Commander Lesquare stood back against the wall of the immense Regency Room. The room matched the shape of the entire Palisade building; long and tall but narrow, and made of the same treated steel with the same deep red colour that coated the exterior. The cold metal siding nipped at his palms when he rested against it. He'd been standing there, amongst a sizable crowd of ministers and high ranking officers and their subordinates, for what felt like an hour now, and his legs were going numb.

  It was this latter group he belonged to - the secondaries to the leaders of the realm. His superior and mentor, Valley Admiral Henney, occupied one of the 15 chairs that circled the long pewter table in the centre of the room. Lesquare could see the grey hair peeking beneath his angular cap. Admiral Henney was looking older each time Lesquare saw him now, but his back was still straight and his eyes still keen and intelligent. Soon it might be he that sits in that chair, the responsibility of Collosea's portion of the central Triskellion Valley, as well as the Security Service, resting in his shoulders. Perhaps in some further future though.

  There were no windows here and the walls were thick. The members within it were known as the Peacetime Regency but it was a place of secrets, one where many pivotal discussions had been held over the centuries, including discussions of war. The Prime Regent sat at her place at the head of the table, in a chair no different than the others'. Commander Lesquare kept stealing glances at her. He couldn't help it. He noticed most of the other secondaries doing the same now and then and felt a little better about it. The secondaries also seemed to share the same look of bemusement that he was wearing. There was a strong impression that only a handful of people knew of the reason for this gathering of the Regents and all of them were currently sat at the table.

  Just as Lesquare was about to check his pocket timepiece again, the lofty chamber doors opened and the murmuring in the room was snuffed out. Into the chamber walked a weatherbeaten-looking Acting Frontstock in his late 30s or so. He appeared like he'd been in a mighty scrap recently - cuts to his chin and bruises that had ripened into the late-stage red wine colour. His short, chestnut brown hair was thinning deeply at the temple, and rather unkempt looking, as though he'd been dragged from his bed. But he held a look of decency and candour; there was nothing cold in his demeanor that Lesquare could determine. Rigid perhaps, but not cold. The AF came to a stop some five feet to the right of the Prime Regent, with all the eyes in the room fixed on him.

  'Thank you everyone for joining at such small notice,' started Prime Regent Ulagg Leynsham, 'particularly yourself Acting Frontstock Marks.' The Prime Regent turned in her chair and shot the weary soldier a formal smile. 'I understand you only arrived back in Embestour earlier this morning?'

  'That's correct, Prime Regent.' Replied the AF, with a remarkable easefulness for one addressing an audience as replete as this one.

  'This is Acting Frontstock Iskal Marks.' Said Leynsham, addressing the assembly again with a clear timbre that filled every corner of the room. 'Four days ago, his unit was sadly slain following the discovery of a hidden cache of designation-one arcane flora, known as two-cross ajers. The investigation is still ongoing, but the evidence thus far strongly indicates that this crop was planted and propagated in conflict with our laws by the underground sect known as The New Becoming.'

  The murmurs erupted once more, now far louder. Two secondaries standing near Commander Lesquare sprang into hushed argument almost immediately, as though they were continuing a disagreement from earlier.

  The Prime Regent called for quiet once more. 'Is there anything further you'd like to add, AF Marks?'

  Iskal cleared his throat. 'There were five aggressors, carrying the brand of the New Becoming just here.' The guest tapped at the corner of his beltline with the pad of his finger, agitating the empty sword sheath beside it as he did so.

  'How was it that you came about this discovery?' Interrupted one of the High Ministers at the table.

  There was a pause of a few seconds. ‘Rather by chance. My unit was returning from our monthwatch and we came across a small forest at the top of a goat track. It was hot that day so we decided to take a late lunch under the shade of the trees. We noticed a gap in the mountain wall and proceeded through it. We were ahead of schedule on our return so I saw no fault in doing so. There was a further run of trees through this gap and at the base of the treeline one of my Marchers, Marcher Fiegh, noticed a yellow substance dripping from some plants.’ Iskal crossed his hands in front of him. 'Fiegh has... had... a talent for botany and so recognised the arcane attributes. We explored further and eventually found the ajers and their keepers.'

  Commander Lesquare studied Iskal Marks closely. There was something troubling him, like a cog in his heart was faltering. Despite the honourable face there was an unseen aspect brewing beneath the surface. And yet, he also spoke with a strange sort of informality towards the Prime Regent, which both impressed and perturbed Lesquare. It reminded him of the few men whom had served under him in the past who, despite every effort, were just biologically unable to fully recognise absolute authority.

  'If I may ask, Prime Regent,' interrupted Deputy Prime Regent Wells, 'while I understand the discovery of these... two-cross ajers?... is indeed a serious matter, does this not seem like a rather large gathering for such a meeting? It looks as though every single member of the Peacetime Regency is here, and their understaff to boot.'

  Lesquare thought the Deputy Regent had started strong but the last few words came out a little sheepishly. He must've noticed the blazing glare being directed at him by the Prime Regent.

  'The reason I called for a full meeting of the Regents,' Leynsham said with a touch of irritation, 'is that this patch was found just two days ride from the gates of Embestour, so we have to assume the intent of use, which could only be nefarious in nature, was directed towards our sovereign land. Furthermore, it is the first recorded instance of the deliberate cultivation of such a flora in a near decade.'

  Commander Lesquare noted the deliberate use of 'recorded' in the Prime Regent's words. As a specialist in clandestine operations, he'd had his own first-hand experience with designation-one arcane flora, including two-cross ajers on one fateful occasion.

  'We also have to consider whether there are other parties in play here.' Suggested Deputy Regent Tarilius. He was sat one place down from Wells, and was stroking his beard and looking at the table. 'This seems to be beyond the talents of a bunch of mad radicals with naive dreams of a singular ruler.'

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  'What are you suggesting?!' Asked Wells, clearly knowing the answer.

  'The New Becoming originated in the Haemonine realm. Perhaps the sect has simply become a small piece in a bigger game.'

  'That statement is pure conjecture,' retorted Wells with his usual theatrical motions, 'and is beneath the honour of this chamber. Besides, The New Becoming want all three realms unified under a new leader, not a Haemonine dictatorship.'

  'I didn't say it is true, but it should be discussed, as is the remit of these meetings.' Said Tarilius, his voice a steady, almost dull pitch. 'He always seems at peace with his own words', thought Lesquare.

  'Precisely.' Agreed the Prime Regent, while Wells hushed himself before he could erupt with any more words.

  'Valley Admiral Henney,' continued Leynsham, 'has there been any report of disarray in the Central Triskellion Valley? Particularly that pertaining to arcane flora or infractions on behalf of the Haemonine realm?'

  Lesquare couldn't see his Superior Officer's face from his spot amongst the circled masses, but he could tell this question startled the Valley Admiral a little. His shoulders had twitched up a little and the head had snapped rightwards towards the Prime Regent rather quickly. The Admiral allowed himself a few seconds to compose an answer.

  'Nothing of an extra-ordinary nature, or that would warrant association with this troubling matter.' Said Henney in his raspy, ageing voice. 'However, Commander Lesquare here- where are you Lesquare? Bring yourself forward. He's my man on the ground, so he may be able to shed some further light.'

  Lesquare felt the prickling flush of blood to his cheeks, the sweat seeping from the pores on his palms. This was not how he was expecting this day to go. He was used to addressing his men, daily even. And complex, often life-threatening military operations had become almost a comfortable routine at this point. And yet this moment, speaking to a room full of Collosea's most powerful and scrutinising individuals, made him feel like a child. He stepped from his hidden spot within the shadowed crowd and into the warm light that settled on the centre of the room, moving his hands behind his back and fixing them there.

  Valley Admiral Henney turned at the sound of Lesquare's steps and, looking over his tall, engraved teak chair, shot him a quick knowing smile. 'Bastard', thought Lesquare. 'He knows just what he's doing. I bet he thinks this is some sort of teachable moment for the future.'

  'Commander Lesquare, is there anything you can add which may aid in answering the Prime Regent's question?'

  Lesquare turned in the direction of the Prime Regent, briefly matching the gaze of Iskal Marks on the way. He was aware of the dryness in his throat but he spoke up regardless.

  'Firstly, Prime Regent Leynsham, Your Honour, I feel obligated to say that I'm unable to go into any depth of detail regarding most of our operations due to the... varying levels of authority in this room. But I can confirm there's been nothing of any particular note in the last three months. However, if we were to view this on a scale of five to ten years...' Lesquare stopped. He knew he needed to measure his next words to the millimeter. It was not a topic anyone in Collosea liked to discuss, let alone the governors of its lands.

  'Do go on, Commander Lesquare.' Ordered Deputy Regent Tarilius, with his soft voice and a glimmer in his eye.

  'Well, since the Haemonine's discovery of Undara serum, there has been a significant and empirical rise in conflicts, secret or otherwise, within the Central Triskellion Valley.'

  The room suddenly possessed the dead silence one hears following a heavy snowfall. Tarilius' eyes were now beaming with intrigue. Deputy Regent Wells, sat to his right, was plum red and seemingly shaking with indignation.

  Prime Regent Leynsham looked at him thoughtfully before speaking up. 'Thank you Commander Lesquare, Valley Admiral Henney. This, everyone, is what we all must consider as a very serious possibility, whether we like to admit it or not. It may be uncomfortable and worrisome for some of you, but that is what these assemblies are for.'

  Lesquare watched her as he had watched Iskal before. 'This is why we're here', he thought, 'and she does not look uncomfortable at all, not one bit.'

  Leynsham's voice grew, reverberating through the silence in the grand chamber. 'It is a harsh reality, but one which we must face together. Since the discovery of undara serum by Krillar Valkueda those 23 years ago, and the Haemonines' monopoly on the undara moss from which it's distilled, the Haemonines have grown exponentially in their wealth and influence. Some economists, even some of our own, have suggested they may have already surpassed us as the primary power in Oros. I whole-heartedly disagree, but we have to start seeing them as the equalising threat that they are. If we settle into naivety, and not even consider that the Haemonines may have puppeteered The New Becoming into a plot to destabilise our proud nation, we are doing ourselves a potentially-fatal disservice. Our own botanists have made little to no progress in growing the Undara plants in our own lake, so it is becoming more and more apparent that it is only in the Haemonine's Undara lake that the moss can thrive. We've tried to counter by becoming the key manufacturers of the machines that the undara serum powers, but without the serum itself they are nothing but well-shaped scrap metal. They are holding the cards, and we have to start considering ways to beat the game.'

  The chamber erupted into heated chattering. The High Ministers and Military Leaders at the table turned to their nearest peers to air their thoughts. The large crowd in the periphery of the room, to which Lesquare had now rejoined, talked over each other in such heaving bursts that Lesquare could've sworn he saw a thin cloud of steam rising up from them. Through the commotion he could somehow hear Deputy Prime Regent Wells pontificating.

  'Surely that is an overreaction, Prime Regent! We have nil to fear of those... those... jumped-up, Gods-fearing gardeners!'

  'I didn't say fear!' Snapped Leynsham, silencing the room somewhat, 'but we must respect them! And not be fools.'

  The discussion went on for some time, with each High Minister tabling their remarks and opinions one by one. The Minister of farms thought the proposal too unnecessarily incendiary, while the Minister of Fate, the chief legal authority in Collosea, felt this had been a long time coming.

  Eventually, the Prime Regent brought the discussions to a close. 'We have much to confer in our respective departments, so we will go forth and do so, but heed my words, and trust in your leader. We cannot risk a further consolidation of power from the Haemonines.' She turned to Iskal. 'Acting Frontstock Marks, am I given to understand you were discredited not long ago, with disgrace?'

  Iskal frowned just a touch. 'Yes.’'

  'Consider it revoked. Let it be known to those here that, for your bravery and for uncovering this malicious scheme, you should be commended properly. You've been promoted to Chieftain 1st Class within the Central Triskellion Valley Command by my order, and I want you to remain a part of these ongoing discussions.'

  Leynsham stood and the rest of the table joined her, bowing their heads. Tarilius glared at the bewildered Wells with the same eyes one would fix on a foolish pet, but his mouth was curled in a flickering smile.

  Commander Lesquare was awash with troubled thoughts. The Prime Regent's words had felt like a declaration. He was a military man, sure, but his wish was peace. It's been that way for eight five years now - long before he was born. And now it looked like he was to work with this Iskal Marks, a soldier who he hadn't even heard of until thirty minutes ago. Marks looked troubled himself, particularly for a man who'd just received a double promotion. And why was he discredited in the first place, and disgracefully?

  'I guess I'll find out soon enough.’ Commander Lesquare thought to himself, as moved to exit the chamber amongst the shuffling crowd.