Of Whispers and Daggers ✓ [TLRQ #2]

Chapter 11.2 - Aster

 Now that the pleasantries have all been made, I ask them details about their proposal. Under the guise of wartime measures, they offer a slew of revisions to tradition and existing laws that effectively put the Corps under the control of the Table Arbitrate—so under them. The ideas go from mild, like a lower price ceiling before Corps expenses must be passed before the Table, to frustratingly ridiculous: the High Ladies deciding which wizards to accept from their own yearly tribute to the castle, imposing an observer in the Mage Room, having a say in the stationing of wizards.

I try to keep a friendly tone when I point out the inefficiencies of such ideas. They drop some of the more extreme measures, and I suppose they may have included them intending just to cede them. Proposals like this never pass without losing some points. They seem rather convinced of the document, though, which irks me. There's a reason the branches of our government are separate—so the people that best know what they're doing are the ones doing it, not so power-thirsty Ladies can drink their fill of a Corps struggling under the weight of their bureaucracy.

The women have this easy, gentle confidence, this slick, natural self-assurance that says, We know you do important things too. Us Ladies just know better what should be done than you... wizards. Even High Lady Riletta, a woman that seemingly cannot generate an original thought, appears to pity the wizards for their lack of noble heritage—which she would know to be a ridiculous thought if she remembered that far more of our casters are chosen by bias of us pleasing their families than I am comfortable with.

Finally, I wave my hand, smiling. "Alright, alright. I think that's enough of that, yes? It is not my place to declare what shall pass as legislation and what shall not."

Irrianet's smile and voice is soft as she says, "A pity."

The either radical idea or sarcastic insult to my judgement is swept away as Aselle speaks nearly simultaneously. "You are right of course, my prince. Still, though, this tea could only be halfway done—what else are you wishing to discuss?" Her playful tone implies that she cannot possibly imagine what is more important.

"My sister mentioned that you three also had some objections to my coronation during this time of trouble." The conversation didn't go exactly like that, but best not to let on that Reyan called them 'power-hungry lunatics apparently intent on handing the castle over to the Kadranians.' "She thought perhaps the conflict would be best resolved by us discussing directly." Or, in her words, 'Do try to get along with them, please.'

"Ah," says Aselle. "The Princesse had promised to discuss this further with us."

"Then consider me here in her stead." My smile attempts to retain the almost friendly mood that this conversation has thus had, but with this change in topic, it suddenly seems a losing battle.

"Of course." Her returned smile is slick. They don't want to talk about this. At least not with me.

"Therefore," I say, glancing at all three of them, "I would like to be sure of what exactly your objections are."