Off the Edge

Tristain had already been preparing for war against the Reconquista, but drafting and the higher taxes hadn't stopped yet, meaning that the council also suspected that conflict was coming. Something which aggravated her as they didn't say a word to her or the Queen.

Letting out a sigh, she opens Loutiel's letter and immediately scowls. This was the second time he'd requested this, and she'd actually listened last time, but it turned out to be a failure. He wished to grant clemency to the False-Familia. Loutiel had explained that he wished to use him as an assassin of sorts, though, he left it unsaid who would be the targets as both already knew.

Louise' old familiar had caused many problems, and the thought of bringing him back into the fold had struck her a few times, but she'd always ignored it due to the sheer amount of trouble it'd cause. General Gramont would immediately request satisfaction, and once that was denied, would rebel with his already prepared forces.

Obviously, the False-Familiar would be used to assassinate General Gramont to prevent this, but she hadn't allowed an attempt to make contact until she'd been engaged to General Gramont's son. She'd send Agnes and some of the more loyal Musketeer Knights to Albion to both make contact with the False-Familiar, and to assist the loyalists in any way possible.

Only to then have her gift thrown back into her face, when Agnes comes back and reports what'd occurred between the False-Familiar, her, Prince Wales, and the now-dead Baron Jargkon. What's worse is that if he did accept her offer, she'd have been forced to SOMEHOW find a place to keep an elf-girl safe without her being discovered and butchered on sight. The False-Familiars elf companion had thrown both her and Loutiel's plans out of the window.

The Chevalier had found the situation funny, but she didn't. Without the False-Familiar, her marriage was all but secure. Something she hated with all her being, especially now that Prince Wales was back to ruling Albion.

Wales had even sent her a letter that now sits under the floorboards of her room in a secret compartment, reaffirming his undying love for her. Such a letter brought tears to her eyes, as the man loved her despite the two official betrothals she'd been involved with while he was fighting for his life and country.

As for Louise' reaction to her familiar's actions? Well, Henrietta hadn't told her about anything the man had done. Not wanting her magical studies to be impeded by the news. They'd brought some time of peace now that Reconquista was out of the picture, but Gallia on the horizon meant that Louise' skills were still needed.

She shakes her head and stops herself from endlessly repeating such thoughts, as it wouldn't get her anywhere aside from a mean headache. Deciding to quickly get through the rest of this work

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Elsewhere :

"My Lord." Sheffield says as she drops to a knee, lowering her head as her master, King Joseph Gallia sits on his throne. The man was tall, with average length turquoise hair and brown eyes. He had a goatee and a beard that framed his handsome face, and wore clothing only fit for a king, which was white, blue and gold to match Gallia's colours.

He had a wide smile on his face as he looked down at Sheffield, his Void Familiar Mjöðvitnir, The Mind of God. He'd been surprised when he first summoned her, and somewhat disappointed that it hadn't been a dragon, unlike his brother who 'kindly' teased him for it. But when he discovered his status as a Void Mage and her status as his Void Familiar, his attitude quickly turned around.

In fact, without her, most of his schemes would've fallen flat before they could even have an effect. A prime example of this was the Reconquista, which he used to weaken Albion and Tristain for is an eventual invasion.

"Sheffield, what news have you brought?" he asks, gesturing for her to be at ease.

"My lord, the loyalists have retaken Albion, and the Reconquista has failed with Cromwell dead." she quickly reports, no emotion in her voice as she awaits her punishment for her failure.

He just waves it off however, "That was to be expected, I was anticipating Tristain to have intervened much sooner, but it is better late than never."

Sheffield shakes her head, "My lord, it was not only Tristain who helped destroy the Reconquista. The Gandalfr also had a hand in it."

...

"Oh? It is truly Gandalfr then? Not just some rumour? Why then is he not under the control of his master? Or is that Valliere girl too weak to even do that?" he asks, curious of the Gandalfr and his master's strange relationship...

"I do not know, my lord. But you must know that this Gandalfr is strange... He possesses abilities that are different from what was written. And seems to be getting stronger faster than I thought possible... When he escaped from my control in Londinium, he was barely a threat. But he was far, far stronger when he returned." she explains, wary that Gandalfr's powers would continue to rise and eventually eclipse her own abilities.

Joseph lets a small smile show, "Impressive. Maybe Gandalfr will prove a challenge even without his master... Did you manage to retrieve the ring?"

Sheffield nods, displaying it to him, "I did my lord, I snatched it out of the Gandalfr's grasp just as he was about to acquire it." she says with a satisfied grin while remembering the angry look on his face as she left.

"Good. Keep the ring with you, you may need it for your next task... I need you to Tristain and make sure the civil war happens. It won't occur on its own now that the Reconquisa is gone, but it will not take much to kick-start it. Stay away from Valliere Void Mage, other than that, the board is yours." he says, waving her off much to her chagrin. She'd wanted to stay in Gallia and with him for a bit as she'd been in Albion for a considerable time already... But, a familiar's work is never done.

"By your will my lord, I will not fail you." she declares as she fades into the shadows, disappearing from the palace completely. Leaving Joseph alone as he rubs his beard, "I wonder if Gandalfr will finally be able to get rid of my annoying Niece... We'll see."