The Queen-Mother looked with interest at the person who was kneeling in front of her.
"You may rise" she said. "Welcome Genaria, Princess."
"Thank you, Your Majesty" said Merees.
As she got to her feet, the dragon looked up at the Queen-Mother. In her features, she recognized, though faintly, her own mother. Dead long since.
"Call me Isadora" the Queen-Mother replied in a friendly voice. "And I shall call you Merees. No need for formality between relatives, don't you agree?"
"Absoutely, Your...Isadora."
"I must admit, when I woke up this morning, a visit from the daughter of my great-great-aunt and the King of Vinoli was the last thing I expected. Speaking of which, though they come late, allow me to express my condoleances for the death of your father."
Once again, Merees thanked her relative and the Queen-Mother, deciding that it was time to get down to business, asked the Princess for the purpose of her visit.
"Though I'm glad to see you, I doubt you came all this way for a mere social call" she added. "Did Argath send you?"
Merees shook her head.
"No, although she is the reason why I'm here."
One of Isadora's eyebrows moved upward, she gestured for her guest to continue.
Merees inhaled. This was it, the time had come for her to lay her cards on the table.
"Forgive me if this sounds impertinent cousin" she began, "but were you aware that Argath planned on breaking the international treaty concerning Guanaca?"
"No"replied Isadora with emphasis. "When I learned that she had actually wed herself to King Faljan, I was about to send for the Vinolian ambassador and demand an explanation. Before I could, the ambassador himself showed up and requested an audience.
"And what did he say?"
"He was quite distraught. He assured me that he had not had any knowledge of what his Queen was planning, either."
Isadora paused and let out a sigh.
"Frankly, Merees, I was completely taken aback. To break a centuries old treaty? I might have expected it from a male, but from one of the few female rulers, beside myself? Even now, part of me still find it hard to believe that your sister would do such a thing."
"Half-sister. Sadly, I can not say that I share your surprise, Isadora. I'm afraid that Argath is capable of much worse"
And so, Merees proceeded to reveal the truth concerning the old King's death. How she had failed to prevent it and, how she, together with a pair of true and loyal friends had fled Vinoli, so as not to meet the same fate as her father.
"I do not ask that you believe my story" the Princess said, when she had finished. "I have no proof to offer that it is true. All I can offer, is my word of honor. As a Princess and as your kinswoman.
"Moreover" she went on. "You may wonder how this concerns you? Isn't her takeover of Guanaca proof that Argath is not content with merely ruling over her own nation? And, with the Desert Kingdom under her control, she will only grow stro...."
Before Merees could finish her sentence, the Queen Mother raised her right paw, indicating that she would speak and that the time had come for her visitor to be silent.
A bit later, Merees left the throne room, with Isadora's words repeating themselves in her ears:
"What you say make a sense. However, I am no dictator, who can declare war on another country as it pleases me. I must convey a meeting with my Council. You will be informed of our decision within the next few days. Until then, you and whoever travels with you, are my guests. And now, I must bid you farewell, dear Merees. It's been a pleasure meeting you."
I suppose all I can do now is wait, Merees thought. Time to reunite with Risha. Hopefully, waiting for me hasn't been too boring for her.
****
Merees did not need to concern herself; bored was the last thing that Risha was.
Having discreetly followed Alys and Grahm to the Eastern Pavillon, she now crouched outside one of its windows. Though the window was shut, the lynx's fine hearing allowed her to hear what was being said on the other side of it, as though she had been in the room itself.
"I hereby declare this emergency meeting open" said a voice that Risha did not recognize, but realized must belong to her country's ambassador. "Elro, tell the others what you told me."
"Yes, Your Excellency" an oily voice replied. "I was passing through the corridor outside the throne room, when who should I spot, but none other than our beloved Queen's sister, Princess Merees.."
"Who, fortunately, did not see you"interrupted the ambassador. "Thank you, Elro, you may sit down."
There was the sound of a chair being pulled out. Then, the ambassador continued:
"Princess Merees disappeared mysteriously, following the death of the old King. Why has she resurfaced here in Genaria and why does she seek an audience with the Queen Mother? This is what we must find out."
A murmur of assent followed the ambassador's statement.
"Excuse me, Your Excellency" another voice, one that Risha recognized as Grahm's, chimed in. "Jeraddin's daughter is here too."
"Is that so? I heard that the General's children disappeared at the same time as the Princess. I doubt its a coincidence that they are both here."
"Risha and I were at school together, Your Excellency" said Alys. "I'm sure I can coax into revealing the purpose behind Merees' presence"
That's what you think, Risha thought.
Just then, a new voice joined the discussion:
"Excuse me, Your Excellency, but it's a bit stuffy. Mind if I open a window?"
