A Mother's Worry Part 2

"Well father sent a messenger to tell me he wants us to meet him in the throne room, there is a meeting with the cabinet members this morning, and I told the messenger not to worry about coming to tell you that I will tell you myself, so why don't you get dressed and let's go." Prince Aps said in a more serious tone picking up an apple from the basket on the table, cleaned it with a napkin beside the basket and bit into it.

"I believe this is about Esop, and I know what will happen." Kristoff said putting on his clothes.

"What do you mean you know what will happen?" prince Aps asks standing up as Kristoff finished putting on his cloth.

"Let's go." Kristoff said before answering Aps question. "Father knows I will ask him to allow me follow you to Esop, he will deny my request in front of the cabinet, and he knows I will not disobey him in front of his cabinet, if not there is no reason to call the cabinet meeting again this fast after all the last meeting was yesterday." Kristoff said as they both headed towards the direction of the throne room.

"I guess you're right, you sure know how he thinks." Prince Aps said.

Prince Aps and Kristoff both walked in silence the remainder of the journey to the throne room, on reaching the massive door of the throne room, the two servants by the door both bowed and opened the door for the princes, the room is filled with the noblemen from different provinces of the kingdom, this only happens when there is an important matter concerning the nation that needs to be discussed. The two princes walked to their designated seats in the hall which is on the left side of the king's throne, as they walk towards their seats, the chieftains and noblemen all bowed to them in greeting as it is expected of them. The king is not yet in the room, everyone is seated discussing with one another why there is another meeting while the last one was just yesterday and what the impromptu meeting is all about. While everyone was busy discussing with each other, the guard by the door leading into the throne room stamped the staff in his hand on the floor thrice to inform them of the king's entry.

"The king deigns you with his presence." He spoke.

Everyone stood up in respect to welcome the king, while they all stood up, the king walked in looking regal as usual, he walked towards his throne and sat down then signals with his right hand for them to be seated. He spoke up first.

"Welcome my chiefs." the king said, greeting his chiefs.

"Thank you, your majesty." They all said in chorus.

He looks around at them all before speaking up again. "I know you will all be wondering why I call a cabinet meeting again after all we had one yesterday."

The finance minister, chief Obus, a short bulky man in his mid-seventies stands up and bow down to the king in greeting. "Yes, your majesty, I was surprised when a messenger showed up at my place this morning and told me you requested all of us to show up this morning, hope there is no problem my king?" he asks looking around at his colleagues.

"Thanks, prime minister, there is no problem," the king said waving at the prime minister to sit down. "After our meeting yesterday about the issue with Esop and sending a representative to deliver a warning to them, I had a talk with my sons and we deliberate further on the matter," the king said shifting on his throne to better position himself before continuing. "My first son, prince Aps requested that I send him to Esop as the representative to deliver the message, I haven't given my reply, which is why I called this meeting to ask for your opinion on the matter, so please speak and let me know whether to allow him his request or not." The king finished leaning back against his throne to sit comfortably.

The room was silent for a while and there were murmurs among the chiefs talking amongst themselves, the king looked around before speaking up. "I didn't call you here to murmur among yourselves, I called you here to hear your thoughts not your murmurs." The kings said frowning at them.

Chief Oberlin of the house of Oberlin, a tall, slender and a man of the world, known in the kingdom for his love of fine things and beautiful girls, but nonetheless a wise man, one of the richest and from one of the most respected noble houses in Dars, a man in his late fifties and a close friend of the king since childhood also happens to be the prime minister, their fathers were both good friends during their days, so the king knows he can always count on his loyalty and wise counsel, "My king, I do not think it is wise to send the prince to Esop, we know that our kingdom and theirs are not on friendly terms right now for us to send our crown prince there, so please I will be happy if you have a rethink." he said imploringly looking at the king before sitting down.

After the prime minister sat down, chief Gobo, the minister of foreign affairs stood up, bows before the king before speaking up. "My king," he sighs and looks around before continuing. "I agree totally with the prime minister that we should not send our crown prince to Esop because it is not just about our kingdom not being on friendly terms with them, although we keep saying we are not on friendly term with them all these years but we haven't attacked them or anything, I am more concerned about the personality of their king, he is not a man to be trusted and am sure you know my reason for saying this, or what do you think my chiefs?" he says spreading his hands and looking at the other members of the cabinet before sitting.

"Yes." They are replied in unison.

Prince Aps already getting annoyed where he is seated finally decides it is time for him to stand up and make a stand, he believes it is time to earn the respect of these chiefs instead of them treating him as if he is still a kid, making a resolve to speak up, he stands up and bows to the king. "My king and my chiefs," he started. "I believe I should have a say if you are to sit here and decide on a matter that concerns me, this nation has enjoyed peace as long as I can remember, we have enjoyed wealth and prosperity, our allies respect us and our enemies fear us," he said to the agreements of the chiefs who nods in affirmation. "But recently we have been intercepting some news that Esop has been gathering finances by overtaxing it citizens, fines and some unnecessary levies from the foreign merchants looking to sell their wares in the kingdom, this coupled with some other facts has led us to believe that they are preparing for war and we all know they hate us the most," he said walking towards the center of the room, deliberately looking the chiefs in the eyes to be sure they get the severity of the message he is trying to get across. "As for me, I am not scared of war; I believe we have the resources and military strength to repel their forces, but we all know the implications of war and we wouldn't wish that on our people," the prince said making sure to stress his following words. "Their sons dying, their fathers dying, rise in prices of goods, these are things we should try to avoid, so in light of what I have just said, I believe I should be the one to go and deliver our message to their king and make him realize he will be fighting a losing battle, I will be safe because he won't be dumb enough to attack me while in his kingdom." The prince said sitting down.

There was a complete silence in the room after the prince sat down, every individual kept mute and expects the king's decision because it seems the mind of the young prince is made up and they can't sway it, the king seeing that his chiefs seem to have no further objections decides it is time for him to speak.

"Well, I believe we have heard from the horse's mouth, I will have the message prepared and he will deliver it to the king of Esop," the king said sighing. "I believe that concludes this session."

After the king said this, he was surprised by the behavior of Kristoff, his silence all through the proceedings scares him into thinking he might have other plans in mind, and this makes him decide to make sure to monitor him better.

While these thoughts are going through the mind of the king, Kristoff sat down through the proceedings of the meeting making it a point not to say anything and making sure to keep his decision to himself, whereas he is starting to think he has made a mistake by saying nothing all through the meeting, he looks around at the chiefs before his eyes finally settling on the king, at that moment both Kristoff and the king's eyes locked for an instant before Kristoff takes his eyes away and looks towards his brother, he decides to engage him in a discussion because he feels the king is suspicious of him.

"Brother, that was a nice speech; you finally got what you wanted."

"Thank you but am surprised you didn't utter a single word all through, father seems worried about that." Prince Aps said looking at the king who is currently engrossed in a private conversation with the prime minister.

"I believe the meeting is finished; I have somewhere I need to be." Kristoff said noting that it is almost midday, and he must meet with Minerva, he stands up and pats his brother's shoulder before moving out of the room.

After Kristoff left the throne room, the king signals to Aps to come over, prince Aps moves over to the king's side and bent down beside him to speak privately.

"What is wrong with your brother?" the king asks his voice low.

"There is nothing wrong with him father, what makes you ask?" Prince Aps already knows the answer to his question, but he doesn't want to be forward and wants to pretend not to know what his father is getting at.

"He is unusually quiet during the meeting; I hope he is not planning anything mischievous."

"Father your son is getting matured and understanding how things should be, isn't that what you've always wanted for him?" prince Aps said this with a straight face pretending to be serious.

"Well, I guess you are right, I am just worried about him is all," The king said relaxing in his chair. "You can go."

The prince moves away from his father's side and exits the room, making sure to call Kristoff later and ask him what his plan is.