Vorril looked at the queen, slumped over her desk. Letters to the princes of the smaller cities and the barons of the countryside poured across the rich dark wood.

Gentler than most people imagined the general could be, he brushed away the inkstain from her cheek where she had smudged a letter.

"Mmm," the queen opened her eyes and blinked blearily up at her husband.

She blinked at him slowly for a few moments before nodding. "We're good, Inath will survive," Amarante sighed, "so will most of the smaller allied states. I might even manage to get the nobles to agree to common law by the next meeting of the Inath Council. The recent riots in Minmay have made the costs of ignoring the plight of peasants clearer to them. "

The general nodded. "Then Minmay has done us all a service. "

"So much blood had to be spilled for them to see reason," Amarante shook her head, "how much improvement can we say happened when it was bought, reluctantly, with so many lives? And I still had to cajole and bribe them into being decent people. "

If there was one thing the general never understood, it was how Amarante could be simultaneously so idealistic and still function effectively as queen. She had a gift for knowing how to push and pull the nobles of the Federation to do what she wanted. And an eye for exploitable character flaws like greed and envy, something that was all too common, and a willingness to stoop to bribing them or playing the nobles against each other.

And yet she still somehow held to the belief that people were genuinely good, even when she could efficiently use their flaws that were distinctly the opposite of good. Vorril still hadn't figured out how she managed to convince that odious duke to stop philandering and be a faithful husband, but some very long afternoon strolls with the man's wife implied that she had recruited outside help.

And despite working in a royal palace that all the other diplomats and kings wanted, Amarante still lived in a nice but small residence on the palace grounds.

Vorril was forced to admit that that very attitude had helped him in his efforts to make sure the Inath country remained stable despite the coming changes. The peasants practically worshipped her. The time 'wasted' showing up at all those song and dances for common folk and giving flowery speeches about affairs of state that no peasant understood? Those hours didn't seem so wasted any more. Apparently, telling people that everything was all right and going to get better was enough to prevent revolts.

"Thanks for waking me up," Amarante yawned, "I should make a start on the financial reports next. Be a dear and fetch me that stack?"

Vorril lifted the half meter pile of ledgers with a hand and put them down in front of her. The table creaked a little. She started flipping through them.

"So what are we going to do about Minmay?" Vorril asked after a while.

"Nothing," Amarante said firmly.

"We are not going to respond to his dissolution of the Order of Knights branch? Doesn't that flout the letter of the Rule of Arms? Not just the spirit. "

Amarante shook her head, "we can't, not when everyone else is blatantly ignoring it too. Don't think I haven't noticed your actions with supposedly unrelated parties all wielding those new weapons. When all the leaders come from the top three parties, and they all train together, the conclusion is quite obvious. "

And if she had noticed but not said anything, that was tacit permission to continue raising an army in all but name.

"If we act now, the Inath knights can still win. If we let him grow, Minmay may become strong enough to challenge Ektal and that really will destroy the Federation. As you said previously. "

Overlooking the Illastein revolution had seriously damaged Amarante's political capital, the only reason why it hadn't broken up right there was because no one really liked their slavery. And that Ranra and Ektal always thought it unfair that Illastein never had to deal with monsters. Overlooking another revolution in Ektal? That would be the end of the Federation.

She put down her pencil. "If a war begins, it will not be by my hand. I believe Minmay is not stupid and he knows what the Federation will be forced to do if he tries to revolt against the capital. Nor do I believe that he has the ambition to be king. Minmay is a good person, I am sure we can come to a reasonable agreement. "

Amarante folded her hands and looked at the map of the Federation on her office wall. "The situation is similar to the Ranra Algami Border Treaty but smaller. And apart from the matter of Duport's traditional rivalry, which is no longer a problem, there is very little reason for conflict. "

She nodded to herself and continued, "Ektal likes to be in control, he's also nervous, understandably. Minmay is a good person. There is space for understanding there. If I accept that Minmay will keep his Guards, a peace and understanding between Ektal and Minmay will not be impossible. And after that disastrous Fort Yang battle, I think a strong Minmay will be needed to secure our northern borders. "

Vorril blinked. Did he just hear her say Minmay having an army was a good thing?

"Don't look like that," Amarante gently patted Vorril on the shoulder, "even I can see reason when it hits me on the head. I don't like that we are raising armies again but it seems that we can't stop it now. "

"I only hope we don't use the armies to fight each other," she sighed and looked at the map again, "it looks like my work is only going to get harder. Will you prepare an escort? I think I shall have to attend to Ektal in person. "

"Daddy!"

Minmay held out his arms as his daughter shot out of the carriage like a bullet from a gun.

"There you are!" Minmay cheered as he caught her in his arms, "you're getting big and heavy now! How are you? Did you have fun in Duport?"

"Mhm!" Arisacrota nodded, hanging off her father's shoulder like a vine, "the sea was so big! And the air smelled salty! But the people were mean and unhappy. "

Minmay raised an eyebrow at his wife directing the servants unloading the carriage, "and so, what did you learn?"

"Duport's people have a difficult time," Arisacrota explained earnestly, "I learnt that people are unhappy when they are hungry and can't buy food. So that's why we're selling them our food!"

"Good, you'll grow up to be a fine Chancellor!" Minmay grinned and hugged her gently before putting her down. His daughter just giggled as his chin stubble tickled her.

"Also, also, they had a very nice thorndown cloth! We got a whole dress made out of it!" Arisacrota added, "and we got all those plants you wanted! The magic drops are fun to play with. "

"Fun? Have you learnt how to use magic?" Minmay asked incredulously. Most noble children didn't have the patience to learn until they were a few years older than her age.

"Yup! I read that new book and practiced really hard! I can even do this now!" she exclaimed, she held out her hands and concentrated. A small spark of magic wafted out from her and a flash of light appeared in her hands for a fleeting moment.

"Liquid Light too! My, you really are hardworking, I'm very proud of you!" The girl beamed at his praises.

"Welcome home, madam," Arthur appeared in the main doorway, "if you would care for some food, dinner is ready. "

Aesin nodded back before leaving a final instruction to the gardener, "and make sure those plants get re-planted immediately. We want as many as possible to survive and they take three months to grow. "

"Is that-?"

"Yes it is," Aesin nodded at her husband, "those are samples of the mana drop bush the queen is growing. The daily drops are a source of magical power, similar to crystals. The Recordkeeper who sent us this also sent us copies of some of Amarante's letters to Ektal. "

"I'll read them later," Minmay said, "for now, let us have dinner and you can tell me about Duport and I can tell you about the riots. "

"Yes, we need to have a long talk about what is going on here. "

"And so the Order of Knights will no longer exist as a formal organization here in Minmay after two weeks," Minmay said. The dinner had wound down to dessert, a small bowl of fluffy spun sugar balls that the Chancellor's daughter was happily monopolizing. The bowl itself was magical, a toy enchantment that flung the sugar balls from the holder into her mouth when she pressed the button on the side.

"I still find it hard to believe that the knights agreed to that," Aesin shook her head.

"Oh, it still needs some work, but not all parties are stable or well known enough that bounty hunting pays well," Minmay pointed out, "the average party was more than happy to take up positions as soldiers in the Minmay Guards. Regular pay and decent weapons are good incentives despite requiring structure from them. "

"And the others?"

"The alchemists are already all getting poached, they were never proper knight members and everyone needs an alchemist nowadays," Minmay shrugged, "Em masters are being paid a lot of money to teach our soldiers Ems. The summoners are all Iris, who are allied to the university. The remaining outstanding people, I simply bribed with higher rank positions, they make good officers, and a few decided to just retire.

It took a lot of work, but I managed it with a minimum of protest. The majority of the knights now exist as a branch of the Guard answerable to the Lesser Circle. "

Aesin nodded, "so what do I hear about a purge in our city?"

"That's just Cato. Since the Guard are a strong force under my command, I simply used them to remove the criminals. And before you ask, I also applied the same laws to the barons and other nobility in the region. " Minmay sighed, "the executions and public warnings are meant to show that I'm serious about removing crime. Thieves and gangs have operated with impunity for a generation, no one would believe me unless I did something drastic. "

He waved a hand in the general direction of the city, "now? Theft and disorder are down massively. We have had only three murders reported in the last month. Shops are beginning to open after dark and the Guard patrols at all major streets really help keep them orderly. "

"I'm more worried about the impression you're giving," Aesin said, "I don't want the Chancellor's seat to gain a reputation for cruelty. Being strong and fair is good, but you don't want people to fear you or the Guard. How you dealt with the riot might have been the only way, but that still gives you a reputation for an iron fist. "

"That may be true, but I saw no other way. I still see no other way to make it look better. I'm not about to build a house for criminals. "

"It isn't about the hangings. Many peasants will view the execution of criminals favourably, but you must appear to be fair and not abusing the power to kill whoever you like. We need to make sure the people understand why this has to be done and to view crime as deserving of the punishment," Aesin mused, "perhaps if they participated in the process... no, I can see that's impossible. Perhaps if we had a clear target, an example to draw the line. "

They thought for a long moment, watching their daughter catch another sugar ball with her mouth.

"The newspapers can spread gossip, if we create gossip," Aesin frowned, thinking, "if we allow gossip of us to spread without punishment. That would be a perfect example we can point to. "

Minmay paled at the thought. "You're talking about the newspaper columns that follow Cato and Landar everywhere? The ones I told them to stop printing?"

His wife nodded, still thinking aloud. "Yes, I think the readers will gladly sell a reading of an article that is about me or Cato. It gets word out about what I'm doing and if an article or two is a little irreverent and improper, but we don't punish the writers, that will improve how we appear to the eyes of those who read it. Instead of appearing to use the Guard to crush whoever you don't like, the Chancellor will be seen to tolerate criticism and therefore appear fairer. "

She clapped her hands, "oh, and I'm sure Arisacrota would like to be talked about too!"

"What?" Minmay exclaimed.

"What?" Their daughter looked up as her name was mentioned, cheeks stuffed with sugar balls. She started chewing them quickly.

"I will not let lies and rumours slander our daughter-"

"Nonsense Min, I'll talk to the newspapers. They'll print something about our family life, or about how cute Ari is. Everyone likes children and besides, this will be a good start to let the citizens get to know her," Aesin nodded again, "mm, the occasional speculation about us will be focused on me. Nothing too drastic of course, but enough to keep us in the spotlight. "

"Mother, am I going to appear in a newspaper?" Arisacrota swallowed the snack hurriedly.

"But-"

Her mother simply overrode Minmay. "Yes, Ari, doesn't that sound wonderful? I'll invite the merchants' families over for tea and we'll write an article about a children's tea party. Wouldn't you like that?"

"A tea party! That's so exciting!" Arisacrota's eyes were sparkling.

Minmay looked at his wife and daughter planning to ask newspapers to write about them. No one had written articles about the Chancellor, despite still taking the occasional snipe at Cato, probably too afraid of being executed, like Aesin had worried about. He could see how having those tabloid articles being written about his family would take away the aura of fear.

But still, he couldn't shake the feeling that this was inviting something he wasn't sure he wanted.

"Thank you for meeting me at such short notice, Minmay," Amarante nodded as the chancellor entered the room. She kept an eye on King Ektal, watching his mouth tighten slightly.

"It is not a problem, Queen Amarante," Minmay said smoothly. But he was clearly also tense. Only to be expected, since he was in what he considered to be enemy territory in Ektal's capital city.

"Very well, I am meeting both of you here to help stabilize Ektal as a country," the queen said, nodding at Minmay as he took a seat, "despite the recent peace treaty, King Ebernet of Ranra and I myself have our doubts. And I think I speak for all of us here and in the Federation that another civil war right as the zombies are getting even more dangerous will be extremely bad, perhaps for all of us. Bad enough that Illastein is undergoing one, but monsters don't come from the south. "

"As you have expressed your concern multiple times," the king said, "nevertheless, we do have a formal peace. "

"Yet ties between you are still strained, are they not? You are still raising and training an army, and the majority of Minmay's Guards remains away from the border forts. So despite the treaty, it seems like both of you are lining up to fight each other. "

Right about here is where things would explode as both sides either justified themselves or protested her statements. But Amarante hadn't just walked into a meeting expecting to make changes. Weeks of groundwork had been laid prior to this. The only reaction to that statement was a single glance that passed between the chancellor and the king. It helped that the statement was basically true.

"The problem is trust," Minmay said finally, "I had to defend myself against Duport's open attacks, that necessitated an army. I can't get rid of the army, not when I can't trust that I will not be attacked again. " Already known to her.

The king who ought to hold the trust of his chancellors retorted immediately. "That doesn't explain the purge of all the other nobles in your territory and folding their powers and land into your own. The powers of the mayors come from the crown and you have no right to take them. Furthermore, Duport's land is his own, you are still occupying it. " And why he was saying that was also known to her.

"You are welcome to name someone to govern the territory who will not attack me again," Minmay said.

"Duport-"

Amarante closed her eyes and interrupted the king, "Duport is no longer an option. "

Both men paused for a moment before Minmay bowed slightly, "I would not have thought you capable of that. "

"King Ektal, Chancellor Minmay, I believe neither of you have a need to hash out all the difficulties you have with each other right now. From what I understand, the chancellor worries about being attacked by neighbours or subordinates he does not trust. The king is worried about Minmay growing more powerful than the capital. Do I have that right?"

They looked a little shocked. That hadn't come out of nowhere. She had just revealed their motivations she had gleaned from various letters and informants, and while she hadn't given her word that it was secret, that much was usually expected.

"You see, these goals are not incompatible. Minmay, you have no interest in Duport's territory. " Amarante got a reluctant nod him, "And King Ektal, it is Minmay's army that worries you the most. "

She got another nod. That allowed her to clap her hands together. "There! Now you see why I had those questions. Neither of you wish to fight, neither of you wish each other harm beyond just being worried of the other's power. In that case, if you can agree not to attack each other, conflict is unnecessary. "

The two men looked at each other, both wondering what the other had told the queen in supposedly private letters.

"I'm not about to disband the Guard, if that's what you're thinking," Minmay said finally.

"I can't trust Minmay not to use the Guard if he doesn't disband them," Ektal added, after a pause, "so it would seem that we are unable to agree, What next then, Queen? Since you appear to have all the answers?"

"I trust that the Guards being used to fight monsters is not an issue you have, King Ektal. No? Good, I can see that you have similar plans for your own army too, after that battle at Fort Yang. You simply cannot believe that Minmay will not use them to further upset the balance of power in your country, not when he has already occupied a neighbouring state. "

The queen next looked at the chancellor, "similarly, I am sure the good chancellor has no real need for an army, apart from monsters, if his neighbours are friendly or at least neutral. So this is what I propose. Minmay will deploy all the Guards to Wendy's Fort and Fort Yang, King Ektal will do the same. The two armies in close proximity will allow the king to keep an eye on his movements, making any attempt to use them elsewhere obvious. In return, the successor to Duport's territory will come from a neutral third party. I believe the Chancellor Aldar has a daughter who is not in the line of succession for his territory, a weak candidate like her will have no hostility to Minmay and certainly no ability to disrupt any balance of power. "

It wouldn't be that simple of course. Even if she had already sounded out the options individually with the two leaders.

"The Guards cannot all be deployed away from Minmay city, I use them for peacekeeping and enforcing the law," Minmay objected immediately. Again, also not a surprise with sufficient prior work.

The answer was likewise simple. "A small peacekeeping force could be tolerated. It cannot be large enough for any real offensive action of course. The same would of course apply to Ektal. Between rotating the soldiers away from the forts for breaks, training new recruits or other purposes, perhaps as much as one quarter of the armies would not be at the borders. But since they are away for reasons that make them hard to deploy, I believe this will not pose a threat. "

"Aldar's second daughter is not a person who can lead in a Chancellor's position," King Ektal raised his own objection, "besides, Duport's extended family still remain and they-"

"-are out of the question," Queen Amarante interjected immediately. She had to make sure the king was going to negotiate in good faith instead of spinning words. If the chancellor lost trust in the coming treaty discussion, this whole meeting could end up pointless. "Aldar's daughter was merely an example, but a truly neutral third party would be required. "

"I suppose then that asking for the relative of a mayor from the Central Territories is out of the question too?" Minmay asked mildly.

"You suppose correctly. " That would be going too far in the other direction, given how friendly the Iris were to Minmay now, and dragging the rest of the Central Territory with them. Giving the chancellor two friendly regions would be altogether too much for Ektal to accept.

King Ektal sighed, "the exact number and proportion of the troops at the forts and obligation to keep them there will be a term we need to discuss. Emergency measures for extreme situations will also be needed. For example, in case Ranra falls and we have to defend our eastern border, may Selna's light never see such a disaster. "

Minmay chimed in again, "the same for determining Duport's replacement. Aldar's daughter may sound like a good neutral choice but I agree with Ektal's statement that she is not ready for this much responsibility. And mismanagement may prove to be even more trouble than Duport's hostility. I could help but doubt my interference would be welcome. "

Amarante let out a breath she had been holding in. If they were already discussing details, even if it was just discussing which aspects of the terms were up for negotiation, that was most of the battle won. There was space for a new treaty, one more stable than the simple peace they had previously agreed to. Perhaps even the foundation for trust in the future.

"Of course, you will need to be present at the discussions," Minmay added, looking at her.

The Queen nodded. A neutral third party to arbitrate was invaluable to keep both sides honest. The leader of the Inath Federation would certainly do nicely.

There was still a lot of work left to do but she could see an peaceful end now.