Four Days Since Kashi's Capture,

Royal Palace Throne Room,

Riven, Rosendun.

"A minute please," the chamberlain apologized to his charge. With a sharp bow, he entered the Throne Room, making sure to keep his head hung low. Even with that, he could clearly picture the ornate stone pillars on either side and the terrifying knights that stood by each one, eyes following his every movement. Sentinels traversed the balconies above, eyes equally peeled to the arrival. Any funny movement on his part, and he knew they would not hesitate to destroy him.

The red carpet beneath his feet changed to blue, signalling the end of his walk. He dropped to a knee, head bowed. "My Lord."

"Raise your head."

The chamberlain did as ordered. He was met with the smiling face of his king: Parissius Veritus Vermillion, atop the equal parts aweful and terrifying Thorn Throne. As if to symbolize the policy he championed, King Vermillion was flanked on either side by a human and a drakul. "There is a woman who requests an audience with you, my Lord. Ms. Leila Lightwood of the Hopeful Maggots."

The King lit up with a bright smile. "What are you waiting for then? Show her in."

"As you command." The chamberlain nodded and got to his feet. He kept his head bowed as he took five measured steps backward. Only then did he turn his back to the king then proceeded to summon his charge.

Just outside the palace doors to the right, stood one of the most beautiful women he'd had the pleasure of presenting to the king. Adorned in a white noble gown that would make even princesses jealous, the dark haired elf was as beautiful as her steely gaze was intimidating. "This way, Lightwood-dono. The king will see you now."

"Thank you," Leila appreciated with a graceful nod. The chamberlain led her into the throne room where they promptly stopped at the blue line.

"Ms. Lightwood, your grace," the chamberlain announced, then took his leave.

"Your Majesty," Leila greeted with a polite courtesy, then dropped to a knee, head bowed.

A shadow crossed King Vermillion's face. "Leave us." In less than ten seconds, the entire throne room emptied, leaving only Lunette, the King and his personal guards. King Vermillion stood up, hands clasped at his back as he stepped down from the slightly raised podium. "Ms. Lightwood," his tone was dark.

"Yes, my lord."

"At times like this," his voice neared, but she did not raise her head. "I miss that delightfully bald man, Iason."

Lunette's brow furrowed in confusion. "I'm sorry?"

"Raise your head, Ms. Lightwood."

Leila did exactly that. She had to stifle the urge to jump back with King Vermillion crouched only inches away from her.

The king's eyes twinkled. "Ian would most likely grab you in one of those deathly bear hugs." He mock shivered. "That is not my style though," he said as he sat on the floor to Leila's surprise. "I suppose a handshake would suffice?" He gamely laughed as he raised his right hand.

Leila shook her head as laughter bubbled up her throat. "Oh, and they say power corrupts." She took his hand in a firm handshake, then helped him to his feet. "You are a king. You should not be doing such unsightly things."

King Vermillion pouted. "Not you too. Please, call me Paris." At Leila's disapproving frown, he amended. "At the very least when we're alone. I don't think anyone has called my name in months." When she still hesitated, "I could use my power as King to order you to not call me king."

Leila smiled. "So power does corrupt people."

King Vermillion brushed his silky hair to the side. "If by corrupt you mean make me even more beautiful than I already was, then sure, it does."

"I see you retained your narcissism," Leila observed.

King Vermillion laughed. "Well, you need a certain of self-love if you want to survive in this job." He motioned to the guards at the throne. "You haven't met Narkis and Alex have you?"

The guards removed their helmets to reveal the twins with matching smiles. "Honored," they chorused.

"Likewise," Leila returned with a smile of her own. The twins donned their helmets as she returned her attention to the king. "So, Your Maje—Paris-dono, I have come to offer a report concerning the island expedition we talked about."

"Yes," Paris acknowledged as he returned to his throne. "Is it complete?"

"Yes," Leila reported. "About a week ago, Absa and I finished claiming the islands. A good number of them are quite fertile as initially assumed. Others have been found to have some challenging dungeons, and all of them have interesting monsters."

"Hmm," Paris mused. "How long until we can start moving people?"

"For now we need workers to build villages and farmlands," Leila proposed. "It should help in de-cluttering the overpopulated towns and villages."

"Yes, yes," Paris agreed. "Did you find any locations that would fit the other plan?"

Leila nodded. "Absalon found around three islands that match the description with decent leveled monsters. We can begin construction whenever you are ready."

Paris laughed. "My father would most likely smack me upside the head for sponsoring so many private enterprises with royal gold." He shook his head. "But you have more than proven your political and business acumen. Kashi's experiment in Meilfour is reaping even more profits than we expected."

"People are always attracted to the newest things," Leila pointed out. "He understands that more than most."

"The expansion couldn't have been better timed, could it?"

Leila laughed. "That definitely played a part. He has always been good at that: Understanding people I mean. Never seen him manipulate people to his advantage until recently though."

"You know him well," Paris observed.

"I guess you could say that," Leila agreed.

Paris shifted in his throne. "Well then, looks like things are proceeding quite smoothly on both ends." Narkis bent low and whispered something into his ear. Paris' brow rose as he recalled something important. "As it so happens, I also have a favor to ask of you."

"Every member of the Hopeful Maggots is in service to you," Leila vowed. "Whatever you need, we will answer."

"Yes, I know," Paris acknowledged with a pleased smile. "However, I require your services, Ms. Lightwood, not the guild's." He leaned forward, "Now I understand this is a trying time to be away from your guild. What with that hooligan threatening to attack... What was his name again? Jared?"

"Janez (Ya-nez)," Leila corrected. "You do not have to worry about him. He won't be a problem much longer."

Paris' brow rose. "Not according to my reports. Apparently he is amassing an army. One large enough, my war council's even worried he might make a play for the throne."

Leila shook her head. "Janez is not interested in your throne. He will eventually come for your head but not your throne."

"Is there a difference?"

"Small, but distinct. He is a conqueror, not a ruler. You stand above him so he will come for you. But he won't rule. Instead, he might just appoint a figurehead, then move on to the next battle."

Paris rested his chin against the back of his hands. "You make him out to be a wild monster, yet you say he won't be a problem?"

"He shares the same fatal flaw Absalon did," Leila explained. "In that he only knows one way to achieve his goals. And that is with brute force." The guild leader shook her head with a disappointed sigh, "Granted his guild has grown sharply with the promise of riches in dungeons and whatnot, but he neglected the residents in the towns he captured. The high concentration of Summoned have rendered most of the beasts in their regions extinct."

"Yes, that was one the reasons Kashi proposed the islands expedition wasn't it?" Paris recalled. "The dispersal of Summoned to balance the ecosystem."

"Yes," Leila confirmed. "Janez ignored this, and the residents have begun leaving his lands in search of places where they can ply their trades."

"In other words, they're entering our territory now."

"Your territory," Leila corrected. "Our influence does not extend beyond the South-South. And even then, we only claim ownership over Ranad and Norcha."

Paris' cheeks curled in a sly smile. "Well, let's go with that." He sat up straight as he continued, "But that is beside the point. Surely a few residents leaving his territory is not enough to stop a man of Janez's ambitions."

"No," Leila admitted. "His downfall are a result of his subsequent actions. Someone must have opened his eyes to the importance of having residents in his town. Summoned who solely take Farming and Crafting roles are difficult to find after all. So he forced the remaining residents to stay under the threat of death."

Paris frowned. "How come I have not heard of this?"

"Because information leaving his territories is strictly controlled. Even I am impressed by his intelligence network of late. He must have hired someone competent. That or he is receiving foreign aid. Someone who would seek to fester civil unrest maybe?"

A dark cloud marred Paris' tight frown. "That is a serious allegation. Do you have any proof?"

Leila shrugged. "Sadly I do not. But it matters not. By my command, no merchant goes near those regions anymore. No merchant of Rosendun sells to any of Janez's guild members either. With no one to trade with, it is only a matter of time before the residents start an internal revolt of their own, if the Summoned don't quit first. Janez's guild will be destroyed from the inside out."

"Igniting a civil unrest from within," Paris mused. "I recall Kashi saying something of the sort when we first met. You really do know him well."

Leila chuckled. "I suppose so." That was right. Razznik had once aided her in carrying out this very plot. Only back then, he had single-handedly laid siege to the city in question. No one entered or left without facing his sword. Before long, the citizens revolted and presented the madman with the head of the corrupt lord.

This situation was slightly different. Without absolute proof, she could justify a military siege against Janez's guild; pesky politics and all that. Also, she did not know of any mercenary close to Razznik's absurd prowess, so she had employed the only other feasible siege: Starvation of resources. Janez's reaction to this predicament would make a magnificent case study.

"And Absalon?" Paris inquired. "Will you deploy him?"

"Unfortunately I cannot do that even if I was allowed to," Leila confessed. "Absalon has begun marching for Meilfour."

Paris raised a concerned brow. "Is Kashi in trouble?"

Leila shook her head. "Nothing he cannot handle." Her brows drew together. "I'm more worried about the forces that captured him. We will require a military presence in Meilfour so our progress is not wiped out with one attack."

"Do you have enough men?"

"Absalon leads around five hundred men. That should suffice."

Paris shook his head. "That will not be enough. Merriheim is vast. Within weeks of fighting, your men will be spread thin."

Leila smiled. "It is what we have. We will find a way to make do with it."

Paris shook his head. "Not an option. You need more men. I have a stake in this too."

"Nor is what you are hoping feasible," Leila refuted. "We might be partners, but in the end we are a guild and you are our king. We cannot take the king's soldiers to battle. More importantly, this country needs the Imperial Army right now more than ever."

Paris frowned for a moment, but then recalled the drakul that flanked his sides. "The drakul," he proposed. "The drakul answer only to Kashi. My council leaders have been looking for an excuse to get rid of the soldiers. Claims they are a security risk."

"An entire militia that answers to another man," Leila pointed out. "Frankly I am surprised they have stayed here this long."

"It was on Kashi's orders," Paris confessed. "He ordered them to obey my every command, and make this peace between the species a reality."

Leila laughed as realization dawned. "I did think it odd they endured those weeks of insult without retaliation."

"They are a fiercely loyal race," Paris admitted. He looked up at Leila, "Which is why they will be joining Absalon." Before she could protest, he countered, "That was an order from the King."

Leila sighed. "You only want to be king when it suits you."

Paris sported a smug smirk as he brushed hair out of his eyes. "Why have a job if you cannot abuse its perks?"

"Fine," Leila accepted. "We will accept your aid. Now please ask that favor, or I really will feel like I am taking advantage of you."

Paris laughed. "You made me king and restored order to my country. I would say I am the one who has a lifetime of debts to repay." Her uncomfortable wince caused him to relax his gaze. "Fine, fine. I want you to accompany me to Serisis."

"What is happening in Serisis?"

Paris pouted. "The elders keep complaining that I have long since passed marrying age, and I need an heir to the throne."

"Why Serisis then?" Leila inquired. "Surely there are plenty of women in Rosendun?"

"There are," Paris admitted. He continued with a cocky smirk, "But you and Kashi are not the only one making plans to expand this county."

Leila's eyes widened. "You plan on taking the Serian princess as your bride?"

A shadow flitted across Paris' face for a moment. Only just. It was gone as quickly as it appeared, replaced by a bright smile. "It is what has been decided."

"But is it what you want?"

A sad smile played on his lips. "Thank you for that, Ms. Lightwood. It has been awhile since I have had an honest conversation like this. But your concern is unnecessary. As a King, I have my own duties to the people I govern. One of those is to provide them with an heir in the event of my death, to prevent wars from nobles who wish to seize a vacant throne."

Leila wished she could tell him to pursue his heart, forge his own destiny. All of those things people usually said at this kind of scenes in the movies. But she couldn't. She had been raised in a similar way by her father. Duty first, personal wants second. So instead, she asked, "This princess, do you at least know her?"

Paris smiled. "Yes actually. Our kingdoms have always shared a close relationship. My father and I visited them a few times when I was much younger."

Lunette nodded. "I understand. But I must ask, why do you need me?"

"I am not just asking for Sera's hand in marriage," Paris explained. "I am asking for the hand of the entire nation. That will require sensitive negotiations. Something you have proven to be well versed in. The Treasury is always complaining about how you keep pulling one on them. Then praising you right after you leave them even richer."

Lunette shook her head. "I am not worthy of such praise, but I will offer my assistance wherever you require it. May I ask that you give me three days?"

"Of course," Paris agreed. "May I ask what for?"

Lunette smiled. "If you are going to ask for an entire country's hand, you will need an unbelievable bride price. I think I may have something that might suffice."

Paris raised a brow. "If it is gold, I believe I have more than enough."

"No disrespect, but Gold is common," Leila said. "If you want to seize the initiative early on in the negotiations, then you will need something they will not expect. Something that will make the want you."

"And what would that be?"

"Now that is the question isn't it?"