Ambush Pt. I

Tonight was the night before the morning ambush. Ascratia planned to cut off the two largest trade lines of Igrenelis. Igrenelis planned to destroy the prison of Ascratia, in hopes that the prisoners would join their army. Ascratia and Igrenelis had been in major tension, at threat of war, for 35 years. Neither dared to make the first move in broad daylight. Any war would lead to deaths on both sides, and neither king wanted his own people's blood on his hands. But King Marcus of Ascratia had died, and his son, Prince Alexander, was to take power. Alexander wanted the tensions gone, no matter what that meant. He desired to force Igrenelis to surrender and join Ascratia to have a more peaceful community. In Igrenelis, King William grew old. His wife, Perolia, sought to have Ascratia destroyed for its disobedience to Igrenelis and to Sauytor, their god. Dead King Marcus of Ascratia never married, and Alexander was born of an affair with a witch outside either kingdom's borders. Princess Ancera was born to Queen Perolia and King William. Every year, a Peace Party was held. So long as neither side attacked the other, they vowed to remain in peace and host this annual party where the highest ranking members of both kingdoms met over dinner. Tonight, the dinner was held in the Ascratian Palace. The previous seven were held in Igrenelis, on account of Ascratia and the Ascratian army having a much higher population.

All in attendance dined upon a circular table. The table abruptly cut itself off before reaching a full circle, with a gap that lie between Alexander and Ancera. Through this gap, servers entered and served dishes to each member at the table. The order alternated, from one Ascratian to one Igrenelis back to an Ascratian and so on. Not only did the gap provide an entry point for servers, but it also made sure that the number of each kingdom's members remained equal. No Ascratian, being sandwiched between two brutish Igrenelis, would dare to start any conflict. And no Igrenelis would create an uprising while surrounded by two noble Ascratians.

Sir Ruben of Igrenelis and Sir Patrick of Ascratia sat next to each other, as they usually did. Even of those in attendance, very few knew of their own sides' plans to attack the other immediately after the dinner, when all were expected to sleep. Ruben and Patrick, however, were to lead the attacks themselves. Apart from their military obligations, the two were best of friends. Every year they met again, and discussed all things private.

"Ruben! Hello, good friend!" Patrick burst out upon seeing Ruben here, where he had not been the year previous due to his wife's pregnancy. "Hello, Patrick!" Ruben responded, joyous to see his friend after what felt like the slowest two years of his life.

"I've heard tales aplenty, Ruben, but I must ask you--why is it you were absent yesteryear?"

"Well, Sauytor blessed my wife and I but eight months before the dinner. I am a father!"

"Oh, glorious, Ruben! Truly lovely to hear. I suppose that has taken up much of your time, then?"

"Certainly. I have not been to the pub in an eternity."

"Haha, I can only imagine. It feels an eternity since you've been here; or rather, since I've been over there. If only this dinner took place in Igrenelis again, perhaps I could meet your son!"

"Ah, 'tis not a son, I'm afraid. I've got now my own little princess to raise in my own little kingdom. Although, I've moved palaces..."

"Oh? Have you finally taken Gerold up on his offer?"

Ruben shook his head,

"No, Patrick, I have not. That mansion remains out of budget. Especially now that I must raise a daughter. I've moved to a home lesser in value than mine previous. I had some... Debt to pay."

"Oh, I see. Well, today, my friend. Today you will dine in the most glorious palace of all!"

"Perhaps for now, it is the most glorious. Igrenelis really does need to improve its dining hall."

"Oh, I do believe that Ascratia's palace will remain most glorious."

Ruben shifts in his seat, sensing an air of tension between the two of them; Patrick does not seem to notice, or, through Ruben's eyes, be affected by it whatsoever.

"Is that so?"

"Yes, Ruben! I hear they have plans to expand the palace, so much so that each servant would have their own quarters here!"

"Was that not true already?"

"Somewhat, but you understand: More servants, more rooms."

Ruben took this as a mild threat. More servants? So certainly Ascratia planned to enslave the Igrenelis people, according to him.

"More... Servants?"

"Yes, of course. We are hiring abroad now, allowing others from kingdoms outside our own to gain citizenship by working."

"I see... Does that include Igrenelis?"

"I suppose it does, yes. Although most of your people are quite patriotic. Why do you ask?" Patrick side-eyes Ruben hopefully, wishing for a certain response.

"And how in the world can you afford such a thing? From what I've heard, you pay your servants quite a hefty wage." Ruben sought to probe whether his men who were to be marched into the jail would be captured.

Now it was Patrick's turn to shift. Not at all what he had hoped to hear, this question poked at a possibility; Could Ruben know of the plan to intercept trade?

"Well, you know, Ascratia has plenty of wealth and resources. We've got very strong connections in the West." And they did. Ascratia was located in the East, although not as far East as Igrenelis. Merchants rarely came by sea, so instead they typically went around or even through Ascratia to Igrenelis.

Ruben felt even more uneasy than before. He questioned whether this was a threat, a statement of reinforcements. Patrick did seem the type to warn Ruben to back down so he would not die.

"Right, yes. The West."

Patrick swallowed, despite nothing entering his mouth since the food had been placed in front of him. The plan was to cut of Igrenelis trade routes to the West.

"Yeah, the... West."

"Say, Patrick," Ruben inquired, "I suppose we receive things secondhand, don't we? Since most merchants pass through or by your kingdom, and they often have less than half full loads." Ruben probed to find out if Patrick had an equipment advantage.

Patrick took this as an odd mix of warning and pleading, warning that Ruben was aware and pleading Patrick not to do what he was obligated to. Neither were aware of each other's plans, but both were convinced the other was.

"One moment, please," Patrick said, more a statement than a request. He stood and walked to Alexander's seat. "Alexander," Patrick whispered, maintaining enough hush so as to not be heard by the two Igrenelis on either side of them. "I believe they have found out about our plan."

"What? Why, and do you know how they could have found out?"

"Well, Your Highness, as you know, Ruben and I are quite good friends... I do believe he was hinting at a plan to counter ours. Warning me, in a way, to avoid conflict."

"And where do your loyalties lie, Sir Patrick? With Ruben or with Ascratia?"

"Ascratia, of course. I do not mean to request backing down. I think we should go at once, to block the trade routes before they arrive to stop us."

"And how will two of the highest ranking Ascratians leave the Peace Party unnoticed?"

"I do not know, Your Highness. I do not know."

"Call me sir. So long as you remain loyal to Ascratia, we are equals," Prince Alexander responded. Not yet king but most certainly the most powerful at the table, Alexander stood and announced: "Sir Patrick and I must be going, there is a civil catastrophe in the Northeastern Quarter. We wish you a wondrous day; And please, enjoy the food."

Minutes of talking between Ruben and William took place, with Perolia intervening to interpret words to fit her own agenda. Perolia thought at first that they were merely attempting to poison them, hence the last words of Alexander. But with Ruben's information the group decided that it would be best to attack the jail immediately, rather than waiting. But Ruben's men were still in Igrenelis, and it would be impossible without them--especially if Alexander and Patrick were reinforcing it. The jail was in the Northeastern Quarter, after all.