The Queen of the World - Chapter 2

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Pelegia was a daughter of the Sea God, so apart from her many and varied half-siblings, most of her contacts were sailors or others who relieved on the sea for their living.

Alexandra mentally braced herself for language saltier than their sea-soaked clothing, and new additions to the list of things that Milche was not allowed to repeat. Seven-year-old boys were far too eager to giggle over impolite words. So had Alexandra, at that age, but she'd preferred watching her father turn interesting colours when she or Thalia innocently queried what certain words meant.

By the time the campaign ended, Aleksandros's army was probably the best in the world for situational awareness, particularly when it came to young ears and colourful language.

The sailor had the olive skin of the Ertruskans, and the sea-change green eyes common to Pelegia's siblings, despite an age gap measured in decades. He immediately dropped to one knee upon seeing her, which was more gratifying than Alexandra wanted to admit, "It is good to see you alive, my Queen."

Alexandra raised him to his feet, mostly in consideration for aging joints. "Thank you. I know that my people do not fare well in my absence, but I was told that you brought news?"

The sailor grinned, giving a little bounce that was another common trait with Pelegia when she had a surprise to reveal. "News, and a visitor, my Queen."

Behind her, Sayfiya stiffened in preparation for a potential attack, and Alexandra's eyes flickered around until they landed on a figure mostly concealed by an outcrop in the rocky inlet. "Abioye! How lovely to see you again!"

The elder of the twins who had been among her most serious suitors, what seemed like a lifetime ago, stepped out of hiding with a broad grin, and offered Alexandra a half-bow, deferential without servility. "Bhute remains at home in the Delta, pretending to be us both. My beloved has informed me that she doesn't want to see my face until our next child is born."

The last Alexandra had heard, the twin sisters who had married the brothers had been perfectly happy, gushing about all she was learning in preparation to rule. Had something changed? "That seems a little extreme."

Abioye shrugged ruefully. "She has endured false labor twice now. As the person half-responsible and with nothing to be done but implore the gods on her behalf, I might as well be the one to approach you."

Ah. Alexandra could empathize with that. "Pregnancy is uncomfortable at the best of times, and an utter nightmare in high summer. Please pass on my wishes for a safe and swift delivery."

He nodded. "I will, and we both thank you for it. Pleasantries aside, it was decided that my absence would be least likely to be noticed, and spent enough time with both you and your sister to be able to ascertain that you were, in fact, alive and well."

Alexandra supposed that she shouldn't be surprised, especially since Uncle Kerdos's regents had probably done their best to convince the world that she was dead. "I could certainly be better; grief is no easy thing to deal with, but yes, it was Thalia, Agathe and my husband who sacrificed themselves to give the rest of us time to run."

The Delta Prince rested a compassionate hand on her shoulder. "We grieve for your loss."

Alexandra could not continue with the topic much longer before she burst into tears. Again. Now was not the time for tears. "You mentioned that you brought news of my people?"

He nodded, accepting her desire to change the subject. "Both good and bad, I fear. Your Usurper uncle and his puppeteer council are facing uprisings from all corners, and the general consensus is that the army is being... less efficient than they should, unless the uprisings risk damage to infrastructure, food supplies, and other vital things."

Alexandra blinked, honestly surprised. Many of the army's Command Staff had watched her grow up, and sometimes had trouble taking her seriously as Queen. The Commander-in-Chief still caught himself from addressing her by an affectionate nickname, rather than the proper honourific three times out of ten.

It made for a bit of a fragile working relationship, especially when one of Alexandra's first acts as Queen had been to declare an end to conqueroring their way across the world and limit themselves to patrols, training exercises, and putting down rebellions. There were two possible explanations, and Alexandra wasn't sure which one she preferred. "Has there been much change in leadership?"

Abioye glanced questioningly at the sailor, who shook his head. "An outspoken Captain or two found themselves imprisoned on charges that everyone knows are as real as an ocean mirage, but the Commander replaced them with whoever was next in line before the council could get their own men in."

Neither of them would ever admit it out loud, but Kyrios, Commander-in-Chief of the Alexandrian Empire's armies, was where Alexandra had learned at least half of what she knew about creatively interpreting instructions. "In that case, the failure to crush the uprisings is almost certainly deliberate. Commander Kyrios is loyal to the Crown, but he's also honourable, and he's good at mitigating bad orders."

Sayfiya raised an eyebrow. "You're sure? I thought you and the army didn't get along."

Alexandra shook her head. "We had some fundemental differences of opinion in regards to how to proceed in the wake of my father's death, but we agreed on most principles. Kyrios had some spectacular arguments with my father about orders he considered morally wrong, and even a few with me. He'll put down an uprising, but he won't be as brutal as they want."

Abioye inclined his head, not necessarily agreeing, but willing to follow her lead for now. "In that case, how do you wish to proceed?"

That was the question, was it not? "I need to consult with my allies in person. This may not be the ideal meeting place, but if all of you can decide on a location, we will be there."

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