"The ambassador to Irulia will arrive within a fortnight." King Romulus said. He sat at the head of a long, narrow rectangular table. In the seat closest to him, Tigris listened patiently, much to the disdain of the King's advisors.

"The guest rooms have been prepared, sire. Irulia's elders demand reduced tariffs on imports." Tigris replied, scanning the parchment she'd been given before the conference. She lifted her gaze, her heart jumping with brief panic as she met her father's stern eyes. Still, she kept her voice steady. "They say that it was unjustly increased."

The King's jaw clenched. "I fear Irulia is asking too much. The tariffs were negotiated during the last summit. They agreed to the proposed increase."

"That was before they were struck by a series of droughts and storms. They cannot meet the quotas set during the summit." a male across the table from Tigris explained. Her brother, Aodh, fiddled with his long, jeweled sword, rivalled only by the similarly made blade on Tigris' hip. Aodh had always been a good guard and advisor. He was the ruler that the Faultless City yearned to inherit after their father's death. Tigris could see his features in the reflection of his metal blade; a sharp, pale jaw with brown stubble. His cropped brown hair highlighted his piercing blue eyes. Their father's eyes.

King Romulus stroked his chin. "That is an excuse. Irulia has long envied our lands on the southwestern border. This tariff nonsense could be an excuse to go to war. They were close to annexing those lands during the last war, they might believe that they could win if another battle would occur."

"That would undermine the kingdom's security. We would be open to attacks from the western Shultians and the Tselts. If all three were to ally-'' one advisor began, but was interrupted by Romulus raising a hand. Tigris' father stared into empty space.

"Then it would indeed be a difficult battle for us," he mused. "We mustn't let that happen. When the ambassador arrives, it must be made clear that the import and export quotas must be met, and that there will be no change to the taxes."

"Father," Tigris argued, "Isn't that a bit much?"

Romulus' gaze flattened with fury. "Are you questioning my judgement, Tigris?"

Tigris lowered her gaze, feeling her cheeks burn as all the advisors' gazes swung towards her. "No, my lord." Tigris replied slowly, "But I wish to remind you that the Irulians cannot fabricate the weather reports we've received. The storms and droughts have occurred, and reports suggest that their people are starving. The Faultless Kingdom is having a bountiful season. Perhaps we could reduce the taxes for a season-"

"And risk them sticking to the reduced tariffs?" another advisor, with long blonde hair and many battle scars criss crossing his neck, sniffed. "The Irulians cannot be trusted."

Across the table, Aodh drew his sword with a metallic screech. "Is that any way to address the Princess?"

"Enough!" Romulus snapped, rising to his feet. "Tigris, that was a foolish idea. Lord Theos is correct. We cannot risk leniency. The Irulians agreed to the tariffs. They must go forth. The Faultless Kingdom is prepared to go to battle if this deems a war necessary. Session adjourned!"

Tigris rose from her seat and curtsied respectfully even as anger stewed within her. She could see the fleeing advisors stifling smiles behind their hands as they left, murmuring to each other. Tigris clenched her fists. They would never take her seriously. She turned to leave when a hand landed on her shoulder.

"What is it, Aodh?" Tigris asked her brother. Aodh smirked, ruffling her hair.

"Aww, are you upset about not getting your way?" he teased, ruffling her hair. Tigris dodged, punching him in the gut hard enough that he rocked back on his feet with an oof. She felt too conflicted to give in to the tease.

"The latest Irulian elders have not shown us any sign of deceit. To condemn them and their people to starvation seems unfair." she muttered, quiet enough that the passing advisors wouldn't hear. Aodh's teasing smile flickered.

"I know," he murmured solemnly, his eyes darting to where their father was laughing with a few advisors. His gaze hardened. "But what if Father is right? They could be deceiving us, and then our sympathy could have doomed the Faultless kingdom."

Tigris snorted. "You know as well as I do that if anyone is to lose the next war, it would be the Irulians. Their people are starving and dehydrated. They are running out of items to trade. They would stand no chance in a war. Don't be Father's bootlicker, Aodh, it's exhausting to watch."

Aodh rolled his eyes. "Father is king. He's been doing this for a while. If he suspects the Irulians are up to something, they probably are."

Neither of them were willing to say anything after that. Anything else would be an insult to the king. Tigris sighed.

"What did you need?" she asked finally. Aodh's smirk returned, like it never left. Tigris clenched her jaw. He thought he'd won their conversation. He always did think that he'd won.

"Father wants to talk to us. Come on." Aodh said triumphantly. Tigris fought the urge to roll her eyes. She was going to need to work off her frustrations by training the knights after this. As they approached, the king's eyes gleamed. He waved off the advisor he was speaking to. As customary, Aodh bowed low and Tigris curtsied.

"Where is Finn?" Romulus asked, bidding them to rise with a simple cant of his head.

"Where else?" Aodh replied with a small smirk. Their father's face wrinkled with a frown. He marched towards the table, knocking the surface.

"Finn? How many times have I told you not to read under the table!" Romulus snapped. There was a small thud beneath the table, and Finn groaned. He crawled out from under the table, revealing a red spot on his pasty white forehead where he'd banged it against the table. A leatherbound book was tucked under his arm.

"I'm sorry, father," Finn mumbled, keeping his green eyes downcast. He ran a hand through his curly, chocolate brown hair, his freckles dusting the bridge of his nose. "I thought you wanted me present at the meeting."

Tigris and Aodh exchanged a nervous glance as their father's cheeks reddened with irritation. Their youngest sibling didn't speak to their father often, but when he did, he usually said all the wrong things, even if he didn't mean to. King Romulus smacked the book away from Finn with a quick blow. He towered over Finn, who stepped back with fear reflecting in his eyes.

"Present at the meeting does not mean cowering under the table!" Romulus shouted, his crown listing on his head, "It means seated in a chair! At my side! Contributing to the state of affairs in this city and our kingdom!"

Finn looked so pathetic that Tigris stepped in front of him.

"I'm sure Finn will be more present in the next meeting. Won't you, Finn?" Tigris asked, elbowing her younger brother. Finn's eyes widened behind his large, thin spectacles. He nodded, stammering out, "Yes! Of course I will!"

King Romulus scowled at the two of them. "You should be the one protecting the heir, Finn. Not the other way around." he growled, but Tigris could sense that his ire was fading. His eyes softened as they landed on Aodh again. "You know that my advisors and the people of this city already have trouble with a female heir. I can't have any of you slacking off during our meetings, or my advisors will think that you boys want to usurp Tigris."

"We'd never do that, father." Finn interjected meekly. Aodh nodded his agreement. King Romulus smiled slightly. Tigris couldn't help but note that the expression, no matter how well-meaning, always looked stiff on their father's face.

"I know that. And I am grateful for it." he said, resting his hand on the pommel of his sword. It gleamed scarlet, as if coated in blood rather than rubies. "War between siblings is the bloodiest of all battles. I am proud that you three will never sink to that level, not as my own kin once did."

The battle between the current king and his brother, Tigris' uncle Remus, was legendary. It had ended cruelly, with the first burning her father had ever performed, atop a pile of Remus' propaganda. 

Romulus stiffened at the reminder of his past. His gaze swung back to Tigris.

"If you are to gain the respect of the people as my heir, I cannot have you disagreeing with me so publicly. It delegitimizes our control of the meeting." he replied, his eyes going cold. Tigris felt anger rising within her like a tide.

"So am I not to speak at all when you are wrong?" she countered, ignoring how Aodh shook his head behind their father's back. "The Irulians-"

"They deserve what is coming. Don't forget that they gladly razed our lands during the last war." Romulus seethed. Tigris clenched her fists, using the bite of her nails against her flesh to keep control of her tongue.

"The new elders have abided by all of our tariffs for the last two years. To do this is unnecessary!"

Her father's eyes turned murderous. "You will show respect for the decisions I make, Tigris, for I make them for the good of our people!"

Tigris bit back a scoff. "Father, a war condemns both our people and the Irulians! If I cannot ask you questions during the session or outside of the session, then when can I?"

Her father began stepped forward, his hand braced on the pommel of his sword. Aodh stepped in front of him, blocking him from further approach.

"Father, may we be dismissed? Tigris must train the knights and I must attend to my legion as well." Aodh asked, his voice low and demanding their father's attention. Tigris' hand slipped towards her sheathed sword. Finn's eyes were round beside her. He clutched his book tightly to his chest in a white knuckled grip. Tigris' father scowled fiercely, roughly shoving Aodh aside.

"All of you, begone!" he snapped, marching past Tigris in a huff. The three siblings flinched as the door to the council room slammed shut hard enough to shake the walls. Aodh sighed, glaring at Tigris.

"Why can't you just do what he says?" he grumbled under his breath. Tigris whirled on him.

"A war would be cruel, and you know it! The Irulians-"

"It's not about them!" Aodh snapped, "It's about trusting Father. He's dealt with far more than you. He is our king, you have to trust him."

"This was never about trust! This is about our people! A war would be devastating!" Tigris fired back. She glanced at Finn. "You see an issue with this too, don't you?"

Finn fiddled with the worn leather of his book, pushing his spectacles up with a pale finger. "A war would devastate the newly acquired farmlands, according to my research." he admitted quietly, "We would have another season of hunger. The economy would take another ten years to heal. Longer for the Irulians. The Faultless Kingdom could manage with the reserve foods and funds, but money would be tight, especially in the lower towns. Irulia would be decimated beyond repair."

Aodh pulled out his sword, twirling it in his gloved hands for a long moment. He sighed.

"Father doesn't care much for Irulia, or the lower towns. He'd consider them necessary sacrifices in the long term." he said finally. Tigris' blood rushed in her ears.

"And do you agree with that?" she asked, keeping her voice carefully level. Aodh shrugged carelessly. "I can't believe it. Aodh, you can't possibly agree with this!" Tigris hissed. Finn cleared his throat.

"Tigris, you know father's word is law. Perhaps he has a better reason." Finn meekly suggested. Tigris turned the full force of her glare towards him.

"I never knew the both of you to be-"

"Enough," Finn interrupted, holding his hands up, "You both have training to do."

Tigris knew a never ending argument when she saw one. She silently swore to return to the matter later. For now, she settled for rumpling Finn's hair.

"Oh, and are you going to go back to hiding under the table and reading?" she teased. Finn's cheeks reddened, and he squirmed away from her. As he escaped, Aodh sheathed his sword and grabbed Finn by the back of his shirt.

"I wasn't hiding, I was listening to the meeting! Aodh, let me go!" he protested, trying to squirm out of his older brother's grasp. Aodh and Tigris smirked at him. If there was one matter they could agree on, it was tormenting their little brother.

"I don't think so, Finn. It's been far too long since you've trained." Aodh ordered, his voice deceptively sweet. Finn kicked and tried to escape, but Tigris pinned his arms behind his back, yanking away his precious book. It landed with a thud on the table.

"Yeah, let's see if your scrawny little arms can still hold up a sword." she added.

Finn's groans echoed down the halls of the castle.

A/N Sooo, how was the chapter? Things seem a little slow right now, but they're going to pick up. What do you think of Tigris? Love or hate her, she's going to be here for a long time...

Lmk what you think, any and all feedback is appreciated :)