Three Must Decide.

Part 2 Bronze Gate

The City of Bronze Gate was built at the entrance to a horseshoe shaped range of mountains on the edge of the fertile land that lay within. Plains ran down to the wide and steady flowing Calmway River and those who had first put spades in the ground there had done so to seal off the land to others while still keeping themselves close enough to the Calmway. Giving them a fast way to send their surplus harvest and the bronze found in the mountains, which gave the city its name, to other centres to trade.

The early morning sun had risen and begun to take away the slight morning chill bringing its light and warmth to the new palace gardens which was built alongside the Calmway, upriver from the main city where the waters were cleaner but still busy with vessels of all sizes. The palace was grand but not a vast sprawling complex, built around 3 sides of the gardens. The outer walls beautifully decorated in expensive stone and carvings, the entrance even more so with gates embossed in gleaming bronze with panels showing the well-known glory's of the kingdom of Drathen.

Crown Prince Ehmet had slept little, got up with the sun, dressed in fine but casual comfortable cloths, had a light breakfast and now sat reading. Or at least he was trying to concentrate on the book, he was enjoying the text and it was a useful distraction, but the days business was pressing and his first meeting could force far reaching decisions. Ehmet had grown competent at discharging his duties which, now the King, his father was becoming fragile with age, meant taking on most of the responsibilities of the sovereign. Competent at making decisions to run a kingdom but his real ability was when in command of his army. He knew he was no fool and there was no doubt there were worse rulers than he but the fine detail in every part and aspect of what went on inside their boarders day after day was beyond his mind. He simply hoped that those responsible for carrying out the decrees would be able to apply the right meaning for each matter put before them. Should a failure come of it Ehmet anticipated he would be able to see a way to save face and protect the administrator who may have done all they could to abide by the decree.

Ehmet saw his Valet, Olivia Henderson, coming from the direction of the palace entrance. The Crown Prince felt his mind settle with a certain calm, he had prepared for this meeting, considered the options with his Father and asked for the thoughts of his Valet. Hendersons counsel would point to any possible error of judgement but would unwaveringly always stand by her Crown Prince's decisions. For a moment as he sat waiting, his composure was shaken for just a moment. The book he was holding shacked in his hand just a little before he placed it on the seat beside him. Alden, Earl and son of his former childhood companion had entered the garden following Henderson.

Aldens father was now far North in Vasted, the lands which had made it possible for The Kingdom of Drathen to project its power. The Rulers of Drathen from their seat in Bronze Gate had for several generations relied on the wealth that their land provided. Power and land beyond their boarders were lost, conceded or sold ages ago. Drathen endured, prospered but in Ehmets grandfathers days its influence began to wane until it had become no more than a city state. It would have been only a matter of time before its independence would have been lost to an irresistible power. When Ehmets Grand father had passed, The new King, Ehmets father, had made a decision to protect their independence and sanctioned a political and military campaign lasting in to his later life but resulting in the defeat of the kingdom of Vasted, one of the powers that had begun to dominate Bronze Gate. A Campaign that had lasted long enough for Ehmet, now the Crown Prince, and his generation to grow to adulthood and have families of their own before it had ended.

Watching Alden approach Ehmet saw more of his mother than his father in him. Alden came to stand before his Crown Prince, Henderson close at hand, adhering to formalities but it was clear he would not bend, there was an air of arrogance about this young man. Ehmet would make him wait and although he acknowledged the Earl he proceeded to pick up his book again and finish the page he had begun. From what he had been told of Alden he was trusted by his father to lead the best of their soldiers and had been fastidious at carrying out his wishes. He had become known for Speed and direct action with almost everything considered to achieve those aims. Similar to his farther in many ways but lacking the older generation's ability to persuade in more subtle ways.