House of Caliban

Chapter 17

Lord Amir Shafiq did not want to be here and he was not enjoying the current position he was in.

They were in the largest meeting room they possessed in the ICW building in Switzerland. On one side of the meeting room were King Fernando, Queen Joanna, and ICW Spanish Representative Lord Rafael Ruiz of the Spanish delegation. On the other side of the meeting room were Emperor-to-be Haylan Caliban and Narcissa Malfoy nee Black.

Lord Amir Shafiq was chosen to be the mediator between the two parties and Lord Shafiq felt this was only going to end in blood.

"Ah yes, thank you for both coming peacefully to this meeting." Lord Shafiq started, clearing his throat nervously. "This meeting was requested on behalf of the Spanish delegation on neutral ground to help solve any current disagreements between the Spanish Monarchy and the House of Caliban. Do you both agree that you are here of your own free will and while you are here you will remain peaceful?"

"The House of Caliban is here of my own free will and I will remain peaceful unless attacked," Haylan spoke with a threatening grin on his face that made Lord Shafiq shudder before looking to the Spanish delegation.

"We are here of our own free will and will remain peaceful for now." Lord Rafael Ruiz said in his soft accented tone.

"Now the Spanish delegation will begin with their grievances first." Lord Shafiq directed before turning the meeting over to Lord Ruiz.

"We requested this meeting after receiving a threatening package from Mr. Caliban-" Lord Ruiz was quickly interrupted by Narcissa.

"It is Heir Caliban, Lord Caliban, or Emperor Caliban. Do not make me remind you again." Narcissa threatened causing Lord Shafiq to pale and Lord Ruiz to grit his teeth.

"Heir Caliban then. Heir Caliban had no right to threaten the Spanish Monarchy just because he disagrees with their right to sovereignty." Lord Ruiz declared.

Haylan just chuckled. It wasn't a nice laugh, but one that raised the hair on your arms in warning.

"I am glad my package arrived so swiftly. It was not a threat but a promise. Several days ago I woke up to an assassin attempting to kill me. Which honestly an assassin before my coronation is just rude. It took me most of the day and I had to cancel several important meetings to find my answers. But the assassin was Diego Durand, quite a famous killer for hire I hear, and he confessed to being hired to kill me by one Queen Joanna of Spain. Now he was nice enough to admit that she hired him without the consent of King Fernando or the rest of the Spanish government, but I obviously still wasn't pleased as this was in response to my refusal to allow Spain to secede from my empire. So I broke Mr. Durand into many pieces and shipped him back to the one that hired him. I am pleased the threat carried, I wondered if a dead assassin in a box wouldn't be explicit enough of a warning." Haylan's tone was calm and controlled and the smile on his face never wavered. Lord Shafiq was reminded of a predator enjoying playing with its prey.

"Lies! He Lies!" Queen Joanna shouted.

"I suggest you control your wife, King Fernando before I do it for you," Haylan commented.

"That will not be necessary. I had wondered why you had jumped from letters to a bloody body, it did seem rather drastic even for the House of Caliban. Joanna and I weren't married yet back then, but I remember your family well. I may not agree with being part of your empire but your family never did anything without reason. They weren't tyrants. But I worry about your reign since you do not have them there to lead you or temper you as they had." King Fernando's voice was deep and calm and he didn't seem surprised by his wife's actions.