Someone Else's Kingdom, BOOK II - Scene LI

The fighting in the eastern seas was fierce, and no matter how hard the Tunidan and Maiden Land ships fought it seemed that for every one enemy ship they destroyed another two arrived in the water. Such was the relentless nature of the mainland manpower and industry. It wasn't as bad on land, but still, the march of the Eastern Kingdom troops, supplemented with the ever-so-many slave soldiers from Caster, was eating up territory. The flowers and pretty meadows of the countryside increasingly marred by skirmish and powder shot. The open fields an easy pathway towards the capital, Maiden's Tower - though the line of encroachment still lay a good deal off.

Within the capital Queen Aglaia was imperious in defiance. Screaming orders and arraying her defences. Day and night intermingled by lack of sleep. As she sat at her desk she stared aimlessly at the various papers and battleplans, more focused on her thoughts than on the actual information. The melted candles, like dim fairy lights at the wooden desk corners, still burning, though morning daylight now crept into the room. Then, just as her eyelids began to reach for a moment's rest, suddenly, Four, Five and Six - her three little dogs - sprung up from their collective nap and started barking alertly; scurrying around the room.

"Quiet," she snapped, annoyed that her dozing train of thought had been disturbed. They stopped their yapping, but continued to scamper in circles. The nails of their paws clacking on the hard wood beams.

Her mind off-track, but reawakened, Queen Aglaia pushed herself up from her seat to stretch her aching frame. But suddenly, as if on cue, a huge tremor pushed her back. The palace itself, and the earth beneath, beginning to quake; the stone walls rocking under the pull. She steadied herself. The little dogs now silent, hugging close at her feet. Then, just as quickly, the shaking stopped. She regained her composure and headed over to window, to look out across her kingdom. Two guards came rushing in. Before either could inquire about her safety she issued another command.

"I think it's time we executed 'Twelve-Fifteen'," she stated firmly.

The two loyal guardsmen looked back grimly in response.

"That's my order," she reiterated.

She continued to watch from the window. Within a few minutes a large wave, triggered by the earthquake, washed over the western edge of the kingdom. It swept over the harbour walls of Maiden's Tower, then flooded deeper into the country. Before eventually receding out again. In the initial aftermath the full damage and destruction was difficult to gauge. Queen Aglaia looked on as this slow devastation unfolded. Its awesome power confirming in her mind the need for her decision.