As long as there is life in Beqanna, there will be war. It's a fact of life. The residents grow restless with peace, and I don't care if a kingdom has a peaceful background or not, nothing lights a fervor in one's breast like a call to fight. Personally I'm not about glory or liberty or anything particularly noble. I have an end game of strength for the Valley (no secret there) but the journey is the part I'm enjoying. Chaos. The scramble of hooves and the ache of muscles pushed to their limits.
I was never that good of a diplomat. In fact, (and we'll see how long it takes Fennick to notice), I've done away with the Valley's diplomatic caste. Intelligence is what we really need. It's far more useful. And to be perfectly frank, we suck at diplomacy. I mean, our king just kidnapped the daughter of a potential ally. I'm pretty sure that's a fail.
"I can't imagine why they want revenge." I say with dry amusement. It couldn't be that their tree is lying smolders, thanks not in small part to my own child. He probably needed beaten more as a child. "Whether they can gather their strength to achieve their goal is doubtful. But the fight would be one worth waging."
As for the Amazons. I can never decide if I want to fight them or ally with them. It's a toss up. They would be formidable foes and I can't deny that I'd like the chance to test our mettle against theirs. I wouldn't be surprised if Straia felt similarly.
Of course, I don't know because of her damned mind raven. Gods, I hate my son. This is his fault.
"Magnus." I say, and my voice is a sneer. That do-gooding idiot is everywhere and he seems to have a particular hatred for the Valley. I get the feeling that he thinks he's better than the place of his birth. I wouldn't mind the chance to correct his assumption. "Both have their merits. Letting them come to us has the advantage of knowing the terrain, but it puts our own kingdoms at risk. Hitting them before they get to us gives us surprise, which I always love, as well as demoralizes a kingdom that has already been hit where it hurts most. They will be distracted, defensive and not thinking clearly." I muse aloud. "For that reason alone, I lean towards attacking. But what are your thoughts on the matter?"
Let no one say I don't know how to be polite. I know how. It's the desire I struggle with.
G A L L O W S
We must all hang together or, assuredly, we shall all hang separately.
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