For a few blissful moments, Arcady thought of nothing else besides having her head patted. She did not think of the etiquette of the court, nor the complicated relationships between the factions of feudal aristocrats who were her retainers. She certainly did not think about the incredibly dangerous situation that was still developing in Annarrow, the kingdom’s southern neighbor.
But alas, all good things must inevitably come to an end.
Once Aelfric had patted her head for what he considered a suitable amount of time, he broached the subject of his visit.
“I hope you didn’t call me back to the capital simply because you were lonely and wanted your head patted,” he said flatly. “I have nothing to report yet from my current assignment. As far as I have been able to determine, she hasn’t descended yet.”
Arcady made a petulant noise and after a final squeeze, let go of Aelfric and moved to collect her tiara, settling it back on her head.
“Of course we would never do something so irresponsible and childish,” she scoffed. “We are not a frivolous ninny!” She folded her hands behind her back and turned around. “The situation to the south seems to have deteriorated in the time since you left the capital,” she said seriously. “We are concerned that there is something happening in Annarrow that our diplomatic liaison has not been reporting. Something terrible.”
“An incursion?” Aelfric asked seriously.
He was not surprised that things had worsened in Annarrow. The southern barrier was under great strain.
“We are afraid it might be more than that,” the princess-king admitted, her voice tight. “You are aware that diplomatic relations between Prystir and Annarrow have been worsening. We fear that an incident along the southern border may provoke war.”
Aelfric made a dark sound, deep in his throat.
“Humanity cannot afford to war against itself,” he said darkly.
“The wolf is at the door,” Arcady agreed, sounding very tired.
“The wolf is already inside the house,” Aelfric corrected grimly.
She nodded without turning around.
“We still do not have a clear idea of what is happening at the southern border. We need to understand so that we can prepare for the dangers ahead,” she said, wrapping her arms around herself and trembling slightly.
This was not an act, and he knew it was not. Arcady was afraid.
And for good reason.
They all ought to be afraid, every single one of them. That they were not only revealed their ignorance of the situation.
“Have you dispatched intelligence operatives?” he asked, already knowing the answer to the question.
“We cannot trust anyone with this mission other than you,” she insisted, turning around to look at him at last. “If we send other people, we fear they will not return. We need clear information so we can decide how to proceed. We are not certain that Prystir could survive a war against Annarrow, even in its weakened state. We must find a way to navigate through without war.”
She looked very small and fragile, dwarfed by her royal cloak. She could not even wear the crown yet. It was too large and heavy. That was why she wore the tiara of state instead.
Aelfric closed his eyes briefly.
Arcady was a good ruler, as good as one could wish for from a girl who was only fourteen years old and had neither father nor mother to guide her. She was intelligent, compassionate, and hardworking. She was dedicated to protecting her country and its citizens.
And she was right. It was unlikely that Prystir would emerge unscathed from a conflict with Annarrow. Nothing but annihilation was waiting at the end of that path.
Arcady was still a little girl in some ways. She had no older relatives from whom to get advice or comfort. This meant that she depended heavily on Aelfric, most especially when she felt frightened or distressed.
She still had the childish notion that he was somehow superhuman, able to resolve any situation he was set against. He was the rock that kept away tigers.
He couldn’t blame her. To some degree, this was his fault. He had often doted on her when she was a child, and then after the tragic events that had led to her becoming princess-king at the tender age of eleven, he had been the one to help her secure the stability of her position. He had also been the one to see her when she cried, to hold her when she wept for her parents, when she could no longer show her deep grief to anyone else.
But he didn’t regret that. She was a kind girl, and she had needed his comfort. He had sworn an oath to Conri to guard Prystir and to look after his children. That oath still held true, even down to Arcady’s generation.
“If I go to investigate the situation in the south, I may not be there when the goddess descends,” he pointed out calmly.
Arcady had been the one to dispatch him to Cradle in the first place, to await the descent of the goddess, to locate her and bring her back to the capital.
“We are aware,” she said, squirming slightly. “We trust that your two subordinates from the intelligence division will send accurate reports about the situation. You may rejoin them after you assess the situation in the south.”
She seems to have already made up her mind, he thought to himself.
Although the shadow councillor was technically a servant of the crown, Aelfric was not actually under any obligation to accept any assignment or order, even if it came from the princess-king herself, and they were both aware of that. It was all dependent on what he thought about things.
But if she was this distressed, it was probably better to investigate the situation in the south. It was possible that there was a flash point waiting to happen there, something that might set off a greater chain of events. Arcady often had good intuitions when it came to things like this.
He brought his hand to his chest and bowed his head slightly.
He was under no obligation to bow his head to anyone, and yet he usually did, if only to Arcady.
“As you wish, Your Majesty,” he said.