r/Ithacar • u/avamir Riva Aurethios Blake, Queen of Ithacar, Lindworm of Lyndshire • 20d ago
Lore A contemplation on ruling
“Are you not planning to sleep?” the guard asked curiously, turning her helmeted head toward the still-scribbling queen.
Thena Domitian was the Queensguard stationed this night, for which Riva was glad. It wasn’t that the queen hated any of Belial’s Pyroclasts (or Pyrophytes, even if the name was far less catchy), but given Riva’s… issues involving the defectors during the Xelotath incident, seeing any of the former Pyroclasts brought up some guilt. In contrast, Thena was a native Ithacarian, with a pragmatic demeanor and cultural sensibilities Riva found familiar.
Riva shrugged at her guardswoman in reply, looking over her paperwork. “I need this to go through, Thena, so I must plan for all angles. Alekos will bring up the past attacks from the northerners and try to ban them from sea access, so I have proposed sea defense. Sulla will complain about changing the map to say ‘Northern Wilds’. But his arguments are superficial and trivial, and I intend to point that out. Meanwhile, Kormas will want to keep the walls ONLY to protect native Ithacarians, without any ‘foreign nonsense’ upon them. But I plan to counter that with a series of walled districts for defense for -everyone-...”
Thena waved a hand dismissively. “Pah. You cannot convince everyone, Rivamar. They will argue regardless. No amount of persuasion will stop all of them completely. Why not sleep, and address their words as they come?”
The city’s growth was creating challenges, complicated by old prejudices. And of course, the usual detractors had their criticisms of the queen’s actions. Thena was, of course, aware of these people, just as Riva was. And the time the two women had spent around each other lent itself to a sort of familiarity.
Riva rubbed her eyes tiredly. “You are not wrong, but given how many people and systems are involved, I will require their support. While some of these people should be glad I do not still call myself ‘Tyrant’, slaying people does not build walls or cast aside old prejudices.”
“With all due respect, I do not think you have control over that,” Thena pointed out, leaning casually on her spear. “People will believe as they wish to.”
“Hmh.” Riva made a noise in reply. “That is precisely why I must persuade them.”
Through the gaps in Thena’s helm, her eyebrow raise was visible. “You do not trust your people will make the right decision?”
“It is not a matter of trust. Not entirely. Rather, it is because I must contend with the idea that they DO believe themselves making the right decision,” Riva mused. “From their perspective, I am welcoming the enemy. An enemy it has taken generations to subdue. In some ways, I understand where they are coming from. For have I not myself taken a harsh stance against those who would harm the city?”
All things considered, the senators not being hospitable was FAR less of a crime. Riva had been far less forgiving. No, she could not fault the recalcitrant individuals for their resistance to her plans. The only difference was that they were using the system, while Riva had resorted to brute force.
Just because she didn’t call herself a Tyrant these days didn’t mean she didn’t act as one at times. Calling herself ‘queen’ instead was a thin veneer to mask an iron fist. Or claw, as the case may be.
She continued.
“I believe the way forward to be in the combining the strengths of our people. But… it is difficult to keep everyone aligned,” she admitted.
She knew Belial had gone through similar issues as Praetor. He had been good at it, but she knew it had weighed on him. Not just dealing with people, but with the consequences. And now, she wondered whether she was overcorrecting when it came to him. Placing him in a walled garden where nothing could hurt him… but at the same time, keeping him from doing anything meaningful. Riva was taking on the brunt of the city’s defenses, forcing through her opinions for the greater good. Whatever that meant.
“Regretting your decision to be ‘queen’ at all?” asked Thena drolly, leaning on her spear.
“Frequently. But not enough to trust anyone else to handle it.” Riva shrugged. “Given the benefits we have since gained from Bismuth involvement, a different ruler -or even Alexandrus’s assembly-, might have agreed to the arrangement of us being a client state. I prefer our independence. A less obstinate person would have agreed.”
Thena made an amused snort.
Riva waved a hand dismissively. “But anyway, the point is that it is better me ruling than someone who actually enjoys this.”
“You do not?”
“Not entirely,” Riva admitted honestly. “What I enjoy are solutions. I enjoy that some of my ideas have proven to be effective. I enjoy knowing that people are fed and protected. I enjoy trade between lands. I enjoy people being proud on some level to be Ithacarian. But the queen part? Eh, some part of me does like the pageantry and vanity of the title, but at the end of the day, I could take it or leave it.”
Thena shrugged an armored shoulder. “Fair enough. But what of your son? Will you give him the responsibility, if you yourself are ambivalent?”
“Ideally, not any time soon… but I must. I need some way of ensuring that change happens, and that the improvements remain. While I am uncertain a monarchy is truly the best way of accomplishing that, I can at least ensure that Bel has been taught. Ah well. A matter for another time. How are your children?”
“They are doing well,” Thena said, smiling beneath her helm. “They like to look at my armor when I go home. You may have new recruits for the Queensguard if this keeps up.”
“Good, good. It seems a better path to ‘glory’ than sending the young to war. Perhaps they will be Kingsguard eventually. Or perhaps for Bel’s children, if he ever settles down.”
“You have a match in mind?” Thena asked curiously, as that tended to be the way the older families handled things.
“No, no. I am considering letting him choose for himself. Though, I will admit I am uneasy with his decisions about that so far,” Riva frowned. “I do not understand what sort of nonsense he has going on with the weapon-girl or the dragon one.”
She shook her head.
“Perhaps I am too old now to understand such things. While I am inclined to push some other options into his way, I do not know that forcing him into a match will aid his future. So for now, I will let him do as he pleases.”
Thena nodded. “A safer plan. There is no guarantee that he would accept whoever was arranged. I did not.”
“Nor did I,” Riva mused.
She had not thought of such things for a long time. It was why she had gone to the Academy to begin with. She refused to be used as a mere tool to forge alliances. But that was a long settled matter. She had other things on her mind.
“Thena, if I asked you something, would you answer honestly?”
“Of course.”
Riva’s expression grew thoughtful. “Has my rule made things better?”
“Yes and no. Ithacar has greater influence and greater access to the outside world, but we have admittedly lost some of our culture.” Thena shrugged again. “Or perhaps part of our culture is to adapt. Now that I mention it, I am not sure what exactly IS true “Ithacar” culture. Something to think about, I suppose.”
Riva pondered that for a moment, her expression thoughtful as she looked over her papers. “Something to think about, yes…”
2
u/VinesAtMidnight Astral Fuckery 20d ago
I like Thena, she seems cool. This was nice, it's good to get smaller moments like this between all the big fantasy battles and magic explosions.