put on a false smile that many aristocrats used, socialising with some of the other Confederation members and their own retinues.

Sighing, Anna relented and threw up her hands. "I'm sorry. I probably should've minded my own business."

"So you heard everything."

Anna met his eyes, still burning with hatred. "Yeah."

"You keep this to yourself, you hear?" he warned. "I don't need anyone else knowing about my dysfunctional family, especially not the rest of the damn Confederation." He swore in his own language. "Not that it matters, anyway, now that I've been kicked out of the council by my own mother."

The marquess prepared to storm off, but Anna caught his arm. "Horatio."

"What?" he snapped.

"For what it's worth, I'm sorry," Anna gave him a compassionate glance. "No child deserves to go through what you did."

Horatio wrenched his arm away from her grip. "I'm not a goddamn child," he growled, but after a moment, his features softened slightly. "Sorry," he said gruffly. "I know you're only trying to help. But it's too late. Years too late," Anna could've sworn that his eyes glistened before he whirled and turned his back on her. "I'm sorry. Excuse me."

Anna watched in dismay as her friend stormed off towards the exit, leaving the audience chamber with what little dignity he had left. Filled with pity for the marquess, she stared at the back of the duchess' head with much contempt.

Ester continued to bray a false laugh as she reacted to some joke one of the other foreign dignitaries had just told. The woman didn't give a shit about her son's wellbeing at all, completely neglecting to ask if he was alright after years away during the winter campaign. All she seemed to care about was how he'd failed and how the family's public image had been tarnished by his "brashness" and "childish actions".

Her fist tightened involuntarily as she watched Duchess Ester from afar. She wished she could put into words how horrible she felt for Horatio, but she couldn't. All she knew for sure was that she never wanted to end up like that. A cold, unloving mother whose only connection with her son was by blood. She had to be cautious about how she raised Markus.

I can never let the day come when Markus and I are at odds like that, Anna resolved determinedly. For all the arguments that were yet to happen between them, she had to make sure he knew he was loved unconditionally, with nothing to prove to her and Kristoff. Markus was going to grow up emotionally secure, she would make damn sure of it. That's the legacy she wanted to leave behind. A son who knew he was loved as he ascended to the throne one day.

"Your Majesty?"

Anna was pulled from her thoughts by the urgent, mousy voice of her secretary, and turned to face her. "Hayley? What is it?"

"Ma'am," Hayley curtseyed hurriedly and pushed her spectacles up the bridge of her nose before they could slide any further. "I bring word from His Royal Highness. He sent me to tell you to return to the villa as soon as you could."

Anna's brows furrowed. Her husband was usually busy with military administrative matters at this time of day, and was seldom available to meet with her, much less at their shared guest villa. "What does he want?"

"The prince didn't say," Hayley said nervously. "Sorry, Ma'am."

"No, no, it's fine," Anna reassured the secretary. After all the time she'd known Hayley, the girl was still so uptight and worried of being scolded or fired by Anna. It would almost be funny, if Anna wasn't already so befuddled by Kristoff's decidedly cryptic message. She put a hand on Hayley's shoulder and spun the mousy girl around. "Let's go."

Thankfully, the guest villa where Kristoff and Anna stayed wasn't exactly that far from the king's palace overlooking the beach where the Coalition had first arrived. So, it gave Anna reassurance to see that the beach wasn't swarmed with the Imperial Horde and the Coalition locked in battle just yet.

Instead, the coast was lined with Highlander naval ships just as it had been when Anna and the others first made it to Agrabah's shores. After today's successful negotiations, the rest of the Coalition's reinforcements would be integrated into the different territories that belonged to Agrabah, to join the rest of the winter campaign veterans as they continued to work with the Agrabanian Highlanders.

Before long, word would be sent to the naval ships to allow the Eliqnese, Rafrantans and Archdanian armies to disembark at the behest of Field Marshal Frederick, General Bakshan and the rest of the Coalition's general staff. It was rather fascinating to Anna that Frederick, who'd been Senior Captain in the Queen's Guard just a few years earlier, had soared through the ranks due to his heroic accomplishments in the war and was now a field marshal commanding a force close to upwards of a hundred and seventy thousand strong.

As the carriage ferrying Anna, Hayley and a trio of Queen's Guardsmen came to a stop outside the estate of guest villas set on a small hill overlooking the city, Anna got down swiftly before her escorts could move to give her a hand. Gone were the hellish days of being stuck in the rigours and inflexibility of pregnancy. Though some time had already past since those days, she was thankful for having regained the energy and dynamism that were rightfully hers.

"Your Majesty, wait!" One of the corporals on her escort detail called out as she ranged ahead with Hayley hot on her heels.

"Ma'am, please slow down," Hayley squeaked nervously behind her.

"It's alright, I'll take it from here," Anna said without looking over her shoulder. "Tell the Queen's Guard to stand down." She left Hayley at a loss for words as she entered the estate and walked down the sheltered path to her guest villa.

Another detail of Queen's Guardsmen stood outside her villa, mildly surprised to see the queen brisk walking towards them without her assistant or escorts. But at this point, they really ought not be surprised given everything she'd done ever since ascending to the throne.

"Your Majesty," they quickly snapped salutes. "Are you-"

"I've got this from here," she cut them off.

The sergeant in charge swallowed. "Yes, Ma'am. Of course." He snapped his fingers and a lance corporal produced a key and unlocked the door.

"Thank you," she squeezed past her sentries before they could make way, and shut the door herself. The main hall of the large guest villa was empty and quiet, which didn't really sit well with Anna.

After having lived peacefully for so long, she didn't welcome the rush of adrenaline and anxiety that shot through her like lightning, setting her hair on end. What was going on?

"Kristoff?" she called out with a loud voice, dread filling her. "You there? What's going on? Is Markus alright?"

"I'm in here," a familiar voice called from their bedroom.

Heart thumping in her chest, Anna crossed the marble floor quickly and entered the doorway of their shared bedroom. Slackjawed, she stopped in her tracks at the unexpected sight that jolted her considerably.

"Hey Anna," Talya smiled sheepishly as she knelt by Markus, the little boy having a handful of her hair in his grasp. "Sorry it's been a while."

"Wow." Anna blinked. There they were, Talya and Peggy in her bedroom, with Kristoff sitting in a chair in the corner, looking as confused as she felt.

The two descendants are back.

"Oh," Talya looked down at Markus, and back at Anna. "Sorry. I guess it must be pretty weird to come back and find me playing with my own ancestor."

"I wish you wouldn't say stuff like that." Anna clutched her head with one hand. The implication was mind-boggling. "You're back."

Peggy nodded. "We are. Sorry it took this long. We tried to return to the exact moment we left, but there are still some kinks that Val didn't have time to fix."

"The Chronotraveller's time destination bug sent us here about two years too late," Talya added. "At least, that's what Kristoff told us."

Kristoff threw up his hands in defeat. "Honestly, I have no idea what the hell any of this means. All I know is that you're both here too damn late." He looked at Anna. "They came asking about the Warriors. I told them they're already all scattered."

"Then it's time to reunite the Warriors," Talya said, looking straight at Anna. "Because we've come back with a plan to take down the emperor."