Part 3: Divisions, Distractions, and a Decision
Four days. It had been four days of endless debates, shouting, and threats to duel for honor. Fallsenia was getting sick of it. She just wanted to go back to her class, to finish preparing her newest project to ride the aethership into the stars, and possibly even find a trace of her mother. But no, Fallsenia had to be here, among a number of bickering Fae nobles who couldn’t agree on what color their guards’ tabards should be, let alone how the city in the sky could be handled.
She knew why Oberon wanted her to witness all of what was going on, she was part of the noble family, and might have a court of her own some day. She would need to learn how quickly alliances and rivalries could form and be dissolved. Plus it would help Fallsenia to see more of Fae politics, she had missed so much from her time in the mortals’ world. But by the Fates it gave her such a headache sometimes. Thankfully she wouldn’t be missed for a few minutes.
The view outside was different again, and she wasn’t surprised. The rift had shifted a few times, one time becoming even clearer then obscured with fog. She had been watching outside the few times she had snuck out to the balcony her uncle had arranged for her to see from. Now it looked like a perfectly sunny day in that other world, and Fallsenia longed to go up there in the ship and see it for herself.
But an even louder round of shouting drew her back inside, and Fallsenia sighed. Who had insulted what now? She returned to hear the Magrave Kennet, an older fae with a fiery beard whose power stemmed from the smithies he oversaw, jabbing a finger towards the sky. “We should be finding a way to close that abomination in the sky and not determining how to explore it! It’s unknown, dangerous and we should be protecting our kingdom, not opening it to invasion!” he bellowed, sparks literally flying from his mouth. Fallsenia had been paying enough attention to know that he led one of the three major factions that had formed as a response to the sky-rifts. The Court of Thorns was isolationist and wanted nothing to do with the people that were most likely waiting in the other city. But Fallsenia could understand them, in a sense. It was something new, alien, and potentially very dangerous. But they didn’t know for sure. The Court of Thorns didn’t know, and didn’t want to find out.
In response, Verseau raised an eyebrow and shook her head. “You seek to deny us possible knowledge, friendship, and resources, while we seek to find out what all could gain from those in the angal-realm. You are reacting from fear, and we from curiosity,” she said calmly. Fallsenia found herself admiring the calm from the Library’s steward. She could look at the situation calmly and from different perspectives. She headed the Horizon Seekers, those who sought knowledge and information from anywhere that was possible, as well as trading for new materials from that mirror-realm. The idea excited Fallsenia, especially with the elemental forge that she had access to, and she wondered what kinds of books and texts that other city had.
A third voice spoke up, and Fallsenia eyed the soft spoken noble. They dressed richly in spider-silk and water-cloth, but wore no shoes. Mostly because their feet didn’t touch the ground, the fae was held aloft by blue-green butterfly wings. She knew the Teal Baron was a merchant, trading in textiles of all kinds, and had amassed power by also trading in favors. There was also a small mercenary force associated with the Baron’s power, given that cargos often needed protection. They spoke in a low, musical voice, trying to be a voice of reason. “And we would act from cautious optimism. I propose that we go to that rift in the sky, learn what we can, trade what we can. But we absolutely cannot leave the area unguarded. While some may be willing to let ideas and information flow freely between the two realms, I am not convinced. The Silver Wardens would act both in curiosity and caution,” they said, eying Verseau, then Kennet.
Shifting her gaze between the three and absorbed in the political drama playing out below her, Fallsenia had to stifle what would have been an undignified yelp at the tap on her shoulder. It was only her uncle’s seneschal, but her attention had been completely stolen. The seneschal explained that Oberon requested her presence immediately, and there would be time for watching the three below later. Following him, Fallsenia was led down a quiet corridor and into an antechamber that held a table, several chairs, and a side-table with bottles and glasses. Her uncle already occupied one of the chairs and he gestured to Fallsenia to sit in another. A few other nobles soon joined and Oberon stood, speaking while servants quietly served goblets of moon-water.
“So we stand at three choices, it would seem. Close off any exchange with whomever is on the other side of the veil, cautious and regulated trade and exchange of information, or a free flow of ideas, trade, and possibly people. Though I rule this court, the decision is not mine alone. I would hear what all of you have to say,” he concluded before sitting in his chair and letting the debate begin. Fallsenia was listening, but also thinking about what the three nobles not present had said. She didn’t want to just think of what was best for her, but the realm as a whole. It took her a few moments to realize that her uncle was addressing her directly. “Unfortunately, I do need an answer soon, as the situation keeps changing. I value my niece’s opinion as she has widely traveled. So, were this wholly on your shoulders, which path would you choose, Fallsenia?” her uncle asked, Oberon’s voice calm but his eyes were dancing with curiosity.
Slumping in her chair for a moment, Fallsenia had to think quickly. What would she choose?
