Page 44 of A Monarch's Fall

“Ah, yes, of course, I was getting ahead of myself,” he said, and straightened up from the keyboard, turning to look around the room. “Birch,” he called, and a tall, strict-looking older woman with short, greying brown hair left her discussion with one of Creel’s captains and came over.

“Yes, Sir?” she asked as she came to stand stiffly in front of General Creel.

“My Royal Highness, this is lead counterinsurgency specialist Stephany Birch. She is head of intelligence for all extremist and rebel groups,” he introduced her to me. “She knows everything we know about The New Foundation.”

“Which is?” I questioned, drawing the woman's attention.

“My remit has become rather large recently, and it has been challenging to stay on top of all the new groups, especially those of the northern Houses. The northern rebel groups were our largest concern until recently. The New Foundation is a surprisingly fast-growing movement — “

“A movement?” I interrupted to question.

“Yes. Unlike the current and past groups which we have encountered, The New Foundation operates drastically differently. Take the northern rebels, for example: there are many different groups, with limited success in forming a homogeneous group. The infighting, the distrust, the lack of shared values and desires make it impossible for the various factions to form alliances that last long enough to become a true concern,” Birch explained.

“Explain to House Ardens that the uniting of such groups is not a concern,” I told her. She grimaced.

“Sorry, Ma’am, I do not mean to downplay the local danger that such militia provide to the northern Houses, only that to the integrity of the kingdom as a whole, they are not a concern,” she explained.

I nodded and waved my hand for her to continue.

“The New Foundation are different. From what we are learning on the ground, they are not recruiting in the same manner. Rebels, current and past, have recruited members through anger, scapegoating, and promises of the spoils of war. The New Foundation are promising something different. They are more political.

“Truly, we believe they have roots stemming from the last of the Auster kingdom. Their ideological views are very similar. They target the young, healthy, those of the lower class and means, who may feel forgotten by their House, and the Borealis kingdom, and offer them purpose, meaning, a future they believe is out of their grasp within the House system. Their name, The New Foundation, is symbolic in itself; they wish to completely erase the House system, to create an envisioned utopia. Without class divide, without localised rule, or taxation. Though what they imagine will take the place of the House system is not clear.”

“With roots in Auster loyalists, I’d expect The New Foundation to find a strong base within House Viridis, but House Halvorsen is an unlikely ally,” I said.

“Certainly,” Birch agreed, “Yet we have not been able to locate any headquarters, or regions within Viridis housing the leadership of The New Foundation. The New Foundation has proved itself capable of sophisticated intelligence gathering, reconnaissance, and the execution of a successful evacuation mission, culminating in the capture of your personal servant, Ma’am. They must have a base location, or perhaps many of them. If they are not in Viridis, they must be elsewhere. Allour intelligence is pointing to The New Foundation base being within House Halvorsen, most likely on Lord Arvid Halvorsen’s estate, given that it is being guarded by Synoptic.”

“Synoptic is a small house, from the midlands of the kingdom; they are our ally,” I stated.

“They are,” General Creel agreed. “We have been assured that House Synoptic is still very much a friend of Borealis.”

“So those protecting Arvid’s estate are doing so of their own volition, deserters of their House and coven, or perhaps House Synoptic is not to be trusted,” I said, thinking aloud.

“The New Foundation is recruiting members from every House, clan, and coven,” Birch informed.

“The danger here is far greater than that to young Percy,” General Creel interceded. “I’m afraid that King Nyx has commanded that all efforts of the Borealis forces be put towards dismantling The New Foundation.”

I stood from the chair, a wave of strength to accompany my sudden anger.

“Is this your way of telling me you have ceased to look for my pet, General?” I questioned.

General Creel looked away briefly, like a schoolboy being told off, before staring back at me.

“Your father is my commander, and I ultimately take orders from him. I have shared what we know with you as a courtesy out of respect for you personally, my future queen, but this is as much as I am able to do. I have no doubt that, given your own resources, you are capable of finding and retrieving your pet. As much as I want to provide you with further assistance, the future of the Borealis kingdom is of greater importance,” General Creel explained firmly.

“Nothing and no one is of greater importance than my pet. What message does it send to the Houses of the kingdom ifBorealis cannot keep what belongs to her?” I hissed and barged my way past Birch as I left.

“Where are you going, leaving like that?” General Creel asked as he followed me from the room.

The corridor was perhaps one of the few that would remain relatively quiet during the conference, even with each room enchanted to prevent eavesdropping; it would be a mistake to allow just anyone to walk around this wing.

I spun around on him.

“To deal with my father,” I answered, unable to hide my rage.

He instructed Creel to forget my pet, to focus only on The New Foundation. The two were so closely tied that what effort was it to prioritise finding my pet, my soul match? What kind of father wouldn’t care about our separation?

“Okay, but if you’re going to drop me in it, at least give me a heads up,” he answered.