head back to the palace and prepare for what might or might not happen next.”
“What do you expect to happen next?” Cass asked, an odd look on his face.
“I think the council will reach out with an individual person sent to discuss things with me. They might even suggest that I take on an advisor. A lot of kingdoms have taken on Katanga soldiers as guards as well as mages as advisors.”
“What will you do?”
“If they offer, I will take on an advisor, but one that I choose. I want to make sure the person who is spying on me is at least reliable,” Bren replied with a small chuckle.
CHAPTER VI
It was only four days before the council did as Bren had expected and sent over a mage to act as an intermediary between him and the tower.
Bren had the mage wait in a small room that they had sectioned off, from what had once been the common room, to act as a waiting area. It was still sparse, but it at least offered a comfortable place to wait.
Bren understood the importance of making a guest wait. It was a show of power and resolve, but he still didn’t like playing the game. Sitting on his throne of wood, staring at the walls doing nothing as his guest did the same thing seemed pointless to him.
After nearly a half hour, Bren signaled one of his guards to escort the mage into the throne room. The mage was a young, good looking female, who wore robes that clearly showed off her more desirable traits. Bren was sure that the council had chosen her more for her looks than her abilities. It was a common practice to use seduction against male rulers, and Bren had to admit that it worked more often than not.
“Your Majesty,” the mage said, bowing low. “I am Karin, a fourth class mage from the tower and I have come to extend our gratitude for the recent funds that you provided for the towers use. I would also like to give our apologies for the tragedies that have taken place due to the head masters misplaced judgment in the past and we vow that no such thing shall happen in the future.”
Bren’s eyes flashed over to where Lillian stood in the corner of the room, her face pinched in anger. Though the elves and Vathari have never had good relation, she had a strong view of right and wrong and she didn’t take too kindly that Sae-Thae was taking the blame for the wrongs of others. “I am glad to hear it,” Bren said softly, his eyes still on Lillian to make sure that she wouldn’t do anything rash. “Surely though, you did not come here just for those trifling matters.”
“You are very perceptive my lord,” Karin said with another low bow. “The council would like to offer me as an advisor as well.”
Bren moved his hand up to his face and acted as if he was deep in thought, the same way his mother did when she knew what she wanted to say, yet wanted to act like she didn’t. It was an old tactic to make the other person feel like they had more control than they did. “I don’t think having you as an advisor and intermediary for the tower would be good, as your duties might conflict with each other. If you could ask the tower to get a number of possible advisors for me to choose from, I would be most pleased.”
“I will relay the message as requested majesty,” Karin said, though her face showed her displeasure with his decision.
“I would also request one thing further from you before you leave Miss Karin,” Bren said, holding up his hand to keep the mage from leaving.
“What would that be majesty?” Karin asked, her face twisted in curiosity.
“When the snow breaks, I will be having a meeting with the merchant guild and would like to know what the tower’s view on any agreement would be,” Bren said with a shallow smile.
“As you wish majesty,” Karin said, her face showing her shock.
As soon Karin had left, Bren slumped down in his chair and let out a heavy sigh. He had sat through many of his mother’s meetings with visiting dignitaries, but he had never had to hold one
“What do you expect to happen next?” Cass asked, an odd look on his face.
“I think the council will reach out with an individual person sent to discuss things with me. They might even suggest that I take on an advisor. A lot of kingdoms have taken on Katanga soldiers as guards as well as mages as advisors.”
“What will you do?”
“If they offer, I will take on an advisor, but one that I choose. I want to make sure the person who is spying on me is at least reliable,” Bren replied with a small chuckle.
CHAPTER VI
It was only four days before the council did as Bren had expected and sent over a mage to act as an intermediary between him and the tower.
Bren had the mage wait in a small room that they had sectioned off, from what had once been the common room, to act as a waiting area. It was still sparse, but it at least offered a comfortable place to wait.
Bren understood the importance of making a guest wait. It was a show of power and resolve, but he still didn’t like playing the game. Sitting on his throne of wood, staring at the walls doing nothing as his guest did the same thing seemed pointless to him.
After nearly a half hour, Bren signaled one of his guards to escort the mage into the throne room. The mage was a young, good looking female, who wore robes that clearly showed off her more desirable traits. Bren was sure that the council had chosen her more for her looks than her abilities. It was a common practice to use seduction against male rulers, and Bren had to admit that it worked more often than not.
“Your Majesty,” the mage said, bowing low. “I am Karin, a fourth class mage from the tower and I have come to extend our gratitude for the recent funds that you provided for the towers use. I would also like to give our apologies for the tragedies that have taken place due to the head masters misplaced judgment in the past and we vow that no such thing shall happen in the future.”
Bren’s eyes flashed over to where Lillian stood in the corner of the room, her face pinched in anger. Though the elves and Vathari have never had good relation, she had a strong view of right and wrong and she didn’t take too kindly that Sae-Thae was taking the blame for the wrongs of others. “I am glad to hear it,” Bren said softly, his eyes still on Lillian to make sure that she wouldn’t do anything rash. “Surely though, you did not come here just for those trifling matters.”
“You are very perceptive my lord,” Karin said with another low bow. “The council would like to offer me as an advisor as well.”
Bren moved his hand up to his face and acted as if he was deep in thought, the same way his mother did when she knew what she wanted to say, yet wanted to act like she didn’t. It was an old tactic to make the other person feel like they had more control than they did. “I don’t think having you as an advisor and intermediary for the tower would be good, as your duties might conflict with each other. If you could ask the tower to get a number of possible advisors for me to choose from, I would be most pleased.”
“I will relay the message as requested majesty,” Karin said, though her face showed her displeasure with his decision.
“I would also request one thing further from you before you leave Miss Karin,” Bren said, holding up his hand to keep the mage from leaving.
“What would that be majesty?” Karin asked, her face twisted in curiosity.
“When the snow breaks, I will be having a meeting with the merchant guild and would like to know what the tower’s view on any agreement would be,” Bren said with a shallow smile.
“As you wish majesty,” Karin said, her face showing her shock.
As soon Karin had left, Bren slumped down in his chair and let out a heavy sigh. He had sat through many of his mother’s meetings with visiting dignitaries, but he had never had to hold one
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