There is a two-day resting period after the party, everyone is too hungover to talk about politics. Even normal court activities are in stand-by, people preferring more private, quiet reunions. The kyusei practically don’t see the members of the High Council in that period. They only get a meeting with hem about what is happening, what they want from them, what to do when they meet the Queen. It’s after that resting time that they finally get their audience. It’s in one of her quarters, a sitting room and office at the same time, with a desk in one side and couches on the other. The Apatya are already there when the Kyusei arrive, all of them and only them. It’s almost disorienting to see Hiroshi without Masahiko at his side, his face serious, without the usual kind smile on it.

They don’t have time to consider if they should sit down or not before the Queen arrives. They all bow to her with their hands on their chests, respectfully, before she moves to sit down on a chair.

“Now, no need for small talk, tell me what you want from me.” she says as a greeting.

The Apatya Helmfried is the one to answer. “Your majesty, you know the Hexians are moving their troops towards the Gulf and surely are planning an attack on Dunland.”

“As you know, I am Queen of Prunetzia, not Dunland. What happens in the other Kingdoms is not my responsibility, and even less if it’s a Marked war.”

“We know that your relationship with Dunland is not the best.” The Apatya Eulalia says with a kinder voice. “But we also know that you are a wise leader, and you know that the Hexians won’t stop there, they will want your kingdom too. Conquering Dunland will have them at your border.”

“As far as I know, Apatya, the leader of the Hexians has nothing against my country. He is set on controlling all the territories that have leaders from the marked council or their allies. It seems wiser then to end all relations with you and have no marked in the country to make it attractive to them. I don’t want to bring my people into a marked war.”

“Is she talking about banishing the Marked or killing them?” Rakan asks the other Kyusei through their mind bond, he looks to them, a worried look on his eyes.

“Let’s believe she talks about banishment” Kylem answers. He keeps his eyes on the Queen and his hands on his back. None of them say anything.

“Greed is a human trait” Helmfried talks again “and the leader of the Hexians is not an exception. As you said, this started as a war against us, against the peace and order our ancestors brought for all, Marked or not, but the more one has, the more one wants, and as you must have realised this is no longer a Marked war. This man is endangering every government, every person that stands against his beliefs, and as much as you want to deny it, that includes Prunetzia as well.”

“Our army is strong, they will never defeat us.”

“Your army is strong, that’s why we are asking you to lend it to us, so we can stop them before they grow stronger. We have already waited enough. Now that the Kyusei of light is with us again, we have no reason to wait. They won’t wait until out forces are stronger and regrouped.”

“What if it was a Marked war though?” Meira interrupts. Everyone turns to look at her. “Would you just sacrifice all the Marked from your country?”

“Sometimes sacrifices must be made.” The Quen answers.

“But must they? Or is it just that you want to get rid of any person that is Marked in your country? Why the hatred?”

“What do you mean?” the Queen has her jaw set, she doesn’t look very happy.

“I know you told us there was no need for small talk but these weeks here I have discovered that I actually like gossip and wow, people here gossip a lot. They have told me all about your traditions and I wanted to ask you, isn’t it uncomfortable giving birth in front of so many people?” she asks it with an innocent look, her head tilted to the right, looking directly at the Queen but acting like she doesn’t notice her pursing her lips, clenching her jaw.

“What the hell are you doing?” Kylem asks her. Meira doesn’t pay attention to him.

“But of course, that is not gossip, what is gossip though is that people say that when the crown prince, the Dauphin, was born, he had a Mark.” She says it with her eyes wide open, the image of a simple noble gossiping.

“He had a normal birthmark.” The Queen says, much too quick.

“Was it? Then why did you hide it? Why was the only person to tell me a drunk old woman that nearly got a panic attack after saying it?” The Queen doesn’t answer to Meira and they look at each other for a few seconds in silence “There is more old rumours” Meira continues, pacing around the room “there is one I particularly like about a Marked wanderer that fell in love with a young Queen and sneaked into the Palace to meet with her at night” Meira turns towards the Queen from where she was looking at the books on the wall “such a scandal isn’t it?”

“What do you mean with all this? What do you want?” the Queen is clearly irritated now.

“I know you know what I mean. And what do I want? The Apatya have already told you what we need, I just wanted to remind you that maybe if you don’t love the Marked in your kingdom enough to fight for them then maybe you will have enough love for your son to do so. Who knows, maybe he is in danger right now” the Queen makes a move to talk but Meira doesn’t let her “and don’t tell me he is doing royal stuff in another part of the kingdom because we both know that is not true” She finishes off sitting in one of the armchairs, an innocent smile on her face.

Hiroshi is the only Apatya that doesn’t have a satisfied smile on his lips when she finishes. Rakan looks a bit confused while Lífdagar has her brows furrowed. Kylem doesn’t know what to think, if he should be impressed or afraid of her. The Apatya Steingrímur lets out a single laugh, the grin on his face becoming bigger.

“There is going to be a big attack on Dunland in two weeks’ time. The Kyusei will go there to stop it, it would be nice if they had at least a small army beside them.”

The Queen doesn’t say anything, she looks to the side for a few seconds before she gives a nod. They figure out a few more details before they leave the Queen. The Apatya will meet with her and her counsellors and then tell the Kyusei the instructions.

Once they are out of the Queen’s chambers the Apatya Steingrimur gives Meira a hard clap on her back.

“Well done girl! You had her under your control” he says with a laugh. Meira smiles.

“I’ve been hearing about her for weeks, I knew she wouldn’t want to go to war unless it affected her directly, and that she wouldn’t want news about her Marked son running away going out.”

The other Apatya go to her to talk as well, Rakan is asking her how she did it. Kylem sees Masahiko going to Hiroshi, he was waiting outside for him. Kylem hears them talk, but he doesn’t understand them, they are talking in their native language. Kylem doesn’t know how to describe the look on Masahiko’s eyes when he turns towards Meira, but he thinks he understands it.