The throne room was a mile long wide as it was deep. It was of white marble shining brightly in the morning sun that streamed through tall windows. The windows open to the day brought in the scent of pine and sea for the enormous palace was set between the forested mountains and the wondrous ocean.
Asora subtly rotated her shoulder that still pained her, though it been a day since her injury. T’a had said that Laxur had done a marvelous job but it would still take a week, even with the magic, for the muscles and nerves to heal completely. She grimaced and took a breath to reply when she realized her Fairies, her ladies in waiting, that had dressed her earlier had cinched her corset too tight. It was their way of showing their displeasure of her getting up to speak to the court when she should have been in bed recovering. She shook out her white silk skirts.
“We cannot go to war. We are ill prepared. My sister’s empire has far superior numbers, weapons and better battleships. That is just to name a few problems.” She sat back into her throne to wait for the fight to come with these arrogant courtiers. “We could send in the Humans to get out our people the Elves included.”
An older Elf dressed in purple wool grunted in disdain. “The Royal Guard has always triumphed over the Darkcons. Why should this be any different? We do not need the Humans.”
“I agree with Lord Turkin,” another male Elf, wearing blue wool shouted to be heard amongst the arguing court.
“Thank you, Yoser.” Turkin replied loudly.
They bowed to each other and Asora’s head began to ache. The Elves were supremely confident in the outdated military but she had noticed that the Darkcons carried guns. The Utopians did not. Guns were a Human invention and therefore to be ignored by the Kingdom.
The swords, bow and arrows, spears, lances, maces and axes had won the day in past wars so the Elves that made up most of the court could not see the danger that confronted them all. A Darkcon Empire that was not fighting by the old rules.
“My company is in the hands of that crazy sister of ours! I want it back. There is important research now in her hands. We cannot afford to have her developing the projects.” Jeia came forward, pushing aside all of the courtiers until he came to stand in front of Asora.
There was an up surge of cries for war and the Princess’s eyes rolled back into her head. She did not need her brother’s cry of foul inflaming the nobles. “Duke Jeia, we cannot go to war over your company being taken by the Darkcons, not if the treaty is real. No one is answering that question.”
“It is more than my company! Think of the Humans left on Carlon. They are in danger.” He ran a hand over his curly black head.
“There is a colony of Elves as well. Think of them!” Lord Turkin commanded.
“The Darkcons do not attack innocent citizens. They merely incorporate them into the Empire.” She tried to take another deep breath to relax herself but failed and cursed the Fairies. “And if that treaty is real we have no grievance.”
A Male Angel, tall as all Angels are, named Dominius who had long flowing golden hair and skin with deep blue eyes came forward. He wore a long robe of soft gray cotton with a hood that hung down, as was his custom unless fighting and then wears his golden Angelic armor. He was the known cousin to the princess stepped forward to Asora to speak. He was over ten feet tall but appeared at court at six feet six inches.