Three Must Decide.

part 17 Greenpeaks.

Chapter note. the first 3 chapters have introduced you to the Three. Each faction is controlled, to a degree, by a real life person so decisions have to be made.

Hidden consequences.

Terrills decision to keep his army as one left the door open to Ehmet. Ehmet marched for the Capital not after Ehmet and as Terrill went north with everything they had Ehmet marched right in to the Capital and agreed an alliance in a war where they have, so far,had hardly had to fight.

Chance, pure chance.

Ehmet had ridden through the capital against the councils wishes as a show of strength that decision has not fallen completely in their favour.

Decisions.

Terrill had to decide if his wife would stay in Greenpeaks under protection and try and work the politics or have them ride for home.

Read on to see what they have decided.

Ehmet rode casually toward the house of Terrill, He had returned from Diegou's estate having spent four days negotiating a new alliance with the Grand Duchess through the Marquess. He had been in need of rest following those negotiations as Diegou did not give away anything without gaining something in return. More than once Ehmet had considered simply marching his overwhelming force to the estate and destroying the Marquess but with a force of some 2000 and the defences of the estate well prepared it would have been costly in lives, recourses and time. Besides that it would leave the Grand Duchess as an enemy. An enemy who it seemed had regained control of Peregrin Run, and with that great port came power in the north of Vasted. Time was not on his side either or any side in the war whether they knew it or not. The alliance was needed for now.

He was tired but the Loyal members of Greenpeaks council had told Remangold, the warden of Ehmets house, that Duchess Winter was leaving and under the protection of Regnfrey Iordan. Remangold had taken the news straight to his Prince and so now Ehmet rode steadily to the Terrill house in Greenpeaks to see it for himself doing his best to resist the tiredness that was beginning to reach in to his mind.  It was not helped as it was still so early that only those who earned their living at night, doing the jobs and undertaking the tasks that others could not or would not do and many of those tasks others did not want to see, were still in the streets going about their dirty work.

As he rode the final few yards he adjusted in his saddle, presenting a straight back, pushing away as many signs of his fatigue as possible. He was not a short man, his frame was fit, shoulders strong. Lithe rather than pure strength, with a face not strikingly attractive but with a look that caught the eye when considered again. His deep dark hair was flecked with grey and that morning looking a little unkept. He carried a casual air of authority as he approached the gate. With his always present guards at hand he dismissed those who had watched the house as it was obvious there was no need for them. There was only one person now at the gate, he was informed that they were The Terrill House Keep Mrs Cloudstider. As he approached he could see the House Keeper was not going to step aside and she showed no sign of nerves as the Crown Prince stopped in front of her. The older women said nothing at all until addressed by Ehmet, adhering to etiquette.

Ehmet made the women wait until he saw her posture change just a fraction, showing that they were beginning to feel less sure of themselves.

"House Keep, you are dismissed. This property is now the property of the Crown of Drathen, confiscated due to the rebellion of the properties previous owners. Mrs Cloudstider?"

The dismissal had moved the women as if she had been hit but again they recovered to nod understanding and confirmation at the mention of her name.

"you will be taken with the next caravan train back to Bronze Gate and the house of Terrills mother. You will serve her and stay under house arrest, as the Lady also is, until The Crown commands otherwise"

Mrs Cloudstider was slowly shaking her head now, she had served the Terrill family all her life and had risen to House Keep, entrusted to look after their grandest houses when the family was away, making sure it was always ready to receive them. Always a safe place and now everything had been taken from her. She had been left behind, a decision that she was happy to accept and because her Duchess needed a trusted member of her staff to deliver a message, without faltering, to Ehmet. That task had fallen to Mrs Cloudstider but despite her usual air of steely resolve standing in the presence of the Crown Prince, seeing him and hearing his words she had begun to falter. So far outside of her comfort zone it was hardly unexpected but then the realisation had hit, she was losing everything and feeling the power emanating from the Crown Prince possibly her life.

She felt a familiar steel resolve begin to return, forced back to the surface on a well of anger.

"Your highness, the The Duchess asked me to give you a message" her tone was flat and strong and with the first words uttered she raised her head to meet the Crown Princes eyes. Before she could continue Ehmet raised his hand to indicate silence. He did it to enforce his authority, he was annoyed by the blatant distain in the womens eyes. Again he made her wait.

"continue" Ehmet said after another long pause. The commander of his guard walked forward to stand by the house keep.

Mrs Cloudstider felt the danger she was in by being lead by her anger but it was all she had to draw on and she would not fail in this task.

"Lord Iordans is accompanying The Duchess. The Iordans family guard posted in Greenpeaks go with them" Mrs Cloudstider raised a hand holding a letter clearly closed shut with the Iordan seal. " Lord Regnfrey Iordan has declared by the law of Greenpeaks and Vasted that Duchess Winter retained the protection granted to her as a citizen of the city and its council" she held the letter out to the crown prince who took it and upon breaking the seal read the words that were authorised by Lord Iordans own mark.

"Duchess Winters requested the protection while the city council opposed the march through Greenpeaks by the Crown Princes army. The city still remained neutral while the banners of The Grand Duchess and Marquess Diegou, lay to the north. While those banners remained a threat the crown of Drathan could not reaffirm their covenant beyond doubt to protect the city and all its interests"

Ehmet grunted and handed the letter to an aid. He held the gaze of the House Keep for a moment.

"So your lady is beyond the city and with the Iordans" he was irritated, the law was a grey area on such a matter but he knew there could be grounds for such a claim and from a family like the Iordans, who prided themselves on up holding the laws of Vasted, like a self appointed force of the law, Ehmet could not be sure that Bronze Gate and the crown could win that argument. Written law did not provide all the needed influence, money, arms but they did hold power.

Ehmet turned his horse and rode away, sending a messenger to find Flux. The house keep was struck hard across the face by a guard for her final look and almost silent cures at the Crown Prince. Mrs Cloudstider would be going to Bronze Gate.