Changes

Morning found Arerto eating her breakfast and listening to Bella and Selina talking about their nights before. Soon Arerto was in the bath relishing the hot water as she wash her body. Then she was out of the bath drying ehrself then getting dressed and placing the crown on her head. This is my day I will do good things 'she thought as she looked in the mirror and smiled. Then she walked out of her room and down the grand staircase to the hall where she would meet with her council.Taking her place she looked around and saw some of her council" Thank you everyone for coming we have a lot to discuss so let us get to it. Lady Helinda has the procolomation been sent to all the merchants?" Yes my lady" "Good Helinda and how is the rebuilding of homes going?" "The rebuilding is going well but we are running short of materials for some of them." Arerto thought for a moment " The old palace barracks are not in use anymore am i right?"

"Yes your majesty you are correct." "Have them dismantled brick by brick the materials can be used for rebuilding." Lady Helinda smiled "Yes your majesty" Arerto looked at Lady Cheyna " How goes the rasing of more gold?" We have put an extra shift on in the gold mine so production is up. We should hit our target in a month" she said and smiled. "Wonderful" Cheyna nodded."Lady Giselle soomething is troubling you.""Yes your majesty it is the new edict for the merchants they are not going to like it." Arerto smiled "Well they will like even less if they lose the crowns funding. Across all the merchants we pay out atleast one million a month on feeding and dressing the military not to mention food and clothes for teh palace." "Yes your majesty i am sure they will see the bigger picture." The bigger picture is that we need to feed and clothe our citizens to make them happy.""Now is there anything else beofre we close the meeting?" Lady Helinda looked up "Your majesty the farmers are working to their limits and are running out of growing land."

Arerto thought for a moment "When the barracks are cleared use that land for those citizens in the city to grow crops.""Yes your majesty" "Now is there anything else before we close the meeting?" Lady Helinda looked up "Your majesty the farmers are working to their limits and are running out of growing land." Arerto thought for a moment "When the barracks are cleared use that land for those citizens in the city to grow crops.""Yes your majesty" The meeting ended and Arerto headed out to the courtyard and found her sister" Are you ready to depart sister." Looking around Karleen seeing no one near replied"Yes sister i am ready" just then Thaden approached them. "Good morning beautiful ladies" he said with his southern accent and they turned to look at him. "Good morning my Lord Thaden i see you and your entourage are ready to return to Germite?" said Arerto. "My sister is ready and if it please's you she can travel with you?"

"Oh that would be wonderful I relish someone company who is well versed in diplomacy.""My warriors will escort you as far as the border then will return." turning to Karleen "I wish you safe travels my sister and look forward to your reports" They then hugged and Arerto watch Karleen get into the carriage then waved them off. As she turned Arerto spied someone in the shadows" You can out Lady Cressida i see you" Lady Cressida was Arerto's head of intelligance or a spy. Although disliked by most she provided an important service to the crown. "Lady Cressida what brings you out this way?" "I have some papers for your perusal my lady" "Papers? Why don't you just hand them to me instead of hiding behind that big stiletto heel of yours?"Much safer to deliver them in person your majesty" They headed to a secluded spot in the royal gardens and Arerto looked at the papers. The first told her that a detachment of Germite soldiers were waiting no doubt an escort for Thaden.

The second showed that there was some dissent in the military over the direction the new queen was taking. Sparring with words and swords is one thing but a mutiny is another. I will have to watch them closely they could cause me problems if they feel they are not being led by the queen. Arerto hand back the papers and told lady Cressida to keepp an eye on the situation.Lady Cressida nodded and left without another word. Arerto took the time to appreciate the warmth and the singing birds. Bella approached and she had a basket with some fruits and meats and a bottle of wine. "You need some lunch your Majesty" she said offering the basket and the bottle. "Thank you my dearest Bella . Go in search of the rest of my ladies and let them know I expect their attendance at the feast this evening.Arerto had her lunch enjoying the mix of meats and fruit washed down by the wine. She wasted some of the afternoon just relaxing in the garden but it soon came to an end.

Tis better to give than to receive' she thought as she handed the rest of her lunch to a servant. Tis better to give than to receive' she thought as she handed the rest of her lunch to Bella. Arerto headed back to her chambers while Bella enjoyed the last of the picnic.Arerto had dressed in a plain white toga and could have passed as a mere commoner had it not been for the crown on her head. She joined her ladies for the feast that evening. She looked around the table and smiled at them. There would be no talk of business this was a time to relax.The feast went on for several hours but soon everyone started to drift off and head to their chambers. They all had aa lot of work to do the following day. Arerrto headed to her chambers knowing that Katherine would not be there she was currently leading night training for her navy. Arerto missed her company her presence provided safety and warmth and she pledge to herself she was going to do something about it.