Once my companions had departed I asked the Aestori leaders to sit down with me once more.
"I'd like to hear each of your unfiltered feelings. I'll even go first to break the ice," I leaned forward in my seat and placed my chin over-top my interlaced fingers, "Ever since we received Lady Aisling and Lady Viane in Tolin, our people have been on edge. We haven't been completely sure of your motivations and some of the events leading up to us arriving in this city, as well as some of the things that have happened after we got here, have raised some concern. After meeting with you though I feel more at ease, but I also know that from the outside perspective we look like a battered group of refugees begging for aid."
The five elves sat silently. I tried to read any emotions or thoughts from their expressions, but they had the steel-faced resolve of typical politicians.
Lady Sara finally broke the tension with a lighthearted chuckle, "You're not the first Empress I've had the pleasure to speak with candidly, but you are the first one to admit they're begging for help. I've been against the formation of the Tribunal and the provisional government since day one. All we've done in the past forty some years is fail repeatedly at replicating the old imperial governing body—"
"—Lady Sara!"
Lady Elin jumped up from her seat, shattering her calm and reserved front she'd been wearing the last few hours.
"Hush, Elin. We've done all that needs to be done to validate Empress Airis' claim as ruler over the Empire. There is no reason to hide behind false niceties anymore. Our people are sworn to her, and it's our responsibility to uphold that allegiance."
Lord Adellin cleared his throat and took hold of the awkward pause created by the friction between the two ladies. "Regarding the odd events surrounding your arrival… I assume you're talking about the armed response at the gates?"
I nodded my head, "Yes. Lady Aisling seemed unsure of the situation. We had encountered another officer on our way in through the forest, who'd mentioned he was dispatched after a 'strange magicka signature' had been sensed in the woods. He reported our impending arrival to the forces at the gate, but it seemed like his message was ignored or not disseminated through the garrison as intended."
"There is a…" Lord Adellin paused mid thought as if looking for the right word, "Factional divide, in our militarized forces. Many of our high-ranking people were caught up in a power struggle after we lost contact with the Empire. Three major factions were formed. The Stellae Prolaetoris, the Astral Knights who are lead by Lady Aisling and Lady Elin. The Stellae Praecantoris, Astral Mages, of which Lady Sara holds a high-ranking position in. And finally, the Sylvae Caetos, the Forest Guardians, who have no representation in the provisional government—though that is purely their fault as they've repeatedly declined invitations to join."
"Captain Arden, the one we had the run in with, mentioned he was in the Forest Guardian Core. But why would they refuse to have any members participate within the Tribunal?"
Lord Fulvius leaned forwards in his seat, "Their Patriarch, a shrewd man called Dailyn, is representing an ancient house of archnobles that have opposed imperial reforms for centuries. He has a misguided view of how things used to be and believes our people should 'reclaim our individualism'. It's a load of nonsense, but unfortunately there are enough imbeciles that follow him that it has caused us many issues. Such as your problematic encounter upon arriving."
"It's not so simple," Lord Adellin interjected, "There is a divide within our city, that much is true. But it can't be quantified as easily as us versus them. Dailyn's singularia view is but one of many new ideologies spreading through our city and… Oh, my apologies Lady Sara. I'll yield the floor back to you."
Lady Sara had stood from her seat and was staring daggers at both Fulvius and Adellin as they were speaking, the latter must have finally felt some unease.
"As I was saying, we're failing to keep our society moving forwards in a meaningful way without splintering back into factions. Dailyn's politics seek to bring back those ancient noble houses that existed before our people formed ties with the Vanixians. His backer's are House Opimius, who would love nothing more to see oppressive classism return in stride."
The former Archmagus gracefully strode across the room and pulled one of the chairs next to me aside, adjusting its placement back about five feet. She turned and sat, crossing her legs in an elegant but intimidating way.
"Except for the young Consular here, the rest of us have experienced a few hundred years of life. And every one of them, save for the last four decades, has been alongside the Empire. Humans, dwarves, elves… It made no difference who had a majority representation in the senate, House Vanixi and the Imperial Family always ensured our people were treated fairly. Emperor Alexandros and Prince Theodin were good men and I placed my trust in the both of them when I agreed to stay on as magus for His Majesty." She looked to me and lowered her head, "So I choose to honor my sworn allegiances and stand by your side should you want me."
Lady Sara's declaration happened so suddenly that I was at a loss for words. I quickly glanced back at the others across the room but found their expressions hard to read once again.
"I gladly accept your assistance. Though I'm not sure what sort of duties you performed for the emperors of old, I know your knowledge and expertise will be a boon for us."
With a wide smile she leapt up from her seat and strode confidently across the room towards the door. "Fantastic. I'll make arrangements for someone to handle my responsibilities here and prepare to depart the city with you, once you've finished your visit. By your leave, Empress."
A flicker of black cloth disappeared through the doorway before anyone in the room could react. Turning my attention to the remaining four, I could finally see proper cracks in their façade.
"Uhhh," Lord Fulvius started, "I suppose I'll just come out and say it as well then. I'd also like to place my support behind you. It may not mean much but I have the backing of a popular political movement that I've been leading for some time, dating back to when our people were living in Aestor. With my backing, the majority of the population in the city should have very few issues with us re-assimilating with the Empire."
Consular Gracci seemed to relax at his brother's statement, letting his shoulders drop noticeably.
"I'm glad to see you share my desire as well. It should be safe to say that the whole of House Sempronia will back you, my Empress."
The two mops of white hair bounced around as they nodded their heads in agreement, identical grins showing on their faces.
Unlike Lady Sara, both of them stated they would remain in Umbraedomis to manage the transition of power.
Lord Fulvius expressed a desire to issue a public announcement to the people, but Consular Gracci and Lady Elin calmed him. We would wait to make any major announcements to their civilian population until we had a resolution to the Renaultian threat.
Lord Adellin expressed his support, though he warned me of the turbulence that would arise from the singularia movement and its leader, Dailyn. Though he assured me that I likely wouldn't see anything as dramatic as the stand-off we almost witnessed at the gates to the city.
This left Lady Elin as the last one who hadn't given me her own thoughts of the current situation.
I considered leaving well enough alone and wrapping up this meeting, as there would be plenty of time to circle back and speak with her, but Consular Gracci probed her for her thoughts once more and she gave in.
"My sister has placed her trust in you already. So much so, that she went and ignored my advice to keep a distance from this mess and sent one of our champions and raid detachments to escort you here today. I've no reason to go against her trust, so the Stellae Prolaetoris are at your service, Empress."