Princess Reagan
"I'm so sorry."
"Reagan, I already told you, there is no need to apologise" Alani shook his head, "It's not your fault I was captured. If you'd stayed with us, you might've been too."
"You make a fair point, but it doesn't lessen the burden" I sighed, "I just hope Iclyn's delegate will arrive soon so we can plan how to tackle taking back the rest of the kingdom."
It was the day after our successful ambush on the Lurisian castle. While we now controlled the head, the rest of the territory still remained entirely in Cyrus's clutches. There was yet to be a retaliation attack, if there was to be one at all. I knew my brother would at some point try to reclaim it, but while he was busy in Kuya I doubted he would make the effort. Haakon had set out alone on horseback that morning to find out what had become of his kingdom, with the promise to send word of what he found. With the knowledge of Cyrus's deception, I wasn't hopeful he would find anything positive.
We were once again seated in the throne room, which had been made the main location to hold meetings. Alani and I sat on the right hand of the throne, close to Bellatrix and Misaki. Kijani made his place clear on the arm of the throne to the left of Aspen. A few straggling courtiers that had made the trip to Kuya pointed at him and whispered, visibly confused. I ignored them, instead focusing on the ghostly form of Kalaraja that paced up and down, occasionally looking up at Kijani like he was the biggest disappointment he had ever seen.
"My apologies for being late, the weather was not in our favour" the doors swung open, revealing about half a dozen soldiers. In the centre of them was a small girl slightly younger than me and around Misaki's height. I recognised her as Princess Sonali, Iclyn's daughter, though she did not seem it. Her mother was tall and built of lean muscle, this girl looked almost sickly.
"Princess Sonali" Aspen echoed my thoughts, "I had thought your mother would be joining us."
"Unfortunately, she is busy tending to her kingdom and preparing our own soldiers for war" Sonali inclined her pretty head, not an ounce of genuine remorse in her voice, "She has sent me in her place. Anything you wish to discuss with her you will discuss with me." The room once again came alive with hushed whispers, each seeming sceptical. Sonali's soldiers followed her forward closely, their faces covered by steel helmets. She strode forward, her long, flowy dress waving behind her. She stood near the foot of the throne, her soldiers forming a half circle around her in a blatantly protective stance. They were soldiers ready to die for their princess.
"My apologies, princess. This is just unexpected" Aspen barely managed to conceal his distaste of discussing war with a teenager, "Shall we begin?"
"We shall" Sonali affirmed, her piercing blue eyes gazing around the room carefully. Bellatrix stepped forward, clearing her throat to speak.
"It is a matter of time before Cyrus seeks to reclaim what he has lost, and then he will aim for the next kingdom" her eyes rested on Sonali, "Your kingdom."
"He would be mad to try invading us in the dead of winter. It will leave many... dead" she chuckled at her own pun before continuing, "Though he will certainly try as the days grow warmer." She gazed almost dreamily around the crowd, stopping when she reached Kijani. There, her expression hardened, and her lips pursed grimly. "What about you? What do you predict they will do?"
Kijani flinched backwards in surprise, startled that she had spoken to him. He shifted uncomfortably, scratching the back of his neck. "Uh, I agree with Bellatrix. It won't be long before they aim for you, whether it's winter or not."
"You sit very high for someone who only repeats what others have said before him" Sonali raised a brow, "Why have you brought your court in front of us, Aspen? I was under the impression last time that you wanted help from no one but him." She pointed a slender finger accusingly at Kijani. Aspen raised his chin, the golden crown glinting atop his head.
