Dawn

“Ah Conrart, please join us.” Gwendel invited.

“Yes I will thank you. Wolfram, it is good to see you’ve returned safely.” Conrart greeted.

“Thank you, Conrart.” Wolfram replied not turning to watch his brother as he sat and thus missing Conrart nearly falling out of the chair.

Conrart looked up at Gwendel quickly to see if he too had heard Wolfram’s address or if it had just been him that had misheard his younger brother.

Catching the look that Conrart shot him, Gwendel nodded slightly and began, “I’m glad that you could join us so quickly Lord Weller. It seems as though our youngest brother has some questions relating to foreign policy that he would like to discuss with us.”

Wolfram finally turned to look at both of his older brothers and began, “I know that you both have already discussed and reached an outline for the continuation of government beyond Yuri’s reign. I will not pretend to know what it is. I merely want to know what role it is exactly that you’ve decided Greta and I will play. That I believe is my first question.”

Conrart was stunned. He heard the gentle bite of Wolfram’s words but it was so far from the blistering tirade he had expected it shocked him. His eyes looked toward Gwendel. It was obvious that Wolfram had been here in his office longer than Conrart himself had been and since it was after all Gwendel’s office Conrart decided he would be content to let Gwendel field these first few questions of Wolfram’s, at least until he figured out what was going on with his young brother.

Gwendel, seeing Conrart’s gaze move towards him answered Wolfram, “We’ve decided that we will uphold the standing human treaties. We plan to announce to the people of the Great Demon Kingdom that rule will continue as though Yuri were still here until a new Maou is chosen. So far our spies have given no word of any new bandit uprisings along the borders and according to the latest reports the situation with Big Cimarron is fairly stable.” Gwendel stopped for a moment and then continued, “At this point I believe our greatest focus should remain with the people of the Great Demon Kingdom.”

Conrart began speaking almost immediately. “I still disagree with you in that decision Gwendel. Some of our allies already have heard that Yuri has left us. If we don’t focus our attention on the treaties we now have in place with the humans they are likely to believe the viscous rumors that in Yuri’s absence we are nothing more than ravening beasts-“

“And I still say that there is no such rumor-“

“Gwendel stop! There is such a rumor. I received word late last night from Francia that they were already hearing whispers that Yuri had been killed, his throne usurped and that we were doing nothing more than covering it up here so that we could now begin to take over the human territories.” Conrart confessed.

“What! But-that’s absurd. Surely Francia knows differently.” Gwendel’s earlier verve in denying Conrart’s claims of rumors was now flat.

Wolfram, who had been sitting quietly in his chair observing this interaction between his brothers finally spoke, “I actually don’t think it’s that surprising really. I admit I wasn’t sure that the timing would be so quick, but really then isn’t that an asset for us after all?”

Silence

“What do you mean-“

“-An asset exactly?”

Wolfram looked between his two brothers. Really it was a little funny how they were now finishing each other’s sentences. In fact he knew if Yuri had been here he would have made some wimpy comment about it. Wolfram could almost even see the look that would have been on his face, the smile in his eyes. He took a deep breath, best not to think about that right now, one thought at a time for today. “I meant that since it has already happened and happened so soon after Yuri’s departure,” he looked at them both again, “we should be able to now move just as quickly.

Whoever our enemies may be they probably are not expecting that we would be able to regroup so quickly. It is to our advantage if we do so. Act quickly that is. Also, by calming the fear that these rumors have raised amongst both our people and allies it further forms solidarity between both the demons and the humans. Which when you think about it would only be to our benefit, after all if we are able to further cement the bonds of peace now under these circumstances it goes a long way toward making it even more difficult for our enemies later to try and disrupt these ties.”

Wolfram took another breath and smiled brightly, “It really was very stupid for these rumor spreaders to try this so quickly. I should imagine that it will be very easy in fact to discredit such a lie.”

Conrart felt very surreal at that moment. It was almost like he had felt when he had gone to Earth with Julia’s soul. He knew who he was and where he was but everything was a little off. Like a second that has been stretched too long, almost into a minute. The silence swelling becoming like a pregnant thing, ripe and ready and yet just silence. Off.

Gwendel looked at the blond man sitting before him smiling at him from his brother’s face. He knew, down to the page and tutor every book every subject every lesson his brother had been schooled in. And he had absolutely no idea where he had learned the grace and words of a tactician. “For clarity’s sake, what are you suggesting Wolfram?”

“I am suggesting that we hold a conference, a peace conference, here at Blood Pledge Castle. We invite all of our human allies to sit, to tell them to their faces that, ‘Yes Yuri is gone.’ And while it may be permanent the kingdom will not be ruled in any way other than the way it would if Yuri were still here on the throne. We assure them that even though we do not look like Yuri, if they have any problems they should still come to us and we will hear their concerns with Yuri’s ears. That is what I am suggesting.

While some of our allies already know or have heard of Yuri’s leaving it will still matter to them that we, as their allies, tell them to their faces what has happened. By inviting all of them in peace to hear us in honesty it will reassure them of our intentions toward lasting peace. It will also compromise such a silly rumor that has begun to migrate and any others that come up in the future.”

“I agree.” Conrart stated wholeheartedly. “By cementing our ties of friendship outside of the Great Demon Kingdom it will also allay our people’s fears. If we were to only focus on them it would give support to any lies that are circulating about Yuri’s absence. And our focused concern on our people could be misunderstood as shady preparations for war.”

Gwendel nodded and turned his chair slightly to look out the wall of windows and stare down at gardens below. When he spoke his voice was soft, but his words were direct. “What role in this do you want to play Wolfram? What role do you intend for Greta to play?”

“Greta and I will remain here at the castle for the duration of the conference. But we will be leaving after the conference. I plan to take Greta to Castle von Bleifield; we may spend some time there.”

“I see. That might be good for the girl. I heard from the maids last night that she took his leaving hard. All right. I believe I’ll go find Gunter and let him start making preparations for the conference. Conrart I suppose you are planning to let the spy network know what’s happening?” Gwendel asked.

“I imagine Yozak already has dispatched the news Gwendel.” Conrart said with a smile.

“Well then, if you’ll both excuse me now I have another meeting that I cannot be late for.” Wolfram tried to excuse himself.

“Another meeting?” both Gwendel and Conrart asked.

“Yes, for breakfast; with my daughter.” Wolfram shut the door behind him missing the raised eyes of his brothers.