Her eyes glimpsed through the page of the book that laid on her desk. Carefully she took the quill into her left and cautiously dipped it into the ink before she begun to subtract the latest expenses from her funds.
Her eyes lingered on the number as her mind mind remembered. She had it all prepared, the troops, even a good strategist as lances, made of fire, traveled over the horizon. Her fleet was lost and her troops and mercenaries were ordered back.
Crack
Her eyes turned to her left hand, only to see that the quill broke under the sudden burst that traveled all the way to her hand. She hated that things had to turn for the worst.
A sigh left her lips as she stood up and moved up to the window, opening it. A cold and soft evening breeze greeted her gaze as her eyes turned to look at Aviary, city of the Aviary, most prideful birdheads on Sunne.
Her eyes turn to look at this piece of art that her "artists" have been working on. A good part of the city has been rebuild, hosian architecture slightly influencing the housing that now stood here. To Amelia's dismay, the High Counselor continued to refuse to allow the hosian refugees to live in any of them and as such they had to settle at the feet of the fallen city.
A feeling of satisfaction filled her as a carriage in the street bellow transported provisions to the refugees. She managed to convince the high counselor to aid in providing for the worker while they do work, she did not really leave him much of a choice after pointing out that they would raid the city if they would be at risk of starving.
The worker rebuilding the city and they provide food. It was certainly not enough, but the red lady did not hesitate to help out a little bit by dropping a few coins here and there once in a while.
Knock knock
"Come in," Amelia replied as she turned as Irin, her personal servant entered the room, holding a document in her hands.
"You look terrible," joked the servant as she gazed onto Amelia's face. Irin walked up to the desk and placed several sealed letter and an open page onto it.
"It has been difficult on me for the past months you know. I need to constantly make sure that everything works as we intend, you know." Another sigh left her lips.
"I do," Irin ruefully replied. "These are from the expeditions and from the chamberlain from the west. The report details what we have sent westwards today."
"What about the visitors we had recently, have they been shown what they should see?"
"Yes, they have. As you wished, we have shown them the unrestored sections of the city and kept them away from what we are working on..." Irin hesitated for a moment before satisfying her curiousity. "But why do we do this, if I may ask, My'lady?"
"We have to make Aviary seem undesirable, otherwise a crazed old general or one of the other three may choose to visit us. The least desirable Aviary seems, the less likely it is that we are noticed in our plans to construct a new city in the west. The sooner we can get everybody west, the better." Remembering another detail she continued after a short moment. "We also need time to find something to protect our people from those... things... in case our settlement is discovered."
Irin nodded her head: "I see. That certainly explains a lot. But Amelia? Make sure you get enough sleep at least. I wish you a good night later, My'lady."
Amelia nodded her head as she watched Irin leave. She returned to her seat on the desk, opened the desk's drawer and took another quill out from it. The accounting book still laid open before her, once more she cautiously dipped the quill into the ink.
Done with the accounting, her hands moved to the report, detailing that a small group of refugees have begun moving westwards along with vital resources needed for what she planned . A guard of 20 of her own soldiers accompanied the group and would return before morning dawned.
Her eyes turned to look to a sealed letter, breaking the seal, her hands carefully opened the letter. It was from the chamberlain, the first she sent west to oversee the construction of a new city, a new home for the people that had to leave the now poison infested Hosia. Her eyes quickly scrolled through the letter, seeking key information pieces. Outer Palisade wall, inner basic stone wall, treasury, houses completed and farming land prepared. Require more people for the farms.
A small smile formed on Amelia's lips, being glad that it is progressing well, though it would still be a while before she could lay her own eyes on her big project. I have come a far way with this, eh? It was difficult for her to believe that it all started with a suggestion from her strategist, the chamberlain and the knight captain, her inner council basically. And it all merely started with sending scouts west to discover a water source that could renew itself and the terrain proved to be fruitful and rich in the basics they would require to undergo this project.
Still with a content smile on her face, she put the letter away and moved to look through the next ones. All reports of chasing after a clue for a divine weapon. A feeling of discomfort spread through her stomach when she thought about what she sent her most loyal out to look for: A divine weapon.
Her right hand moved to massage her temple to cope with that very discomfort.
Those four power crazy beings must have become the way they were by discovering one of them, now she is seeking one herself. The risk...
Another sigh left her lips.
"To protect my people."
In her mind the images of her trusted people show, the chamberlain, her family, the knight captain, Irin, Kehlani and all the other people she has met and spoken to in the refugee camp. They all look up to her for guidance and protection.
Kehlani specifically dwelled for a moment longer in her mind. A young girl, sent her down to Edelon without telling her why.
"She is gonna figure it out," Amelia laughed. She had grown quite fond of the young girl, stumbled at random on her. To Amelia, Kehlani's eyes had something in them, something that would make her unique, though she could not and still not grasp what. It did not take long before Amelia offered the young girl a job in her service, not as a servant but for more direct tasks coming directly from her.
In Amelia's mind, Edelon was an unknown factor, the one time she visited the city, it was glorious and beautiful, a place of nature and harmony. Yet the battle with the aux eater happened there, a rumor the red lady originally dismissed.
A hope Lady Ironheart had, was to hear anything possible and available from Edelon, survivors, measure of the battle, corruption and if the city bears any possible threat.
A tired yawn left Amelia's lips and she finally decided to get that sleep Irin so much suggested earlier.
There was still a lot that needed to be done.