Chaos was threatening to seize control of Minaris. In the weeks since the Naga attack that ended with the death of Duke Leonell, along with many of his spell weavers; it had become apparent to the surviving Duchess that not everything was as it seemed. A divisive faction had taken root, claiming that the Duchess was not the one who should inherit control of Drakefall; due in part to the fact that she was not nobility by blood... and also because she was a woman.
With her daughter, Aviana, sent away, there was no direct heir to take the throne. Which meant there was no way to bide time as the remaining nobles squabbled over who would be an appropriate husband -- and thus, who would wrestle control of the city into their own family name.
The only thing that had kept the court from outright overthrowing Keyleth, was who the Royal Guard gave their loyalties. And it was not to the men of the court.
Fighting had broken out in the first week, but it was quickly quashed when the Guard did not back down from their posts, nor did the citizens of Minaris rise up against their Duchess. The loyalty displayed by her men, and by her followers, had filled Keyleth with pride, and given her the strength she needed to continue her duties.
There had been much to do after the attack, and she used that need to focus the people of Minaris. Their dead were buried at sea, as was tradition. Repairs were affected to the damaged infrastructure and buildings. The grieving process had begun, but it would allow Minaris to heal.
Now, a tension hung in the air.
The mists clung to the outer edges of the territory, blocking travel both to and from the island. Her husband had sacrificed everything to raise those walls in order to protect the city, but now Keyleth questioned the decision; however, she did not regret sending her daughter away. If she had stayed, she would have been forced into a marriage in order to appease the demands of the noble houses.
All she could do now, was hope that Aviana was safe.
She stood in the throne room, gazing out the massive windows that overlooked the bay. In the distance, she could see the shroud of mist that encircled the inlet, cutting off the city from the rest of the world entirely. It was difficult to keep her thoughts from straying. While the Duke and her had a strained marriage, they had still been dear friends and respected one another. His loss weighed heavily on her, but she had not yet been afforded the opportunity to grieve his loss... or that of her daughter, who she wondered if she would ever see again.
She wasn't sure if she would ever get the chance to do so.
Something in the mist caught her eye and her brow furrowed slightly.
Scattered across the rocks at the very edges of the mistwall, was the wreckage of a ship. It was the first sign of the world beyond the mist that they'd had since the initial attack. Perhaps there were survivors...
Moving quickly, she spun away from the window and started to cross the massive, empty floor. The guard captain by the door tensed slightly at her approach, seeing the strained expression on her face. "My Lady?"
"Have Wiloughby ready the infirmary, Captain. Close the gates and do not let anyone other than myself, and the men I take with me, leave the city walls."
"Lady Selai... you've a meeting with Lord Cossick in twenty minutes?" His tone made it clear that he believed the Duchess had forgotten.
Keyleth scoffed, moving towards the door. "Tell Mathias that he can wait to make his next complaint about how I am not a man, until after I've returned."
Within ten minutes, Keyleth had saddled her own massive black elk and gathered three of her most trusted guards. The gates to the city rolling shut as the small rescue party charged out into the fading daylight.
With her daughter, Aviana, sent away, there was no direct heir to take the throne. Which meant there was no way to bide time as the remaining nobles squabbled over who would be an appropriate husband -- and thus, who would wrestle control of the city into their own family name.
The only thing that had kept the court from outright overthrowing Keyleth, was who the Royal Guard gave their loyalties. And it was not to the men of the court.
Fighting had broken out in the first week, but it was quickly quashed when the Guard did not back down from their posts, nor did the citizens of Minaris rise up against their Duchess. The loyalty displayed by her men, and by her followers, had filled Keyleth with pride, and given her the strength she needed to continue her duties.
There had been much to do after the attack, and she used that need to focus the people of Minaris. Their dead were buried at sea, as was tradition. Repairs were affected to the damaged infrastructure and buildings. The grieving process had begun, but it would allow Minaris to heal.
Now, a tension hung in the air.
The mists clung to the outer edges of the territory, blocking travel both to and from the island. Her husband had sacrificed everything to raise those walls in order to protect the city, but now Keyleth questioned the decision; however, she did not regret sending her daughter away. If she had stayed, she would have been forced into a marriage in order to appease the demands of the noble houses.
All she could do now, was hope that Aviana was safe.
She wasn't sure if she would ever get the chance to do so.
Something in the mist caught her eye and her brow furrowed slightly.
Scattered across the rocks at the very edges of the mistwall, was the wreckage of a ship. It was the first sign of the world beyond the mist that they'd had since the initial attack. Perhaps there were survivors...
Moving quickly, she spun away from the window and started to cross the massive, empty floor. The guard captain by the door tensed slightly at her approach, seeing the strained expression on her face. "My Lady?"
"Have Wiloughby ready the infirmary, Captain. Close the gates and do not let anyone other than myself, and the men I take with me, leave the city walls."
"Lady Selai... you've a meeting with Lord Cossick in twenty minutes?" His tone made it clear that he believed the Duchess had forgotten.
Keyleth scoffed, moving towards the door. "Tell Mathias that he can wait to make his next complaint about how I am not a man, until after I've returned."
Within ten minutes, Keyleth had saddled her own massive black elk and gathered three of her most trusted guards. The gates to the city rolling shut as the small rescue party charged out into the fading daylight.
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