Age of Heroes

He went to his council immediately after the gathering and Silas and Oliver can be seen waiting for him. 

A few moments alter the large door of the council building opens and Massey also enters. 

'My lord. I have come answering your summons' he said. 

'Sit' Arial ordered. He sits obediently. 

The atmosphere in that large room is full with tension as they all knew why there are here. From what their lord has declared, the war has already begun.

'Do you know why I called all of you here?' Arial said, his arm wide open gesturing to all of his courtiers in the room, his face is calm, his eyes showing a burning determination.

Silas look at his lord and said confidently 

'Like all wars, this war has to be fought in many fronts. And this front is a war won with words not steel and blood.'

Arial smile. At least Silas understand his intention. 

'Yes, this is a war that needs to be fought at various fronts. And you are all its proud front lines.'

Silas then said 

'My war is the war of minds and words. If I didn't know what my liege lord is thinking I will be ashamed to show my face in the court again.' He said and Arial mused…. there he goes again.

'This is an important war…a war that needed to be won…total control, surely that is my lord intention.' 

'Yes, true indeed. And as such a grand preparation is needed, careful preparations. While I waited for my summons to reach all of the great noble families, we must strike first.' Arial passionately lectured.

'My lord, where is it you wish to strike first?' Massey ask

'The heart of Vangua. This is a war of words and as such strikes the capital first would be the order of the battle' 

'My lord. It is…. pointless sending emissaries to Vangua. A pointless point of debate as Harald would surely never acquiesce to you' Oliver said giving his honest opinion.

Arial grin

'I know. It is pointless but that doesn't mean it is not useful. It is on the contrary. It is very beneficial for me and my cause.' Arial said confidently.

Silas smile a leering smile. His lord is truly cunning. While the others in the council questioned Arial decision, Silas understand his line of thoughts. 

It could be said only him that could see the path that his lord is treading.

His lord is trying to present himself as a peace-loving sovereign forced unwillingly into war by Harald unreasonable behavior. Why else Arial would send his emissaries to Vangua? 

He is declaring to the continent that Harald had forced his hand, his family backed into a corner of war.

Then Silas listen back as his lord is still speaking. 

'I have a proposition for peace to Vangua and their new King. Dangle the offer of Lady Adriana marriage with the nephew of Orleans in a dynastic marriage. Let peace reign and Harald to step down from the throne and put my claim to the throne of Vangua to good use on the count of my wife relation to the great nobility of Vangua and his oath of fealty towards me' Arial declared.

'They wouldn't accept. Surely you know this, my lord. Knowing Harald and his utter dislike to you my lord, this negotiation of yours is a foregone conclusion ended surely with his adamant refusal' Lord Oliver and Lord Massey both spoke in unison, though not quite the same sentence but the same meanings. 

That Harald would surely reject the proposition because of the person sending the emissaries is Arial, and as such Harald would surely distrust the negotiation.

'I know. It is precisely because of that. That's the only reason I offer it. I know he would reject it. I hope he reject it with all my heart. I would find it my greatest dishonor to be related to the Orleans'

And this answer shocks the rest of his council. They are all thinking why offer the request if you knew it will be rejected? But none dare say it boldly to the lord.

Arial smile a knowing smile.

'And it's not like Lord Harald would like to make two enemies. Accepting means he is also offending King Adrian. Everyone knows the betrothal between my sister and the King son. They are promised to each other.' 

Lord Oliver on the other hand has a complicated expression on his face.

'But wouldn't this send some worries to the King of Aetherland? My lord, forgive me for saying this, but if this venture of yours is successful, surely there will be a rift formed between you and King Adrian. You are right now his man; under him but if this succeeds, then you are his equal. Even right now Arrandy is a sore sight in his court.' Lord Oliver said, after all he is frequent in the Aetherland courts and as such know many of the hidden secret behind the castle walls.

'It should, as I no doubt predicted.' Arial said. 

'But he is the King. He is this region King. Even though Arrandy is autonomously rule by your family, in the eyes of all the ruling families Arrandy is still under Aetherland, under its protection and grace' 

'Yes...he is the King. The King of Aetherland…not Arrandy.' And with that words the people in the council is stupefied. 

'My lord…you mean you are ready to-' the other began understanding their lord true intention while Silas even though he has suspected of this development even he is slightly shocked.

'I am. Arrandy will secede itself from the Kingdom and create its own Kingdom.' He said bravely. 

He has been planning this for a long time even if Vangua did not precipitate this crisis. Arial feels that the King would no doubt be furious but he could hardly do anything. 

And actually the reason why Arial want to secede is also because of her sister not withstanding all of his other motives. 

As long as Arial is under the King even his sister is liable to be treated as a political tool but it is a different case if he is an equal. 

Adrian will no doubt have to exercise great caution in the matter of the betrothal of his sister. 

Arial does not express it readily but Arial is a family man.

After all his motivation for stopping the Invasion is mostly because his family and for the people that he sees suffer under such fates, family torn apart, blood of humans washed the land of continents.

And also because Arrandy itself is a political identity that could stand on its own, their trades with the dark lands have given the people of Arrandy great wealth and many of the richest person of the continents originated from Arrandy. 

With its five years of peace, Arrandy compared to the other region of the continents is like a miracle story. 

A region hardly threatened with war, guarded by the Vermont's with great valor and renown with trades spanning across the continent and beyond the sea, no wonder Arrandy grew at such a frightening pace.

With laws and order that protect its citizens and a trade practice that is forward thinking then the rest of the continents, Arrandy is a hub of trades and knowledge incomparable to the other Kingdom

The council smiles a proud smile. They all know that their lord will someday secede from the Kingdom but they never could have thought it would be this soon. 

In other words, Vangua crisis could be their stepping stone.

'Then this letter will also include the order for explanation for Lord Harald accepting the throne when it was promised to you my lord' Oliver said now passionate. 

'Yes' Arial nodded. 

'Ask him. Let him answer. And listen carefully. Let me see how brave the new Crown King really is.'

'The question is hardly simple, my lord' Silas interjected. Arial nodded.

'Yet, it is worth asking'

Lord Oliver looks at his lord and sighed a small sigh, one that is barely heard. If the Duchess will is strong, then Arial on the other hand could be describe to be cunning. 

Even though his reputation portrayed him as an upright figures his inner circle knows that he could be cunning if he wanted to but usually honor prevent him from doing so.

'Then I will send this letter to Vangua with haste' Lord Oliver said taking the letter. Arial nodded. 

'The other is dismissed' Arial declared. The other lords began getting up from their seats, and began clearing out the room. Silas also started getting up

'Silas, stay. I have something to say to you. An important thing to be discussed with the utmost secrecy' he whispers that last words. 

The other exited the room but Silas stay and people could hear they are talking about something but they never knew the content of the conversation.

On the inside, the two great men is still talking. And with this meeting begins the first step of Arial legends.

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