Chapter 9 #2
General Creel raised his arms and lowered them to signal for those around him to quiet down.
“Our future queen is far too humble,” he said.
I tried to smile, but I wasn’t sure I managed it.
“Your report on The New Foundation,” I said, wanting to get to work immediately.
There was no time to waste. Percy needed to be located before The New Foundation understood her true importance.
My father’s new enchanter might have proven himself all theory and no practice, but I would not risk that The New Foundation did not have within their ranks those capable of utilising the soul match to their advantage, and to my detriment.
The consequences would be dire for me, Percy and the future of the Borealis Kingdom.
“The King received the report last night,” he answered.
“And were you ordered not to share that report?” I questioned frustratedly, why had I not been updated the previous night?
“Not exactly, no,” he said. I stared at him, awaiting a better response.
“But it wasn’t encouraged,” he continued, and turned to his soldiers, “Back to work,” he ordered, and the captains within the command centre began to clear away what was left of their lunch and return to their workstations.
A soldier stationed at the entrance of the command centre shut the door.
I knew we were now protected by the privacy enchantments.
General Creel waved me towards him.
“I have a soft spot for you, you know that, ever since you chopped up Vasilios; arms, legs and heads were flying that day. I love a good show,” he told me.
“General Creel, are you getting to the report?” I asked him.
He chuckled. “Never one for sentiment.” He pulled out his seat at his station. “For you, Ma’am,” he offered.
I hated that I was thankful to be off my feet and hoped the offer was made out of manners and not because Creel could sense my continuing lack of strength.
He leaned his elbows on the desk beside me, pulled the keyboard across to him, and began typing.
“I received a report yesterday evening from the intelligence unit we have in House Viridis,” he said as he clicked into a folder and brought up a report.
I began reading the report attentively.
“House Halvorsen?” I questioned as I read that a Synoptic witch had lost her companion when gathering aerial intelligence of the area.
“Exactly!” General Creel said.
I turned to him.
“What is the background to this? Why were they gathering intelligence in the area?” I questioned.
“Over the last few months, we’ve heard rumours of a closer relationship between Houses Viridis and Halvorsen.
They are direct neighbours and, historically, while amicable, they have not formed any meaningful alliances.
Trade between the Houses is small, mainly in the form of House Viridis importing wines and fruits that are only produced and grown in House Halvorsen.
That was until three months ago when an exchange of heirs took place,” he explained.
“Wardship?” I questioned. “Why?”
“From our sources, more like fosterage,” Creel replied.
“The youngest Heir of Viridis, one Maxen Viridis, twelve years old, a half-blood wolf shifter and great-grandnephew of Lord Dylan Viridis, the senior not his grandson, was sent to House Halvorsen at the same time that young Eira Halvorsen, fourteen years old and niece of Lord Oskar Halvorsen, the senior of course, his first born is no longer with us, was sent to House Viridis.” General Creel explained and nudged me with his elbow at the reference to Oskar’s death, as if it were some inside joke between us.
Only someone like Creel could get away with such jovial behaviour.
Perhaps because it was simply him, his character or nature, no pretence, he loved war, fighting, winning.
“Why?” I asked again.
“Why is there ever an exchange of fosters?” he questioned.
“Or hostages,” I replied.
“Exactly!” he smiled broadly. “Either they are wishing to form strong, even blood ties between their Houses or…” he trailed off.
“They wish to ensure civility,” I finished.
“You remember our warfare lessons well,” he praised.
“You were a good teacher,” I told him.
“Thank you,” he said, smiling broadly, “All in all, it’s odd behaviour, and not something that can be kept secret. So, the lack of fanfare at the exchange, no public or political announcement either, well, it needed to be investigated.”
I nodded my understanding, “But how did this lead to the Synoptic witch losing their companion?”
“At first, her owl was sent to find Maxen. She reported that the boy appeared in good health and was residing in a well-furnished private room within Lord Oskar Halvorsen’s Manor.
On its return flight, the bird caught sight of something glimmering in the distance.
The Synoptic witch was curious and so instructed it closer.
It was night, this particular companion was of the nocturnal variety, best for espionage, of course.
That’s when something unexpected occurred.
As the bird grew closer to what we now know is a large estate owned by Lord Arvid Halvorsen, it was recognised as a companion and attacked by several large crows.
However, not before it had witnessed the construction of several buildings.
The Synoptic witch described it like the building of a small town,” General Creel explained.
I wasn’t sure which question to begin with.
“So now we have three mysteries: why would Viridis and Halvorsen exchange their heirs, why is Arvid Halvorsen’s estate being guarded by Synoptic witches, plural for there must be as many as there were birds under their control, and what is being built that they don’t want anyone to see?
” I said, with General Creel nodding like it was some exciting puzzle to be solved, “All intriguing, yet not what I came to you for.” I told him.
“What does any of this have to do with The New Foundation or where my pet is?”
“Ah, yes, of course, I was getting ahead of myself,” he said, and straightened up from the keyboard, turning to look around the room. “Birch,” he called, and a tall, strict-looking older woman with short, greying brown hair left her discussion with one of Creel’s captains and came over.
“Yes, Sir?” she asked as she came to stand stiffly in front of General Creel.
“My Royal Highness, this is lead counterinsurgency specialist Stephany Birch. She is head of intelligence for all extremist and rebel groups,” he introduced her to me. “She knows everything we know about The New Foundation.”
“Which is?” I questioned, drawing the woman's attention.
“My remit has become rather large recently, and it has been challenging to stay on top of all the new groups, especially those of the northern Houses. The northern rebel groups were our largest concern until recently. The New Foundation is a surprisingly fast-growing movement — “
“A movement?” I interrupted to question.
“Yes. Unlike the current and past groups which we have encountered, The New Foundation operates drastically differently. Take the northern rebels, for example: there are many different groups, with limited success in forming a homogeneous group. The infighting, the distrust, the lack of shared values and desires make it impossible for the various factions to form alliances that last long enough to become a true concern,” Birch explained.
“Explain to House Ardens that the uniting of such groups is not a concern,” I told her. She grimaced.
“Sorry, Ma’am, I do not mean to downplay the local danger that such militia provide to the northern Houses, only that to the integrity of the kingdom as a whole, they are not a concern,” she explained.
I nodded and waved my hand for her to continue.
“The New Foundation are different. From what we are learning on the ground, they are not recruiting in the same manner.
Rebels, current and past, have recruited members through anger, scapegoating, and promises of the spoils of war.
The New Foundation are promising something different. They are more political.
“Truly, we believe they have roots stemming from the last of the Auster kingdom. Their ideological views are very similar. They target the young, healthy, those of the lower class and means, who may feel forgotten by their House, and the Borealis kingdom, and offer them purpose, meaning, a future they believe is out of their grasp within the House system. Their name, The New Foundation, is symbolic in itself; they wish to completely erase the House system, to create an envisioned utopia. Without class divide, without localised rule, or taxation. Though what they imagine will take the place of the House system is not clear.”
“With roots in Auster loyalists, I’d expect The New Foundation to find a strong base within House Viridis, but House Halvorsen is an unlikely ally,” I said.
“Certainly,” Birch agreed, “Yet we have not been able to locate any headquarters, or regions within Viridis housing the leadership of The New Foundation. The New Foundation has proved itself capable of sophisticated intelligence gathering, reconnaissance, and the execution of a successful evacuation mission, culminating in the capture of your personal servant, Ma’am.
They must have a base location, or perhaps many of them.
If they are not in Viridis, they must be elsewhere.
All our intelligence is pointing to The New Foundation base being within House Halvorsen, most likely on Lord Arvid Halvorsen’s estate, given that it is being guarded by Synoptic. ”
“Synoptic is a small house, from the midlands of the kingdom; they are our ally,” I stated.
“They are,” General Creel agreed. “We have been assured that House Synoptic is still very much a friend of Borealis.”
“So those protecting Arvid’s estate are doing so of their own volition, deserters of their House and coven, or perhaps House Synoptic is not to be trusted,” I said, thinking aloud.
“The New Foundation is recruiting members from every House, clan, and coven,” Birch informed.
“The danger here is far greater than that to young Percy,” General Creel interceded. “I’m afraid that King Nyx has commanded that all efforts of the Borealis forces be put towards dismantling The New Foundation.”
I stood from the chair, a wave of strength to accompany my sudden anger.
“Is this your way of telling me you have ceased to look for my pet, General?” I questioned.
General Creel looked away briefly, like a schoolboy being told off, before staring back at me.
“Your father is my commander, and I ultimately take orders from him. I have shared what we know with you as a courtesy out of respect for you personally, my future queen, but this is as much as I am able to do. I have no doubt that, given your own resources, you are capable of finding and retrieving your pet. As much as I want to provide you with further assistance, the future of the Borealis kingdom is of greater importance,” General Creel explained firmly.
“Nothing and no one is of greater importance than my pet. What message does it send to the Houses of the kingdom if Borealis cannot keep what belongs to her?” I hissed and barged my way past Birch as I left.
“Where are you going, leaving like that?” General Creel asked as he followed me from the room.
The corridor was perhaps one of the few that would remain relatively quiet during the conference, even with each room enchanted to prevent eavesdropping; it would be a mistake to allow just anyone to walk around this wing.
I spun around on him.
“To deal with my father,” I answered, unable to hide my rage.
He instructed Creel to forget my pet, to focus only on The New Foundation. The two were so closely tied that what effort was it to prioritise finding my pet, my soul match? What kind of father wouldn’t care about our separation?
“Okay, but if you’re going to drop me in it, at least give me a heads up,” he answered.
“Don’t worry, General, you’re following orders,” I reassured. He was my favourite general after all.
“And one day I hope to follow yours, until then, I’m at your father’s mercy,” he replied apologetically.
It seemed that so was I.
Rylan had returned me to Borealis while I lay paralysed, trapped in fever-fuelled dreams of loss and grief.
Father had provided the best care possible, a healer at my side always, and he had provided me with unfettered access to Dennis Aqua, not that the enchanter had proven of any use.
I had sent Rylan to retrieve Ana, the Syngeneia witch, who had tracked down my pet once before, and I would have had her do it again, only to learn that Ana had not returned to Syngeneia when she left Sanguis Academy.
The witch was missing. I could only conclude that she was likely involved in Percy’s abduction in some way.
At the very least, it gave me hope that Percy was less likely to be treated poorly with her friend around.
The castle felt like a show, and I was a starring character.
All eyes would be on me in the coming days and weeks, I had House Ardens' interests to represent alone as Adamantia and Sasha were forced to stay back to handle the repairs of Ardens Estate, the fallout of the attack and relationships with Ardens’ councillors.
I was like a pinned bug in the castle. Examined.
I couldn’t risk bringing another Syngeneia witch to me.
Ana would have been a stretch, but one that could have been explained away as being close to my pet and perhaps able to aid me.
If I were to bring in another Syngeneia witch, unconnected to Percy, how long before some shrewd observer connected the pieces and came to the conclusion that Percy was my soul match?
What danger would she and I be in then, if word of her bond to me reached The New Foundation?
No, I had to use other means to locate her.
A wave of nausea washed coldly over me as I made my way to my father’s wing, a remnant of the venom poisoning, Lady Sana had assured it would pass within the next few days as my body returned to its natural homeostasis, yet only my father, the incompetent Dennis Aqua, and my personal guards knew of my soul match, and given my struggle to consume blood in Percy’s absence I feared my health and strength may not return.
Now was a time for strategic and well-planned moves; everyone at the conference was playing for power, to keep it, to gain it. I played for a future that included my pet.