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So you see Lawsend’s City was everything and even King Taelin once proclaimed it as “Fun City” and that’s because the good folks in the city liked to have fun every single time and almost half of them weren’t Prophisians. If you thought Raven came alive during the night, or King’s City or Blackmount. Then it’s possible you’ve never visited Lawsend’s City and spent a night.

From acrobatic shows to women dancing half naked in the streets, Lawsend City did give what was supposed to be given. Now, three days after the Wrath of Artodo and it had turned to a ghost city. The whole city was covered in total morbid silence and those who visited it after the catastrophic claimed they could still feel the heat from underneath the ground.

Others claimed even after a week, the heavy smoke still lingered in the open sky and the burned bodies still graced the cold. Cregan Lawsend was nowhere to be seen, and neither were his men. The Lawsend banners had fallen and the Squire banners were raised with the lions all over the sigils, to commemorate Aryan’s victory although it was never really a victory.

New Lords were appointed to King’s City and Bellward, Lord Howsley of House Blackgard and the second wealthiest man in Raven was appointed as the new Lord of King’s City. The Lord of Bellward’s name was lost in the chronicles and that’s because Aryan wasn’t the one who appointed these Lords. It was Sir Thomas Buken, the Hand of the Queen who made these appointments a week after the Wrath of Artodo and he urged the Lords to work in raising armies and help the good folks in healing from the catastrophe.

Only the small council knew the whole consequences of the battle and the number of men Aryan had lost in the battle. Sir Thomas gave out a report that almost half of the Prophis army was wiped out with the flames. “Cregan took his men, all eighty thousand of them and crossed the Dead Sea with one thousand ships. My suggestion is perhaps he is heading towards Lydia or Andreia” he said during a council meeting.

Aryan sat at the main chair quietly as she seemed to be so taken by her own thoughts, she had her brother’s crown on her head ─ the golden crown surrounded by blue sapphires. Aryan remembered the day she brought the crown to her twin brother, it was right after he won the war and this crown was freshly forged in Penrith. She never expected one day she will wear it as the Queen of Prophis, but here she was with her left hand burned and yet to heal.

Alongside Aryan was Olivia, she wore a purple silk dress which was embroiled with golden threads. Just last night these two had a heated argument inside their chambers about abandoning everything and just elope to an unknown city and forget everything. Aryan completely refused Olivia’s advice, she thought Olivia had taken her for a coward but Olivia only meant good for her. It ended with no suitable answer, but Olivia had hope that’s why she was still in the capital.

.....

Sir Thomas led the meeting, and Lord Howsley attended his first council meeting and the other Lord of Bellward. Tyriol wouldn’t miss the meeting and he was standing beside the doorway straight with his helmet on, he looked like a statue in exhibition. Rush also attended the meeting and she seemed to be so worried about Aryan, and she could have asked how she was doing after the battle took a toll on her ─ but Olivia was present everywhere in such away she didn’t get an alone time with Aryan.

So seven of the most powerful people in the whole of Prophis sat inside the council chamber having a deep conversation on how to save the realm after it’s huge defeat. The royal treasure was almost empty and that’s because the wagons containing the golds which Aryan wanted to take them back to the capital burned right at the city and completely melted. Aryan saw it with her own eyes as the liquefied gold ran out of the wagons.

“Where is his wife and daughter?” asked Lord Howsley, he was too slow to speech but that didn’t mean he was weak or not well informed. Lord Howsley always said he preferred to listen than talk every time and that’s how he outlived and survived all these years.

Sir Thomas replied “She was whisked away by ten of Cregan’s men before we attacked. The harbor was surrounded by our men, hence it’s within my knowledge that perhaps she…” he halted to take a breather and then continued “She used the other part of the ocean which we didn’t cover”

Then there was a silent moment again. Aryan didn’t utter even a single word since she sat on her chair and wore the crown. She was like this when Gandalf died, it’s this self-guilt situation which seemed to trouble her whenever she fails her brother.

Olivia turned to look at Sir Thomas “Where is Cregan right now?” she asked.

“My spies have yet to locate him my Lady, but… we have located his ships and as I said, it’s either Lydia or Andreia. We are not yet sure”

Suddenly, Aryan quipped and spoke, “He is sailing to Lydia” she said still leaning on the chair. “Andreia is too huge for him to take it and the Lords of Andreia are wealthy while he has lost everything. He will attack Lydia with his army and by nightfall he will be the new Lord, it’s a small island”

“Indeed Your Grace, clever thinking” added Lord Howsley and smirked, but he was met with Aryan’s serious gesture which showed no sign of smiling nor any sign of being pleased by the remark.

Sir Thomas took out his piece of paper, an ink and quill, then he wrote the word Lydia on his sort of a vague map. Then he straightened his cloak and looked at Aryan “I shall have my spies look into it Your Grace. In the meantime, we cannot afford any more wars, feasts or festivities until we fill our coffers. We have a winter upon us and we have no idea for how long it will last, I suggest we lay low for now and pray to the gods the dragons never make it North” that’s how Sir Thomas, the Hand finished the meeting and left everyone satisfied with his tactics.

Olivia decided to add a suggestion before the meeting was closed, “How about we sell the slaves and criminals in return for gold, there are so many outlaws right here in our dungeons and in all the cities. Let’s sell them for gold and use the gold to buy food from the Liberty Cities since our lands are too frozen to grow anything, that will help us in this cruel winter” she said carefully with a sharp mind.

Aryan was impressed by Olivia’s commitment to saving the realm while she had just advised her they should run away last night, a smile escaped through her lips. “What are you waiting for Sir Thomas, the Mistress of Coin has just advised you on how to fill our coffers. You better do it right now…’

Olivia was struck with wonderment “Mistress of Coin?” she asked Aryan, her eyes widened with amazement.

“Yes, I Aryan Squire, first of my name. Queen of Prophis, The Good Folks and Mighty Lions. The Lady of Stonedance and Protector of the Realm hereby appoints you, Lady Olivia Kent as the new Mistress of Coin”

At first this seemed so rushed and unreal, everyone inside the council chamber was caught off-guard by the appointment which wasn’t planned and nor did Aryan herself planned it. The only person who didn’t like the appointment was Mistress of the Spies, Rush but she hid her disappointment with a fake smile.

Sir Thomas raised his cup “Hear, hear! Lady Kent, Mistress of the Coin” and then everyone raised their cups and made a toast for Olivia. Aryan assured Olivia that she deserved the title because she was well good with finances ever since they were in Old City.

Somehow this new appointment brought a relief to Aryan’s council after the suffered the huge blow. They were to focus on the winter and how to stay alive, wars and revenge can wait, Aryan thought so and this was Olivia’s advice which she took it very well.