Knights of Aralia Book II: Evil Rising

Chapter VII: Deliberation

The Council of Aralia was the most ancient and revered institution of Aralian life. It had been founded along with the city itself in the time of the first king, Alenius of Akatier. It was a simple idea, really, inspired by Alenius’s travels before coming to the island. It made all the major decisions like the councils of the High North, had an uneven number of members to prevent tie votes like those that occasionally happened in Hengoroth’s Draakhlin, and its members were elected directly by the Aralians themselves like the members of the Senate in Emprius. While the king presided over the meetings, he had no more power than any other Council member, just as Alenius had wanted it. As all members were themselves knights, it generally did a fine job of governing the community according to the will of its citizens.

To help ensure this, outside observers, both inhabitants of Aralia and visitors from foreign lands, were allowed to sit in the seats around the chamber floor and observe the open sessions. The only closed sessions were those in which the Council was assigning knights to a mission or when confidential matters concerning aspects of military importance were involved. On this day, however, the session was semi-open, meaning that only officers of a certain rank or above could observe. These privileged few now flocked to the Council Chamber to witness the first session devoted to the matter of whether or not to enter into a war against the Kingdom of Cairaga.

As things settled down and King Frolin called everyone to order, Lord Elezier, never one to lack an opinion, volunteered first to argue for declaring war. He stood up from his seat and stepped out into the middle of the floor where any member intending to make a speech or opening argument always stood.

“My fellow Aralians,” he began. “This day we convene to discuss a very delicate matter. We are all aware of the recent Cairagan movements across and around the Great Plains, some of them outright hostile in nature. Therefore, it is up to us to decide whether or not, in the case of a Cairagan attack, we are to commit ourselves to assisting the forces of the West in repulsing the aggressors.

“Based on their recent actions, it seems quite plain to me that the Cairaga do indeed intend to invade the Kingdom of Ralgar, if they have not already done so. I am not, and have never been since coming to Aralia, one to jump blindly into war without proper motivation. However, in the case of the Cairaga, I believe it may actually be best if we perform a pre-emptive strike by declaring war first. After all, it is our solemn duty through our oath and our friendship with the Western Alliance to aid them in times of conflict, should it be deemed just and right. The sovereignty of our long-time ally Ralgar is as just a cause as any I can think of, and without hesitation, I believe it is in our best interests to declare a war upon this overreaching invader.”

A round of applause rang out for Lord Elezier as he resumed his seat to the left of the king. The applause went on for several seconds as Lord Pélégor stood up.

“The Council recognizes Lord Pélégor of Dagland,” King Frolin acknowledged him.

“Very well spoken, Lord Elezier,” began Lord Pélégor modestly enough. “I can see that you have kept your eye on foreign affairs these past decades.”

“As a knight of this order, it is my duty to do so, Lord Pélégor,” answered Elezier.

“However, I do not see how, in your infinite wisdom, you could overlook the fact that the Cairagan actions are perfectly legal in the eyes of the West. If the Cairaga have a trade dispute with a nation, it is their right to use such measures as they see fit to settle the dispute. It is hardly an indicator that they have any intention to take Ralgar for their own.”

“There I beg to differ with you, friend,” spoke Elezier in an equally patronizing tone. “Have we not stood by and seen in this past century alone how this small tribe from the northeast has proceeded to pacify and unite its once disparate neighbours one after the other to form the great mass it is today? It is true, King Alexei II was allied to us in the days of old despite his expansion into the Great Plains. But his son Nikolai has as yet shown no signs of upholding his father’s friendly disposition. On the contrary, he has proceeded to grab up more land than his father and grandfather combined. He has in effect annexed the entire Plains Confederacy.

“The Cairagan people may not be warlike in their intentions, but fed on by their overly ambitious leaders and the unstoppable conquests of years past, I hardly think they would object to having a bit more. It is no longer a kingdom Lord Caritus desires, but an empire. His very insistence on being called Lord Caritus rather than King Nikolai proves that.”

“What you say may be quite true,” retorted Pélégor, “but surely one of your vast years need not be reminded that until quite recently the West was known as an empire as well.”

“Quite so, Lord Pélégor. The difference consists of the fact that the Western Empire was formed and governed by several nations jointly for the good of all involved, whereas the Cairaga are but one people seeking to dominate the whole. And if these rumours of an alliance with the Aylar prove true, then they will have the forces necessary not only to conquer, but to silence any who would dare to express a desire for self-governance.”

“You have no proof of such an alliance,” said Pélégor sharply.

“Think for a moment,” pressed Elezier, now reclaiming the offensive. “How else could the Aylarine raiders have possibly slipped over the Bluefalls? The West is in a state of war with them already, and no ships bearing their banner have been sighted near our shores since that war was declared. They obviously had to pass through the Kingdom of Cairaga to reach the mountains, and Lord Caritus gave them no trouble along the way. I would even go so far as to say he abetted them.”

“What you say is treasonous to my ears, Elezier! You are inveighing against our eternal ally, with whom the Western Alliance has had splendid relations for many years now, as you yourself said but moments ago.”

“Have we, then, come to an age in which we are no longer able to speak our minds as we see fit, Lord Pélégor?”

“Speak your mind as often as you wish, Lord Elezier. I’ve no quarrel with your right of expression. But do not let your own opinions interfere with statement of fact, as you now appear to do in the form of these false accusations.”

“My admittedly opinionated accusations, Alton, have yet to be proven false.”

“They’ve yet to be proven true, more like.”

“I cannot agree that the Cairaga have no intentions to expand,” continued Elezier, undaunted by the retort. “Their army has grown larger in recent years, it is a fact. And they know perfectly well that in blockading Ralgar, they are denying it any of the sustenance it requires from the rest of the world to survive. The Cairaga block its trade from the east and the Aylarine raiders from the west. The Cairagan navy watches the northern coast like a hawk. That leaves only Gathor to the south, and no doubt they’ve plans to cut that off too, before much longer, thereby starving the Ralgarians into submission. As far as I am concerned, the Cairaga have declared their war and made the first move. We have just been too slow to act on it.”

“If I may,” spoke a deep, elderly voice beside the king.

“By all means, Lord Janssen,” Frolin quickly acknowledged the ancient blue-scaled Draga, glad to have someone else join in. The other two reluctantly sat down.

“I know well the truth of what Lord Elezier says,” said Janssen in his somewhat lumbering manner. For in addition to being very advanced in years, he had never been the quickest of his kind. “But Lord Pélégor speaks true, too. We cannot declare war without being certain that it is an enemy we make war on. And even should they prove so, what army shall we fight them with? We have fewer knights every week, it seems, and many of those we have are in the South at this time.”

Another Draga with faded rosy-hued scales stood up. Frolin recognized her as Lady Vandermeer, and she promptly opened up:

“We are well aware of our current engagement with the forces of Aylland in the Far South. However, if these two massive powers are indeed united as looks to be the case, then it seems to me we have bigger problems to worry about on our own borders that may necessitate withdrawing those troops to defend the West.”

“Right you are, my lady,” Elezier picked up the argument again. “But if this alliance exists, then I fear we would be fighting not only an enemy army, but a malevolent force fuelled on by an inimical idea. One which threatens all that we as knights stand for. It is a thing which we are sworn to defend Aralia and others against, whatever the cost to ourselves. That idea is nothing less than the absolute domination of the world by tyrants who would make us slaves in our own lands.”

“What good can we do, then?” countered Pélégor. “What good are swords against ideals?”

No one had an answer, so he continued.

“And what if you are right, Elezier?” Pélégor smoothly took up Janssen’s approach. “What if the Cairaga have invaded Ralgar? Ralgarian horsemen are known to have participated in an insurrection by Cairagan subject peoples against their sovereign rulers. Is that not just cause?”

Ere Elezier could counter, Pélégor drove his point home:

“And what if the Cairaga have joined the Aylar—something which would never happen, I reiterate. What if they swept together with ill intent across the West, so weakened over time from civil wars and lack of true leadership? What then? What can a small island of knights do but fight and die alongside all those comparatively tiny armies on the mainland who would stand in their way, hmm?”

He waved his hand in a dismissive gesture and sat down, feeling he had won without question.

“We can do no more than that, Pélégor,” said Elezier firmly. “And nothing would do us greater honour, I assure you. Better to die a knight in defence of the right than to live an eternity as a coward in the shame of s*****y and a broken oath. Though, perhaps there are some here who would disagree?”

Lord Elezier stared coldly at Pélégor, who shot up out of his seat with sheer indignation. Elezier, seeing he had struck a nerve, was about to press the issue when King Frolin stood up.

“That is quite enough, councillors,” he broke in. “I think it is time we adjourned for the day. We will gather again tomorrow evening to discuss this matter further. A final vote will not be taken until our mainland expedition returns, or until two months have passed.”

“If it is not too late by then,” muttered Elezier, shaking his head.

Reluctantly the two opponents retreated from the floor, each retiring to his fellows. The spectators of this heated debate were quick to disperse once the debate was over, filing out of the Council Chamber with conversations flowing freely about the lively spectacle they’d just witnessed. Lord Elezier left in the company of King Frolin and Queen Falin.

“You held your own well in there, my friend,” remarked the king. “Lord Pélégor is a very gifted speaker on his part.”

“Indeed he is,” said Elezier with some concern. “His words are his most powerful weapon. However, he speaks with the sole purpose of convincing others, rather than telling things as they are. It is not he himself who concerns me so much as those who are drawn in by his eloquence. I know they are sensible, but their willingness to believe such hollow words does trouble me.”

“But they are not idle words, Elezier,” said Falin. “He speaks truth, for his part. And he wields the correspondence from Lieutenant Abendroth as proof.”

“I am aware of that. But I have read the letter myself, and I am obliged to say that something of the writing style leads me to certain...doubts.”

“You challenge the authenticity of the words, Elezier?” questioned Frolin with a look of astonishment.

“I would not go so far as that yet,” replied Elezier. “Suspicion alone is not strong enough for such accusations. It is possible that my mere dislike of Pélégor leads me to see things which are not really there, and it is far below a knight of this order to condemn another based on personal disfavour alone. Nevertheless, I refuse to believe Lord Pélégor could be so blind as to completely ignore the possibility of a Cairagan invasion.”

“You and I both, my old friend. But the Council members are sensible knights, as you say, and whatever the case, I have full confidence in them to find the truth and do what is right in the end.”

“As have I, Your Majesty. But confidence alone does not win arguments. Or wars.”