“Good morning, Your Highness!” Mother Lyra greeted me as she bowed.

“Your Highness!” the other Heads seconded, bowing as well.

As had come to be my routine after becoming Princess a couple of moons ago, I was greeted by the Temple Heads as soon as I exited the elevator. But this time there were only three of them; the Head Mentoress was absent.

“What happened to Mother Zafira?” I asked Mother Nadya.

“She is indisposed this morning, Your Highness.” the Head Healer apologized. “She’s been attended by two of my best Healers as we speak. Gods willing, she’ll join us tomorrow.”

I was very worried by the Head Mentoress’ declining health; with this absence, she had already faltered to her duties four times in the last month. This preoccupied me since I’ve particularly come to rely on her wisdom and insights to carry on my duties.

“May the Gods will it so…” I said. I turned my attention to Mother Lyra and asked: “So what’s on today’s agenda?”

As we walked towards the Main Hall, the Head Fire-keeper briefed me. I was to meet the Metalworker’s Guild-master for an update on the delayed shipments from the Sandstone Mountains; then an emissary from Khazil, most likely to ask again when will the funds for the harbor repairs be cleared by the Treasury; then the Commander of the Janissaries, probably to complain once more about his men stationed at the southern outposts being short on supplies!

How did mother keep up with all of this without losing her mind?

“Also” Mother Lyra continued. “We expect an update on the preparations for the Tournament, due to be celebrated in a month from now. And… oh, yes! The Compact Emissaries have arrived, and you are to greet them this afternoon.”

“Should I expect anything in particular from that meeting?”

“It’s just a courtesy call to greet the new Princess of Ysle and-”

I heard Mother Asli, the Head Confessor, interrupt Mother Lyra with a brief snort of protest.

“Do you wish to share your opinion with us, Head Confessor?” I asked her with as much serenity as I could.

“As a matter of fact, Your Highness, I do.” She replied. “I think the Compact’s emissaries are here for more than just a social call. I wouldn’t put it past then to ask for yet more “commitment” from us while they wish you a long and prosperous reign. We struggle to pay our guards and soldiers’ wages, but they expect us to keep their armies at tip-top condition!”

Whenever the Yeonbrooke Compact is brought to the table, Mother Asli – I shudder every time I have to address her so! - goes out of her way to tell us that Ysle cannot afford the luxury of paying “protection money” to the King of Yeonbrooke and his allies. She has refrained from promoting outreach to the Anchlesians, at least while in my presence.

“Perhaps if the issue with the delayed gold shipments from the north was resolved satisfactorily, the Treasury would be able to mint more coinage and allow us to honor our dues to our soldiers and the Compact?” Mother Nadya mused.

“Of course… if you don’t mind elevated prices at the Bazaar, that is.” the Head Healer warned. “And make our poor even poorer in the process.”

The discussion carried on like this until we reached the Main Hall, where the Chamber of Audiences was located. I spent nearly every morning in this place, seated on the ornate chair atop a dais, attending to all of my guests and petitioners. By far the most important – and least enjoyable – part of my duties as Princess.

When I started I had no idea that so many people were in dire need of assistance! Ysle’s infrastructure had somewhat recovered in the twelve years since the Anchlesian occupation, but its people still suffered the aftermath. Being secluded in the Temple since childhood had completely blinded me to this.

My eyes still get teared up whenever I remember the poor man that came to petition the other day, asking for some gold to help him cover the expenses for his son’s funeral, who died of illness; he had no steady job and couldn’t afford to pay the Hospice’s tithe and have the Healers tend to the child. As one that comes from this Order’s ranks I felt responsible for this man’s tragic loss, and ordered the Treasury to cover all of his funerary expenses.

But what about the old lady that asked for justice for her granddaughter, who was ravaged by the henchmen of a notorious criminal? Or the apothecary that had his store burglarized? Or the traders being harassed by bandits along the desert roads? So many troubled people in my City, I can’t simply help them all!

As frequent as these sad tales were the complaints from the more fortunate ones, whose major concerns seemed to be whether the taxes would be raised, or whether more guards would be assigned to night patrols on their side of town.

The City I’ve been entrusted to rule and take care of is so ridden by problems, I don’t even know where to begin! The Compact and the Empire seem like minor, remote nuisances in comparison to the immediacy of Ysle’s woes. I can only imagine how much harder it was for my mother.

When the last of the day’s petitioners was escorted out of the Hall, a servant approached the dais and announced that lunch was ready. I’m quite glad to have a bit of respite from the troubles burdening me and my people, but still, I can’t help but think that while food isn’t scarce on our table, thousands of the people I’m sworn to serve haven’t even had breakfast at this hour. What hidden quality did the Gods saw in me, that would allow me to alleviate Ysle’s suffering? As I ponder on this, lunchtime comes to an end, and I’m to face yet another challenge: that of diplomacy with critical allies. And it’s not like I’m better prepared to face it, either!

Right on schedule, the Compact envoys entered the Hall. The usher called their names in.

“Earl Lorrick of River’s End, Emissary of the Kingdom of Yeonbrooke!”

“Lady Elandra Vistras, Emissary of the Grand Duchy of Norden!”

“The Honorable Brand arp’Aedan, Emissary of the Western Rezan Tribes!”

“Well met, Emissaries!” I said as I got up from my chair to greet them. “We are honored to host such distinguished guests into our City.”

The three Emissaries bowed as I approached them.

“The honor is ours, Your Highness,” Earl Lorrick politely replied. “On behalf of the Yeonbrooke Compact, we wish to congratulate the Blessed Princess Shjasta Jaahani of Ysle on her Ascension to the rule of this fair City.” The other emissaries nodded.

“As a token of friendship from our leaders, we have been entrusted with gifts to be presented to Your Highness.” Lady Elandra seconded. “May the bonds that join our peoples remain strong!”

The gifts brought by the Emissaries were quite precious indeed!

From the King of Yeonbrooke, I received a circlet made of silver inlaid with flawlessly cut sapphires. The Earl explained the circlet was crafted by the Royal Jeweller, its gemstones enchanted to enhance its wearer’s magical skills.

The Grand Duchess of Norden sent a seemingly modest gift in comparison: a walking staff made from a thinly grained, gnarly wood that widened a bit at its top, allowing a rough opal to be encrusted on it.

“This staff is made from the branch of an Eldertree, Your Highness,” Lady Elandra said. “The Druids of my land wield staves like these as symbols of wisdom and patience, virtues that every ruler should possess.”

I liked this gift better than the circlet. Simple, yet so elegant. But the present brought by the Rezan envoy was the one I liked the best. It was a robe, made of a cotton-like fabric. It was dyed a deep, beautiful shade of blue with an intricate endless-knot embroider on its borders. It had a braided girdle to fasten it, made of brown “horse-silk”, a fabric woven from actual horse mane hairs, soft to the touch but strong as hemp thanks to its weaving process, a zealously guarded secret of the Rezan people.

“This robe is similar to the ones used by our wise women.” Master Brand explained. “It’s made from steppe-cotton, which grows wild in my homeland. The fabric is sturdy and light, fresh during Bright-sun days yet warm on Dim-sun ones.”

“These are rich gifts indeed,” I said. “Please convey my words of gratitude to your leaders. But now, I believe we have more important things to discuss, yes?”

We proceeded to the meeting room adjoining the Chamber of Audiences. This room had a large rectangular table where at least a dozen people could be seated. On one of its short sides was the seat of honor reserved for me. The Three Heads would sit on the chairs closest to mine, and my guests took the closest ones still available. Once we were seated the Yeonbrookean envoy was the first to speak:

“Besides conveying the Compact’s good wishes and bringing gifts, we have come to inform you of the current state of our alliance, as well as report on the state of our enemy’s activities which, while mostly second-hand information, is still worth taking into consideration for your future decision-making.”

“Particularly the more recent news coming from Ravenwatch…” Lady Elandra added.

“With all due respect to our honored guests, I don't think we should put too much faith on unconfirmed word-of-mouth.” Mother Asli interrupted.

“The war we have waged on the Empire for nearly a century has been almost entirely based on paying heed to rumors.” Brand noted. “No spies we’ve ever sent across the border and returned have produced any actionable information. And we’re talking about the ones that return at all! Somehow the Ravens seem to discover them. Maybe their foul magics are at play here?”

“In any case, as Lady Elandra pointed out,” Earl Lorrick continued, “over the last few months some of the refugees reaching Ravenwatch claimed to be slaves working on a large project deep in the Ironclaw Mountains. It seems that the Empire is trying to reach the A’dari Wastes through another route.”

“That’s impossible.” the Head Confessor shook her head in disbelief. “The only known way into the Wastes is through The Vigil’s gates.”

“The Fall of A’dar made that land a labyrinth of jagged mountains and deep chasms.” Mother Lyra continued. “For thousands of years treasure hunters had sought ways to get to the heart of the Wastes, but so far only one route – the one safeguarded by The Vigil – has ever been found.”

“And the Ironclaws are an impassable wall of rock and ice; there is no known pass through them.” Mother Nadya noted.

“All of what you say is true, Your Eminences.” Lady Elandra nodded. “There’s no safe way through the mountains. That’s why the Anchlesians are building one right beneath them.”

“What!?” The three Heads and I said in unison.

“It seems the Empire’s finally dead-set in getting their hands on that damned place before hostilities resume.” Brand said.

“What actual proof of this do you have?” Mother Asli demanded.

“None, I’m afraid.” the Earl inclined his head. “The only evidence we have, if you can call it that, is that Anchlesian border patrols had decreased in frequency for a while now. It seems they have moved the bulk of their forces somewhere else.”

“That could be proof of anything, even that they are reducing their troop numbers for all we know!” The Head Confessor remarked.

“Or… it could be that they need troops to keep the slaves working on their project in line, avoid them escaping, and so on.” Earl Lorrick mused. “From what these refugees have said, the scope of the project is massive, and they’ve been working on it for at least ten years.”

“Assuming all of this is true… how far into it they are?” I asked.

“We can’t be sure.” Brand replied. “According to the earliest rumors, they had thousands of slaves into it, basically digging with shovels. But the latest tale has it they now have some sort of mechanical contraption built by their stone-skin subjects from the Blackash Isle…”

“The Dermans, yes.” Earl Lorrick clarified. “They are very adept at creating strange machines. It seems they built one cable of cutting through almost any rock, including the solid granite of the Ironclaws.”

“Thanks to the Derman machine, they’ve seemed to pick up the pace.” Lady Elandra continued. “We can’t be sure how far into their project they are, but taking into account they have been at it for ten years at least, they could be well halfway into it.”

“Keeping The Vigil’s gates closed would mean nothing if the Anchlesians manage to get to the other side of the Ironclaws.” I said. “Is that what you want? Access to the Wastes?”

“We understand the only reason the late Princess Jaaha agreed to let her City join the Compact was because we pledged to never seek out the lost treasures of the A’dari.” The Yeonbrookean remarked.

“The treasures of the A’dari are cursed, Earl Lorrick.” The Head Fire-keeper clarified. “The Gods punished them for delving too deeply into the Dark Arts.”

“We understand, Mother Lyra.” The Nordenian envoy said. “We would stay within the spirit of the agreement, if not its letter. We won’t seek out the relics of A’dar, but we can’t let the Ravens get them either.”

Mother Asli would have none of this.

“Can’t you hear yourselves? Acting based on nothing but rumors? Think again! Maybe the refugees exaggerate! Maybe they were in an ordinary mine, but after years of toil and torment even the smallest shaft might look like a tunnel wide enough to let an army march in. As for their diminished border patrols, can’t we assume the most logical reason? That the Empire is as war-weary and depleted as we are? Instead of an army to the Wastes, we should send a diplomatic mission to Anchlesia and put an end to this madness once and for all!”

“With all due respect, Mother Asli, madness would be sending yet more diplomats to their doom!” Earl Lorrick exclaimed. “Can we parlay with the Archons and the Raven-priests? People that worship a Void-lord?”

“So the answer is to grab A’dar’s secrets before they do?” The Head Confessor asked.

“As we said, we’ll respect the terms of our agreement with Ysle. We want to form a bulwark against Anchlesian encroachment in the region.'' the Rezan reassured us.

“What if this turns out to be a false lead after all? How much will it cost to move troops, establish outposts, and keep the region safe from “Anchlesian encroachment”? How much will it cost Ysle?”

This wasn’t going anywhere, so I got up from my chair and said:

“While I share your concerns about these ill tidings, I think the Head Confessor has a point. For all we know, the Raven Legions could appear in the Wastes tomorrow or ten years from now. As soon as we have more evidence, we can discuss our next course of action. In the meantime, the gates of The Vigil will remain closed.”

“But, Your Highness-” The Earl was about to say something when the other envoys dissuaded him. He relented. “As you wish.”

Mother Asli allowed herself a small smile of satisfaction. I returned to my chair, my heart still racing a bit. I took a deep breath before talking once more.

“With that said, let us move on to other matters at hand.”