Chapter 4: The First Cast

A Chapter by Albert Freeman

The Old Guard begins to plot a way.

(Location: Moskori, Zaravitia)

"Those foolish boys," Cadiun muttered to himself. He walked over to one of the large bay windows in the Tower of Wraiths and watched the snow fall in thick blankets. How could they be so foolish so soon after the grand funeral? To be the first to break the peace was almost unthinkable and foolish.

"A bold stroke on their part never the less."

Cadiun turned around. "Perhaps it is Ivon, but they have shown their hand far sooner than needed. Ganus knows of the hate Telzin has for him. He will not sit by as the cousins martial. Ganus was ever the one to not tolerate a slight."

Ivon stroked his long dark beard and took a drink of the dark red wine in his goblet. He could tell that his cousin was turning over a number of ideas and decisions in his mind. These would soon be dangerous time as the powerful in the land vied for the imperial crown left vacant by the death of Charles the Light.

"I do not like this," Cadiun said finally. "I am not as young as I use to be. I have the ache in my bones. Children and their children make the priorities change." He turned away from the window making his way towards the fireplace. "It is not like old when all was knew and Charles forged a common vision. Us old timers are being swept aside as these," his lips curled in a sneer, "hot heads clamor for their own selfish needs."

Ivon smiled slightly. "I don't think you are as close to embracing the Father as you like to complain of. Be careful or Mishka will grab your ears again."

Cadiun chuckled. His wife was ever the one to remedy what she saw as nonsense. He looked at his cousin and clapped him on the shoulder. "What would I do without you Ivon? I shudder to think it."

Ivon snorted. He took a sip from the goblet. With nine sons and numerous cousins clamoring for a voice that would hardly be a problem. Still, he caught the meaning behind Cadiun's words. He would abstain from the coming fight and let the blocks fall as they would. Ivon looked at his cousin over his goblet and nodded his head.

"I would not put it past every fool with a pretentious view of himself to make a grab for the throne," Cadiun said. "It's a shame Charles kept that promise and bequeath Dianihka as he did. Mark my words Ivon; it will only be a matter of time before she is put into this game. I warned him time and again that at his age having another was all but impossible."

"You did what you could," Ivon said. He laid a sympathetic hand on Cadiun's shoulder. "Not naming an heir was not your fault. He was never the same after the death of Calin and Koriya within months of each other."

"That is for true," Cadiun said. "We should have set him down and hammered it into his thick skull. Should have, would have, could haves. It's enough to drive me up the wall." He sighed in frustration while staring intently at the flames.

"What do you think of the border raids alone the Bayorne regions?" Ivon inquired. "Should we not perhaps advise those in charge of their duties to the people there? It's like everyone is afraid to do a thing for fear of angering this or that person. It will be the ordinary people who suffer the most."

"Ah," Cadiun said with a sigh, "that is the crux of the situation. Which wolf will strike first and at who?" He smiled grimly. "It would be too much that they would simply kill each other and get it over with. The best we can do is insure the peace in our realm. Hopefully we can convince other fools to stay out of the conflict."

"Who do you have in mind?" Ivon inquired. His cousin had been schooled and skilled long ago in the game of nations and when he wanted to could move many of the pieces. Ivon did not relish what was to come, but he knew he could rely upon Cadiun to steer the nation as far from the blood bath as was possible.

Cadiun looked at Ivon and smiled.

"Don't play that game," Ivon said with a grimace.

"Then listen well...," Cadiun said. The more he talked the more Ivon smiled.

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