Chapter 6: The Breaking Point

Kazi and her soldiers walked through the courtyard, the sound of their boots loud in the silence. Eleven days they had been here, and still no word from the King. The General was growing more and more frustrated by the day. She had given Seraphinael until the end of the day to arrange a meeting, but as the sun began to set, she knew she couldn't wait any longer.

Suddenly, Seraphinael walked up to Kazi and her soldiers. He stopped a respectful distance away, his face unreadable.

"General Kazi," he announced, "the King is prepared to see you."

A flicker of satisfaction crossed Kazi's features. "Finally," she muttered, her tone betraying her irritation. "Lead the way, Seraphinael." She gestured for her soldiers to fall into formation behind her. As they made their way through the white halls of the palace, she couldn't help but wonder what sort of game the Althean king was playing. It was obvious he had been avoiding her. But why?

Finally, they reached a set of white oak doors. Seraphinael turned to face them. "General Kazi," he said, his voice low, "only you may enter the throne room."

Kazi met his gaze, her jaw set firm. She turned to her soldiers, "Wait for me here. If I need anything, I will shout." They nodded, understanding the importance of remaining alert outside the throne room. She took a deep breath, steeling herself for whatever was to come, before turning back to Seraphinael. "Lead the way."

Kazi followed Seraphinael through the heavy doors. They swung shut with a soft thud. The throne was big and unsurprisingly, white. Directly opposite the door was the throne which was white and gold.

Seated on the throne was King Eldarion. He was an older man, his beard long and white. He had winkles on his face and had blue eyes like all Altheans. He wore clothing of the finest white silk. Despite how old he looked he had an air of elegant authority and his ethereal handsomeness that only aged gracefully.

Kazi, however, remained unfazed by his regal appearance. She was here for answers, not to be impressed. A row of Althean advisors and councilmen stood beside the throne, their faces pale and their blue eyes fixed on Kazi. Ignoring all of them, she walked towards the throne. Reaching the floor of the platform, she bowed low, her brown skin contrast to the pale Altheans.

"Ah, General Kazi," King Eldarion said, his voice surprisingly warm for a man who had kept her waiting for ten days. "I have been informed you have been requesting an audience."

"Indeed," she replied coldly. "I came here with a purpose, and I presume you are aware of it."

The King chuckled. "Of course, of course. The missing trade ships."

"Forgive my bluntness," Kazi began, "but may I ask why it took so long for me to see you? Surely a matter concerning the safety of our people warrants an explanation."

A collective gasp echoed through the throne room. Kazi knew she was pushing boundaries, but ten days of frustration had finally boiled over. Here, in this whitewashed palace, surrounded by Altheans who seemed to care little for the lives of her people, she was determined to make her voice heard.

The King, however, seemed unfazed. He leaned back in his throne, a hint of amusement flickering in his blue eyes. "Fair enough, General," he said. "Truth be told, I was... preoccupied with finding a bride for my second son."

Kazi blinked, momentarily speechless. Here she was, worried sick about missing soldiers, and the King had been busy playing matchmaker? A scoff escaped her lips, causing the advisors and councilmen to whisper among themselves. She had tried to maintain her composure these past days, but this was too much.

"With all due respect, Your Majesty," she began, her voice dangerously low, "we provided a week's notice before our arrival. Was finding a suitable bride more urgent than ensuring the safety of our people?"

The advisors exchanged glances. No one, in their wildest dreams, would ever dare question the King's actions, let alone talk to him in such a tone. Even Seraphinael, standing beside her, seemed taken aback.

The King's smile faltered slightly, replaced by a fleeting flicker of annoyance. "Perhaps," he said, his voice tinged with condescension, "you Niamedans are not accustomed to the... formalities of Althea."

Kazi's anger flared. "Formalities?" she repeated, her voice harsh. "My people have been missing for nearly three weeks, and you speak of formalities? You, who sits on your throne, tell me you couldn't spare a single moment to discuss a plan because you were... matchmaking?"

The King's expression hardened. No one, not even his closest advisors, dared speak to him in such a manner. "General Kazi, mind your tone when addressing our King!" Seraphinael hissed, taking a step forward.

"Silence, Advisor," Kazi snapped, "I suggest you learn when to intercede and when to remain silent." Her words hung in the air, heavy with challenge and defiance. The tension in the throne room was palpable, as if a storm were brewing on the horizon.

The King, however, remained surprisingly composed. A faint smirk played on his lips as he met Kazi's defiant gaze. "General Kazi," he said, his voice surprisingly mild, "you do not come to my kingdom and threaten my people."

Kazi let out a cold, humourless laugh. "But you can keep me waiting for days on end," she countered, "and when I finally get the chance to speak with you, it turns out to be a futile effort because you have been too busy to even consider a plan?"

The audacity of her words hung in the air, palpable as a physical weight. Even Seraphinael seemed momentarily taken aback, her eyes darting between the King and her general. The other courtiers and advisors, however, exchanged uneasy glances, their expressions ranging from shock to outright horror.

"General Kazi," the King began again, "there are ways to conduct yourself in a court of law."

"And there are times," Kazi interrupted, her voice ringing with defiance, "when formalities must be cast aside. I came here seeking an alliance, Your Majesty, not a royal tea party. My people are missing, and your lack of action and plan only serves to compound the tragedy."

"Do you have any plans, General?" he asked, his tone laced with an undercurrent of challenge.

"Of course, I do," she declared. "My plan is to find my people. But that is a difficult task when we have not even begun to investigate the cause of this attack!" Her voice rose, filled with emotion and determination. "I need your help, Your Majesty. I need your men, your resources, your knowledge. This is not a game of politics or diplomacy. This is a matter of life and death!"

"What exactly are we supposed to investigate?" the King asked, leaning back in his throne.

"We need to identify potential attackers," she began, "anyone who might harbour a grudge against both Niameda and Althea, or perhaps see an advantage in disrupting our trade routes. Additionally, we should investigate the possibility of a common enemy, someone who would benefit from the discord between our kingdoms."

She paused, letting her words sink in. "While Althea enjoys relative peace," she continued, "this attack suggests those days might be numbered. The missing ships were not solely carrying Niamedan goods; they held cargo that belonged to the Kingdom of Ivamis as well. This is a regional threat, Your Majesty, one that requires a united front."

The King, when Kazi finished, clapped his hands together. "General Kazi," he said, "it seems your father was correct in sending you."

Kazi blinked, momentarily confused. "My father?" she repeated, her brow furrowing.

"Indeed," the King explained, a smile playing on his lips. "He informed me of your... fiery personality, but also your sharp mind and unwavering loyalty to your people. He assured me you would not hesitate to speak your truth, even to a King." He chuckled, a rich sound that filled the room.

"So," Kazi said slowly, piecing things together, "all of this... the delay, the matchmaking... it was a test?"

Seraphinael stepped forward, his voice dropping to a low murmur. "Yes, General. We needed to assess your leadership qualities, your commitment to your people, and your capacity for clear thinking under pressure." He paused, casting a meaningful glance in the direction of the throne.

A blush crept up Kazi's cheeks. The audacity of her behaviour, while fuelled by frustration, had not been entirely intentional. But the revelation that her father had known of the scheme and had perhaps even approved of it, filled her with a sense of pride.

General Kazi," he said, his voice serious, "you demonstrate a loyalty to your people that is admirable. Now, let us see if you can use it to help us both."

He gestured towards a nearby table, where maps and parchments lay spread out. "We shall begin by combining our resources," he continued, "sharing intelligence and formulating a joint investigation. You and your soldiers will be our guests here in Althea, and together, we shall find those responsible for these attacks."

Kazi felt a surge of hope mix with her lingering anger. This would not be an easy task, but at least they were finally on the same page. With a determined nod, she straightened her shoulders.

 They were going to get to the bottom of this crisis once and fall all.