Free Faerie Wars 03 - Ruler of the Realm by Herbie Brennan

Gatekeeper?' Blue asked.

    'I'd want to think about it,' Fogarty sniffed. Then added, 'But as a general principle, I wouldn't trust Lord Hairstreak as far as I could throw a sack of dog crap.'

    Pyrgus glanced at him in admiration. Analogue World similes always seemed a lot more colourful than the ones used in the Realm.

    'I think we should talk to Lord Hairstreak,' General Vanelke said, unasked. He glared at Fogarty. 'As a general principle, I believe talking is preferable to war.'

    'General Creerful?' Blue asked.

    'On balance, I agree with Vanelke. What harm would talking do? Both sides could take endolgs as a token of good faith.'

    The idea appealed to Pyrgus, who liked animals. 'Henry's endolg's still in the palace, isn't he?' he asked Blue. 'The one you made a chevalier?'

    'I'm not convinced I should meet with my uncle,' Blue said, ignoring him.

    General Ovard said, 'The details would be worked out by civil servants on both sides. You wouldn't have to be involved until the formal signing.'

    'Assuming there is a signing,' Madame Cardui murmured lazily.

    'So you're also in favour of talks?' Blue asked, looking at General Ovard.

    Ovard nodded. 'Yes.'

    Blue took in the sober faces. They were all so mature, so experienced. Even Pyrgus was older than she was. Talks seemed reasonable. But suppose it was a trick? Hairstreak was capable of any deception. Her whole instinct told her not to trust him. Yet all three of her military leaders were agreed there should be talks.

    In that instant, Blue suddenly saw her life as it might have been. If her father had lived, or Pyrgus accepted the throne, she'd have none of these worries now. She'd have time for the things she really enjoyed. She was a girl, for Light's sake. She should be thinking about clothes and music and seeing the world. She should be thinking about romance. She should be thinking about... Henry. It was brutal that she should be facing life and death decisions about the future of the Realm.

    Brutal or not, the life she was leading now was the life she'd chosen.

    After a moment, she said, 'Thank you, Generals. I should like to discuss the matter further with my political advisors. I'll speak to you again when a decision has been made.' There was not a flicker of expression on her face as she added, 'In the meantime, I want you to make preparations for a military strike against Yammeth Cretch.'

Eighteen

    Once the three old soldiers had left, Fogarty said, 'So you don't buy the idea of a treaty?' He gave a steely little smile. 'Obviously.'

    Blue sighed. When the Generals were present, the meeting had to be formal. Now she was among friends, she could relax a bit. She looked at Gatekeeper Fogarty and shook her head.

    'I think it's a trick. Or at least it might be.' Out of the corner of her eye she could see Pyrgus examining an orchid. He looked just like their father when he'd tended the plants.

    'What do you think he's up to?' Fogarty asked her.

    Blue didn't know what Hairstreak was up to. Didn't know for sure he was up to anything. What she did know was that she was afraid of making a mistake. That sick fear had been with her since the day she accepted the crown.

    'Buying time,' Blue said with more conviction than she felt. 'I still think he's likely to attack before I've any real experience of ruling the Realm. But he may not be ready yet. Either that, or he just wants to keep us off our guard. If we're in the middle of peace negotiations, the last thing we'd expect would be war.'

    Fogarty said. 'Our endolg would sense that right away.'

    'He may not agree to endolgs,' Blue said. 'Wouldn't that be suspicious?'

    'Yes, but it's happened in the past.' The one thing she had done was study politics. The history of the Realm was a long, miserable litany of treachery and deception. She looked at Mr Fogarty soberly. 'In fact, most treaties have been brokered without endolgs.'

    'Actually,' Pyrgus said, 'I've been thinking about it and an endolg wouldn't