[center][color=00aeef]Carver Pentaghast[/color] and [color=0054a6]Claudius Ker'Rak[/color]. Main and Side.

[h1]Palace Throne Room, Great Praelium, Praelium[/h1] [/center]

[color=00a651]"You sit there idle, Lord Tyrannus!"[/color] The Dec shouted, foam almost seething from his mouth. [color=00a651]"A farming village destroyed, and you show no action other than a reconstruction force!"[/color]

[color=00aeef]"We don't know who or what we are dealing with,"[/color] Carver said, voice growing weary. He felt as if he had been arguing the same points for several days now, and it had only been an hour. The cautious approach to the attack near Artis Port had been met with more opposition that he initially expected. To him, it was the obvious approach. To send several troops from the rest of the kingdom would make the attack seem like a bigger threat than it was.

[color=00aeef]"To think this is a planned attack by another kingdom is foolish. We shouldn't mobilize units for an offensive quite yet."[/color]

[color=00a651]"A single group of raiders could not take out a village that easily,"[/color] scoffed the Dec, [color=00a651]"A force to be reckoned with is loose somewhere in Praelium, and it wishes to start a war."[/color]

[color=ed145b]"Damn Benaduzians!"[/color] Another Dec shouted, [color=ed145b]"It has to be them! They're blood hungry and we all know it!"[/color]

[color=00a651]"Benaduza is a trading ally we have little quarrel with them,"[/color] Carver replied, [color=00a651]"And while they would dominate us at sea, we have a much stronger land force. We would have seen a much stronger naval blockade and a bigger show of force on our port sides."[/color]

[color=00a651]"So what do we do, Lord Tyrannus?"[/color] The first Dec said in a mocking tone, [color=00a651]"Get down on our knees and pray they infiltrate Praelium softly?"[/color]

Carver's tired posture straightened and flame of fury ignited in his eyes. His gaze, which was trying to address the entire House of Decus, turned directly at the out spoken Dec. The rage fueled stare shocked the Dec, and his initially aggressive posture turned stiff.

[color=00aeef]"Praelium has suffered a minor causality at best."[/color] Carver spoke fiercely. [color=00aeef]"Do not think I will let Praelium fall. We do not want other nations to think this was a significant hit."
[/color]
The Dec meekly nodded, and the rest of the House murmured in agreement.

[color=00aeef]"If that settles all, then we are all adjourned."[/color] Carver waved his hand, dismissing the Decs, and they all shuffled out. All except Claudius, who waited for the rest to leave before approaching Carver.

[color=0054a6]"If it makes you feel better, I approve of your strategy, Lord Tyrannus."[/color]

[color=00aeef]"Thanks Claudius,"[/color] Carver said, his previously intimidating presence withering away as he spoke. [color=00aeef]"You think we would want less wars, as we are already fighting the tribes to the north. Apparently, that's not enough for them."[/color]

Carver's eyes glazed over before he buried them in his hands. [color=00aeef]"And to top it off, House Dominus wants to see me."[/color]

Claudius reached his hand out to Carver's shoulder reassuringly. [color=0054a6]"Did they tell you what for?"[/color]

[color=00aeef]"They're going to pull a Annog a kill me," [/color]Carver said, half jokingly. He knew that very well could be the case, he could have been violating some Dominus standard that they never told him. 

[color=0054a6]"Damn time they do,"[/color] Claudius said back. "[color=0054a6]I want take a shot at this Tyrannus thing. I think I could do a better job that you, easily."[/color]

Carver chuckled, and lifted his face from his hands to face Claudius. His smile was weak, but there nonetheless.

[color=00aeef]"Thanks old friend,"[/color] Carver slowly began to rise. [color=00aeef]"I'll head over there now. If I'm to be killed, midday would be my preferred time."[/color]