In the heart of Velmara, the capital city of Aldenreach, the argument raged in the top room of one of the towers of the palace.
"For all we know the child was stillborn and there is no heir or female to hold the Emperor's house!" The Sea Lord was shouting with his finger pointing at the face of Lord Beaufort. "We must choose a successor!"
"Be calm." The North Lord warned, his tone low and dangerous. "We are all well within hearing range, there is no need to shout. We are all equals here."
The Lord of the Mountain snorted, "Equals. Some of us have been less than equal since the day the Ash King marched on our capitals!" He nodded to the Sea Lord who nodded back. "I for one think that even if there is a child, we are no longer bound to this false Empire."
"Treason!" Lord Beaufort barked out the word.
"Against whom??" The Mountain Lord laughed, "The Ash King is dead and his Shadow wife with him! There is no child, so, there is no Empire to commit treason against!"
"Call him that low name again and I'll have your heart on this table." Lord Beaufort snarled.
"Yes, yes. We all know that you are eternally grateful to Achiron for granting you title in exchange for your private army and your money Beaufort." The Sea Lord chuckled. "But remember, without the empire, you are just a title-less landowner with some mercenaries. We are Kings!"
"Were kings." Lord Beaufort corrected. "You surrendered. To my mercenaries if I recall. I delivered your crown to King Achiron myself."
"Yes, you were a good dog to Achiron," the Sea Lord countered. "He should have named you Lord of Dogs." He laughed bitterly at the rage twisting Lord Beaufort's face.
Lord Beaufort thrust his hand into his pocket and slammed a silver key on the table. It was ornately engraved with a huge pearl at the handle end. "Do you know what this is?"
"Do we care?" The Lord of the Mountain mocked him by tossing an ordinary key on the table. "We all have keys, Dog Lord."
"This is the key to my personal privy at my home." Lord Beaufort held the glimmering key aloft in the light that poured in through the window. "The silver is from your crown," He gestured to the Lord of the Mountain. "And the pearl is from yours." He pointed the key at the Sea Lord. "It reminds me what a waste you both are and what your true value is to this Empire."
The small crowds of nobles and lesser lords assembled behind each of the Lords seated at the table went completely silent.
The Lord of the Mountain went darkly silent and the Sea Lord raged like a storm against the rocky foundations of Tidemarrow. Lord Beaufort pocketed the key and sat back down with a grin on his face.
"Enough of this!" The Lord of the North thundered as he stood and leaned on the table, quieting the room. "This will gain us nothing. Sit down!" He pointed at the Sea Lord. "Your inability to control your temper cost you once, do not let it best you yet again."
"I have had enough talk." The Mountain Lord interrupted. "I am leaving. I am right now declaring that my domain is free and bound to no one or any Empire. I declare my title of Chief Architect and will be returning to my capital city of Korrathstone immediately." The squat, powerfully built man stood and turned on his heel to leave.
"This means that we are headed for war!" Lord Beaufort called after his departing back.
The Chief Architect paused. Then he called over his shoulder without looking back, "Then we shall see how your horsemen fare against my walls and my axmen. We all know you did not face me last time."
The Sea Lord laughed and slammed his fist on the table as he rose as well. "I too am done with this farce. The Sea Kingdom will respond if there is any declaration of war against the Mountains. I will be leaving for Tidemarrow today."
"I will come and visit you soon." The Chief Architect nodded to the Sea King and then walked out the door, followed by his nobles and lords.
The Sea King straightened up and gathered a few loose papers off the table. He looked at the Lord of the North. "What say you? Are you returning to yourself, or will you continue to serve a dead empire with this fool?" He waved his hand at Lord Beaufort.
"I made an oath, I will see it through." The Lord of the North stated flatly. "I will see you again on the field."
"Or on the sea." The Sea King threatened. He turned to Lord Beaufort. "I'll be back for that pearl, Dog Lord."
"We will see."
"Yes. We will."
The Sea King marched from the room with his retinue.
The Lord of the North faced Lord Beaufort. "That key was a poor choice in maneuvering, Lord Beaufort. We may regret that."
"Oh, we have beaten them before." Lord Beaufort dismissed the concern with a wave of his hand.
"Yes, but with King Achiron's army and the threat of The Shadow King joining us. The Mountain only surrendered after the Shadow Lord sent them a messenger. There is no Shadow Lord now."
Lord Beaufort smiled. "Is that fear I hear in the voice of the mighty Lord of the North? Surely, your men combined with my cavalry will sweep the Sea Kingdom back to Tidemarrow as we did before."
The North Lord shook his head. "Your wealth does not make you wise, just as your cavalry does not make you strong. The Sea Kingdom had been fighting King Achiron for years and were weakened. They have rebuilt and have learned our strategies. They are more ready than ever. We never set foot in the Mountains. We have never bled in their halls. The Chief Architect knows this." The Lord of the North paused. "Without King Achiron and Lord Modian, we are divided by Aldenreach and have no allies by our sides. This will be bloody Lord Beaufort. You can only buy so much blood before you are tainted by it."
Lord Beaufort remained in his chair considering the North Lord's words. But in the end his pride made him stand up, "I will fight for this Empire and for what is mine by right. Will you?"
"As I said," the Lord of the North returned evenly, "I made an oath. I will stand by it."
"Then we are going to war."