Valamar and Cassandra had stepped out of the carriage as they had arrived in front of the main gates of the palace. They were greeted straight away by the spymaster Valaron. Valamar was helped by his wife as he walked while still slightly limping. Valaron looked on with a raised eyebrow and a smile at the sight of his nephew like this.

"About time you two arrived." Valaron said "What's wrong with you, nephew? You look like you've just been kicked in the crotch by a bear... either that or last night's activities were a bit too wild."

"Leave me be, bapauda. And what do you mean 'about time'? It's only been a little more than an hour since the sunrise." Valamar complained a bit to which his wife only smiled

"Anyways, your father is waiting for you in the war council room."

When Valamar heard of the war council room being mentioned, he immediately knew something important was going on. They then went inside the palace and headed straight for the war council room. The room was one of the larger ones in the palace as Valamar recalled.

When they arrived there, Valamar could see his father already seated at the main chair along with his grandfather the Emperor of Auros, and with them, the Crown-Prince Imperial of Auros, his father-in-law the Grand Sovereign of Florentia, the King of Aerland, the King of Slavsnik, as well as the Germanic King and some other important nobles and officials.

Valamar was shown to his seat as his father had permitted him to with a nod. Valamar sat next to his brother and his cousin Matthaeos. Cassandra had stood beside him, not taking a seat after she noticed she was the only woman there.

"You summoned me, father?" Valamar asked "It seems with all of our esteemed guests here, it is about something of importance?"

"Yes it is, actually." Valasaire answered "Before you had entered, I and my fellow monarchs here have signed and ratified a pact of alliance. An alliance consisting of currently the six countries represented here. Rumasil, Auros, Germania, Florentia, Aerland, and Slavsnik. May our nations usher together into glory."

"An alliance?" Valamar "And of such a large scale? One would think we are facing a new great war."

"We most probably are, nephew." Manuel said "The world situation has become worrying lately. And though we are in an alliance, the amount of troops and aid we can provide each other is still limited..."

"We will publicly announce the formation of this new alliance soon at the address towards the citizens in this city and soon at each of our capitals." Antonio said "And with that, the news will soon travel and spread like wildfire until it reaches the ears of the other nations..."

"No doubt they would feel threatened." Valamar finished his father-in-laws thoughts "I can not help but think we are only worsening the world's tension with this."

"Son, it is far better to be prepared than sorry." Valasaire said in reply to his son's worry "The world is a powder keg, and the people in it now are like men smoking in an arsenal... A new great war will be upon us whether we like it or not. While the great war left the world in shambles, that was nearly sixteen hundred years ago. Most nations have recovered and we fear another war brewing, one larger than ever."

"And, no. We won't be going out and declaring war on the world." The King of Slavsnik said "We wouldn't need to anyways."

"The treaty between Germania and the Parisians is nearing its end." King Geirhart added "That spider King Louis is raring the might of Parii and his vassals for another war. Worst still, he has the backing of the Wesjermanians as well as the Miyazu of Kyusho."

"A new power is rising in Pulcharia." King Jan said as well "The moslems are beginning to band together again under the might of what they call a 'New Caliphate'... Damned be the lot of them."

"Isn't the Kingdom of Warnheim or Promascus curbing the wrath of the desert-folk?" Vald asked to the Slavic King

"Pfft... Don't make me laugh. The Crusader States are in a pathetic situation. With the death of the Promasian Emperor four years back, the Crusaders are still busy bickering among themselves over the matter of the six-year-old boy-Emperor's regency."

"Isn't the Empress-Dowager the regent?" Antonio asked to his cousin

"Accepting a young twenty-one year old foreign girl to lead a pack of wolves? You must be joking." Jan said in a snide remark "No, the Crusaders are still putting the matter in discussions. One would think having been in Pulcharia for over one and a half millennia under the unceasing hostilities would make the Crusaders at least a little more united. They have even failed to answer the calls for aid from Vara."

"But what of Warnheim? The Germanic Crusaders are not under the influence of the Emperor at Promascus." this time it was the Imperial Prince Matthaeos who had asked a question

"The German Crusaders also have a claim at Promascus. King Karl's daughter is married to the late-Emperor's brother who has also put forth his claim on the young Emperor's regency."

"That is what happens when you put lowly knights and nobles in charge of a nation. And the gall of them to even consider themselves an 'empire' is laughable." Manuel made his feelings clear on the crusaders

"That was a long time ago. You can not consider them lowly knights and nobles now. They've been in power for nearly a millenia now." Antonio said

"And if we're speaking of noble origins, isn't the Imperial House of Memnos founded on peasant's blood?" Jan said seeking to annoy the Aurosian Prince "What gall for a peasant-born military man who wasn't even made a nobleman to immediately declare himself Emperor when he was ousted from grace?"

"Hold your tongue, Slav. That was over four thousand years ago. And for the record, Andronikos was a legendary war hero. We are of hero's blood." Manuel retorted

"Makes no difference to his origins."

"Alright, that's enough of the banter. It's not even been an hour since we've signed the accord and already this is happening." Valasaire said

"Oh, it is merely friendly banter." Jan managed a cold smile on his pale face "I just find the greatest of pleasure in annoying Prince Manuel."

"Lord preserve me." Manuel said as he rolled his eyes

"Well, if we are speaking of worrying situations, Aerland is not short on its fair share of problems." King John said "Though we have managed an uneasy ceasefire with the Famonese, it looks as if the Amiroi are seeking allies from the bloody pagans. Hindan, the Goramarians, as well as those damned wood elves."

"My wife is a wood elf." Antonio said

"Let me rephrase that. Those damned pagan wood elves."

"Don't get me started on them." Manuel said in annoyance "The Lordship of Andariil-Dunhaire has been a thorn in Auros's sight for millennia. After we are done with the Razyan, I'll be dealing with them thoroughly even if it means burning their forest-cities down to ashes."

"The Latinites are also a looming threat... Their military is strong and their peoples united. Honestly, the united part is what got me in disbelief." Emperor Alexios said "I think an alliance with the Vasilians would be most beneficial to us..."

"Aye..." Valasaire said as he nodded in agreement "Besides the nations here, we are looking at expanding our possible allies, mostly those our nations have allied with individually. We have a list... Could you remind us again, brother?"

Valasaire looked to Valaron who opened up a parchment and began listing potential allies,

"The Tsardom of Vasilia and Loskawy, The Kingdom of Tomasz, The Elven Lordship of Kaena, The Kingdom of the Karlreichers, The Orcish Confederacy, the Merpeople, the Raemusian Republic and some other minor states..."

"It looks like we would have more enemies than friends..." Valamar said "I understand all this preparation and planning for the future is well and good, but what of the current situation with the war on Provaria?"

As Valamar said that, Valasaire couldn't help but smile.

"That's the reason I've summoned you here." Valasaire said "Last night, after you two had left the party, a messenger came and you wouldn't believe who sent it."

"Who?" Valamar asked

"The Provarians... He had come in the name of the Kingdom of the Provarian Isles to call for a truce between our two countries with a treaty."

"What did you say?"

"Well of course I told him to piss off... but you wouldn't believe what happened after that."

"What?"

"Another messenger came to us. And when this messenger came, I saw a dreadful look on the previous one's face. And you wouldn't believe where this one came from."

"Where?"

"Provaria! They sent two messengers and both with differing messages to boot!"

"Why?"

"I'll get to that, boy. So basically, this second messenger showed up and he claimed to come on the behalf of King Esteban V of Provaria and the Provarian Branch of the House of Valamen... He offered the vassalage of Provaria... and soon enough the two messengers were making a scene, bickering with each other."

"I'm quite confused, father. I don't quite follow."

"When did you become so slow, son?" Valasaire said with slight annoyance "The Kingdom of Provaria is clearly divided."

"A civil war?"

"Yes! Now you're getting it. Our spies in Provaria have also confirmed this. It appears that the situation in the royal capital of Valencei had become troubling a few months back as the House of Gissario - may they be damned - had staged a coup against His Majesty King Esteban V and now the Valamen branch of Provaria are recouping in the city of Siesia on a different island... Well, I think the actual messenger himself is more suited to telling you of this tale."

Valasaire then looked towards a guard and motioned him to call in the Loyalist messenger of Provaria. Only a few moments after that, a young looking man with a sleek look wearing a posh dress came into the room and bowed at the people in the room before introducing himself again.

"Buenos dias, mi senores." The man said "I am honored to be granted the right to speak with you all today. Allow me to introduce yourself to those who may not have seen me yesterday. I am Miguel de la Valamen and I come here with an offer on behalf of my brother, el rey Esteban V de Provaria."

Valamar noticed the man and gave him a nod. He was a member of the Provarian branch of the Si Vala dynasty and the brother to the Provarian king himself. He had shown a crest signifying himself and proving his identity as a member of the Provarian royal family. Valamar could see the dark purple cloak Miguel was wearing had an emblem of a roaring tiger with a crown on it on a red and yellow background. It was the symbol of the Valamen royal house.

"Please, Prince Miguel. Tell us again the offer your brother had brought forth to us." Valasaire said

"As you wish, your majesty." Miguel then opened a parchment which had the seal of King Esteban on it and began to read "To His Most Esteemed Majesty, my distant blood, Valasaire XIX, King of Rumasil and of the Almarians, I, Esteban V, By the Grace of God, King of the Provarian Isles of Valencei, Siesia, Altemare, and of Dophania, Lord of Terramar, offer to the main house of Vala in Rumasil the submission and vassalage of the Provarian Kingdom to Rumasil in exchange for aid against rebels and pretenders who aim to usurp my throne, one I have inherited as my birthright. I plead to the honourable men of Rumasil to give aid and we shall submit, and together may we be led to a more prosperous and bright future, etc."

As Miguel closed the parchment, he looked to the people again, but this time with a serious expression. "Your Majesties. I ask again with the utmost of humility for aid. It is a dark day in Provaria when a mother would turn against her own son and usurp his throne. As we speak, the Gissario have installed my mother as Queen-Regnant of Provaria, Esmeralda I... A pretender. All under the schemes of her father, my grandfather, Juan Pedro Armando de Gissario... As the Gissario reign, the people suffer... And this is a fact I have yet to tell you. Only a handful of the Provarian Valamen are left..."

"What do you mean, Prince Miguel?" Valasaire said as the others in the room also leaned in to hear of what the Provarian messenger had to say

"When the coup had been staged a month ago, we were all caught by surprise. All of a sudden soldiers started storming the palace with their weapons drawn towards the royal family, many loyalists were brutally slain. Only a handful of us made it out alive. In one night it had seemed the whole of Valencei had been turned upside down as it was split in half between the Gissario usurpers and the Valamen royalists... As my brother and his family were secured to flee the city to the pro-Valamen Siesia, my uncles and cousins gave their lives to protect the children and the old... By the time we managed to leave the city, hundreds had been slain in the battle, including my dear uncles and many of my cousins... The Gissario had intended for the annihilation of the Valamen royal family..."

Without himself noticing, Miguel's voice was about to crack as his eyes reddened slightly, recounting his experience during the revolt. Valasaire only raised his hand slightly as he nodded his head. Miguel had ceased his speech and bowed instead.

"An intent to eradicate one Valamen line is an intent to eradicate the entire dynasty!" Valasaire said in earnest "Our ancestors taught us that we must aid family in need... and from what I've heard, we Valamen have family in need. The blood of our kin is screaming to God for Justice. And by God, they shall have it. My answer to you, Prince Miguel, will be the same as yesterday. I shall grant aid personally to King Esteban."

"I am ever so grateful, your majesty." Miguel said as he nearly dropped to his knees before he regained himself "We shall never forget this."

Valasaire then turned his attention back to the people in the room.

"And that is where we come in, son." Valasaire said "In truth, we had been planning an invasion to the Provarian Isles for quite some time now yet we lacked a good opportunity. Yet with this, we have gained the perfect opening, opportunity, and just cause for a full on military campaign. Tomorrow we shall make our way to Hutalaut along with the soldiers we have here. The main bulk of our army has already been stationed there."

"The Aurosian Empire also has merit in this campaign." Manuel spoke up "After we subjugate the Razyan, we will grant aid to the campaign. Of course we have interests here... reasonable ones which we will discuss at a later date."

"Aerland shall also give its naval aid in return for half the Provarian colonies in Destairos... a reasonable price for a dying country." John said

"Florentia may not be able to operate directly, but my daughter here is leader of her own corps." Antonio said as well as he looked to Cassandra "I would expect her to do well to aid in her husband's campaign."

"I will, Lord father." Cassandra said

"The rest of the planning and the strategies will take place in Hutalaut so best be prepared... well you all would call it Sunstaril... That would close our talks for the day. For the rest of you, please enjoy your day before you depart to your respective countries. This is our first stepping stone in the stage to prepare for what is to come."