Ah it had been a long time since he had just relaxed, so used to working among the shadows. The castle certainly had a fearsome reputation worthy of Bloodclaw and the Royals' false history of Zyainor, but the inside could be considered a bit... homely if a fortress' interior could be called such. The industrialization and consilation of New Zyainor would take decades, perhaps a half-century or more the only problem is that Gardon is the only thing holding it all together.
Hmm, their fear is amusing after all there is such a thing as being told one of the Ca'laer's advisors is a being of armor and shadow and literally seeing it. Now, where is Gardon's meeting room he called all non-essential generals and admirals to discuss someth---
"UNCLE BRIAN!"
---
The man of shadow and armor turned to see three kids all running right towards him, with an amused chuckle he kneeled down and braced himself. With open arms they jumped right at him, Brian slightly recoiled at the force directed at him but his eyes of blue light simply crinkled in amusement.
"Alright, alright it's good to see you three aswell I hope all of you are behaving?"
A chorus of affirmatives answered him and Brian laughed once more, "Right now let me stand and take a good look at you."
Always the most serious Garan nevertheless spoke animatedly, "Uncle Brian it's so good to see you! How long are you going to be staying?"
Crossing his arms Brian spoke, "That all depends, have you been good?"
Shocked gasps from Zurae and Hotar but Garan remained true, "Of course we have, uncle! We're royalty we have a standard to uphold!"
Brian had to turn away and grasp a nearby wall to the children's confusion, he shook as he held himself upright laughing silently to himself. This continued for several minutes before the ancient Imperial could finally get himself back under control, he turned around to see concerned glances from the three children.
With an amused huff he responded, "Do forgive me, I merely found your behavior amusing so young but yet so serious it warms an old heart like mine."
Their concern was wiped from their faces and they smiled once more and they continued to ask Brian questions with no sense of hurry from him, Brian had nowhere to be, after all if Gardon needed him at the meeting he would have dragged him in by now when he received word of his entrance to the fortress.
This would continue for half an hour, the strange family just excited to be with one another until the scraping of full plate could be heard. Wondering who it could possibly be the children and Brian turned to see Thanok... with a bag of candy in his hand?
Brian stood ramrod straight, "I don't believe it."
Thanok shook slightly seeing Brian not quite believing what he was seeing perhaps he could still get away bef--
The three children rocketed towards the disguised dragon, "UNCLE THANOK!" they roared for all the fortress to hear.
Brian shook like a leaf in the autumn winds, "HA, unc-- HAHAHA, uncle Thanok!"
The dragon's eyes narrowed into slits partially breaking the illusion of his mortal guise, "Don't you DARE CREAT--" he was interrupted quite loudly as the kids finally made contact and bowled him over his plate crashing into the floor with an echoing sound.
Brian had to bend over and hold his knees as this new wave of laughter consumed him.
---
"We've had some trouble from Loyalist forces in Pyrru but that is unfortunately more of the same that will not go away for a long time my liege."
"With continued support from General Trualm, the remnants of Lor's old army continues to keep the peace along with the new armies but I do have concerns about the old nobility."
"Thanok controls Lor, bring up your concerns with him Roderick."
Gardon kept an interested face but on the inside he was growing increasingly weary of meetings like these, the state of the realm must be kept up date but even so his task of true unification would likely continue after his lifetime. The kingdoms had always denied any idea of industrialization and that's not even bringing up their refusal of the Empire's more modern armaments. Eventually Imperial forces not giving a damn anymore brought weapons such as the Destructor air fortress and the Terror artillery ship, with not even a blink at their hypocrisy local garrisons under the kingdoms still wearing the Imperial Army's colors added them to their forces.
That is not even bringing up the constant concern of rebellion, pride in the kingdoms against the ancient enemy of Zyainor! What a joke, the kingdoms are the descendants of thieves and murderers whose constant warring for almost a century allowed the first true demon invasion to come to pass.
"We have some interesting intel, and I do mean interesting some regional leaders in eastern Kerrel have expressed interest in-- is that someone screaming?"
Gardon looking to the meeting room's massive doors had a thought, 'Was that Thanok?"
--
Thanok was right up in Brian's face his stoic reputation thankfully intact with all the nearby servants and soldiers having fled, "STOP laughing creature!"
Brian stood resolute, "But Thanok, I'm not laughing."
"I can see it in your eyes!"
'He's not wrong', thought Brian with an amused eye roll.
Zurae with concern plain on her face said, "Family shouldn't fight!"
Thanok backed away from Brian as though he was afflicted with some rot, "We're not fighting, we're having a discussion."
Brian attacked right away, "Ah, so we are family then."
---
'And there it is again', thought Gardon now with his interest in the meeting almost completely destroyed.
Rising from his seat Gardon addressed his officers, "Gentlemen, I believe a recess is in order we have been at this for most of the day and we will be continuing for the remainder of the week. We will meet again in three hours. You are dismissed."
With a smattering of different affirmatives the men and women exited the room.
Dropping like a rock back into his seat Gardon sighed heavily in exhaustion and closed his eyes.
"Just another day in ruling am I right husband dear?"
Surprised he tried to rise from his seat but was forced back down with a push and rather passionate kiss.
Recovering, the ruler of Zyainor responded, "Vail, it is good to see you I thought you were still meeting with the mages?"
Placing a ceramic coffee filled mug in-front of him the ruler's better half said, "It descended into polite squabbling and I couldn't take it anymore so I called for a recess."
Drinking heavily from the mug before sighing contently he responded, "I would almost enjoy the squabbling it would be better than this... more of the same all of the time doesn't really hit you until it you actually experience it."
"You can ask you know."
Gardon raised a questioning eyebrow.
"Oh don't be like that, the screaming."
"I thought I heard Thanok but he never raises his voice so I thought I was crazy for thinking it."
Vail chuckled slightly with a hand covering her mouth, "Brian as you probably know arrived and was intercepted by the children. The thing is, Thanok was visiting at the same time and he had brought one of his little oh he would never say gifts but gifts for them."
Leaning back in his seat Gardon felt like he understood less of the world even more now.
"It's not going to get easier Gardon, our lives will be filled with strife until we die."
"I know, I will do my best to make sure the nation is stable and our children have good lives."
Vail and Gardon shared a quick kiss and she said, "I must be going Gardon, I love you."
"I love you too."
With a quiet click he was left alone in the meeting room again.
"Yes... whatever it takes to make sure the nation survives and for them to have a good future."
Pulling his flask out he takes a quick drink his eyes hardening, "Whatever it takes."