The Queen's Admiral

Chapter 26: The Offer

“The death toll is rising, your majesty.  We can’t just turn a blind eye to that.”

Admiral Westergard’s tone was evenly calm, but I could sense the passion of his argument behind his green eyes that begged Aunt Elsa for consideration.  She avoided his gaze and bit her lip uncomfortably.

The Queen’s council was as silent as a tomb as we waited for my aunt’s answer.  The issue at hand involved the plan for future diplomatic relations with the Southern Isles.  Almost immediately after Weselton’s defeat, news spread on a failed assassination attempt on King Sigurd and the sudden death of his granddaughter.  It didn’t take long before his sixth oldest brother, Prince Heinrik launched an insurrection which escalated into a full civil war.   Five months into the conflict and the two warring brothers were still at a stalemate.  A report we received yesterday indicated the latest skirmish between their armies claimed over a hundred lives.  It was bothersome to hear but Arendelle just recovered from a war half a year ago and I knew my aunt was not willing to embroil us in another conflict, especially one where we were not involved. 

“It’s an internal affair Admiral, and you know my policy of non-interference on such matters,” she said finally.  I could sense most of her councilors agreed with her as I did. 

Since the end of the war, I regularly sat in the Queen’s council as part of my diplomatic training when I wasn’t in military classes as a naval cadet.  The council was currently preparing for the upcoming Coronan Conference where the representatives of the nations allied to us during the Arendelle-Weselton conflict will meet to settle matters postwar.  I was to be part of the delegation along with my aunt and some of her closest advisers.  It was the first time I will be away from home and I was looking forward to the trip.  I didn’t mind putting in extra hours of work to help Aunt Elsa’s council settle the strategies to maximize the opportunities at this crucial event. 

The Southern Isles conflict was among the more pressing issues we needed to address.  Admiral Westergard had so far been silent over it since he came home with his adoptive family three months ago from Weselton.  It was the first time he even made a reference to his former home in the council. 

“I’m not saying we interfere with them,” Admiral Westergard continued in that same calm voice.  “We’re not providing aid to either side—not in terms of men or resources.  All we need is one public declaration of support to Prince Heinrik during the Coronan Conference.  It’s what the other nations are waiting for.  They’re already outraged at what King Sigurd did to you… to us, against Weselton.   Take the lead, your majesty.  Condemn King Sigurd’s actions and Gormund, Antalona and perhaps even Condor will offer Prince Heinrik the aid he needs to end this war.  Arendelle won’t have to do another thing.”

“There is some merit in what Admiral Westergard suggests, your majesty,” the foreign affairs minister Lord Hensen said.  “The region would benefit if the internal conflict in the Southern Isles gets settled.  We can shorten the trade routes if both the Weselton and Southern Isles ports are open to us.   And we do owe a debt of gratitude to Prince Heinrik in the war against Weselton.  I think the other nations are expecting you to at least acknowledge that.”

My aunt remained silent and I understood why.  Yes, we do owe Prince Heinrik a debt but it was something she was reluctant to pay.  She didn’t want to be the one to openly support a cold-blooded murderer against the legitimate king of the Southern Isles—even if that king did betray her. 

And then there was another more serious reason, one that might have serious implications closer to home.  Months earlier she confessed to me a telling conversation she overheard between Admiral Westegard and Prince Heinrik just before the end of the Arendelle-Weselton war…