6 Chapter 6. Meeting of the Three Kings

King Taeyer had summoned General Wey to the palace as soon as the wedding party left his house. There was an urgent council today, and the General's attendance was required immediately. General Wey barely had enough time to get to the palace, and by the time he got to the castle, the guests had been waiting for quite some time already.

"My apologies for making everyone wait," as he nods slightly to King Taeyer first and then everyone else in the room. He could tell King Taeyer was offended by his delay from the lack of response when he bowed.

King Taeyer instead addresses the two men sitting across the table from them. "If you will excuse my General, he's running a little late because his daughter Yuliah's wedding is also today," his voice full of irritation. Finally turning to acknowledge General Wey, King Taeyer points to the two Men sitting across the wooden table, "This is King Zehan and General Ryas from the Southern Kingdom."

General Wey nods his head to greet both Men walking over to shake their hands, and then takes a seat next to his King.

King Zehan could sense the irritation in King Taeyer's voice towards General Wey, and he wanted to avoid any unnecessary conflict, "Why don't we get started then so your General can return home soon. I wouldn't want him to miss his own daughter's wedding," as he smiles politely at General Wey and King Taeyer.

General Wey nods his head in response. Since the death of the old King General Wey had no choice but to follow this new King no matter how absurd he was and King Taeyer could be extremely irrational at times.

Today was the first time that all three Men were meeting and King Taeyer had heard of General Ryas being the true King of these lands while King Zehan and he were nothing more than puppets and that did not sit well with Taeyer for he saw himself of more value and importance than a puppet. He wasn't going to let these two young and inexperienced Men tell him what to do. These two probably had no clue on how to rule a Kingdom or people, and that explains why the Southern Kingdom had no real order like the North did.

Wanting to show them his dominance and power in a clear and commanding voice, "I called you here today to discuss an alliance with the Nomens. My Kingdom is growing fast, and in a few years, we won't have enough land to grow food and support the mouths we'll need to feed. I need to expand south just a ways past the Ethereal Forest but with the Forest being too dangerous to pass through we'll need the Nomens to guarantee us safe passage."

"An alliance with the Nomens? How will that happen? The Nomens listen and obey no one but themselves," General Ryas cuts in.

"They are dying and desperate. We've known for a while now that Nomens can no longer have children with their own, that's why they kidnap our Women. We can use the women as trade. The streets overflow with starving whores, women, and girls who could have a better life. I hear breeders get treated like royalty among the Nomens," Taeyer explains.

"So breed an army for them and have that army kill us in a few years so that you can get a few more pieces of land?" Ryas looked at him as though he'd gone mad.

Zehan could tell from the slight glow forming in Ryas' eyes that things may not turn well for King Taeyer if he kept on arguing with Ryas. To avoid any unnecessary conflict again, he interrupts, "I understand the concern you have for your people, but we need to think about this because the Nomens, like my General, has stated, listen and obey no one. They live by their own rules, and a stronger takes all belief. Many of our own have trusted them in the past only to be killed by those very same Nomens they trusted."

Looking across the room at the two young Men, General Wey understood now why the Southern Kingdom had more liberty not because its Rulers were young but intelligent. He could tell they knew that Kings do not build kingdoms, but the people do, and the only way to create a powerful Kingdom was not by ruling the people with an iron fist but by giving its people the illusion of power to make their own choices. This King Zehan looked no older than Yuliah and his General no older than him, but for such young people, they seemed to know more than they let on. General Wey was curious about the Southern Kingdom and its young rulers but held his tongue for he did not want King Taeyer to see that he was interested and perhaps in agreeance with the Southern Kingdom. He had chosen not to say much during the meeting for he knew that King Taeyer was already starting to question the amount of influence he had on the other Clans.

Not sure on how to answer King Taeyer, Zehan explains, "I'm going to need more time to discuss your proposal with my Advisors. When I get back to the Southern Kingdom, we'll have a discussion, and I'll inform you of what we'll decide to do."

General Ryas, on the other hand, voices his opinion clearly with no fear or regard for Taeyer's status, "I don't approve of your proposal nor will I agree to it," causing King Taeyer to detest him.

King Taeyer completely disregards Ryas' response but instead answers directly to Zehan, "I'll be waiting for your response then. The Nomens are desperate, and they'll need a quick reply. I've got other engagements. General Wey will see you both out," King Taeyer gets up to leave. He had little regard for people who did not agree with him, but he had heard about General Ryas' temper, he knew it was in his best interest to keep it brief for now.

Ryas had never dealt with King Taeyer before only his Father, and he could see the difference between the two were quite drastic. Taeyer lacked no intelligence or foresight unlike his Father or any of his predecessors. To believe that you could trust the Nomens was foolish after all that they had done.