Salvage ~ V1: Nuts and Bolts (Steampunk/ Gaslamp Romantasy ~ FxM, MxM)

Chapter 23: Truth ~ pt. 2

Amelys sat beside the Queen at the head of a long table in a conference room of the Alchemists' headquarters. A number of the Queen's cabinet along with a few other Alchemists were seated around the table with them.

Kelvaran and Kazia were not late, but everyone else had been early and she had hoped they would be as well.

Kelvaran finally entered the room and took a seat near the other end of the table. His face appeared flush, and Amelys suspected that something was afoot, but there wasn't time for that now.

She gave him a curious glance, but tucked it away in the back of her mind.

"Is this all we are?" asked Queen Inaissa.

"It must be," Amelys answered. "Perhaps Lady Devratha is unwell today."

"Then please send her my best regards," the Queen replied. "Let's begin. Sir Aleryl, we will get to the trade issues, but reports out of Valesk are becoming dire. Halany is consolidating his power. People are disappearing, believed to be taken into custody, but no one knows where. Allies are disappearing, as well as ordinary citizens with no known political ties - many Derician descendants. We have intelligence that Halany may be planning something soon, possibly here in Caedra. We have no details as of yet. We do believe that he is increasing the presence of spies here in Elisaen."

Amelys shot Kelvaran a warning glance. He set his jaw, but remained silent.

"Now-" the Queen began, then paused as Kazia appeared in the doorway.

Amelys beckoned her in, to an open seat beside her.

Kazia gave a curtsy to the Queen before she sat down.

"You look very normal today, Your Majesty," Kazia said in all earnestness to the Queen, who had come in no gold or silks but only a simple, loose gown of linen.

Everyone looked aghast at Kazia, but Inaissa gave her a kind smile.

"Well, I am just a person after all," she replied.

"That's nice," Kazia said. "You're very nice."

"Kazia?" Amelys murmured.

"If I may, Your Majesty," Sir Aleryl interrupted, "why is she here?"

"Because we have only two Valeskans on staff as of now, and I hope one of them may have insights into our discussions," Inaissa answered. "It would behoove us to get a better sense of Halany's Alchemists and their contributions to his military capability."

"I would not know anything about that," Kazia said, interrupting as Kelvaran had begun to speak. "I lived much as a prisoner in my father's house my whole life, so I don't know much about the goings on outside his walls. I can tell you about his military capabilities. He has an enormous army loyal to him. And Alchemists as well. Very clever ones. I don't understand why he doesn't take Halany's throne. I know he wants it."

"Well," Inaissa began, a small uncertainty in her voice, "at present Prince Gorvan seems loyal to Halany, so we'll keep our eyes on the crown for now."

"Your Majesty," Kelvaran spoke up, "I may have gathered a few leads from certain sources. It would be a lengthy conversation if we could meet on that subject."

"Of course," the Queen replied. "I'll have my secretary make the appointment. Now, Brinland is of the opinion that if things continue thus much longer, a pre-emptive strike should be launched upon Valesk."

"No!" Kazia said, rising from her seat. "No, no no!"

"Kazia," Amelys said, tugging at Kazia's sleeve to coax her into her chair again. "Don't speak out of turn."