The nobles sighed and also bowed their heads, arms outstretched.
The prime minister, who had stood beside Asora’s throne, stepped forward to speak to the court with finality. “It is decided. We will not declare anything until Admiral Yane speaks to Countess Marien in regards to purchasing weapons. We can ill afford our military to go against the Darkcon Empire. I have read the reports of our soldiers assigned to our princess who were not murdered. They nearly died too. If our monarch had not been as powerful as she is, it would have been so. We need the help of the Humans.”
Bremmer now spoke, “Agreed. Now what about the Darkcons? They still have their ambassador here on Evorn.”
Frenzen approached the throne and leaned down to speak softly. “They will know what we are doing. We may not be declaring war but Laxur will believe it has already happened. These nobles are gossipers. I suggest that we close this meeting and talk more privately with Admiral Yane.”
Softly she nodded.
“The court is dismissed. Any business left over will await until tomorrow.” Frenzen tapped down with his large staff on the mirror like white marble floor.
The nobles looked like they wanted to protest but once the prime minister made a statement it was not to be brooked. They bowed, arms outstretched and walked backward a few paces and retreated from the cavernous great hall that was a mile wide and long. It took moments to get out of the room as it was enchanted to allow the people to transfer them out the immense carved stone doors to the other side, with a wave of Asora’s hand.
“Let us go to the small throne room.” Asora arose and the twirling hundred stars that represented the one hundred home worlds of the kingdom circling above her throne dimmed.
Admiral Yane and Frenzen bowed before her as she passed them to walk to a door behind the raised dais and followed her. Joes, the Centaur and head of her personal guard stood at attention before the door. The Elf opened it.
Puro Aga, his black eyes blazing, walked quickly out of the throne room where he transported himself magically to the palace temple where his priests and priestesses, who were all Elves, were waiting for him. It was in the middle of the palace grounds and it soared upwards in gothic sweeps. It was made of white marble and limestone. The windows were stained glass of the different species and prophets of the Maker.
“Damn her! That heretic! How dare she speak to me in that manner!” The Puro ranted.
A young priest dressed in white added, “Or at all. She should not even be on the throne. A Human! It is sacrilege.”
An older priestess or Videc wearing royal purple sighed, “we hear this every day, Puro. She is the monarch and you cannot change that. So why are you so fixated on her?”
“She is an idealist, Videc Shison,” Aga spat. “She thinks that she can better the peasants lives, that they should be able to vote! She wants a constitutional monarchy!”
Shison was graying haired and blue eyed, smiled grimly, “the nobles will fight her all the way but the people love her.”
Aga smiled a terrible smile. “Then that is where we must strike, the people.”
The priests and priestess smiled except for Shison who replied, “that will be a hard sell. The people-”