“High-born Rajenlif,” Luviisa said, as they entered the atrium of the building that housed the Chamber of the Ten. “I have heard terrible rumors. Audara accompanied us this morning, I…uh…well, duty calls, even in the worst of times. I wanted to be…prepared.”

Rajenlif had been waiting for Luviisa to arrive, and it took a great deal of willpower not to strike her immediately. Taking a deep breath, she said, “Jarlkon Aljansen. Welcome. I’m sorry, Well-born Audara cannot enter the Conclave. She is not a head of a house. But staff has prepared a breakfast for her to eat in the Antero IV Room. She is, after all, of my brother’s blood.”

“Aunt Rajenlif, I….”

“I am your Dronung, Well-born Audara,” Rajenlif snapped. “And you will address me as such. You hold the title of princess. Behave as one.”

“My apologies, High-born Rajenlif. I was simply going to note, if the rumors are true….”

“I am not sure what rumors you have heard, and I don’t much care. I will explain everything to the Conclave. That does not include you, Well-born Audara. Should the Conclave require you, however, we will signal the palace.”

Aud looked over at Luviisa; Rajenlif looked tired and sad and angry, all of which made sense given what had transpired. This was not a surprise, of course; Luviisa expected Kullervo to be representing the House of Throden upstairs. So Luviisa said, “We appreciate your hospitality, Dronung. I’m sure Audara will be happy to wait in the palace…until she is called.”

Rajenlif signaled to a guard. “They’ll accompany you, Well-born Audara. Now, the other eight families are upstairs; Lady Aljansen, Senator Aljansen, you two go ahead, I will join you presently.” Nodding to the guard who guided Audara away, Rajenlif added, “We have much to discuss.”

A few minutes later, the Conclave reconvened, with Rajenlif chairing in her role as Dronung. She waited a long moment, before saying, “Welcome to the Conclave. All houses are represented, and we are well-met.”

“With due respect, Dronung,” Luviisa said, “the House of Throden is not present.”

Not wasting a moment, Rajenlif thought. “But they are, Jarlkon Aljansen. Prince Kullervo carries a letter of assignment from the Primate of House Throden; I have reviewed it and it is satisfactory. There is now, unfortunately, some terrible news to review with this Conclave. I….”

“Again, begging your pardon,” Luviisa said, “but this news is why I object, Dronung.”

Rajenlif paused, and looked down at the table. She looked up, and stared Luviisa Aljansen down. “You will not interrupt this statement any further, Lady Aljansen. Any objection may be made after I am done talking. But not before. I am your Dronung. Do you understand?”

“Of course, Dronung,” Luviisa said, unable to hide a sardonic smile. Rajenlif had been staggered; she would be able to take her out today, she was certain.

“Last night, Rixie Carey, Princess Hyrikken, my niece and the daughter of my brother, Kullervo, came to Jutuneim with her husband, Sen. Alex Carey. She planned to be here at the Conclave today to take her position as the head of the House of Throden. Unfortunately…last night an assassin attacked her. Her husband was gravely wounded in the attack, and is currently fighting for his life.

“This attack was undertaken under orders from an anti-human group, the Noble Resistance,” Rajenlif said. “An assassin confessed that orders originated from a figure known by the pseudonym ‘Keystone’; Imperial intelligence is already working to assess who this person is.”

She looked around the room. “Clearly, the Noble Resistance intended to use the questions over succession to their advantage, attacking two stalwart defenders of the rights of humans, and attempting to throw the succession to the Carba Throne into further chaos. If we continue to squabble, we play into the hands of terrorists. I cannot countenance that. And so I am asking you to please rescind the decision you made before suspension of this Conclave; return control of succession to the House of Throden and ColVanos, as is proper. This will allow us to avoid further bloodshed, and the potential for the destabilization of Jotnarherath.”

The room was quiet for a long moment, before Luviisa said, “Dronung…you were not clear. Did the assassin kill Rixie Carey?”

Rajenlif looked up and looked right at her. “No, Lady Aljansen. The assassin failed.”

“But…oh, I’m sorry,” Tellervo said. “Uh…I thought you said…never mind.”

“Oh no, I understand your surprise, Tellervo,” Luviisa said. “Though I do not share it. You probably know the truth, and evidently the Dronung didn’t feel the need to let you in on her little ruse.”

“I beg your pardon?” Rajenlif asked.

“Rixie Carey was killed by the assassin. Don’t try to deny it. I know the truth. And I know that you were scrambling to deal with this, to hide this fact from us, and get us to rescind our actions – in order to prevent Princess Audara from taking her rightful place on this Council.”

“Is this true?” Nyyriki Daiduson asked. “Did Rixie Carey die?”

“No, she didn’t,” Rajenlif said. “She’s quite alive. I simply did not wish to bring her here….”

“I know she’s dead, Rajenlif!” Luviisa shouted. “Your imbecile hybrid grandson blabbed! He said you were scrambling for options. I’m guessing that next, you’ll say that she was wounded too, and then a few days from now, my goodness, it turns out that she’s dead. Nobody expected that! How tragic, right? Pathetic.”

Even Rajenlif had not expected Luviisa to go this far. But they were both exhausted, and Lady Aljansen was out of patience. As was Rajenlif.

“Rixie Carey’s husband fights for his life, and you would have her here rather than at his side,” Rajenlif said.

“He’s too small to have a side,” Luviisa shot back.

“How dare you?” Gunvjer shouted. “She is your Dronung!”

“A Dronung does not lie to the Conclave, Jarlkon! You are unfit, Rajenlif. I move that we suspend the Dronung pending trial by the Jotnardiggi for competence, and I demand that the House of Throden be barred from voting, as the person who submitted the letter of assignment to Kullervo is deceased.”

Rajenlif looked Luviisa over, and growled, “I hope you’re vwofas sure of this, Luviisa.”

“I am,” Luviisa replied.

“Before I enter the motion,” Rajenlif said, “I would ask who would vote with the House of Aljansen? I do not want the motion brought before the group if it is only Luviisa Aljansen who is to be dishonored,” Rajenlif said.

“The House of Daiduson will join,” Nyyriki said. “Assuming that the Hersvru is correct.”

“The House of Lavra…we want to see proof that Carey is alive, Dronung,” Uđđi said. “If you can produce her, we would not support this, but if not…then I fear the House of Aljansen is correct.”

“I…I don’t know,” Rajinvalt Sjedi said. “But I do want proof that you’re telling the truth, Dronung. I don’t doubt your word, but…given the surety of the House of Aljansen, well….”

“And the House of Umbas…whatever Lord Umbas might want, you will obviously vote with your mother, won’t you, Skor?” Rajenlif said. She looked over at Kullervo, and then looked down, affecting a posture that appeared somewhat defeated. “Very well. I ask Prince Kullervo, Governor-Regent of Jotnarherath…to please go, and return with the head of the House of Throden.”

“Raja…are you sure?”

“This Conclave is owed the truth. And the full truth. From each member. She’s in the Antero IV Room.”

Luviisa smiled triumphantly. Kullervo rose, and bowed. “I shall return with my daughter.”

“Very well. When the head of the House of Throden is here, we shall vote. Until then, we stand in recess, but confined to chambers,” Rajenlif said.

“If they bring Audara up,” Skor said, quietly, “maybe we should back off the vote on Rajenlif. I mean…she’d be able to play up that she was hurting from Rixie Carey’s death. We don’t want Aud to start off in a war, and if….”

“Your wife understands, Skor. We are at war,” Luviisa said. “We will press the….”

She had been focused on her son, and had not been watching Rajenlif, and so it was something of a surprise when there was the sudden, very loud sound of thwuck! coming from her blind side and echoing through the room.

She turned, and saw that Rajenlif had, matter-of-factly, buried an axe a good four centiunits into the table, aligned to point right at her.

“While we are waiting,” Rajenlif said, “I thought that I should mention that you, Lady Aljansen, have attacked my family, and under the ancient rite, I demand you parry, defend, or surrender.”

* * *

As Rajenlif said this, Aud was just reaching the Antero IV Room. “The door is open,” the guard said. “Breakfast is ready for you. Please enjoy it.”

Aud opened the door, the first time she had done so alone. She was a part of the family, officially.

This would be her home. From the time she had found out she was royalty, putting together a thousand scraps she’d dug up…she had wanted this. She had even told her father, when he and she were younger, but he had demurred.

She turned left, and looked at the portrait of her grandmother, Hirera. She wondered what Hirera would think of her; she supposed she’d disapprove.

Tough, grandmother. Your bastard granddaughter is going to succeed Rajenlif.

Yes, in a few hours, if Rajenlif did what Mother Luviisa suspected she would, Aud would be Dronung – acting, but with a great chance of remaining in that role. Especially once she issued a few dictates that undermined….

“Well. I was wondering when you would get here. Hello, sister. Nice of you to join me. Care for rolls and juice?”

Aud jumped in shock, her train of thought completely derailed. It took her a good thirty seconds for it to reengage, and when it did she suddenly whipped around, and looked at the woman who had walked from the stacks of records in the corner, then approached with shaarlike quiet.

Aud had met her before, though neither had known they were sisters then.

Rixie seemed taller this time.

“You certainly are quiet. Surprised, are you?” Rixie said. “Please, have a seat.”

“I…but….”

“Yes, you fell for bad intelligence. Right now, your mother-in-law is likely ending the existence of the House of Aljansen by going all-in on a busted flush. Now, seriously, these silagas rolls are excellent, with a bit of Royal Berry jam – Tribe Maris farms, have you ever been there? Remarkable operation. Try some,” she said, foisting a roll in Aud’s general direction. She settled into a chair. Aud was frozen in place.

“I…uh…well…I’m certainly glad you’re okay. I heard….”

“No you aren’t. You tried to kill me. Twice. If not for the bravery of my husband, you would have succeeded. Fortunately, Alex loves me, and not just because I’m a princess. Now, do sit down.”

“Rixie….”

“SIT!” Rixie roared, rising and putting her left hand on the hilt of the Sword of Savarna.

Audara sat.

“So who was it,” Rixie said, sitting back down and sipping some juice, “who had the bright idea of assassinating me? Was that you? Or Luviisa? We know that Luviisa was behind the attacks on Tursas Sjedi and Ljied Umbas. They’re already opening those files back up, and from what my friends in the Corps tell me, they’re all but certain that those two were murdered using the same poison that was to be used on me.”

“I…just…I want…I think I want….”

“Assassination,” Rixie said, “is a fun crime to prosecute. Because it’s a crime against the Empire itself, the Empire doesn’t provide many protections to assassins. But it’s doubly true in Jotnarherath. Did you know that the Dronung can sentence you to death if she determines you attempted to assassinate a member of the Royal Family? Granted, it hasn’t happened in 1200 years, but it’s on the books. And Rajenlif has authorized me to carry out that sentence.”

The blood drained from Aud’s face. “Y…you’re joking.”

“My husband is clinging to life. It’s taking all my will not to carve you up the way your assassin carved him up. The only reason I haven’t is that maybe you weren’t the brains of the operation; maybe you were along for the ride. Oh, you’re going to prison, Aud, but maybe, just maybe, you can avoid death.”

Rixie slathered a bit of jam on a bite of roll, and popped it in her mouth. “So like I said…who was it who planned this? You? Or Luviisa? Or was it Skor, maybe?”

“It wasn’t Skor, he….”

The words had escaped Aud’s mouth before she was aware of even thinking them. She cut them off, but not before her sister rose, leaning forward with a triumphant glare.

Rixie backhanded her, knocking her out of the chair and onto the ground.

“I have heard that you are pregnant, and that is the only reason I won’t hurt you more,” Rixie said. “This little fucking game you and Aljansen are playing? It’s over. You won’t ever be Dronung. You won’t ever be free again.”

Aud righted herself, rubbing her cheek. Rixie crouched down beside her, tears of rage in her eyes.

“You know, I always wanted a sister. I would have loved to have known you,” Rixie said. “I would have been so happy to even know you existed when I was with the Hoplites. And now I know you…and I know what my friend Brinn feels every time someone mentions Trell. I know what Pryvani thinks about every time her mother comes up. I know how mortified Daz is of Vasha. But sister, I know every one of those fine women, and every one of them is a billion times better than the traitor they’re related to.”

She rose to her full height, and for just a second, Aud got a sense of how brave Alex Carey had to be, to marry this giant.

“I’m a billion times better than you,” Rixie said. “And so is my mother, and my brother by her, and your other sisters and brother by our father. And a billion times better than us? That’s my husband. And you had better pray to whatever Gods you believe in that he pulls through. Because if he dies?”

Rixie stared very hard at Aud, a stare that seemed to burn right through her. “Aud, you do not want to know how bad it will get for you if he dies. If he dies…you will wish I had beheaded you today.”

The door opened, and Kullervo walked in. “Rixie, it’s time,” he said.

“Thanks, Dad,” Rixie said. “And I feel like I’m tattling on my sister, but Aud just confessed; she admitted that they were behind the assassination attempt. She didn’t say much, but I guess it wasn’t Skor Aljansen’s idea.”

“I’m not surprised,” Kullervo said. He looked at his second daughter, who was looking more through him than at him. “Audara….”

He sighed. “Audara, I’m sorry. I know I did you wrong in a thousand ways, but you have been an adult for many years. You could have attacked me, and that would have been fair, but you didn’t. You attacked your sister, your aunt, and Jotnarherath. I will always love you, Aud. You’re my daughter. But I can never forgive you for this. Rixie?”

“Of course,” Rixie said, grabbing Aud by the arm. Her sister didn’t resist as she was drug out of the Antero IV Room and into the waiting arms of two palace guards.

“Per the Dronung’s orders, take her to the fifth floor,” Kullervo said. “Process her, make sure she has food and drink…and do not let her leave. Until you are charged, daughter, you are to get your dearest wish. You will live in the palace. I fear that you will find it is not quite the luxurious existence that you were hoping for.”

* * *

Everyone in the Council Chambers was immediately transfixed; this type of challenge had not been issued in hundreds of years. Indeed, half of the primates probably had no idea what exactly the Dronung had just done. But Luviisa knew; Rajenlif knew damn well that Luviisa knew.

Rajenlif had not just thrown down the gauntlet. No, she had thrown down her family honor, and bet all of it on this. When had she asked Luviisa to parry, defend, or surrender, she was noting for the record that this challenge of honor had three possible outcomes. Luviisa could battle her in combat – unlikely, but her right. She could defend herself before the council, pleading her case and proving Rajenlif wrong. If she lost either battle, the primacy and existence House of Aljansen would be taken from her, and placed in control of the Dronung, to be discommended or reassigned to a better family member. If she simply surrendered, the title would pass to the next heir.

But this challenge cut back on Rajenlif. If Rajenlif lost in battle, or lost her case, she would end the House of Throden. She would leave office, and the Council would adjudicate who should succeed her.

This was not a challenge one issued lightly. One would have to be a fool to issue it without proof, and it would have to be an affront so great that the potential loss of standing was worth the risk.

There was a reason a challenge hadn’t been made since 1228 MA. And Rajenlif took great joy in the way Luviisa’s eyes widened; she knew that for the first time that morning, she had realized that she may not be holding the upper hand.

It took Luviisa a moment to gather herself, and say, “What do you mean, I attacked your family?” Luviisa said. “I did no such thing.”

“So defend, then?”

“Obviously,” Luviisa said. It was, of course, the rational move, just like Rajenlif would be making the rational move even if she was bluffing. Today was going to end with one of them disgraced. They had both already gone all-in. All that was left was to turn the cards over. “And I did not attack your family.”

“Yes, you did, Keystone,” Rajenlif said. “Yes, you did. My niece’s husband is in the hospital, fighting for his life, put there by a hit you ordered, Keystone.”

“What’s a ‘Keystone?’”

“You are,” Rajenlif said. “You are Keystone, one of the leaders of the Noble Resistance. We know this for a fact. The Imperators Corps has a credible witness who heard your daughter-in-law call you by that name as you plotted your takeover of Jotnarherath.”

“Nonsense,” Luviisa said. “You’ve lost your mind.”

“How many assassination attempts do you think there were last night?” Rajenlif asked.

“What? One.”

“Wrong!” Rajenlif said. “There were two assassins who tried to murder Rixie last night. The second one of them was a member of the Royal Guard, who has not said much, but has said that she was hired by Keystone. You are Keystone, so I can tie you directly to one attempt on Rixie’s life. As for Alex…well, your ties to that assassination attempt are more circumstantial, but it fits a pattern of two other assassination attempts that our witness has told us you were aware of. And given the fact that you certainly were involved in planning at least one of them, and had all the motive in Jotnarherath…you are going to prison and you are never coming out.”

“What other assassinations?” Nyyriki Daiduson asked. “You’re talking nonsense!”

“Am I, Nyyriki?” Rajenlif said, wheeling on him. “Are you certain? Or were you part of the planning? Luviisa is about to be visited by several peacekeepers and Imperators. How many communications have you had with her recently?”

Daiduson sat down, glowering at the Dronung. Rajenlif continued on.

“Jarl Daiduson has asked a fair question. But let me first tell you about the first assassin of the night, the one who Alex successfully defended Rixie from.

“That assassin was a human.”

There was a murmur of shock. Skor finally found his voice to say, “That…makes sense, I suppose. Obviously Carey couldn’t defend from a titan,” Skor said.

“I’d bet on Alex defending Rixie from twenty Ler,” Rajenlif said. “And this assassin was quite deadly, despite his size. This human assassin used his size to his advantage, using stealth to get in and attack his prey without anyone knowing.”

“This is ridiculous. Someone shut her up!” Luviisa said.

Rajenlif raised her voice. “This assassin is tied to a dozen murders, though we only realized it recently. You see, he has a devastating modus operandi. He doesn’t leave a bloody corpse behind, with phase blasts for experts to investigate. No, he is far more subtle than that. He uses a poison. A poison that attacked blood vessels in the brain, causing a hemorrhage or aneurysm.”

“Otna preserve us,” Varva Hannøsdat said, as she realized what Rajenlif was saying.

“Exactly. The assassin wanted to kill, not to make a statement, but to affect the balance of power. So the deaths didn’t even look like murder, not at first blush. They looked like a natural, tragic health event. There were two deaths, in particular, that gave Lady Aljansen some semblance of a majority on this Council. Good timing, those, don’t you think?”

Rajenlif looked over at Rajenvalt Sjedi, who was ghostly white. “You…Dronung, if you are lying…please, don’t…not my father!”

“I’m sorry, Rajenvalt,” Rajenlif said, gently. “I would not lie about Tursas. He was a friend and my cousin, and he was assassinated by the same assassin that attacked Rixie and Alex.” She turned toward another member of the council, one who was crying, as much as he tried to fight it. “He also killed your ex-wife, Skor. Did you know that? I feel so bad for your son. I don’t know how you live with that. I’ll ask Pryvani Tarsuss, I suppose she does. She’ll help him. You’ll probably be indisposed, even if he wanted to talk with you ever again, which…I doubt he will.”

Rajenvalt Sjedi leapt up, pointing accusatorily at Luviisa. “You killed my father, Aljansen?” Rajenvalt shouted. “And then…then you acted like he’d been…you acted like he’d been worked to death! Oh, vwof me. Dronung, I…I am so sorry, I….”

“Oh, shut up. Don’t believe her,” Luviisa said. “She’s lying! She’s just trying to confuse you, so that when Kullervo doesn’t bring Aud back, you all still go along with it. If this was true, she wouldn’t be sharing it, she’d know that the second I got home I’d be burning my computers, goodness. This is ridiculous.”

“Funny,” Rajenlif said. “That you think you’re ever going home, I mean.”

She checked her chronometer, and punched a button, bringing up the news on the screen that dominated the room. Vanser had understood that timing was important, and he was at that moment exactly two minutes into his press conference.

“…which is why the Imperators Corps has issued a warrant for the arrests of Luviisa Aljansen and Audara Aljansen. We also have requested the detention of Skorsjad Aljansen as a person of interest. To be clear, the Imperators Corps has a strong interest in a number of cases, but we understand that the government of Jotnarherath will want to process these first, and so I have directed all Imperators and military peacekeepers to arrest these three, but to hand them over to Jotnar custody immediately. Now, I do not want to get into detail, as this case is still ongoing and we are seeking a number of other co-conspirators; that said, I will take questions at this time….”

Rajenlif flipped the screen off, and turned to the room. “I have made my case. Will anyone defend the House of Aljansen?”

The elevator chimed, and Rixie Carey strode off of it.

The room was silent. Turning to Luviisa, Rajenlif simply said, “Your house is forfeit to me, Ms. Aljansen. I shall dispose of it as I see fit. Hello, Rixie,” Rajenlif said. “Or, since this Conclave is now back in session…hello, Well-born Hyrikken. I apologize, but Lady Aljansen objected to your father’s service…back when she had standing to.”

“I thought she might,” Rixie said. “Audara Aljansen is imprisoned in the palace, per your orders, High-born Rajenlif.”

Luviisa looked at the axe buried in the table in front of her, and looked at the very-much-alive Rixie Carey.

“You tricked Siru,” she muttered.

“Something like that,” Rajenlif said. “Senator Aljansen, I must ask you to leave the conclave, given that you are wanted for murder.”

Skor looked down. “Dronung…you hold the title of the House of Aljansen. And I know that…I will never be its primate. You may want to destroy the house, but…my daughter, Siru Aljansen…I ask you to at least consider allowing her to serve, and our house to live on. Whatever you think of me, or my mother…Siru is a good child. Friends with your grandson.”

“Your freak grandson,” Luviisa muttered.

“He’s a Jotnar prince,” Rajinvalt Sjedi said. “Do not dare disrespect him.”

“Siru Aljansen will have a great deal of work to do in order to repair the damage you did,” Rajenlif said, “but the House of Aljansen is our oldest house, and I will not allow the treachery of some to destroy it. I do pass the house to Lady Sirumo Aljansen.”

“Thank you, Dronung,” Skor said, wiping away a tear. “Thank you.”

“With your leave, Dronung,” Rixie said, “I am active-duty in the Imperators Corps, and I have a duty.”

“Of course,” Rajenlif said. “Shall I signal the lobby?”

“Please.” Turning to Luviisa, she said, “Stand and put your hands behind you, Ms. Aljansen.” Rixie had brought restraints just for this; she fixed them to Luviisa Aljansen’s wrists, and pulled her up.

“Senator Aljansen, you are to be detained as well. You are not as yet charged, and I will not fix restraints if you will cooperate.”

“I will go quietly, Well-born Rixie,” Skor said, quietly. “I know, there is much to answer for.”

“You should restrain him too,” Luviisa said. “You don’t know that he wasn’t the mastermind behind this!”

Skor looked over at his mother, and said, “Of course they do, ydni. They all know who’s the mastermind here. And they know it wasn’t me.”

“Aud already confirmed it,” Rixie said, with a wink to the Dronung.

The door to the elevator opened again, and Victor Archer-Pria and Phaega Aeus stepped off, weapons drawn. They’d been a little disappointed not to join Crash One at the incipient raid on the Aljansen home, but this…this more than made up for it.

“Legatus-Imperator, please take these two to level five of the Palace of the Three Shaars. There is a secure facility there. The Corps is letting the government of Jotnarherath take lead here; the primary offense was against us.”

“Of course, Magister-Imperator Carey,” Phaega said, saluting. “Luviisa Aljansen, you are under arrest on charges of high treason, attempted assassination….”

The elevator doors shut.

Rajenlif turned back to the room, and said, “Now, there was a motion on the floor…though two votes just evaporated. Still….”

“Dronung…I…this is…obviously, you were telling the truth. And that Lady…that Luviisa Aljansen was lying,” Nyyriki Daiduson said. “I just want to know…why the subterfuge?”

“Because we didn’t want Luviisa to run,” Rajenlif said. “And we wanted to see who would back her…and who would back me.”

Nyyriki cleared his throat. Twice. “We…of course we back you. And if you wish to amend the rules of succession, or indeed, make any changes, any at all, well…I mean, the House of Daiduson is at your service.”

“As is the House of Lavra,” Uđđi said. “You see, we…we were both….”

“Stuff it, both of you,” Rajenlif said. “I don’t think that you two would murder anyone, especially nobody on the council. But that does not mean that I trust you. You’re both going to be visited by peacekeepers today. They will be looking over your communications and financial records with a microscope. If you do not want me to bury an axe in your kitchen tables, I would strongly recommend that you open your books fully to them. And if you are afraid to open them because you fear arrest, well…it’s better to confess it now. Because they will find out everything.”

“We…we were aware of the plans to push Audara Aljansen. We were. But…we knew nothing of the attacks,” Nyyriki said.

Uđđi coughed. “I will admit that…we did question…the timing seemed odd…especially Ljied. Aud swore she knew nothing, and perhaps we believed her because we did not want to believe the alternative….”

“You might have mentioned it!” Rajinvalt shouted. Then, blushing, he said, “I’m sorry, Dronung.”

“Your outburst is understandable, Lord Sjedi,” Rajenlif said. “And you are right. You had a duty to come forward at that time instead of taking advantage of the opportunity to stab me in the back. I told you last week…I will neither forget nor forgive. Nyyriki,” Rajenlif said. “You may want to give serious consideration to passing on your title to Gleb; you’re getting old, after all. It’s time for you to retire.”

Nyyrikki shook his head, and looked down at the table. “I will get my affairs in order, and manage the house through the upcoming unpleasantness. When Gleb can take over without having to clean up after me…I will step down.”

“That is a very wise decision,” Rajenlif said. “As for you, Uđđi…you are probably not old enough to go gracefully, but given that, you should know that the only thing keeping the House of Lavra from the prospect of discommendation is that I like your sister. If you are half as smart as you think you are, you will seek her counsel. As long you are primate…the House of Lavra is dead to me.”

Uđđi swallowed hard, and nodded.

“Finally, Rajinvalt…I am truly sorry,” Rajenlif said, turning to the young primate, who was weeping openly in fury and sorrow. “You held your father’s responsibilities against me…and had I realized the burden it was imposing on you…I should have freed him from his obligations sooner. Tursas was a very good friend; I am sure he was a very good father. I know he loved you very much. It brings me pain that I have hurt you. The House of Sjedi is in good standing with me, and always will be.”

Rajenvalt didn’t address her immediately. Instead, he looked to Rixie. “Princess Hyrikken…your husband…when my father died, he was kind to me. And unlike others…he didn’t lie to me, or try to sell me on a plan. He just told me about losing his father, and how he knew how that hurt. I am deeply, deeply sorry that my weakness led him to harm. And while you say I am in good standing with you, Dronung…Princess, if I am never in good standing with you, I will understand.”

Rixie looked at the young man, and while she was in no mood to smile, she chose her words carefully, as Alex would have wanted her to. “You were hurt, and when we are hurt…we are vulnerable. Alex is a good and decent man, who wants to help those who don’t want to hurt him. He would not blame another victim for hurting him, Lord Sjedi. And he would not want you to blame yourself. I know he would be very glad that you had learned from your mistakes.”

Rajenvalt nodded. “You and he are much alike, and if you are our Dronung, I will be honored to be your subject. My Dronung, I will turn over every scrap of communications I had,” he said. “If…if anything can be used to hang Aljansen…if it hurts me I’m okay with it. I just want those responsible brought to justice.”

“Spoken like a true Jotnar,” Rajenlif said. “Now, as Lord Daiduson has expressed a willingness to look at restructuring succession….”

“Dronung…if I may?” Rixie asked, surprising herself.

It also surprised Rajenlif, but she said, “Of course, Princess Hyrikken.”

Rixie shook her head, but forced herself forward. “This is…with due respect, this is ridiculous. All of this. There was a perfectly good succession plan in place. Princess Vallero is well-respected, and her ascending to the throne here and in the Empire would unify us, and give us a Jotnar Empress, something we have dreamed of for millennia. I am a bastard child who didn’t know she was royalty until a few months ago. There is absolutely no good reason that I should be standing here as the heir to the throne, even as a legal fiction designed to head off treason. And yet…I am going to ask, Dronung, that we not change the policy of this Council. Though I will ask that Vallero be named my successor should I precede you in death.”

“Oh?” Rajenlif said. She was surprised – very surprised.

But she trusted Rixie.

“You see, Alex was the one…he was the one who noticed it. He notices a great deal. If…if you get the opportunity to meet him, you will see…my husband is….”

She sighed. “Anyhow, the whole system is this ball of contradictions. No rules, just customs stacked on top of customs, each ready to tip the whole edifice over. The last time we had a truly clear succession, a clear plan for government, was when the first Geastomylor succeeded the first Throdr. Our government rests on Throdr’s decision to abdicate and name Geastomylor her successor. This is the fundamental act underlying our government. It cannot be undone. So if a Dronung were to follow Throdr’s lead, and resign within a year of taking office…they would be empowered to act as Throdr did. To sweep away the current structure and replace it with something rational.”

Rajenlif gasped. She looked down for a moment, running through the laws she had been taught as a child….

“Otna’s sake,” she said. “Senator Carey is right. No Dronung or Jofur has taken that option since Throdr created it, but it has always been there, and not only has it not been rescinded, it cannot be rescinded. Now, for this to work, you would need a Dronung or Jofur who was more interested in doing what was right for Jotnarherath than serving as sovereign,” she said, with a proud smile. “I suspect my niece does not desire that power, and is willing to exercise just enough of it to right our government.”

“Yes, High-born,” Rixie said. “My intention is to serve as Dronung for just long enough to put in place a series of reforms – a written charter, clear rules for adjudication of succession, and the elimination of a role for this body in changing those rules – changes that will ensure that never again will Jotnarherath have to doubt who will serve as Dronung or Jofur…and that never again will a member of one of the Ten Noble Houses have the incentive to murder the members of others.”

“You…you aren’t going to do anything to the Jotnardiggi, are you?” asked Vynamønen Olmøs.

“Absolutely not! I may ask them to help write and ratify a charter that establishes them as the elected government, that guarantees their powers. As Alex is fond of saying, democracy is the worst form of government except for all the others.”

“Good. That is my only concern,” said Lord Olmøs. “I assume your intention would be to abdicate in favor of Princess Vallero, then?”

“Yes,” Rixie said. “My last act will be to establish the House of Throden-ColVanos as the ruling family. And then…then I’ll go home.”

“And you will do so as one of the great Dronungs,” Gunvjer said. “One of the greatest Dronungs. One who knows that glory is not in a title, but in caring about Jotnarherath. In defending our people.”

“Your husband knew that better than anyone, Lady Oester,” Rixie said. “Centurium ColVanos has glory greater than any of us will ever know, and his title will be remembered only as a bit of trivia about the assault he led, and his name will still echo when mine is long-forgotten.”

“That is certainly true of my name,” Tellervo said. “I am not sure that it is true of yours. Stepdaughter…I have not known you long, but I have faith in you. I ask unanimous agreement to the plan of Princess Hyrikken to name Princess Vallero as her successor should she predecease our Dronung. And though I hope it is a long time before we see that day…when it comes, I know we will be led by a true Jotnar.”

“And if I can add on,” said Rajinvalt Sjedi, “I also move that the board pre-approve whatever discommendations may come from this within the House of Throden and its parent, the House of Throden-ColVanos. Audara Aljansen is not fit to serve as a princess; I do not want her to for a moment longer than the Dronung wills it.”

Business was concluded rather quickly, and the room soon emptied out, save for Rixie and Rajenlif.

“You weren’t planning that, were you?” Rajenlif asked.

“No, I just…it was something Alex said, on the way out here,” Rixie said. “And I remembered….”

And unable to say anything more in that moment, Rixie covered her face and wept.

Rajenlif held her tight, and let her cry her tears of anger and sorrow and fear. And when Rixie finally calmed, she said, “I am sorry I blindsided you.”

“Alex is wise,” Rajenlif said, softly, stroking her niece’s hair. “I pray to Otna and any other Gods who might hear me that I get to tell him that. And you, Rixie…you are also wise. Because you trusted him. And still trust him. And you will always trust him. As will I.”