Land of Kingsflame

A Meeting

The sun was setting on Orynth when Aelin trudged back to her private council room. Rowan had disappeared after their last meeting for some reason, even though their meeting with Fenrys was in five minutes.

Today has been so, so tiring. Whenever she had to meet with people who needed help rebuilding their damaged homes and lives, she always ended up exhausted. People had nowhere to turn, so they turned to her.

It was a burden she'd come to accept but not enjoy in any way. Fenrys and Rowan were always at those meetings, assisting her, but she felt that it was her job, more than theirs, to allocate resources, soothe doubts, and make note of necessities that were needed in the effort.

Aelin arrived at the smooth wooden doors to her council room and pushed them open to find Fenrys half asleep in one of the comfortable chairs.

"Took you long enough," he said, his eyes half closed.

Aelin plopped down across from him, leaning back. 

"The meeting with Darrow went over time. He thinks we spend too much money and need to cut down on how much aid we give."

"He's still on that? I would have thought once you told him to shove the idea down his throat he would've given up."

Aelin smiled dryly. "Darrow doesn't care what comes out of my mouth, he fights for what he wants no matter the language I use."

Fenrys shook his head as he sat up and stretched. "That old bastard. If he hadn't held Orynth together all these years I would have no trouble.....dispatching him for you."

"Well," said Aelin, "I respect him for that I suppose. Where the hell is Rowan?"

His scent hit her the second he shouldered open the door carrying—

"A chocolate cake?"

Aelin was beside herself with joy. "I hope you brought plates, otherwise I'll be eating it by myself."

Rowan slid into the chair next to Aelin and placed the cake, which smelled divine, on the table then produced three plates and forks, which Aelin snatched right away and proceeded to serve herself.

The two males watched her in amusement and awe as she cut at least a quarter of the cake and dug in.

"The Queen of Terrasen and your manners are still atrocious," Rowan muttered.

She was too busy stuffing her face to respond properly and only gave him a vulgar gesture with her free hand. Fenrys leaned across the table and took a plate from Rowan who raised his eyebrows.

Fenrys scowled. "Don't be a spoilsport, I can have sweet things when I want."

Aelin's mouth was still full, but she gave an emphatic nod of agreement. She wouldn't let Rowan's healthy habits get in the way of her eating what she wanted, and neither should Fenrys, who helped himself to a slice.

Once the three of them had all settled down around the table and Aelin had eaten approximately half of the cake, they began.

"Asteria is sending a delegation to Doranelle and Terrasen. They'll be arriving in a year's time," Rowan said calmly.

Fenrys started. "Damn, that must be the first time in a thousand years."

"It is," Aelin said, her voice muffled from the cake in her mouth, "and I have no doubt that they're coming to see how powerful the Fae Queens of the West and East are."

"They truly decided to show up after we defeated Erawan, lost so many lives, and could have used their assistance?" Fenrys asked incredulously.

Aelin smiled grimly as she searched her pockets for something to wipe her face with. "They did. But we won anyway, didn't we? As much as I would like to be rude to them, it would be in our best interests; whatever trade agreements they offer will be helpful to us. But we have to ensure that we're on the same footing as Doranelle. We need their cooperation if we're going to get any trade routes to Terassen and we defeated Erawan together, so we have to be united in whatever we front we show the Asterions."