On the other hand, with Freya...

Your Mother Freya sits on her throne in the throne room of the castle and while her new "husband" is busy with his war games, she has been planning her own moves with her secret Council. Of course she only trusted Lady Regina on the council completely, owing her her life and status. In return she has been assembling an army of mercenaries and disgruntled nobility, loyal only to Freya herself.

Currently her army would be crushed by Frederick and his many allies but in times such as these loyalty is a valuable asset, more so than money or fear. Freya can hardly trust the other two council members, Azar and Beatrice, any more then she needs them. She takes solace that at the moment they need her more than she needs them, thus are necessary for her ambitions to bear fruit.

While Azar doesn't seem that dangerous to Freya, she knows that she would be a fool to just leave her be. So the prudent course of action was to put her unique skills to good use for her own ends while keeping a close eye on her. Beatrice on the on the other hand presents a different kind of problem. She is cunning and ruthless, willing to plunge the entire land into chaos if she believes it suits her purposes.

While Freya respects and even admires her late husband's bastard sister/secret lover, neither of them ever cared for each other. Beatrice never liked that her dear brother had to marry Freya in the first place and saw it as a decision that would come back to bite them later (wouldn't you know she was right). While Freya never shows it, she is downright terrified of Beatrice.

By looking closely at her activities to find information to **** her, her discoveries only proved her to be more terrifying then she ever imagined. Still, Beatrice did have one weakness to exploit. Her loyalty is to the royal family, which at the moment is to you as the rightful heir apparent. Of course you have unwittingly helped Freya insure Beatrice not only stays her hand against her but is obligated to assist her endeavors....

Freya gently rubs her stomach fondly to convey her fresh motherly glow to Beatrice, smiling as she rubs it in her face. Celebrating her new life growing within despite wearing a royal black gown as if in mourning for her late husband. Purely to sell the false pretense of why she dismissed the guards and the court, to be alone with the fallen King Skall's closest people. While Beatrice doesn't bat an eye at her obvious display of her lack of decorum for the fallen King, Freya can tell her sister In law's hands were twitching. Her look of anger boiling within her as she stands before her with her hands behind her back. The Queen smiles triumphantly, having **** such an adept spy onto her side.

Freya always missed being pregnant despite the dangers, proud of the strong healthy children she raised. Caressing her still flat stomach, she smiles happily as she recalls the night she spent with you. Her own son giving her life within such an intimate place for him.

"Now that we have cleared the room... onto to business...", Freya says as she taps the arms of the throne. Looking at Lady Regina she asks, "What news of our dear Frederick?"

"Your majesty, as we speak Lord Frederick rides south to quell Shabana's rebellion once and for all, and Lady Aria is riding with Lord Silva's scouts in pursuit of Crown Prince John. Only Lord Silva remains here in the capitol, battered and bruised for his failures..." Smiling deviously Regina adds, "...and he is most likely still cleaning up what remains of Ser Faucon from the floor of his war room..."

Freya smiles at the news... not to mention hearing her vassal calling her "majesty" just sounds so right.

"Oh the poor boy. Failing to kill not one... but two captive prisoners. His big mean daddy bruising his body and his pride." Sipping her wine she adds, "Given the gaping hole in the ranks of his loyal guards, it would just be criminal not to take advantage of him in this state." your mother says in over the top sarcasm before turning her attention to your aunt.

"Beatrice, would I be too presumptuous that you have already been looking in to seeing who among Silva's men will be taking his fallen Marshall's place? ...and whether or not he may be inclined to volunteer to be our inside man...?" The Queen asks the spymaster.

Your Aunt gives a curt nod and smiles before answering: "Indeed your majesty..." Picking up a grape she continues, "I have looked into all the candidates and one fits perfectly to our criteria... all others will somehow be caught in a scandalous affair or fighting each other, making Silva look worse in the kingdom's eye while our champion brings order back to Silva's remaining forces."

Freya pleased with the news replies, "Good, when Silva hears how someone kept his men in line in his absence our new agent will be his new Marshall."

The she turned to your fathers former Chambermaid and not so secret lover, "Azar... why don't you be a doll and use your unique... skills... and comfort the poor, brooding lord?" Your mother asks suggestively.

While she was expecting a task like that she is still shaken. "Your majesty..." she replies with trepidation, "With all due respect, you know how he..."

"Yes I've heard the rumors as the whole kingdom has... which is why I'm sending you and not our darling Ivette... who I'm sure is just his type...." Freya interrupts with a careless shrug before continuing with a sigh, "Look, just tell him that you were sent to him by me as a messenger with a gift... and if anything permanent is done to you I will be cross. If that isn't enough incentive, remind him that as the Queen regent in the absence of Lord Frederick I'm the highest authority in the land. That it is in my power to try and punish him for defying me and the crown. For which I will personally castrate him and leave his useless carcass to be mutilated by the masses and then leave the birds to clean up the mess after they grow bored with him. " She says with a sweet yet sinister smile. "That should make the little twat think twice before subjecting you to something you can't handle, wouldn't you agree?"

"Ahh, yes your majesty" was all Azar could say.

"Very good...", the Queen said considering the matter settled. "Now before we adjourn, there is one more thing to go over..." Running her finger along the rim of her cup, she can't help but feel concern for you... all alone and ****. Her other hand running gently down her stomach, she says, "Our dear Prince John on the run. Is there any information other than what is common knowledge by now?

"Well I tried asking about where the half-Orc woman came from but all my sources would say was that she was sold to Silva by pirates." replied Azar.

"Aye the only additional information I could gain from Silva's men was that the pirates originated from the Western Marshes." Said Regina in defeat.

Beatrice of course tries to hide her look of satisfaction from her work. "It was a bit difficult to trace those pirates, but fortunately quite a few seamen owe the kingdom a few favors. The pirates remembered the Orc woman well, they took her from a fishing village in the Western Marshes and gave her to the crew. She remained with them until they grew tired of losing teeth over her refusal to warm their beds.", your aunt says confidently, seeing where the topic is going. "I assume you believe since she's aiding him that she'll lead John there?"

"Its as good a lead as any... and better intelligence than Aria is going on" Freya responds. "The problem is our resources in the west are limited, but so are Frederick's..." then Freya has a thought.

"John however, may have more friends there that he even he knows. Beatrice send Lilith and whatever other agents you have to that fishing village and to be on the lookout for either John, Enzo, or Aria's Hunting party. Then send word to Erika to set up a dialogue with the Elven Kingdom, you know as well as I do he still has friends there whose influence may reach him in the west... make some incentives if you have to."

"As you command your Majesty" The spymaster acknowledges a little more enthusiastically.

"Very well, everyone knows what to do so I call this meeting adjourned" your mother finally concludes rising from her throne. "Oh Regina you don't mind escorting me to my room and sending Ivette to attend to me... I have been feeling a bit under the weather."

"Of course your Majesty" Looking down at her stomach she asks, in your condition will you not require the surgeon as well? You can never be too careful when you are with child."

"Oh that's all right I already visited him, he said its just a minor flu, a few good nights of sleep will do me wonders."

"Understood my Leige."

"And you will keep me informed of your progress, won't you my sister in law?" She says, turning to Beatrice.

"Oh of course your Majesty" She replies with less than her usual enthusiasm.

"I thought so..."