Keeper of Life - NaPoWrMo Entry

Valor stepped into the room, a hearth burnt in the corner despite the already warm air. The velvet carpet felt slippery under her hooves and only reminded Valor of blood. 'Eye's everywhere,' she thought as she spied the many paintings lining the wall. All the queens that have come to pass. Queen Emerald hung over the throne, overshadowing them all. She was “The” Queen, the image to look up to. 'Literally,' Valor thought. Chancellors and advisers stood around a large marble table and she joined them, the major in tow.

They both bowed to the throne and took their respective places. Water had been placed before them but neither felt thirsty. She looked around to see chattering and mild squabbling among the advisers about festival preparation and ideas. 'Such petty problems,' she thought shaking her head.

“Thank you for joining us Matriarch Valor,” the queen said.

“Of course Your Majesty,” Valor said dipping her head.

“And this is?”

“Major Brisk, acting commander of the guard,” she introduced.

“Well then Commander, congratulations on your promotion. I trust that was in order Matriarch?” she asked.

“Yes Your Majesty, my thanks for speeding up military bureaucracy.” The queen nodded and motioned for the guards to shut the door as one last member entered. She waited for him to bow and take position around the table with the rest of them.

Valor stood and listened as they all droned on about problems with the festival, about logistics and renovation of the city. The new commander seemed restless and uneasy.

“Relax, it's always like this,” she whispered. “The frivolous issues are taken up first and we close on the serious ones.” The commander raised a brow in a 'well that doesn't make any sense' fashion. “I know, but I'm not the one in charge,” Valor answered.

They waited respectively until the queen broached the topic of public perception in relation to the festival.

“Commander, I want all troops currently utilizing city property to return to their normal station,” she said. Brisk shot Valor an inquisitive look, not knowing how these meetings play out. Valor interjected for him.

“Your Majesty, with respect we have them stationed outside the wall because we've not the facilities inside. Putting them inside the wall would only put their safety in jeopardy. Our plan is-”

“They're soldiers, they're supposed to be in there protecting us!” a councilor yelled.

“They are protecting you!” the commander retorted slamming a hoof against the table.

“Enough!” the queen bellowed, all voices stopped. “Public perception must be maintained. If word got out that the barrier had been breached it could cause all manners of panic and disorder. This would only aid the invaders, and would damage the festivities and the ceremony. Commander, I expect you to resolve the situation. And Matriarch you are to assist our new commander in any way necessary, including strategic assets.” Valor nodded.

“Yes Your Majesty,” she answered.

Yet as she did the table was struck alight. Voices rose and fell as they jabbered about a breech in the barrier, what it would mean and why the guard wasn't doing more.

“Isn't this why we have you Matriarch?” one cried. She didn't give him the satisfaction of an answer. Of course they already all knew, or had been informed at least. Whether they choose to dismiss the information or outright ignore it was beyond Valor, though she could care less. 'Idiots,' she thought, 'every one.'

“Silence!” The queen's voice roared. “I will hear no more of this.” The room stilled until not even the chancellors breath could be heard. “Good, now, I expect everything else is going as planned?” she asked.

“Yes Your Majesty, all preparations have been made and are ahead of schedule as you've requested,” the head tender said.

“Good. This festival marks an important time in our history, a time when we shall finally be at peace, when we no longer need to fear, when we can expand into the outer court, when a guards presence will be unnecessary. Finally after all these years the barrier become impenetrable. Nothing will be able to enter our sanctuary and all of you are helping to make this dream come true,” she said, the regality in her voice ringing true. “Those living under The Tree owe all of you a great debt for the service you've provided, and I'm very proud. But, our duties are not over yet, and we've obstacles to over come. We must remember they are only obstacles, and we shall, with time, overcome them,” she said passing a glance toward Valor and the commander. “I expect great work out of all of you. I'll expect you all to be in attendance after the festival, good luck.”

They all bowed and made their way out of the throne room. The guards shut the door behind them and it filled the hall, and her ears, with thunderous echo.

The commander sighed and readjusted his shoulders as if realigning his attitude. “We'll have to reallocate positions, I'll be in liaison with the other district majors. At least now I'll have the authority to do what I need without bothering you,” he said.

“Indeed,” Valor answered. “Congratulations on the promotion, though we all knew it would be a matter of time, one way or another.”

“I wish it was under better situations.”

“Don't we all, but we've more pressing concerns. I would rather do this my way, but plans change. I'll be tasking out five of my casters, use them as scanners. They'll be able to reveal any subterfuge. I expect you to set up checkpoints, and to straighten up shift management. I know Commander Bright left things in a mess but we have to resolve that,” she said.

“I've already been working on it. The nominal roll is being completely rebuilt, now we'll be able to see how many hooves we have on the ground, where and when. I'm going to be promoting a few captains, I need better micromanagement of who's going in and out,” he said.

“Good, don't be afraid of making changes. We've let too many years of calm dull our edge. Though I suppose you'll all be reassigned soon,” she said to the sigh of the commander.

“Well you and your guardians will still have a job. Not that there has ever been a real security issue from the inside,” he said with a shrug. “Care to use another?”

“Sorry Commander, no magic, no entry, but we could use logistic officers. Besides, we haven't had a threat from outside in our lifetimes either.”

“Touche,” he replied, and they returned to topics of logistics and strategy.