Foreign Affairs
Chapter 1.5
Stella Aitris sat upon her throne of Dark Chitin; the only one in all the Grand Isles. On a more technical level, the last of its kind. Dark Chitin can still be found, but the knowledge and tools used to forge and shape it have been lost to history. One might think sitting on a throne that could seat someone thrice her size would make Stella look small, but she filled its seat as if it was always meant for her. A few feet from her dias, three of her advisors stood around a long table covered in maps; Dimre the Spymaster, Sekator the Artificer, and her head of guard Rovae.
“So you still can’t find me the Voidstone?” asked the Queen.
“We’ve searched all the Isles, my liege.” answered Dimre, royal spymaster.
“And so…” she continued, letting the prompt linger as she waited for a more helpful response.
“And so we must expand the search again.” interjected Sekator.
“Beyond Runeria, I have my nose in every city of the Gra-”
“Let the artificer speak, Dimre.” asserted the Queen. “You’ve made it clear you have no new leads.”
“Thank you, my liege,” said Sekator. “There are realms that still remain unturned; Paradiso, Hellgate, the Verboten Library, the Tunnels of-”
“There are no tunnels beneath the black sands.” argued Dimre.
“You are dismissed, Dimre.” stated Stella, the spymaster leaving without argument.
“Rovae, how is the northern border?” she inquired toward the old veteran. “Would they grant us an expedition into the Depths?”
“There is no approval that would get us into the mountain without conflict.” answered Rovae, Head of the Guard. “With time, I can derive us the route of least resistance.”
“How long?” she asked the swordsman.
“A month’s time and I can have a troop marching North, my queen.”
“Then start choosing your men, Rovae. Steiman will act as head in your absence.” dismissing the old man with a wave of the hand.