We Could Have Peace

[Costia]

Costia sat upon the back of her horse, she was wearing a warm winter coat that was lined with the soft fur that had come from some sort of animal. She very rarely felt the need to wear a coat, the weather in Polis was never cold enough to force you to wear a coat over your armour. However, she wasn't in Polis, she was currently being escorted into Azgeda territory by two Azgeda warriors and the temperature was much cooler than back in her own familiar territory. Her weapons had been confiscated at the border and although she felt uncomfortable without a weapon on her in hostile territory, she knew that if an Azgeda warrior wanted to pass through Trikru territory then they'd be given the same treatment.

She wouldn't even be taking the journey in the first place if Lexa hadn't asked her to go on her behalf, it was no secret that Azgeda had been hostile recently. The Commander had been trying to form a coalition with the other clans so that they could finally have lasting peace. However, she'd only managed to persuade eleven out of twelve clans to join her cause, Azgeda was the only clan left that had so far refused to join the coalition. As of yet, they had no idea what Queen Nia's aim was, Azgeda was a large clan and they could potentially pose a threat to the commander's plans for peace. Costia was travelling on Lexa's behalf to pitch the idea of the coalition to the queen, of course she'd heard it all before but this way they hoped to find out what the queen's intentions were, if she planned to start another war so soon after the last one had ended, if she was planning a revolution or if her refusal to enter the commanders coalition was completely innocent.

Costia could now see what looked like a village up ahead and a figure stood outside waiting to greet them. As they drew nearer, Costia couldn't help the scowl that appeared on her face but it vanished just as quickly as it had appeared. Dismounting from her horse, she approached the man whom had been waiting for them and she dipped her head briefly out of respect "Prince Roan..." she muttered a greeting "I was expecting Queen Nia" she should've expected the Prince instead of his mother, obviously the Queen wouldn't want to waste her time on anyone other than the commander herself. She wouldn't waste her time on a lowly warrior, it didn't matter who she had been sent by.

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Roan had been made to wait for the ambassador or Polis. What was there even to talk about he wondered? Azgeda had made it clear that they were not interested in being bound in an alliance that was in  no way of any benefit for Azgeda, only for the commander, the one who gained power, even over the rulers of the clans. No, his mother would never agree to it, not under those circumstances. And for once Roan agreed. What did they gain by submitting to a war hungry commander? She dragged them into just another war. Roan didn't trust her as far as he could throw her and he assumed he couldn't throw her father than a few meters. 

To send and ambassador instead of going herself was clever, yet for Roan it was typical as well. She would not have been welcome here after the recent war. But the ambassador was welcome for now. Roan watched her closely and listened to her comment. It drew a smirk on his face. 
"Last time I checked, ambassador, the commander, who seeks to reign over our queen, is not here herself. You are an ambassador. What gave you the opinion that our queen was to meet you?" He question. "She will see you, when she has time. She has matters to attend to, that your commanders wars caused. I am afraid they are more important to us at the moment. Unless you come to declare a third war." Or was it fourth? Really he had lost count. "Are you here for peace or war?"


Costia

[Costia]

"The commander is an extremely busy woman, if she could make the journey here then she would have" Costia was quick to defend the Heda as the prince spoke to her "but she was very clear that I should speak with the queen, I assumed that she'd be interested in what the commander had to say" she had no intention of leaving Azgeda territory until she'd spoken with queen Nia and given her the commanders message. "I can wait if I need to" she wasn't pleased with the idea of waiting for the queen but if she refused to prioritise her then she'd wait so that she could talk to her about Azgeda joining the coalition, she had no idea how successful that conversation would be though.

Raising an eyebrow at Roan's words she couldn't help the glare that appeared on her face "do you think I'd come alone if I brought a message of war?" she didn't trust Azgeda not to shoot the messenger when they brought a message such as that. "I'm here to talk to your queen about lasting peace, the commander thinks that if Azgeda join her coalition then we could live without the fear of war" if the wars ended then maybe they could have a promising future, they wouldn't have to live in fear "we've spent too long tearing each other apart when we could be stronger together"

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[ash]

"You shall have your audience with her." Roan agreed to what she had hinted to. But he was surprised she still expected to be welcomed like the highest member of trikru. She wasn't. For Lexa his mother would have no choice but to welcome her herself. For this girl her son welcoming her was already a big sign to show her willingness to talk to her to begin with. There was no love lost between their people after all. "But having an audience with queen Nia does not equal her welcoming you. That honor would only befall to your mistress, Lexa herself. You have to make due with the prince.

"Who knows what lingers in the woods?" Roan pointed out. "My mother is experienced in war, do not underestimate her tricks. Someone coming alone does not mean we are not on the brink of war. Do you know who tends to come alone, backed from the distance? Assassins. Another reason why it's me welcoming you, not my mother. You will see her as soon as we know you are no threat to her." Not that he really cared about that.
"Lasting peace? Excuse me, have you met my mother?" It slipped. It honestly slipped, but he wouldn't apologize for that. "I believe peace with her can only happen if she had a major role in the coalition.

Costia

[Costia]

After thinking about it Costia knew that this welcome made sense, she wasn’t seen as important enough to be greeted by the queen herself and Azgeda wasn’t willing to risk her safety just so that she could greet an ambassador. “As long as I get an audience with the queen, it doesn’t matter how I am welcomed” she finally told prince Roan, not wanting to spark anger by arguing about this. She knew that Lexa wouldn’t be appreciative if she made things worse by arguing before she’d even spoken to Nia. She’d come here to help end the war, arguing with the prince was a step in the wrong direction “I apologise for assuming that I am worthy of being greeted by your queen” the apology tasted bitter on her tongue but knew that acting respectfully to those that were of a high rank was key to her mission of recruiting them to join the commander’s coalition.

Assassins were a real threat to the queen’s life, Costia couldn’t say that she’d lose any sleep over her assassination but she understood why such measures to preserve her life were in place. “I’m happy to wait if you truly believe that I could be a threat to her” she had to respect that Azgeda obviously valued the life of their queen and she was a very real threat to her safety in their eyes until they’d proven otherwise. At the prince’s comment, Costia couldn’t help the small smile that appeared on her face “I have only met your mother in passing” she admitted “but I’ve heard enough about her to make my own judgements” Lexa had her work cut out for her if she wanted all twelve clans to be united, it was clear that Nia did not want to be a part of the coalition, but they needed Azgeda to be included in the coalition if they wanted to stop the war that had been tearing their clans apart. “She can discuss her terms with the commander, but I can’t promise that they’ll be accepted” she told the prince, knowing that Lexa would probably be unwilling to put Nia in a position of power when she’d proven that she could be dangerous and was a clear threat to their alliance.

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"Make no mistake" Roan started again a slight smile on his face: "Not even I am worthy of being greeted by my queen and I'm her son." At least that was something he could tell her without shame. He was her son, her heir, the prince, but at the end of the day, she kept him in a certain spot for political reasons and whatever other reasons. He found no affection in his mother, not even as a child. He learned to not need it. "Again it is not my judgment that matters." Roan pointed out. "If I thought you were an assassin, I would not be here. Only heir, remember?" Bu that only meant he got to carry on the legacy, nothing else. It did not elevate him now. Or in the future, he would guess. Basically he was a usable resource. And he was being used. 

"If they don't accept them, there might not be peace." Roan pointed out. "Our people can't just submit to a commander from another clan. Do you have any idea what is at stake for us? Our people have been run down by a war over terms and treaties. And yet we would have to give more than we can spare. We would even have to give our honor. And resources beyond what we can spare. Yet none of the negotiations have paid attention to the reality of what our people need.  I have yet to see an offer for food during winter." Roan pointed out. "Yet half of my people struggle more than your people every winter."



Costia

[Costia]

Costia knew that she’d been foolish to assume that she’d be greeted by Queen Nia herself, it had been a bold assumption and the prince had made it clear that she was not worthy of such a reception. “I’ll remember that next time I visit” she replied, although she wasn’t sure that there would be a next time and this was anything but a casual visit. She certainly wouldn’t be in a hurry to return, Azgeda and Trikru weren’t exactly close allies and if they failed to make peace and Queen Nia still refused to join the coalition, then she would have no need to return as it was likely that they would be at war once again. From what she’d heard already, peace was unlikely, especially if they failed to agree on the terms of an alliance that would benefit them both. “Ah yes, I guess your mother wouldn’t want her only son to meet an untimely end at the hands of an assassin” what would be the point in having an heir if they served no purpose. Costia had been told that the prince was not worthy of being greeted by the Queen but that didn’t mean that she did not care about his survival.

Costia listened to Roan as he spoke about how there might not be peace and about the hardships that his people faced each winter “I think the only way for our people to really thrive is for us to be united” she told him, voicing her own opinion despite knowing that it probably wasn’t a welcome one “I don’t have much of an idea of what is at stake for Azgeda… The commander is from my own clan so my people have always felt like their future was secure and that they’d be looked after under her leadership” Costia admitted, unable to completely understand the difficulties that submitting to a Trikru commander might present for the rival clan. “Achieving peace was never going to be easy, if you are not pleased with what you have been offered in past meetings, I could take a message back to the commander, inform her of any reservations you might have… Or you could send one of your own people back with me, I’m sure they’d do a much better job of voicing Azgeda’s concerns” she suggested, unsure if the prince would actually see her suggestion as a viable option, or if he'd just dismiss it.

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[ash]

“My mother doesn’t exactly care about my end, Costia.” He pointed out, almost sadly. She had other people she could give the throne to, people she wanted to give the throne to. Even a bigger throne than being king or queen of Azgeda, but that should forever remain their secret. He knew his own head was at stake if he dared to speak up about this. Well he wouldn’t. He would take that secret to his grave. He sighed. It seemed like the ambassador actually had a brain. She seemed tactical enough to realize that negotiations might solve things. But Azgeda was a bit different than Trikru. It had been established that they were a war clan. Even more so when his father died. Before he walked on he stopped. Looking around he made sure nobody was there to overhear them when he turned to her.

“Negotiation was once possible under my father. Now, the people closest to my mother don’t value it. They want strength and ultimate power.” He had to admit he was not against that either. But power would do him no good if he his people died away under his hands. “You should take a message back. Because there is no way any of those ambassadors we have will have enough of a brain to ensure the actual needs of our people. If there is a suitable offer my people might be much more inclined to not oppose the coalition.” He knew it was dangerous to say. “In the north winter brings a very long night. It lasts for months. No sun means no crops, barely any anime life stays there. They wander south, towards Trikru territory. In the north food becomes rare. Famine hits those parts every single year. No matter how much we gather in summer, winter and the long night always has people starve. I believe aid in form of food and proper trading might make the people much more open to the coalition – the people, not my mother granted. But if you have the majority backing you, who knows what might happen?”
Costia

[Costia]

When Roan told her that his mother didn’t care about him, Costia couldn’t help but feel sorry for the prince. She was there to negotiate peace and to see if they could avoid another war but she couldn’t see how that could even be possible when the queen was seemingly incapable of caring for even her son. “I’m sorry to hear that” she told him, not able to imagine how it could feel knowing that a parent didn’t love you like they should. When Roan seemed to check their surroundings, Costia found herself instinctively doing the same before focussing back on the prince when he turned back to her.

“If they don’t value negotiation then they’re foolish, what good is strength and power if your people are dying in a war that could have been prevented” Costia told him, disgusted that such people even existed. Still, she listened to Roan, knowing that at least he seemed to care about avoiding another war and preserving the lives of his people. She listened as he told her about how harsh their winters were in the north and it hurt her to hear how many people lost their lives every winter just because there wasn’t enough food to feed them all. “I’ll take a message back with me and take your demands to Polis” she said “if they’re accepted and I can see no reason why they wouldn’t be, then maybe we can avoid any more unnecessary deaths”. After speaking to Roan she could see why the people of Azgeda might not want to join a coalition when nothing had really been done to prevent their people from suffering in the winter.

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