Part 14: The Royalist

The great hall of House Regius was a place of opulence and power. Its walls, gilded and adorned with intricate tapestries, told the stories of generations past. But in the midst of the wealth, the cold steel of ambition lay beneath. House Regius had never been known for brute strength; instead, they had mastered the subtle art of influence and manipulation. They were the quiet hand behind the throne, pulling the strings of the galaxy's affairs, and now they had summoned two of the most powerful houses to sit at their table.

The council meeting would take place in the high, vaulted chamber where the great leaders of the three Houses—Decus, Malum, and Regius—would sit in uneasy zone. A neutral ground, a space where tempers would be tested and words would be measured. But it would be a meeting steeped in tension, for the stakes were high, and the wounds of the recent war were still fresh.

The Arrival of the Councils

The councilors of House Decus arrived first, their presence felt in the heavy silence that filled the air. Lord Aurelius led the delegation, his sharp features set in a stern mask of composure. Behind him, Dorian and Erik, both still recovering from the brutal battles, walked in with quiet determination. Their eyes were alert, their minds racing with thoughts of what was to come. This was not a simple gathering of politics—it was a battle of words, a contest for survival.

A moment later, the councilors of House Malum entered. The air seemed to grow heavier with their arrival. Commander Titus, the stern father of Rohen Malum, was flanked by his right-hand general, Varek, and a cadre of loyal warriors who stood by the door, their presence more an intimidating reminder of their power than a necessity for defense. Titus's pale, piercing eyes scanned the room coldly as he made his way to the center, his long cloak flowing behind him like a shadow.

Finally, the regents of House Regius arrived. Lord Aurelius of House Decus had always considered House Regius the masters of the galaxy, their fingers ever pulling the strings. The leaders of House Regius were strategic—people who understood the value of waiting, of patience, and of intelligence. Lady Seraphina, the leader of the Regius council, stepped forward. Her silvery hair shimmered under the ambient light, and her eyes were calculating, unreadable. She gestured toward the chairs arranged around a circular table, signaling for the councilors to take their places.

The tension in the room was palpable. These were not just the leaders of their respective houses; they were the architects of their kingdoms' futures.

The Council Meeting Begins

Once seated, the three councils remained silent, watching each other as the tension thickened. The only sound in the room was the soft crackling of the hearth fire at the far end. The flames cast flickering shadows, as though they, too, were unsure of what would happen next.

Lady Seraphina was the first to speak, her voice smooth but firm. "We have called this council for a reason. House Regius believes that the war between Houses Decus and Malum has reached a point of no return. The balance of power in the galaxy lingers on the edge of collapse. We must consider the station of the warrior and the future of this conflict."

Her gaze swept the room, meeting the eyes of Lord Aurelius and Commander Titus. "We cannot afford another war. The resources of Torva are scarce. Our people are tired. It is time to think about peace. What is the future for our warriors? How do we rebuild not just our armies, but the trust between our houses?"

The question hung in the air, and for a moment, there was an uncomfortable silence.

Lord Aurelius leaned forward, breaking the stillness. "Rebuilding requires more than just rebuilding our armies, Lady Seraphina. It requires respect—something both House Malum and House Decus have lost in this brutal conflict. Our warriors are not mere instruments of war; they are the backbone of our survival."

Titus' eyes narrowed at the mention of respect. He let out a low, guttural chuckle. "Respect? How quaint. The Malum do not need respect to thrive. We need strength, and we shall take it. Our warriors are forged in the fires of war, not the idle politics of those who sit behind golden thrones and whisper sweet words."

Dorian's hand clenched around the hilt of his sword beneath the table. Erik's face was stone, but his eyes burned with a quiet fury. The talk of "respect" and "strength" was not an innocent conversation—it was a challenge.

Lady Seraphina raised a hand, her voice calm but cutting. "Commander Titus, while your warriors are indeed formidable, House Decus does not share your philosophy. We believe in the station of the warrior as an ideal—a symbol of unity and discipline. A warrior who fights for his people, not just for bloodshed. And that is why we stand here today, to find a way to rebuild, not just our forces, but the very heart of this conflict."

Titus' lips curled into a thin smile, but it was devoid of warmth. "And what of the heart of House Malum? Is it not the heart of warriors? Are you suggesting that we abandon our traditions, our way of life, just to appease House Decus?"

Lord Aurelius spoke before anyone could respond. "House Regius has proposed something different—an opportunity for a new path, a path where we stop this endless cycle of violence and destruction. There must be a place for diplomacy, for negotiation."

"And what about the people?" Dorian cut in, his voice sharp, his eyes burning with intensity. "What about the warriors who fought for their homes? House Decus does not negotiate in the dark. We fight for the future of our families, our people. We do not bend to the whims of anyone—least of all House Malum."

The words struck like a hammer. Titus leaned forward, his voice low and dangerous. "So, House Decus chooses the path of war, then. Is that it? Do you wish to continue this bloodletting for your so-called 'respect'?" His tone was filled with malice, each word meant to provoke.

A heavy silence filled the room, the air thick with impending violence. Lady Seraphina's eyes flicked between the two men, her lips curving into a slight, calculating smile.

"Enough," she said, her voice commanding. "This will not be resolved through threats alone. You both seek power in different ways, but there is one undeniable truth: House Regius holds the key. We control the trade routes, we control the supply of Cibus, we control the future. You may battle for supremacy on the battlefield, but you both need us."

The tension crackled like static electricity. Everyone in the room understood the unspoken truth. House Regius, though not as militarily powerful as House Decus or House Malum, held the power of influence, of wealth, and of control over the most vital resource of all—Cibus. It was a resource that powered everything, from ships to weapons to entire empires. And that made them indispensable.

Titus' jaw clenched, his face a mask of barely restrained fury. But even he knew better than to challenge House Regius directly.

"We'll see how long your diplomacy lasts when the supply of Cibus runs dry," Titus muttered, his voice low but filled with the threat of a storm to come.

Lord Aurelius nodded, his expression cold. "We'll see how long peace lasts in the shadow of constant war."

Lady Seraphina rose from her seat, signaling that the meeting had reached its climax. "Then the decision is made. House Decus and House Malum will cease hostilities for now. But understand this—this fragile peace will not hold unless we come to an agreement."

She turned to Dorian and Erik. "You will return to your people and rebuild, but remember—what is built with blood is also torn apart by it."

And with that, the council was adjourned.

Aftermath

As the councilors of House Decus, House Malum, and House Regius departed from the hall, the tension remained. There was no trust between them, only a fragile truce held together by the thin thread of necessity.

But deep within the hearts of Dorian and Erik, something stirred. The war was not over. And though the meeting had ended with diplomacy, they both knew one thing for certain: the battlefield would not be silenced so easily.

For the warrior's heart beat in every soul within House Decus, and it would never bend to diplomacy alone.