Fireflight

Chapter Six

Some time after dinner Stolas had invited the I.M.P crew into a sitting room. Along with them, his wife and daughter sat nearby, listening in. Archie closed the curtains as they settled down, shutting of their view of the inky black dusk. 

"It's time I explain why I hired you all." Stolas began. "It has to do with tensions between the northern principalities and the Silver Legion." 

"The Silver Legion?" Moxxie asked. "You'd better not be on their wrong side." 

"That's to be determined." The prince said. "As you all probably know, the Silver Legion has been making territorial claims along the borders of some of the neighboring states." 

"Why?" Loona interrupted him. "Don't they own enough of hell already?" 

"It's complicated. The Silver Legion is made up of hundreds of ethnic groups, some of which live within the borders of their country and within the territory of the many princes and lords." 

"So they're using that as a reason to wage war?" Blitzo asked. "I don't see how we can help you fight them." 

"Fight them?" Stella snorted. "We're not stupid enough to do that, even with you. It's not as if you're capable of taking on an entire country." 

"So then why hire us?" Millie asked. 

"Currently Stella and I are leading a diplomatic front with the Silver Legion. We're trying to negotiate some sort of treaty and avoid a war altogether. The problem is that some of the lords aren't so keen on any sort of treaty where the legion has leverage." 

"Dad's right," Octavia muttered. "A lot of those guys are assholes. Losing territory would be a blow to their egos." 

"And it's made all the more difficult by the purges and oppressions between the local groups and lordship and the ethnic legion groups along the border. The Silver Legion is justifiably upset by these actions and we're worried it could drag us into a war." 

"You guys don't seem to be the ones with the issues. Why worry about this?" Moxxie asked curiously. 

"All of the principalities are in an alliance, both in the north and south." Stella explained. "If one country goes to war, the others with be dragged in by alliance." 

"Sounds pretty dumb to me." Blitzo scoffed. 

"I wouldn't understand a plebian like you to understand such things." the princess shot back. 

"Listen here now-" Blitzo began. 

"That is enough!" Stolas rose his voice above the two and stood up. "This is not the time to argue. We brought you here to protect us and this principality, not to bicker with each other!" 

The room settled down, with Stella and Blitzo glowering at each other. Brenden who was sitting nearby to his boss, stared at the floor uncomfortably. This was not in the job description, and he felt as if he'd walked into a domestic dispute. He had actually, but he only knew a little about his boss's affair with Prince Stolas from what Moxxie and Millie had told him. Brenden snapped out of his train of though when he heard his name mentioned. 

"You know Brenden here comes from the Silver Legion. He might have some insight on all of this." Blitzo mentioned. 

The marksmen felt all eyes on the room turn to him. He squirmed slightly, hating to be the center of attention. Brenden looked up and saw both Stolas and Stella looking intently at him. 

"Yes." he mumbled. 

"Interesting indeed." Stolas commented. "Where from?" 

"Umber Plains." Brenden said simply, avoiding the prince's gaze. 

"How to we know this won't complicate things?" Stella asked almost suspiciously. 

"It won't. I promise." Brenden swore. 

"Then it's all settled." Stolas said disarmingly. 

Stella's mouth twisted into a frown. As far as she was concerned nothing was for sure settled, but she felt it would be good to let things be for now. She would keep an eye on I.M.P, especially Blitzo, Loona who had spent much time with her daughter and this Brenden, just in case his allegiances betrayed them. 

"Does anyone have anymore questions?" Prince Stolas asked. 

"I don't, what about the rest of you?" he asked turning to look at his employees, who all shook their heads, except for Loona. 

"Yeah, this is interesting and all..." She began. "Well, not really, but I was wondering if I could hit the sack. I've had a busy day." 

"I'd like that too. We could hang out a little before bed." Octavia agreed. 

"Well then, goodnight my little owlet, sleep tight." Stolas said, going over and placing a kiss on his daughter's head. 

"Dad!" she groaned, pushing him away. "You're embarrassing me!" 

"That's my job Via." he chuckled, heading for the door to leave. 

The room emptied out, it's occupants filtering out in one's and twos until only Stella was left. 

"Well isn't this just great?" she muttered through clenched teeth.