Cold Fury|Skyheort, Talen'sul

[Kender Bard]

Lya was like a beast, a predator, stalking her home territory, looking for any enemies. The servants, picking up on their Queen's out-of-characteristic mood, all fled like quail at her approach. The Queen paid them no notice. She cradled Luminous closely to her body as she stalked into a room filled with maps and half formed plans. Twilight and Salacia had their heads bent together in deliberation as they were pouring over the parchments. At Lya's approach, they looked up.

"I'm surprised to see you," Salacia admitted, blinking. "I thought-"

"That I would be in my room, pining away, like some poor damsel who's lost her true love?" Lya sneered. Salacia started. "That's what HE expects as well. I'm going to do otherwise."

"He?" Twilight repeated. Salacia leaned over and whispered a very, very briefing on Mathew to her son. Twilight gave a curt nod.

"Very well," he said evenly, pushing a scroll off the seat to his left hand side. "Come, sit. Your insight is needed."

Lya sat down. The Princess gurgled and started to play with everything she could get her hands on. "So, how soon until the army is ready to march?"

"March?" Twilight repeated. "I thought we were simply going to prepare for an attack."

"Oh yes," Lya growled maliciously. "Let's just sit here and take another raping from our backstabbing, backbiting cousins."

Salacia cleared her throat, "Lya, perhaps you should save planning for when you are a bit more even tempered." The look the other Queen gave her was enough to raise the hair on the back of Salacia's neck.

"No," Lya said simply, coldly. "I am more prepared now than ever. I will not be underestimated, especially not by a slimy murderer like Mathew." She looked hard at the maps set before her. "We will gather our army and march on Maelstrom. They are in chaos and won't be expecting it. There hasn't been an offensive assault from Talen'sul in too long."

Twilight crossed his arms and half-glared at Lya. "And what then, Lya? The Storms might be experiencing turbulence right now, but they aren't helpless. There's a very good reason Talen'sul doesn't make tactical strikes, especially against Maelstrom. Maelstrom could just as easily turn aside an attack from the Winds as the Winds are capable of doing so against the Storms. More so! Trust me, Lya, attacking anarchy is not a wise decision. When people are confused and in fear, they'll take any excuse to vent their frustration and lay their blame on something else. Not all the Storms probably appreciate Mathew's taking seize of the city, and right now there's likely many divided loyalties. If you go attacking Maelstrom, you'll not only be hurting the traitors, but those who might still be loyal to you. Then Mathew will really have them. All he'd have to do is point out how quick you were to come down on them, and they'll flock to him like frightened children."

Lya's hand had curled into a fist during Twilight's counseling, and now she slammed it hard on the table, making both the other royalties jump, and her own daughter yelp. "By Etaf, then what the hell do you expect me to do!? I am not going to just sit here, twiddle my thumbs, and wait for the Storms to attack US!"

Twilight's temper flared, and he nearly said something unwise, but Salacia lay a calming hand on her son's arm. There was no need for him to get defensive. "A compromise. Let us send someone to Maelstrom to make a declaration that Talen'sul will be open to all Storms still loyal to the crown."

"They'll never get out of Maelstrom," Twilight hissed. "That place is locked down tight, inside and out. If Mathew is anything like Akakios, he's probably making a spectacle out of anyone who makes a peep against him."

"This is true," Salacia agreed mildly. "But that's not the point. The point is, after this declaration, you will add terms. Whatever your heart desires. These terms will need to be met, or Talen'sul will go openly to war against Maelstrom. At the very least, that will give some notice to the loyal Storms to brace themselves, if they can't escape their current dictator, and they will know that Talen'sul still has a home for them. Try not to make your terms too ludicrous, however. The obvious should be enough; forfeiture of Maelstrom back to the Crown."

"I'll go," Lya offered quickly.

"NO!" the dignitaries shouted at the same time. Salacia gave an irritated sigh, and Twilight rubbed the bridge of his nose.

"Lya, this is highly dangerous if Mathew isn't going to play nice and parley," Twilight sighed. "You have to send someone who isn't going to bring the Kingdom to ruin if she DIES!"

Lya gritted her teeth, then rose abruptly. "Fine," she growled. "Fine someone. By the time you do, I will have a letter ready." The Queen turned and stalked out of the room.

King Twilight and Queen Salacia simply looked at each other helplessly, then went off to do as the Queen had bid.

[Northen Light36]

Not long after Twilight and Salaica have sent off their chosen Wind to parley, a small voice pipes up from behind them. "Queen Lya is really angry isn't she?" Ann looks up at the two nobles solumnly, having been silently stalking the pair through the halls for awhile now. Partly she's bored, but a good deal of her reasons for following them is to keep up to date on what no one's going to be willing to tell a child.

[Kender Bard]

Salacia hesitated, glancing at Twilight. The King cleared his throat.

"Yes, she is," he said simply. "But I suppose you have to ask yourself which is better; if Lya was angry, and hellbent on seeing her people safe and her husband's murderer destroyed, or if Lya was lost within her grief, barely able to function. A person who doesn't deal with loss well only has so many ways of overcoming their sorrow."

[Northen Light36]

Ann's quiet for a moment, frowning as she considers that. Finally she nods but says, "A person shouldn't fight while angry and grieving. It makes them do things they'll regret later." For anyone who knew of the Fires' actions in the Clear war it's easy to guess what Ann's thinking of.

[Kender Bard]

Twilight looked annoyed at Ann. He had been informed of her status, so he didn't give one of his smartmouthed quips, but he did make a gesture in the direction that Lya went off in. "Care to stop her?"

Salacia made a scolding noise at her son. "Ann, don't do that. Lya is in a terrible mood, yes, which means she'll only lash out at anyone who DOES tell her that's wrong. There's no reasoning with an obsessed woman."

[Northen Light36]

Ann frowned up at Twilight, then looked at Salacia with a thoughtful gleam. "I won't," she promised. "But I think I know who can stop her, at least a little. Do you know if there are any Minds around here?"

[Kender Bard]

The two glanced at each other, a little troubled.

"I think I've seen one following Lya around now and then," Salacia offered. "I forgot his name.. Hmm. Oh yes, Locke. Why?"

[Northen Light36]

"Cause I can't teleport," Ann replies simply. "And I want to send Uncle Damien a letter quickly. He and Elder Tres will be starting to worry by now anyway. Thank you, I'll find him when my letter's done." Ann grins. "Queen Lya can yell at my uncle all she likes, he won't care." With that, Ann runs off. Finally, something she can do to help.