Eighteen matriarchs sat around the long table in the royal meeting room on Genthalas, the gathered Maliri speaking quietly to one another as they awaited their hostess, the atmosphere tense. When Queen Edraele swept into the room, all conversation ceased, the matriarchs watching her approach the table.
"My sincere apologies for keeping you waiting," Edraele said, inclining her head to the seated women. "Baen'thelas enquired as to the status of our fleet refits and I wanted to finish my update before beginning this meeting, so that I could give you my undivided attention."
"Apology accepted," Meriel Romenor said with an impatient wave. "So how soon will my own fleets be refitted?"
Kali Loraleth frowned in disapproval. "They're all our fleets now, Meriel. We're all working together for the betterment of the Maliri people."
"I was speaking to Edraele, not you. If I wanted the opinion of an impudent child, I would have asked for it!" Meriel snapped, her wizened face twisting into a sneer of derision. "Of course, we just happen to be refitting the fleets by House ranking, which puts all the Valaden and Loraleth ships at the front of the queue! It's fine to spout high-minded words when your fleets have already been upgraded!"
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you," Kali said quietly, cringing in the face of the older woman's hostility. "I just meant that we're all supposed to be friends now..."
As the youngest matriarch in the room, by 150 years in some cases, Kali often had to deal with underhanded slights from her elders. However, it was the first time any of them dared do so openly in front of their Queen.
Edraele placed her hand on Kali's bare shoulder and gave her a comforting squeeze. "That's exactly right, Kali. We're all united under Baen'thelas' banner, working to improve Maliri lives throughout the Protectorate."
Kali brushed a lock of her long white hair away from her youthful face and looked up at Edraele with a grateful smile. The Maliri queen returned it lovingly, then as soon as Kali looked away, she turned to glare on Meriel.
*Apologise to her... now. Unless you'd like to discuss your lack of respect after the meeting?* Edraele said ominously, her purple eyes narrowing in anger.
Meriel froze as she heard Edraele's glacial telepathic voice cut through her mind, the implied threat backed up by over a century of unsurpassed cruelty. "I-I should be the one apologising, Kali," she stammered, tearing her eyes from Edraele's baleful glare. "I'm very sorry for speaking to you in such a disrespectful manner. I-I was just concerned about House Romenor's unguarded border with the Kirrix..."
Kali brightened, a lovely smile lighting up her face. "That's quite alright, I appreciate you must be worried. I'm sure you'll be pleased to hear that my first fleet has been dispatched to your border just this morning! My second fleet is undergoing the last stages of the refit and will be heading for the Brimorian border in two days' time."
"Thank you," Meriel said, nodding to Kali in gratitude, before darting a worried glance in Edraele's direction.
The Maliri Queen locked eyes with her for a long moment, until Meriel bowed her head and broke eye-contact, then Edraele turned and took her seat at the head of the table. "To summarise the update that I just provided to Baen'thelas: Genthalas is now running at 80% capacity, with more hangars and production facilities being brought online on a daily basis. The slight delay was simply to allow additional time to install Brimorian Shield Generators in every vessel leaving our shipyards. The refit of House Perfaren's two fleets and my third are already well underway, with Houses Aeberos' and Naestina's beginning later this afternoon."
Tsarra, Nyrelle, and Valani all nodded in confirmation, their Fleet Commanders having kept them apprised of their current state of readiness.
Edraele turned to Gaenna Baelora. "House Baelora's ships will be next in line for the refit, so please ensure they are present at Genthalas by the end of the week."
The older matriarch had a gleam of anticipation in her eyes. "I shall contact my daughters and have them dispatch my fleets."
"Very good," Edraele said, before turning to look at the group. "Now, I'm afraid I have some bad news. Baen'thelas will not be travelling directly to Maliri Space, he plans to take a detour via Kirrix territory and will be returning home to us at least a week later."
This announcement was met with groans of anguish, the expression on Emandra Holaris' face making it clear just how much she was anticipating his return. Edraele had immediately informed the Young Matriarchs when John first made the decision, so they only reacted with forlorn looks at their Queen. Kali had taken the news hardest of all, as she was longing for his return, desperate to start a family with him.
"At least a week?" Emandra asked, chewing her lip in frustration. "But he might be even longer?"
"I don't have a precise date, I'm afraid," Edraele admitted with a mournful frown. "He's eager to return to us as soon as possible but he has pressing business to attend to first. I'm well aware that you've been away from home for weeks now, so it might be prudent to return to your homeworlds in the interim to deal with House business. I will inform you of the date he'll be arriving at Genthalas as soon as he lets me know."
The Young Matriarchs darted looks of concern at Edraele, the thought of leaving each other's company not a pleasant one. She knew how close Leena Ghilwen and Tsarra Perfaren had become, their intimacy matched by Nyrelle Aeberos and Valani Naestina.
*Not you, my darlings,* she informed them with a fond smile. *John asked me to protect all of you and the only way I can do that is to keep you at my side for the foreseeable future.*
*Another eight months?* Valani asked, instinctively caressing her flat stomach.
*Oh no, he was thinking considerably longer term than that... centuries at the very least,* the Maliri Queen replied, her reassuring words met with looks of delight.
Gaenna Baelora had been furtively studying Emandra Holaris' pained expression and her eyes flicked to the House Valaden Matriarch. "Edraele, I'd like to speak with you after the meeting please."
Inclining her head, Edraele replied, "Of course." Looking around the group, she continued, "On to the next item I wish to raise with you: my fleets have reached the Ashanath Collective and the Trankaran Republic. Both of our allies have been provided with new technology, so that they can upgrade their forces and assist with the refit of my ships. Additionally, my first fleet has begun the hunt for Kirrix vessels in Trankaran Space and I've received confirmation that the insectoid vermin have commenced a civil war..."
"I know you informed us that Alyssa caused this rift amongst the Kirrix," Keishara Venkalyn murmured, a look of trepidation flickering across her face as she remembered seeing the furious blonde flying after Tashana, eldritch forces curling around her fists. "But to instigate a civil war by thought alone... the sheer power that Terran girl must possess is terrifying!"
Edraele nodded and looked around at the fourteen short-haired matriarchs. "Yes, exactly. If you ladies will indulge me, I would like to offer you some advice. I know that many of you chafe under my leadership and given the opportunity, you would gladly seek to supplant me as Queen at John's side..." She saw a cagey twitch of the lips from more than one of the older women, while the rest were simply better at concealing their emotions.
"Why, whatever do you mean, Edraele?" Emandra asked, raising an eyebrow and giving her a coy smile.
