the seas are alive,
and they are raging with monsters, old sport.
| based on the voyage of the dawn treader |
| BOOK TWO OF THE KING IN DISTRESS DUOLOGY |
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2827 BGA, The Dark Ages
THE REST OF THE royal council were less welcoming at the thought of the Elven princes surrendering and joining them. With the betrayal of Eovrynn Nightblood, sister to Syllena the Sorceress, still fresh upon their minds, it was to say that there was the possibility that these two boys could be a diversion sent by the Dark Elf, as they had chosen to call him, to throw them off their course. Jamie did not entirely disagree, so they called the two princes for questioning. Vraios suggested they be tied to chairs, but the Warrior Queen decided for them to remain free from ties.
Even she was surprised by her own decision.
Icaraeus and Klyden Nasryth sat side by side, facing Jamie and the royal council who littered the queen's tent. Just as the queen wished, they were not tied down, although they might as well have been, with half a dozen pairs of eyes burning holes into them. "Why are we to believe that you come in peace, and not to gain our trust just so you will betray us?"
It was Icaraeus who answered. "Your highness, it would be poor strategy that we identify ourselves to you, with that intention in mind." He made a point. "I assure you that we are telling you the truth when we say we have come to join you against our father. It was not an easy decision, but we made it nonetheless."
"Why?" Jamie arched a brow.
"Because we don't wish for other kingdoms to suffer the wrothful rule of our father, if he were to win any war." Klyden spoke up. "Cerephon is already deeply wounded by his ways, we don't want the same for Narnia."
"What makes you think Narnia will lose and your father will win?" Jamie knew it was a possibility, but even the thought of it sparked a dangerous fury in her. The two princes bristled, unable to provide an answer to her question. "The Elven Emperor thinks too highly of himself." Narnia was strong, despite suffering losses after the red wars.
When peace had returned, Gerasmia, who had been in charge of the kingdom's financial system, sought matters into her own hands and capitalized on the trade of wheat and grain, which proved to prosper, especially with the depletion of resources in Xyr. Thus, coin came flooding back in the royal treasury. While Zhev made use of the newly made Narnian fleet, and set sail for the ship trading lanes by the great eastern sea, importing Kyiz and exporting greatwood, a special wood known only in Narnia. Aside from that, the kingdom itself was secure, with an unyielding queen, promising army, and citizens who did not suffer from hunger.
"Your majesty would be wise not to forget that Elves are magikfolk." Vraios added, careful to remind the queen. "If we have magic at our disposal, so do they."
