Upon The Threshold Of Evil

Just as the dark clouds bring rain so the arrival of a letter brings grief and mourning to my soul.
The letter was from Lennox; it gave an account of his encounter with the astrologers and the catastrophe that followed.

As with any war, battle, or skirmish no matter how much thought goes into it things will not go as planned.
For it to follow closely would be a great success.
By some circumstance that I know not how, Lennox writes that our young cousin has been killed and that he is partly to blame.
My curiosity is mad and in turmoil for along with the emotion produced by the loss of kindred is coupled the haunting fact that he was the only son of my uncle's beloved wife now deceased.
His lamentation will not be short and his pain inconsolable.

And without the justification of my brother actions or explanation my anger is aroused that he is in anyway concerned with cousin Edward's death.
I know Edward was not completely blameless by the word treachery contained in Lennox's report, and further know that my brother would not recklessly endanger another's safety.

But lo, more dark news follows further on in his letter that reeks havoc and strips my conscience of any comfort.
In Prince Edward's anger he threw an astrologer's shuriken into king Hyndralad.
The poison tipped weapon embedded itself into the King of Isoloyia's chest, and though the necessary measures of care has been taken to clean the wound for healing Hyndralad continues to draw near to the resting place of his ancestors.

His strength is steadily waning, and Lennox tells me that he fears that he will not have enough time as they are now sailing to Uelar where he hopes he will find the remedy in the many scrolls that his library contains.
The anguish of the other dilemma moves aside in reading these word as desperation has made it's way to my heart.

With every hour slowly ticking away for the Vez-Dûn king, I find it impossible to think of anything else save a solution for my ailing friend.
And now with some consideration I have derived my course of action: Two simple orders that I have delivered to my servants.
The first is to scour the library of LunaMara for any volumes pertaining to poison.
The second is to the captain of the Golden Dawn to ready my ship.

I plan to set sail for Uelar, the Capital of Agmar, with all the books collected, and there I can assist in the search for a remedy and have the enigma of my cousin's death explained to me fully face to face by my brother.

But until this crisis has been resolved for me it will be difficult to remain still, even more so through the long week that lay ahead aboard the ship to Agmar.
My questions will have to lay dormant and restrain their roving restlessness while the allotted time passes and my worries carefully subdued (which will be a difficult task to accomplish).
This peace of mind will not come without harrowing strain but is justified as being necessary for my own well-being.
I will only drive myself mad if my mentality is given full control to mull over and brood without hindrance.

I shall pray, fervently, and search as much as is in my power but that is all that can be done by myself.
It rests in God's hands – God's ever so capable hands, for He can do greatly more.


-Emerald de Gavrillac
Queen of Krespania

To Flee Or Not To Flee

A strange report reached my ears nearly a week ago; my sentries have sighted Hyndralad de Gundalia, king of Isoloyia, at my borders and since then traveling through my land seemingly with Estrillo, my capital, as his destination.
My mind was brought to confusion upon hearing this news.
What could it mean, I puzzled?

Our last encounter was less than cordial, having found him resisting any sort of assistance in the on-going war, and only after some persuasion on my part did we receive the dreadfully needed supplies and sustenance in order to keep us alive and strong enough to help our brothers in the battle against Palkaan the Tyrant.

His aloof and detached civility resulted in my conclusion that we would never meet again – especially by his leave, yet there he was in my kingdom.
I immediately brought the morning court to an end and arranged for my counselors to meet me in the conference chamber.

Their verdict was simply stated: we could not forbid him to enter on suspicion that he might harbor ill-will and pernicious intention toward us.
And in all honesty he has not exhibited any signs to warrant that assumption.
I only find it surprising that he should visit me, and must wander why.
Given the fact that the King of Isoloyia is not friendly, I am inclined to think it would be for the worse.

Therefore we must receive him with every royal courtesy for diplomacy's sake, whatever his purpose for coming.
We adjourned, and I withdrew to the gardens.
The sky was clear with the exception of the brilliantly lit orb suspended midway in it's blue folds.
It was an unusually warm day for February, and the fresh air was reviving.
Once my lady-in-waiting and I were alone I turned to her with some apprehension weighing my conscience.
“Meredith, what would be the consequences following a queen who participated in a long horse-back ride so that she avoided a certain noble personage?”

“I am afraid such an act would result in Her Majesty being subject to open disapproval and ridicule.” She replied.
“But I know Her Majesty; her duty is nearest in her mind, and no matter how hard the task is she would not avoid it.”
The answer was without pretense and straightforward.
I squinted past the the lifeless foliage surrounding me and the morning sun to the tall trees at the northernmost part of the palace.
I gave a wry smile.
“You must know her better than I... I just do not wish to be under that heavy gaze of reproach again. You cannot fully understand how it made me feel - small does not compare!”

“Milady, I thought you did rather well at the situation.”
“but it took every ounce of courage inside of me to stand up to such an imposing figure! I felt weak, and I loathed it.”
Meredith smiled. “Your Majesty has a strength within that will endure any situation. You will stand up to him once again. But perhaps we will find His Majesty of Isoloyia changed in disposition since last we met and more tolerable.”

“Perhaps so – I hope so! But I have my doubts.”
We walked along the stone pathway and talked of other things, yet amidst it I found the disturber of my peace not easy to forget, and the looming encounter something to dread.


-Emerald de Gavrillac
Queen of Krespania

Far From Home

The destination is set, and the coordinates navigated carefully by the stars above.

Not to any location upon which we would wage war in the quest for freedom, but to a place I have eagerly yearned for: home; the idea is almost foreign to me after the many months I have been away.

Like a distant dream with no part in reality, is the sound of it to my ears; I feel as if it cannot be obtained again once the dream has ended.

Krespania should be lovely around now; the streets of Estrillo are probably blanketed with a layer of white snow, and each house lining it decorated with fresh wreaths of foliage and Christmas greenery.

I can see the children playing in the snow, with sanguine cheeks, bright eyes and a merry smile, and hear the greetings of the season from the lips of every person that have ventured from the warmth of their houses into the brisk cold of the day.

Oh, how I wish to be part of it!

My heart wills the ship to sail faster so that I will not miss any of it; but alas, we shall not make port until next week unless a favorable wind is bestowed on us.

Meredith is going to great lengths to cheer me up; she has concocted a mixture in the galley that tastes similar to the seasonal drink of wassail, simply to revive my Christmas spirit, and subdue my depression, but aside from that little else aboard The Golden Dawn reminds me what time of the year it is.

In these unsteady circumstances I wonder if Lennox will ever visit me for the holidays, beings still occupied by the left over wars Palkaan's men are holding in certain regions.

As for Palkaan himself, I deferred to King Brinsley of Asram the privilege of delivering him to the League at the Summit Isles where he will await judgment and ultimately execution for his crimes.

My men are presently still assisting Lennox in concluding the war, but having no further need of my personal command, I took the opportunity to set sail at the earliest convenience to Krespania.

There hopefully I will receive the rest that has been absent in my life and recover from the grueling aftereffects of the war.

I hope I am not too fatigued that I cannot enjoy the celebrations and festivities that will take place at Krespania.

I cannot help but yearn for the cozy nights in front of the fire, mesmerized by the crackling and popping of the wood, with a warm drink and pastry in hand, while telling stories or memories like the tradition Lennox and I have every winter.

My opinion will certainly change later but the thought of organizing a feast or gala sounds welcoming and relaxing to me, even though I usually consider it a most stressing ordeal. 

The stress that comes from planning still has a lightness compared to the grave stress incurred by war and battle.

I think I could cope with it marginally well in light of what I have been enduring as of late. 

And seeing as it as fitting with the time at hand, I will finish with the wish that you will have a merry Christmas and a joyful holiday season.

-Emerald de Gavrillac

Queen of Krespania