Estreon.

Much like in the case of Badra, the single-handed victory at Elbar's gates came as welcome news. It sent shockwaves throughout the outposts and their surrounding areas, including Urdin's starting point. Everywhere between those points, people cheered, hugged each other, prayed, and expressed themselves in various other forms of festivity. In Ashara's case it was no different... except that she would have to realize a more personal pledge.

"Well, Ves," she said, closeted with her confidant, "your wait is coming to a close, and how brief it had been! You're twenty now, the general thirty-two. How are the feelings?"

"Nervous," Vestra admitted. "Thrilled. Brimming with anticipation. To think I shall be Lady Hospodia as well as possible mayoress of Estreon... people might say weird things about me."

"I'm sure you'll be wise enough to deal with such lot." Asha smiled. "Mayoress? Oh, we needn't go along with that ploy anymore. The Skandians are done for, even their humblest peasant would realize that. From now on, any ruler of Estreon would serve at Hospodia's beck and call, and they might have a different title and system for this function. Got it?"

"What about Arys, though?"

"Surely he had proven himself a capable aide at Urdin's side... but we'll wait for him to get back here before talking in deeper details as to who between you shall succeed me in this position. You can be sure, though, that it must be a capable and shrewd hand, for our proximity to new unexplored and uncharted lands. Whatever awaits, we must be prepared to deal with it... and with whatever plans the new Lord Hospodia might have for it. Hmm?"

"I understand, Mother."

"Our immediate attention, meanwhile," the Lioness resumed, "shall be to see to those aiming to return or migrate to Elbar. Tiana's family, for one. Once the news of your bethrothal to Urdin gets public, rumors will start to spread and some of them might be inclined to follow your procession to our new capital... but we could only afford to accommodate them for so many. For the rest, we'd have to organize them, see to their safety, all those details."

Vestra nodded. "We have heard also of new towns sprouting around Hospodian outposts in the Link. Some might be inclined to stay there."

"Then we must also coordinate with the respective overseers, see how far they would be willing to cooperate. Only after such matters are properly done, can we even begin to discuss your wedding... and Estreon's succession. No discontent on your part about the groom, then?"

"None for now, Mother. You have made a promise and I will help see to it."

Another pat on the head. "Be it so, girl. Now, let's get to work."

***

Arys returned three weeks after that, with a small entourage and the news that Urdin was seeing to the mobilization of the modest Elbarian Navy to help lift the siege of Balaras on the other side of the Sarsan Strait. Meantime, the overseers of said Hospodian outposts, excepting those of Capricorn and Virgo Points, had accepted Asha's letter and proposal for accommodation of incoming citizens.

"How could you leave him at this crucial moment?" Vestra rebuked her brother at the moment, to their mother's silent approval. "Whatever kind of an aide is that?"

"I tried to press the point, but he heatedly refused. 'You could better serve me by helping to secure your own homeland', he said. And... he also sent you his regards, Mother."

"The least of my concerns right now," Asha returned icily, before again exhaling. "That fool..."

"Do recall that his actions so far had been aimed at Hospodian reunification," Arys explained to the two women. "This Balaras... logically speaking, this is the city that the Eagle was posted at before crossing to the mainland. Such a place is bound to have its memories, surely... perhaps even ones there that he'd need to protect. Whoever those are, it's no longer part of our concerns. That is the point that the general wishes to address, I surmise."

"You surmise," Vestra interjected. "We are now Hospodian subjects and Urdin is going to be our new liege. His concerns are also ours. How can you--of all people--miss that notion?"

"Vestra, enough," her mother joined, turning to face them. "Come what may, your brother has returned safely to us. Let's not forget to be thankful for this. The general wishes to deal with what he sees as his personal agenda while leaving us free to deal with ours, so be it. Whatever his reasons, he meant well in this. Alright?"

The younger Lioness considered this. "If you say so, Mother."

"Glad we cleared that up. Now, Arys, I did not send for you here just to endure your sister's crisp remarks. We have something bigger at hand."

"Please, Mother, inform me."

"Ever since Urdin's unexpected visit here, you both have been constantly at his side, each doing your shares of responsibilities. Now he has reclaimed what is his, and one of you shall claim what is yours."

A brief silence followed.

"Ever since you were kids, I have tried to keep us away from the machinations of the Skandian Empire, in part by retaining the title of 'mayor'. Now the Empire is by all means no more, so you're at liberty to assume any title you might wish--provided it doesn't clash with Hospodian interests. Your father had once styled himself as a prince, but he did not manage to reign for very long."

"If this city is to become an integral part of Hospodian domains, it could only be as a province," Arys offered. "From experience, 'mayor' is a title for those administering their towns and cities... but I'm not quite sure about provinces. Hospodia doesn't seem like it had this kind of governmental unit before."

"Well, under Urdin, this will likely change. He doesn't look like the type that would rest on his laurels, moreover..."

Asha paused, recalling that moment when she had confidently teased him by saying that Elbar's seizure might well be his 'last' campaign, before the possible hook-up to Vestra. She wondered now whether he'd hold on to it.

"In any case," she resumed, "province or not, we have Estreon to attend to: its defenses, its welfare, and its revenues, to name but a few. I cannot oversee it forever. One of you must step in. Vestra's engagement brings in another factor, so let's get to it right away."

"Just a moment, Madam Mayor," Arys put in, "why would you think that this city's rule should pass in this dynastic way, to begin with? Surely there are other no less capable individuals to nominate? Rule should be based on merit, not favor. Hospodia has been doing the same, as far as I can recall, and look at them now."

The astounded Asha halted. How could she have missed that fateful notion?

"Could it be that your consideration just now comes from those days as wife to the Prince of Estreon?" Vestra continued. "Well, sad to say, but he's long gone and you did not care to take up his title. In that sense you agreed not to let it pass top-down... wouldn't you say?"

"Ah... come to think of it, you're right. We must select the possible candidates then. That might take some time."

"We wouldn't mind waiting, Madam Mayor," Vestra smiled, "for the betterment of Estreon."

***

The nominations and selection for Estreon's new ruler took another week, and in the end its management again fell into the hands of a woman named Zumeira. Arys was appointed personally by the new mayoress, as one of five in her board of advisors; given his experience in dealing with the present head of House Hospodia, Urdin the Third Husniris. For that same reason a letter of resignation was sent, and in the concluding line of its concise replying letter were the words: "discharged with full honors", just above the official Hospodian seal.

Another two weeks saw the establishment of the new Hospodian line when Vestra Darys, Ashara's only daughter, at her twentieth name day, realized her mother's fateful promise and wed Urdin in the rejuvenated capital, with a modest ceremony for he who had remained undefeated in a hundred raids and three major battles in his two-decade soldiering career.

The ceremony, however, was joyously complemented by the no-less-emotional return of members of the previous royal family from their eastern stronghold of Balaras; which, people excitedly whispered amidst decent meals and refreshments, was also the onetime site of one of the Eagle's major conquests to date.

Thus was Hospodian government, after a one-year impasse, re-established in the northern parts of the Continent of Vikr. Those with longer memories recalled still the days when Ingeras the Second, brother to their new liege, had ruled: his days, in sharp contrast to the relatively-volatile ones of Husnir the First, had been filled with astute attempts to keep things in balance. Alliances had been made, favors done, battles fought, and treaties honored. Now the peace-loving and amicable Ingeras Hospodia was no more, and into his boots had stepped his brother--shrewd, incalculable and with a burning sense of 'sacred' mission. Time will reveal what this man's reign shall be best recognized by.