By the time news of Clan Starsky's troubles reached the council of Kingdom Deargard, the Clan was already tightly under Tenebris' rule. The most important members of the council had gathered in Queen Aiko's conference room. They consisted of Ponzu, the head mage; Izak, the kingdom's financial advisor; and Ezekiel, the army's highest ranking general.
"What exactly are Tenebris' demands?" Aiko asked, her calm tone masking the intense fear she felt for this Clan. Ezekiel glanced down at the parchment in his claws.
"While her end goal is uncertain, she is demanding metals be sent to the Clan. Failure to do so may result in...certain, deadly consequences," he replied, his tone dark. "I'm assuming that means she'll be taking it out on Starsky's citizens."
Aiko turned to Izak next.
"If it's metal that Tenebris wants, then it is metal she shall receive. That seems a small sacrifice to make to save many lives. Can we afford it?"
Izak nodded, though she looked uncertain.
"We have a small supply of silver ore that we can send them. However, that is all we have; Deargard is not a mining kingdom, after all."
"Send it," Aiko commanded, and turned to Ponzu. "If you send it with magic, how long will it take to get there?"
"No longer than a day," Ponzu replied. "I will send it as soon as this meeting is over."
Aiko nodded, but the look on her face was still grim.
"In that case, this meeting is dismissed. We will bide our time; Starsky could prove an important political ally. Be ready to mobilize our forces."
"What exactly are Tenebris' demands?" Aiko asked, her calm tone masking the intense fear she felt for this Clan. Ezekiel glanced down at the parchment in his claws.
"While her end goal is uncertain, she is demanding metals be sent to the Clan. Failure to do so may result in...certain, deadly consequences," he replied, his tone dark. "I'm assuming that means she'll be taking it out on Starsky's citizens."
Aiko turned to Izak next.
"If it's metal that Tenebris wants, then it is metal she shall receive. That seems a small sacrifice to make to save many lives. Can we afford it?"
Izak nodded, though she looked uncertain.
"We have a small supply of silver ore that we can send them. However, that is all we have; Deargard is not a mining kingdom, after all."
"Send it," Aiko commanded, and turned to Ponzu. "If you send it with magic, how long will it take to get there?"
"No longer than a day," Ponzu replied. "I will send it as soon as this meeting is over."
Aiko nodded, but the look on her face was still grim.
"In that case, this meeting is dismissed. We will bide our time; Starsky could prove an important political ally. Be ready to mobilize our forces."