A New Proposal

The king's message asking for a diplomatic meeting, discussing a peaceful solution, had been answered faster than expected. By letter, arriving by bird rather than the return of the messengers he sent. A spokesman for the Ryūketsu will arrive tonight and everyone’s on high alert.

It’s getting late and Diane wonders if the letter was somehow a ruse. What ambassador would consider midnight a good time for an important meeting? Despite the late hour, most of the residents of the castle are gathered in the courtyard or looking out from the windows of their rooms. The heavy gate is open, welcoming torches and colorful lanterns light the way. The air has a definite chill to it, the winds from the ocean making it even colder. Diane tightens a woolly shawl around her shoulders. Next to her, Aster and Alder seem perfectly comfortable in their normal thin shirts, as do their parents. Rafe and Lilah had flown in earlier in the day, not wanting to miss this.

Their little group stands close to the podium where the royal family is sitting, all of them in formal ermine robes and crowns. King Caelric is sitting tensely, back straight and eyes fixed at the gate. The prince and princesses only slightly less so, though Mirelle tries to hide a yawn every once in a while. Diane does the same. It has been a long day, practicing healing and going through the library in search of volumes that could tell her more about the previous chosen and the roles they had played. So far, neither has reached the desired result. Maybe she should have followed Momo’s example and just gone to bed.

“Wait, someone’s coming.” Aster sniffs the air, then points upward. Startled, Diane looks up and, sure enough, three big, dark shapes are closing in, drifting silently in the sky.

Hurriedly, a clear space is created in the middle of the courtyard, and soon three giant bats gracefully land and fold their wings tightly around their bodies. Men are seated on their backs, three wrapped in black cloaks and two in normal clothing, their arms bound by ropes. Why had they brought prisoners?

The man on the largest bat raises a hand in greeting and all the whispers going around the courtyard go quiet. He points to the bound men, then nods to the king.

“We brought your messengers. Safe and sound.” He looks up to the towers, raises an eyebrow. “As you can see, we work according to the rule of ‘don’t kill the messenger.’ I strongly suggest you and your Archers do the same.”

The king stands. “Of course. They’re a necessary precaution, nothing more. We mean you no harm.” He spreads his hands. “You are welcome here, and we welcome this opportunity for a solution, forged from honor and words, rather than blood on the battlefield.”

“I’ll gladly discuss the terms of your surrender.” Fanglike teeth glisten as he smiles. “But first things first.” He snaps his fingers. “Release them.”

His two companions simultaneously draw knives and cut through the ropes that bind their prisoners. They slide off the backs of the bats and stumble into the crowd, visibly shaken and afraid, but seemingly unharmed. The three dark-clad ambassadors also dismount and approach the thrones together.

“As I said, you have your messengers back. We have no quarrel with them. Spies, on the other hand…” He dramatically opens the flap of the large bag he’s carrying and empties it on the ground in front of him. Four round objects roll over the cobbles before coming to a rest. A shocked gasp rises from all present. It takes a long moment for Diane’s mind to acknowledge what she sees, then she gasps, bile rising in her mouth. They’re human heads. No! “Spies deserve no mercy.”

Next to her Aster hisses angrily, and his hand isn’t the only one that reaches for a sword. The air is suddenly so thick with potential violence that Diane can barely breathe.

Young prince Kaelen and princess Mirelle both look as if they’re about to throw up, but the king and elder princess maintain their polite, neutral expressions.

“I was wondering why they hadn’t returned,” the king says, then his face hardens. “You will pay for this. Murderers.”

“Perhaps,” the main spokesman says with a mocking little bow. “But probably not.” He straightens to his full height, throwing his long cape back, revealing intricate black armor.

“I am General Kanzaki Ryouma, official spokesman for the kingdom of Kagemure. Since you’re so curious about our affairs, our king instructed me to come here and answer some of your questions. And make a proposal.”

A proposal? Whatever that might be, it can’t be good.

“Since you have objections about us forcefully taking back the land that’s rightfully ours, our king, in his wisdom and kindness, has an alternative suggestion.” He eyes Princess Aurelia before turning back to the king. “Our crown prince Raizan Ryūketsu has not yet taken a wife. He’s willing to join our countries, and your families, by matrimony rather than violence.”

A marriage proposal? Whatever Diane had expected, this wasn’t it. She can feel Aster shift beside her, restlessly. The general approaches the throne and bows before Princess Aurelia, whose eyes are even wider than usual.

“We were told that you have a royal princess of suitable age and unrivalled beauty. It would be an excellent match.”

A collective gasp runs through the room, followed by stunned whispers. The princess in question stares at the messenger as if he’s a particularly unpleasant kind of bug. With visible effort, she pulls herself together and gives him the full impact of her sweetest smile.

“It is an intriguing and flattering proposal, indeed. Unfortunately, I’m already spoken for. Happily betrothed to the eldest son of the Arakiba family.” She makes a grand gesture toward her fiancé and his family. Then, her smile widens and she taps her chin as if she’s just had a wonderful idea. Her hands move to the side of the podium where her younger siblings sit, watching everything with big eyes and bad poker faces.

“Fortunately, my sister, sweet princess Mirelle, is available and I’m certain your prince will be…”

“She’s a child, your highness.” The general gives Aurelia a disgusted look. “The prince is a grown man in his late twenties, strong, handsome, in need of a wife and heirs. He has no interest in children.” He pauses for effect. “Except the ones his future bride will bear him.”

The whispers in the room take off once more, and Diane glances at Alder who’s hissing through his teeth, clearly outraged. Rightfully so. Lilah, however, discreetly slams her elbow into her husband’s side, whispering something when he turns to her, wincing and rubbing the sore spot. She’s a lot stronger than she looks. Then he straightens and steps forward, head held high.

“I am Rafe Arakiba, Head of the Arakiba Clan, and the princess speaks the truth. She is indeed betrothed to my son.” He slams his fist to his chest and bows politely. “But for the good of our kingdom and its people, to prevent bloodshed and suffering, we are willing to relieve the princess of all obligations to our family. We relinquish any claims we have on her person.” He assumes a tragic, very convincing face that Diane can only admire. Her chest is bubbling with sudden hope and pent-up emotions, even as Rafe finishes with another graceful bow. “Although it saddens us, it’s the right thing to do. The good of the kingdom must come first.”

He steps back while Aster takes a step forward.

“My father speaks wisely. As much as it saddens me, my duty as Champion of this kingdom forces me to hereby proclaim that my engagement to the beautiful princess Aurelia is no more.”

Aster isn’t as skilled an actor as his father, and at least to Diane, it’s clear that his shoulders are shaking from held-back glee rather than sadness. The princess somehow manages to keep a smile on her face, though her eyes are getting desperate. Diane almost feels sorry for her. Almost. This meeting is public enough that there’s no way she can make a scene and get away with it. If the people present believe the messenger is speaking the truth and that this marriage will end the war, refusing will make her look like the selfish brat she is.

“Alas, the Prophecy must be upheld.” She rises to her feet, a tragic tone to her voice. “Our Mystics are never wrong, and my union with the Champion has been settled in the stars.”

“Of course. The Prophecy is indesputable,” Aster says and Diane’s heart takes a startled, nervous extra beat. What is he doing? This is his chance to…

Aster turns to the messenger with a small bow.

“This prince of yours, I assume he’s a shifter, like all the Ryūketsu, our distant cousins.”

“Of course.”

“Then this marriage will be a union of Crown and Beast too. It will satisfy the prophecy.” He spreads his hands dramatically. “Perhaps it’s the union that was intended all along, and we were hasty in our assumption that the mentioned beast was me.”

“An excellent point.”

“No, I forbid it!” King Caelric is on his feet, rage flushing his face. “We do not acknowledge this abominable proposition! I will not send my beloved daughter to some cruel dictator as a bargaining chip.”

The spokesman’s face stiffens, and he gives the king a curt nod.

“Then the coming bloodshed rests on your shoulders, not ours.” He flips his cloak dramatically as he turns and heads back to his bat. “We will continue our preparations. I strongly suggest you do the same. And enjoy the last few days you’ll have on the throne you falsely hold.”

The entire courtyard is quiet as the three bats take off into the night sky, then the whispers pick up. Diane meets Aster’s eyes, not sure what to feel.

The marriage might have been called off, or at least postponed – but the war, the war had just become very real.

They’re out of time.