"Ready, My Lady?" Anika whispered, securing the last loop of Vienna's heavy, decorative sash.
"As ready as I'll ever be," Vienna muttered back, forcing a faint, polite smile onto her lips. She took a deep breath, inhaling the faint scent of polished marble and ancient dread that clung to the palace halls.
The doors to the great hall creaked open, instantly silencing the low, angry roar of the gathered nobles.
The throne, was an imposing structure carved from black obsidian and white quartz (darakhal veir), designed to intimidate all who approached it. In the Queen's absence, Vienna stood before it, not on it, and this was an important, carefully observed distinction that both maintained the nobles' hope and minimized their outright treason.
The hall was packed. Vienna saw faces that were back after a long time. Lord Corvus as usual was the most vocal proponent; Lady Marrion for her strong views on purity and security was also present though when it came to her having secret affairs and else she forgot if the views even existed; the influential but mistakenly resigned Lord Innos, whose presence alone amplified the crisis; and the ominously silent Lord Zalar, who sat rigid and unmoving, a direct consequence of Queen Aeryn's last public threat to remove his tongue.
Vienna moved to the center of the semicircular gathering, stopping directly beneath the looming, empty Throne. She addressed the room,
"My Lords, My Ladies. Thank you for assembling so swiftly." She paused, allowing her eyes to sweep the entire crowd. "I understand the situation regarding the seventeen newly arrived recruits has caused… concern."
Lord Corvus, wasted no time. He stepped forward, unyielding. "Concern, My Lady? It is a national security risk! These savages were expelled from the Queen's own training grounds for violence and insubordination. Now, they are housed inside the Imperial City, flaunting their primitive powers, a direct threat to the safety of our bloodlines and our established rule!"
A wave of assent rippled through the crowd.
"Lord Corvus, they are confined to the barracks assigned for the Queen's personal security retinue," Vienna countered calmly. "They pose no threat to the populace."
"But the precedent, My Lady!" cried Lady Marrion, her garments bright red and furious. "We are discussing the integrity of Sahirra! These are chaotic species! Their presence taints the purity of our Imperial City, and frankly, it is an insult to the noble women who have dedicated their lives to the Queen's service! Why are we harboring her rejects? I must say I am quite disappointed!"
Vienna took a slow, deliberate breath.
"Lady Marrion," Vienna stated, her voice hardening, losing all traces of girlish softness. She met Lady Marrion's fiery gaze without flinching. "The decision of the girls rests on the Queen's authority, and Queen Aeryn has deemed these recruits worthy of her attention. They are here by her direct, signed, and witnessed decree."
She reached into her sleeve and produced a scroll, holding it aloft. "The order states that until the Queen herself returns and personally judges the future of these individuals, they are to be kept safe, housed, and provided for as per Queen Aeryn's will. They are not rejects, Lady Marrion. They are assets awaiting assignment."
Then, Lord Innos, the former Minister, stepped forward, his expression grave. "And where is the Queen, My Lady?" His voice was sharp. "Her absence now, days without communication, while a foreign group of violent recruits is sheltered here, does nothing but confirm my worst fears. Do you expect us to believe that the Queen is attending to this 'assignment' personally?"
Vienna felt a cold knot tighten in her stomach. The nobles weren't worried about seventeen girls; they were worried about the empty throne whose queen was nowhere to be seen with the recruits and she herself was perplexed about this too.
She straightened her spine, projecting every ounce of regal posture she possessed. "The Queen is currently conducting a highly sensitive investigation crucial to the safety of the entire realm. Her itinerary is classified, as is her mission. I speak for her with her full mandate."
She lowered the scroll. "Now, I will not stand here and allow this court to descend into petty factionalism simply because the Queen's movements are inconvenient to your schedules. The girls are here. They are under guard. They will be integrated only when the Queen commands it."
She stepped forward, moving away from the safety of the Throne area and directly into the space between the groups of nobles. She looked directly at Lord Corvus.
"Lord Corvus, I know your true concern is stability. I assure you, the stability of the kingdom is my absolute priority. But what undermines stability is not seventeen confused, isolated recruits. What undermines stability is a divided court that doubts its own Queen. This session is adjourned. All matters regarding the girls are to be referred to my private secretary, and I expect no further discussion on this matter until the Queen returns. Go now, and attend to the duties that actually justify your noble titles. And leave the issues that are queen's problems to be my headache."
The hall was utterly silent. No one had expected such a direct, commanding dismissal. She stood her ground, waiting, breathing shallowly. Finally, Lord Corvus bowed stiffly, followed by Lord Innos, Lady Marrion, and the rest. They retreated, murmuring now, but not openly complaining.
Vienna watched them leave, maintaining her composure until the last noble had vanished. Anika rushed to her side. "My Lady! That was… terrifying. And magnificent."
Vienna closed her eyes. "Magnificent? I think I aged ten years. It felt like walking on broken glass."
Anika paused, and then said "you handled yourself like a true leader."
Vienna smiled, a genuine, if weak, smile. "Well, let's hope the next time I face them, I'll actually know where the Queen is."
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