Chapter 31
A Council Of War a Proposal For Peace
As a fuller understanding of what had transpired under Duke
Elnard's rule came to light, a council was called. Word had it that Andrew,
Duke Elnard's son, was preparing for war. If he chose to attack and had
Esconodia with him, the balance of power would likely be shifted against
the southern provinces. The generals were called in, Jacob and Marie were
asked to attend, as were some of the major diplomats, and, of course, Lord
High Chamberlain.
The generals dominated the discussion. They were of a mind that
they needed to attack at once while the surprise could be on their side, and
before Esconodia had a chance to bring their forces into Bernodia.
Louise felt horrible about this. How could she have let things go so
far? She wished she would have listened to Matthew and not put Tobias
over Bernodia. Since their return, Matthew had explained to her about
Tobias's threats and his own poor judgement regarding bringing charges
against him. She understood how hard it must have been. Tobias was not
only one of Matthew's men, but, because of his love for Eldna, he could not
bring himself to destroy her son.
What a strange web life weaves for each of us, Louise mused.
Actions and inactions, love and loss, many years later affect our judgement
and change the course of our lives when they may seem insignificant at the
time.
Matthew begged her forgiveness and told her he would tender his
resignation immediately.
"Matthew," she had said, "you are more than forgiven. But I will
not accept your resignation. I don't want you to ever mention it again. I
can't imagine acting any differently than you did under the circumstances,
and I need your wisdom now more than ever."
He bowed to her, and she could see the tears of gratitude in his eyes.
He had carried a heavy burden for way too long, blaming himself for the
problems he saw around them. He now stood silently in the council room,
and she knew he still felt much of the blame was his.
In the council room there was a spirit rising that she didn't like.
There was the sentiment expressed by some of the generals that Jacob, a
Bernodian, should be removed. They treated him as a spy. Her anger
finally got the best of her.
"Must I remind you," the queen said, "that Jacob will soon be my
son-in-law and will therefore outrank all of you. Furthermore, must I also
remind you that Lord High Chamberlain is Bernodian, and my daughter is
half Bernodian. For that reason, and for my love for my husband,
Alexander, I feel a great kinship to Bernodia, as well. I feel more loyalty
from those in this room that are Bernodian than I am sensing from many of
the rest of you, and perhaps I should reconsider your positions. I could
easily put more loyal men in your places."
They became quiet and sullen after that, but she wasn't through. She
continued to speak forcefully. "One of Alexander's greatest concerns about
how our military is run is that those who have nobility of birth are given
rank in the army, often passing over more qualified men."
Encouraged by her own words, and driven by her anger, she
continued. "I make a decree, here and now, that rank advancement due to
bloodlines will end, and all men will be expected to serve in the military,
regardless of birthright. Furthermore, all men will start at the bottom rank
and their advancement will be based on merit only."
One of the generals objected timidly. "But that will defy all
tradition."
Louise was not to be denied. "Tradition be hanged! Tradition has
caused the problems we face now."
No one dared question her further on the matter. As things calmed
down again, Louise turned to Lord High Chamberlain. "Matthew, you have
been quiet during this discussion. What have you to say?"
Lord High Chamberlain stepped to the center of the room and bowed
to the queen. He turned and scanned the room, stood nobly, then finally
spoke.
"In war, it is not just the guilty that die. We should not be afraid to
prepare for war, but also not be too proud to strive for peace. The
Bernodians are in rebellion because they have been misinformed and
mistreated. The best offense against misinformation is the truth."
"But," one general asked, "how do we get the truth to them if they
do not trust us?"
Lord High Chamberlain stood quietly for a moment deep in thought.
Then he spoke. "I feel the queen's own statement here in this council about
the loyalty of many Bernodians is the key. Throughout this land are many
Bernodians, and perhaps even a few Esconodians, that are loyal and friendly
to us. If we can enlist them in our cause, perhaps the truth can be made
known. If we can get them to take documents into their towns and villages
and explain that it has been Duke Elnard that has done this, the word will
hopefully spread, and we might be able to undermine the support of the
army he has raised in Bernodia. In addition, an embassage should be sent to
Esconodia immediately explaining our position."
There was some murmuring among those gathered. One general
spoke out. "That will all take time, and time will only play to their side.
Besides, they may view it as weakness on our part. If we don't attack now,
we lose the surprise, and soon winter will be upon us, making the attack on
the north more difficult, if not completely impossible."
The murmuring showed many agreed with the general. Louise
called for quiet, and Lord High Chamberlain continued. "The people of
Bernodia feel we are their enemies. If we attack them, that will only
substantiate their belief. I propose we move our full army to the edge of
Bernodia to show we are not afraid, but make sure the people understand we
are willing to try for peace."
There was some further murmuring, so Lord High Chamberlain
continued to strengthen his point. "We talk of these people within our
council as if they are our enemies or foreigners. Well, they are not! They
are our fellow countrymen. Would you attack the cities and towns where
you lived and were raised? If not, what is the difference?"
That seemed to quiet everyone. Louise could see the strength of
both sides. She said in her heart, "Oh, Alexander, if you can somehow help
me, please help me now to know what to do with your people." She had no
sooner thought that than she remembered Duke Reginald making her
promise not to forget his people. That was it. That was the answer. They
were his people. They were her people, too. How could she justify any
attack upon them if she didn't try every means of peace first?
She stood, and Lord High Chamberlain sat down, and everyone
became quiet. Her message to the council was just that. They would not
commence an attack until every means for peace had been tried.
"But," one of the old advisors asked, "who will lead the embassage
to Esconodia? It will surely be a dangerous mission."
Lord High Chamberlain stood and bowed. The queen recognized
him. He spoke quietly and humbly. "If it please you, Your Majesty, I will
go. As a younger man I went there at the behest of Duke Reginald and your
father on a mission of peace, and, if the old king or his son still rules,
perhaps I can convince them that we do not have intentions of war against
them."
The queen said she would withhold her decision on who would go to
Esconodia for further consideration. The council was ended and the process
of disseminating information to Bernodia was started immediately. Lord
High Chamberlain and two other advisors set about writing the document
that was to be delivered. After some consulting with the queen, and some
rewrites, it was finalized.
Louise wished she had access to the new printing press that was at
Denville Castle, but she didn't, so she had many scribes prepare the
documents. She had learned that the printing press had been used heavily
by Duke Elnard to help him spread disinformation.
Meanwhile, word was sent through all of the land requesting those
who were of Bernodian birth, or who might have ties to Bernodia or
Esconodia, and would be willing to help in the cause, to come to the palace
to meet with the queen and her advisors.
The army moved into position along the border between Bernodia
and the south. Louise gave strict command that there was not to be anything
done to provoke the Bernodians, and no attack was to commence without
her permission. If either of these commands was broken, she made it clear
she would have those responsible court-martialed.
Within two weeks, all was ready, and volunteers were gathering in
the Great Hall. Prior to the meeting, Lord High Chamberlain again
broached the subject of leading the embassage to Esconodia. Louise shook
her head. "You could be killed, Matthew. I can't afford to lose you."
Lord High Chamberlain lowered his eyes. "Perhaps I am looking for
redemption for the part I have played in the events that led to our current
state of affairs. I don't feel anyone can do as well as I can in this matter,
and I feel we should do our very best."
Louise, reluctant at the thought of losing her trusted friend, finally
agreed. Not knowing what kind of reception she could expect from the
volunteers gathered in the Great Hall, she requested her mother, Lady
Margaret, Jacob, and Marie to join herself and Lord High Chamberlain to
greet those who had come. Together the six of them entered the hall. What
they saw brought tears to Louise's eyes. The hall was full and spilled into
the corridors. She realized how much the people loved Alexander and his
parents.
The hall went quiet as they entered, and the people bowed. She had
Lady Margaret express her love for her people first. When she finished,
almost of one accord those gathered clapped for her. Lord High
Chamberlain then explained the situation. He explained how Duke Elnard
had changed things in Bernodia and how it was necessary to remove his son,
Andrew, from Denville Castle and put the rightful ruler, Marie, there
instead.
As Lord High Chamberlain introduced Marie, and Jacob as her
future husband, he didn't have to mention that Jacob was Bernodian.
Jacob's blonde hair made it obvious. The people knew Marie was
Alexander's daughter, and that alone was enough. But as Jacob bowed and
Marie curtsied, the hall broke into endless applause.
When it was quiet again, Lord High Chamberlain explained how the
queen had learned that lands and properties were confiscated, and, after this
was over, she planned to travel to Bernodia and help Marie set everything
right. He said properties would be returned where ownership could be
determined, and justice would be carried out as much as possible. He then
explained the goal to avoid war and the purpose in enlisting help in taking
information to those who had been misinformed.
Lord High Chamberlain then read the document. It was concise and
explained their intentions, and asked those in the military to turn their
allegiance back to the queen and surrender so that Andrew could be
removed from power and everything could be settled peacefully. It said that
all military personnel that came across into the south and joined with the
army would be given full pardon, while those who chose to fight against the
south would be found guilty of treason.
He then asked all who were willing to take a document to their home
villages in Bernodia to come forward, one at a time, and take scrolls for as
many towns as they felt they could get them to. Lord High Chamberlain
went on to mention that if there were any who could help them send an
embassage of peace to Esconodia, they wanted them to stay so they could
speak to them afterward. He thanked all those who didn't feel they could
help in any way and told them they were free to leave.
Almost everyone stayed, and a line was quickly formed. Lord High
Chamberlain passed out the documents, sometimes one, sometimes two,
sometimes more to an individual, depending on how many towns they felt
they could visit. Louise, Marie, Jacob, Queen Ellen, and Lady Margaret all
stood in line to shake everyone's hand. Soon they were out of documents,
and they promised that for anyone that could return the next day that they
would have more, for they hadn't anticipated the numbers.
Everyone continued to stay in line to shake hands with the royal
family. They had to get chairs for the Queen Ellen and Lady Margaret as
they became too tired to stand. One beautiful, blonde woman stopped in
front of Louise. "Do you remember me?"
Louise looked at her and thought there was a vague familiarity, but
she could not remember. The woman asked, "Do you remember a little girl
named Nell from a mountain village?" The woman smiled, and suddenly,
Louise found herself crying. She hugged Nell. Beside her were four men
and two women. Nell put her arm around the closest man. "My husband
and our friends have come to help, too."
Much of the rest of the day was like that. Person after person that
remembered her and Alexander visited with her until Louise was crying
openly. Almost everyone had filed out when a group of five men came
forward.
The leader cautiously approached. His hair was white with age, and
he walked with a cane. He moved to Louise slowly, apprehensively.
Suddenly, Marie rushed past her mother and threw her arms around him,
exclaiming, "Gareg, I can't believe it's you!"
At the sound of his name, Louise also recognized the old man as the
seed merchant. He smiled. "If I know I receive such reception I come
sooner." Marie grabbed his arm and pulled him over to Jacob. "Jacob, this
is our friend, Gareg, that I told you about that sold us the seeds."
The group of men soon gathered around Marie and Jacob. Gareg
shook Jacob's hand warmly as one man in the group joked, "So, how ugly
man like you get beautiful princess?" Jacob laughed and shook hands with
all of the men. Louise pushed her way through. She, too, threw her arms
around Gareg. She then looked into his eyes. "Gareg, it has been way too
many years."