Dawn of Dusk

Borrial spoke. “Vistyral, I asked that you ride back with us instead of your future bride so we could discuss the future of Cryarlac. Father is here as King to approve any agreement that we come to and Thorak is here to witness any necessary documents. I have had my scribes working on my original document of independence and granting of sovereignty over the uncharted lands to the south and west of Cryarlac. As you can see total sovereignty and independence has been granted to you as head of Cryarlac. A treaty of alliance is proposed and a mutual assistance treaty promising to come to the aid of another if attacked except in the case of bandits or terrorists. If another officially recognized sovereign nation attacks your country, we will come to your assistance and will ask you to do the same. Oh and one last thing Cryarlac cannot merge with any other kingdom it must remain independent. Promises of free trade and lack of tariffs are included with an exception of the war powers act which allows us to stop trading any product which is necessary for the war effort. Please look it over and if it is in agreement with you, father can announce Cryarlac’s independence at the same time he announces his abdication for health reasons. We can have a double coronation and then you won’t have to marry for a kingdom.” Borrial smiled broadly.

Vistyral read the remainder of the document quietly then he looked up at Borrial. “What about trade routes and river navigation in times of hostility?”

“Obviously as Guardian of the East you realize that I cannot simply allow my most important access routes to go unpatrolled. Reasonable access for trade and travel could be accepted to those who appear to offer no threat or that the cargo does not appear to be destined to an adversary. It will be added, of course.” He smiled again.

Vistyral knew that there was no way he could refuse the offer, but he was determined to try anyway. He looked up at his brother and his father and said, “This is not necessary. Cryarlac is happy as part of Karrondor and my desire as Duke of Cryarlac is to continue to serve the best interests of both Cryarlac as its Duke and the throne of Karrondor as a general and counselor. Karrondor is a strong nation; it does not make sense to divide it up into two weaker parts.”

Borrial smiled at him again but said nothing. It was his father that spoke.

My son, your allegiance to the throne does you credit, but you’re thinking is faulty. As two separate kingdoms you can negotiate your own treaties and continue to trade back and forth. In the event of hostilities between say Cathermania and Karrondor, Cryarlac could remain neutral and continue to trade with both sides. Both sides would find it possible to have a dialog diplomatically through trade channels; besides both armies would grow making the sum of the parts greater than the whole.”

“That is fine for now, but what of the countries in a few generations when our lives are done and our great-grandchildren occupy the thrones? What is to say that brother won’t fight brother then?”

“We cannot think only of the future and what might be; we must also think of the present and what is. This is a good thing for both of you and for Karrondor and Cryarlac as well. Sign my son.”

Vistyral sighed, like it or not, Cryarlac would receive its independence. He signed the papers and his death warrant since his older brother would stand to succeed him if he died without heirs. He couldn’t tell his father that, there was a limit to what he could say to his father about his brother.

A candle was brought for the seals and he plunged his ring into the hot wax confirming the power of his signature. He just hoped he could survive longer than the family of Fulsimter would.

As he turned to go to his room, Borrial spoke to him. “By the way brother, I understand that you told Lemmal that it was your opinion that he should watch his life more in my presence than at other time. That was not a very nice thing to do brother.” He smiled and turned and waked to his cabin.

“It was not very wise, even if it was meant in good faith son, you don’t want to be at odds with Borrial.”

“I know father, I don’t know what got into me.”

As he sat in his cabin Vistyral thought of two or three good arguments why the kingdom shouldn’t be split. It was too late for that now. All he could do now was make the best of the situation. Chertal was with him now and he brought him up to date on what had happened in Karrondor and Chertal told him of the continued developments in Arborlea.

“Chertal, you may as well know now, I am going to name you regent of Cryarlac. You will have most of the day to day affairs of the kingdom to run. I had to agree to not make Cryarlac part of another kingdom so I cannot merge Cryarlac with Artermador, nor would the people stand for it anyway.”

“Thank you for your trust your Grace, but I could not accept. My place will always be at your side to protect and serve you.”

“I am not asking you Chertal! You know Borrial almost as well as I do. I need you here, not a day or two away. If something happens you have the wits about you to make a decision, one that I can trust.

If I know my brother you will probably hate me for this in the long run, but I must insist. You are not just the best man for this job, you are the only man for this job.”

“As you wish your Grace.”

“Good, then now that this is settled, when we get back to Karrondor, we have some people to meet.