Three Must Decide.

Part 21 Another Voyage.

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.

What happens when a connection to money is taken away!

Decisions.

The Grand Duchess agreed an alliance with the Crown of Drathan but will they fight with them. Deigou is dead, the money may run out. Do they stay allied or make a move.

Read on to see what they have decided.

The Grand Duchess had read the letter and immediately left the greeting hall were she had been receiving the daily requests from her people or at least those with a high enough status to be allowed in. They came with their own requests or those from others who were to lowly to be granted an audience with her. Governing the estates and Peregrin Run took more time than any one day provided. The duties she now had she found a struggle,  not because she lacked judgement or stamina but because she could not help but shoulder a little of each issue presented herself. She knew that over time she would become more decisive and dismissive and she looked forward to those days while lamenting the change that would come within her.

Now she was alone in her chambers by one of the windows over looking the harbour. It was still only early afternoon, the summer heat was accompanied by clear sky's and below the harbour was busy. Ships were being loaded, the last preparations being made, and final stores taken aboard these last actions being completed to execute the plan agreed weeks ago. An action that was possibly their only chance to bring the conflict to an end with a continuing influence rather than the dominance of the Crown of Drathan. The true extent of the Crowns power was obvious when Diegou had joined the Crown Prince. The Awoken Sun and Princes army combined made their force twice that of the True Order.

Now only a day before departure she has learnt that Diegou was dead. Murdered by deceit and no one could be sure by whose hand. Not even her net work of informers and spies, an organisation proved more capable than any other they faced had seen far enough to stop it. The loss had shaken her which was why she had not allowed anyone else to read the letters content. She had sort the quite space of her private chambers and now that first shock was receding as she replaced it with the resolve that she had nurtured in exile. He was not the first she had lost, many others has passed and several were closer than the Marquess but she still felt the loss although without tears. They had seldom threatened and had not come sinse her brothers death, now years ago. She realised that everything was hardening her to the life she had.

The news in the letter confirmed his death but little more than confirming the Reeves would administer his estates until its title was passed on but first 3 months would pass for debts to be settled, claims to be made and for the Crown to allocate taxes, redistribute or confiscate. Caroline thought debts or claims to be unlikely. The Crown would rise a tax and possibly redistribute part of the land but nothing out of the ordinary. After all they had not fought each other and were Allies when he died.

What concerned her was that the estates and his vast fortune was almost certainly no longer to be relied on. Not a penny would be released from the fabled safes within his home, at least not in any great quantity for the next 3 months and then what? Would those who inherited one of the greatest fortunes known wish to gamble it in a war against their direct over lords and King and face the mounted horde of Terrill. Caroline quietly considered the obvious truth. It was unlikely in the extreme. In 6 months, a year perhaps, maybe then the new title holders may see a benefit in it or through loyalty to Diegou and honour his commitment? If he had had a family it would have been clearer but he had not or at least no clear line to speak of beyond old lovers from broken relationships and roomers of illegitimate children. No, the fortune that bought the True Order was almost spent and Caroline stood again alone.