Speculations

The morning light was pouring through the window. It was too early to have a council meeting, Mircea pondered, looking at the same old faces from a different position today. She was told to sit on the throne; not where her father sat. No, Mircea was sitting on the same throne her mother sat ten years ago.

She blatantly stared at everyone that had gathered to celebrate her as the kingdom's new Queen.

Everyone was pretentious. They would kill her if they got the chance.

The council members stood out like a sore thumb in the crowd with their unusually vibrant faces.

"The Saints have blessed us yet again with a new ruler, new queen. And we are here to celebrate her coronation. A past few days were as black as the no moon sky but we shall let it pass on and be grateful for what the saints have done for us."

Mircea groaned internally listening to Orpheus's baloney. Only Saints knew what would happen if one day they magically decide to be grateful to him.

"Let us all thank the Saints and hail our new queen!" Everyone cheered-Mircea simply nodded at them with a tight smile.

A week had passed and the council had hounded Mircea with overdue work. One thing she realized was people were suffering and those people hoped she would solve their problems. She couldn't put her needs first, at least not now.

The Kingdom of Slyve has suffered enough with its king on bed rest for a month. They had been ignored their needs had been ignored. Mircea needs to restore their peace for them as a queen.

She didn't want the throne but the throne needed her.

Mircea saw Urban and Leigh enter with Athos through the side doors. She and Athos fought after the coronation which then led to him being her personal bodyguard. He had been talking to Anstice through letters; checking on Lilith. Lilith had gained consciousness two morrows ago. Anstice had said in the letter there is nothing to worry about now.

However, it would require at least two to three weeks for her to recover properly.

They all had then decided to keep Lilith with Anstice in East of Gyyza for the time being. Urban and Leigh were to travel back today with the ship that had been loaded with presents for King Diomedes in regards to their new alliance.

Mircea still didn't know how was the alliance formed, even if they did send Urban, it didn't change the fact that her father was still dead. They had done nothing to help but the council wanted to continue the alliance.

She slightly nodded at Urban who was gazing at her with an unreadable expression. Mircea didn't get the chance to talk with him or Leigh after they set foot in the palace.

An awful lot of gathering had taken place in the palace in last week and they were invited to each one of them as the Queen's personal guests. The three nodded at each other at times and Mircea exchanged weird glances with Urban.

She didn't quite get his deal with her. The way he stared at her made her question everything in the world however it never made her uncomfortable. Mircea excused herself to go stand with Urban and the other two.

"Any news on Lilith?" She asked sliding in their little circle in the corner. Albeit this was the first time Mircea was speaking to them in public there were eagle eyes following her movements.

"No, and you shouldn't associate with us right now, people are looking." Athos sharply breathes.

"Athos shut up." Mircea glares at him.

"Hey, how are you?" Leigh asks lightly.

"I have been better, I guess. So, you and Urban are travelling back today?" Mircea glances at Urban who is already staring at her.

"Ah yes, I forgot to give this to you," Urban said searching the inner pockets of his deep violet coat. The purple didn't wear off even if he had been away from Gyyza for a week now. He removes a letter from his coat underpocket and hands it to Mircea.

"It was meant for you but I think it got misplaced," Urban explains. Mircea peeks at the letter, it is from King Diomedes' Court she presumes.

"You think I should open it here?" She stares at Urban, he doesn't answer for a minute holding her stare.

"It will be better to read it when you are away from peeking eyes." He looks behind her. Mircea turns around to follow his gaze; Orpheus is gazing at the letter as his eyes dart between Mircea and Urban.

Mircea places the letter in Urban's hands "Meet me in Athos's chamber in an hour."

She then turns around and stalks Orpheus. The council was a pain in the ass in the last five decades their power had got to their brains. There was a time when the court of Slyve didn't need the council. The kings were competent but it was the thirteenth king of Slyve, Smendes who wanted a war and thought he needed more advice to defeat other kingdoms.

The war never started he was killed a month before he was ready to send his armies. The king had armies. He was one of the greatest kings and he could have won the war if it were not for his tragic death. The council became a part of Slyve's court after that.

"Your Majesty," Everyone bows down slightly.

"How are you this fine morning?" Mircea asks Orpheus.

"I'm very well, my queen."

"I see. I was hoping we could keep a public meeting so my people can come forward with their problems."

"Sure, your majesty. We will arrange the meet next week." Roith replies this time with much honesty. Mircea wonders how much of actors these people are.

"Your guests are to depart today, your majesty?" Orpheus queries as he glances behind her. She bets her crown he is staring at Urban and Leigh.

"They will depart when they wish. After all, they did save my and Lilith's life." Mircea remarks with a smooth voice. Everyone nods their heads slightly as if they agree with her except for Orpheus. He is still glancing at Urban.

"That reminds me, I never saw the conditions of our new alliance. How was the draft formed? The king couldn't possibly agree to an ally just by sending Ur…Mr. Waldwick." Mircea clears her throat.

The council, especially Orpheus, he would frown till death if they knew she was calling him Urban.

"We never knew the conditions. Prince Pyron kept it a secret. We tried to suggest to him and Princess Faustina but they were quite adamant on keeping it a secret till the alliance was formed." Eustace Koyler explains, she was one of the favourite councillors of her father.

The woman was straight with her values and didn't care about anyone but the kingdom.

"If you give permission, we can check their rooms tonight." Roith chimes.

"I wouldn't want my sister to cause any further trouble. I'll tell Athos to do it and then if I find anything that'll need the council's attention I'll not hesitate to call a meeting." Mircea rationalizes. Some of them frown lightly at her response some of them simply nod their heads not overthinking it.

If Faustina had indeed did something grave she will have to take help from the council. She just hoped more things didn't point to Faustina. It would be harder to bring her out of the slammer if she and Pyron hid something that could affect their kingdom.

"And about your guests, your majesty. We think they should oath of secrecy before they leave." An oath made to keep whatever they had seen and heard will stay with them for the rest of their lives.

Mircea didn't trust Urban and Leigh enough to say no to the council. It would be better if they took an oath. Witches were more bound to oaths than humans. They had seen more than any other normal visitor, so Mircea merely nodded at them in agreement before excusing herself.