Someone Else's Kingdom, BOOK II - Scene XCIV

With victory total in the Northern Kingdom, Drua Maleeva was far from content. For though the half-tail resistance had fully dissolved in the beating rain, the rain itself fell heavy on the conquered earth. The blizzard-like winds, and the ever-increasing mud, clogging the sense of control. That kings and men must wait for clearer days to make plans, and that royal decrees lay second in command to obstinate nature. There were reports that frogs had rained down from the sky on the outskirts of Wedkarten. Supposedly swept in from the ponds and swamps further north. A report that would've been less believable were it not for the rains of small fish that had earlier pelted down from the west. Their silver bodies eeling and half-swimming in the squelching ground.

Maleeva felt disconcerted by this torrential drizzle. Hemmed inside the castle walls that once warmed the hearty King Brijsk. His jolly presence entirely vacated from the country with his death. The large fire in the room burned, but it felt limp in comparison to the cold outside whirl. With little to do but wait, Maleeva sat and penned an epistle to King Mizmeam. The scratching ink the focus of her thoughts as she tried to ignore the imperious dictates of the elements.

..the half-tails put up little fight, it's hard to understand how King Brijsk found such trouble. I shudder to think of the time wasted as he played with these sylvan rebels. Once this eternal hailstorm subsides we can press on dong what he should've done, and use this land as the staging post to truly yoke the Western Isles. Then, from Caster we can focus our effort on Tunida. The weather truly is something terrible though, and for now it's impossible to execute a single decision. I occasionally wonder if that wild woman was right. Had we let the serpent live she'd have certainly won more followers to her cause. Still, good sense says this will pass sooner or later.

Please, watch over Seaspell. If the storms worsen keep him from the harm. I know you will, but you must forgive my asking. His precious waking head, I wish I had him here with me now. To rule as Prince over this forsaken kingdom. As you rule as King over all these worldly lands. I await any further news and instruction..

Maleeva pressed her seal to the letter and handed it to the guard. He hurried down the stony steps to the waiting courier. Who then headed out into the sodden darkness; his head hooded, his horse as thunderous as the night.