Someone Else's Kingdom, BOOK II - Scene LXXIV

"Remember, even though I'm dead, you can still come to me for advice," smiled Queen Aglaia. Though, of course, she was no longer queen, though she was indeed living. Her three little dogs - Four, Five and Six - still equally full of pep at her slippered feet. The east wing of her palace, now a living tomb, sealed from the rest of her kingdom by this living secret. Her trusted intelligencers, the mirrored wall between reality and alter-reality. It annoyed her slightly that she now had to tone down her extravagant dress, but with the creep of age - and tidal wars threatening ruin anyway - a rumpled retirement was only a minor inconvenience. The lack of plumage giving a simple disguise for when she chose to walk the palace gardens. It was just the dogs that would be a problem. Their fame only second to Queen Aglaia's regal outfits in the public consciousness. Consequently they yapped with boredom as Prince Reach detailed the plans of his counter offensive. Whilst the ex-queen sat listening ..and giving pointers.

Her recent state funeral was fresh on the air of Maiden's Tower. The pomp and emotion mangled with the guns, and ships, and troops that were being readied. The calls for vengeance in perfect marriage with anticipations of war and violence. The flags that flew from every street and ship's mast, like bloody sponges, soaking up the fervour with their flutter.

Prince Reach, decked out in his own pomp, bowed to the artful former queen before secreting himself from the east wing and back into the main palace. The palace where he would now be leading the kingdom. He took a few brief updates from his advisors, before giving the order to begin the wider pushback. With the order relayed tens of thousands of extra troops headed north, hoping to the break through the Eastern Kingdom's frontline. A frontline that was slowly rolling over the precious fields of his now adopted country; the little farms and villages falling by the day. Meanwhile, at sea, ships left the safety of their coves, and joined with ships newly streaming from the southern Tunidan seas. Before pressing north, hoping to reclaim dominion over their sullied home. Their kindling on an already burning heath adding to the carnage. The smoke of war like volcanic ash, following a violent eruption.

A slight quake rocked the landmass as the order was given, as if in echo of Prince Reach's words. Aglaia's cosy chair slipped across the stone floor of her condominium. She paid it little mind, then poured herself another drink. Everything was going precisely as she had expected. Prince Reach, out of sight, but just a short walk away, was slightly more perturbed. He ploughed on with his plans regardless. The final flood of war had begun.