Cassian’s inward shock was not present on his face as Iliana seemingly jumped to oppose him. She had wanted to execute Elena without a trial; Cassian had insisted on one, but privacy for it made sense. Then she spoke of a deal with Arynn Frey. A deal? Perhaps her sickness was more than just physical. Akagi had graciously agreed to hold her. A trial in Arynn Frey was sensical because of their magical defense. Lorendale had none. In fact, the kingdom and palace had fallen victim to the Eldouirs more than once in the past.

Cassian wouldn’t say more. Iliana, with wetness in her eyes, was thinking with her heart and not her head. He only had rebuke for her, and he wouldn’t disgrace her that way in front of her court.

His eyes moved to Scout Kane as she pushed the topic, admiring her boldness.

Augustus would show no such restraint. The woman he saw before him now was a child; one he'd known, helped to guide, seen through the difficulties of being a young queen with the hopes she might fill the crown that had been placed on her head. One that in a different universe might have been his own. He had Scout Kane, at his side, as if she were his queen, even the positioning of the room making the point clear. Sides were forming, and Iliana and Augustus were opposite one another for the first time.

"It may be what you'd like, Your Majesty," Augustus said, "But a Lorendale where that is possible is not the one that you rule at present."

Iliana felt the shift and suddenly, her eyes seemed to take in her husband for a long moment, then Scout at her uncle’s side, and finally her uncle. A man who had been like her father. Scout Kane… someone she had thought might have been— her thoughts died as Augustus Rainecourt spoke.

For the first time, she sat back in her seat and her back actually touched the wooden back of the chair. Her words would always be not enough for someone. For everyone. One side mad, always. Always assuming the worst. She picked up what scraps of communication came to her at times and yet was scolded with her judgement. So instead of her trying to point out she hadn’t been the one to speak with King Akagi Llewellyn for whatever deal or understanding happened to take in Elena Eldouir, to point out how those of Lorendale now suddenly wouldn’t get to see justice dealt but rather hear by the few witnesses that could go to Arynn Frey. To read a letter that stated the out come.

Her stomach turned, and for a moment she thought she might be sick right there on the table in front of her. Perhaps it was betrayal she truly felt in that moment, but she couldn’t reflect on it now. “Arynn Frey it is then.” Just like that, she folded, and trained her face into something neutral, void of the Iliana she was just moments before. Something that would be a learned and observed behavior of Cassian Rainecourt, who had been her mentor long before her husband. She turned to Tybalt Zane awaiting what rebuttals she might get with retrieving Simon Mikaels.

October watched the exchange with very little expression. He has his own opinions but his voice was not important in this matter. He was here for one reason and he would be reliable in that, as always. But when Iliana sat back and folded to the wishes of those around her, his heart and stomach twisted in his body and his gaze focused on her face for a long moment as if he could read her thoughts and emotions. He wished he could sometimes.

Whatever shift the queen perceived from the king was imagined; Cassian hadn’t shifted. He had simply remained quiet. If she was drawing a line between them then it was by her own hand. Cassian might have been oblivious to her emotions, looking to the speaking Augustus as he was, but he was able to see when her face visibly turned neutral, as if she had just given up. Had she had a plan none of them were aware of? If so, now would have been the time to state it. Instead, she conceded.

“I will make arrangements with King Akagi.” He said, looking to @iliana as he did.

Iliana did not rise back to where she usually sat, back to where her back didn’t touch the chair. Her face didn’t budge either, remaining cool and neutral. Perhaps a touch paler than normal as she watched each of them, as the air shifted around them in an unforeseen wind. Her stomach was twisting in knots again, and one hand fell below the table to fist the soft material of her skirting at her thigh. As if it would help. Her eyes moved slowly from each in the room as if she was suddenly faced with a mathematics problem she was just now realizing the steps for.

Tybalt Zane spoke, and Iliana… she must’ve still been ill. Because her first thought was laughing bitterly at what he said about response teams and reinforcements, though her face never moved. Not as Simon was brought up and her eyes fought her to remain on the commander. Cassian had declared Simon the one behind it. Did anyone come forward to handle it? Did anyone send for him again (as she had asked immediately after the address) while she laid curled on the floor and unable to stand at times? No. “Following Simon would be quite the task if our guards aren’t even sure where he is.” Tybalt said that he doubted they’d find him at home. So no one was watching him?

Her face remained masked as it was clear Cassian Rainecourt was being spoken to. Why had none of them bothered to ask how they could have helped her after the address when she had fallen ill? Several had known she had an enchanter in the kingdom for a stay, had met with the King of Arynn Frey and had even told several of them she was having made by said King. Yet they just went on without her, without what she had tried doing for the betterment of the kingdom... and instead now sat here and gave her disapproving looks whether she fought them or agreed to their demands.

Her gaze remained on Augustus Rainecourt as he spoke further. This was the one who hurt the most and besides the shaking breath she took when he returned his gaze to her, the entire time she remained behind a cool mask. Trying to battle the risking feeling in her throat. “Of course Lady Kane would help with making arrangements. That is her duty as Stewardess.” She was made to bridge the gap between those in this room and the people, and now it was extending to a whole other Kingdom to ensure the people of Loren felt that justice was served for what had originated here. Because this is what they had firmly asked her for and she was tired of feeling like the villain.

Her eyes glanced around the room as Iliana stood, her knee giving way just enough for her to stumble, obviously still weak from her illness in ways she couldn’t control. But her hands smoothed on the table as she steadied herself, and would gently but firmly deny anyone who had moved to help her with her hand raised towards them. She wasn’t done. And all she could do was take what she was seeing before her at face value. They were supposed to be her closest confidants and trusted cabinet.

“You all have had no problem running this kingdom how you see fit while I was ill and yet I see we have accomplished what? New loyalties?” Her gaze cut to her uncle, to Scout perched at his side. Augustus had always sat beside her and sudden he wasn’t. He was suddenly turning to Cassian when she sat in the room to address something? Message was loud. “Losing a member of the royal cabinet who I asked to be retrieved weeks ago? I’m assuming this source will be able to track him down.”

“As for the gifteds,” a strange buzzing had started to rattle her hands. She needed to lie down. Something was wrong still, maybe she wasn’t back to herself. “To defend and get rid of the Eldouir’s… we need magic. That is a fact none of you can deny. The collars that seem to be a favored tool are magic too. But to get one around their throats is going to cost us, and gifteds are our only chance unless we ask Nevermere for their witches,” a small glance to Cassian. “Even then we still need our gifteds. Our people. Tell me,” her eyes moved to each of them as they spoke, “would you risk your life for those around you who wished to chain you? To make you a lesser being? You cannot punish all of them for something a small amount of people has done. It goes for the non-gifted as well.” She wasn’t sure if she was going to throw up on the table or if she was going to faint with the feeling that was radiating from her stomach to the tips of her fingers.

“As it stands, I have heard of no new reports of violence from either end, so what is it you propose to place on our people? What was in the letter?” Her gaze remained on Augustus Rainecourt. Making it clear she wanted him to answer this final question and not anyone else in the room.

October watched the exchange with curiosity. He knew none of these people as well as he knew Iliana, having been her guard for years, but he did know all of them at least in the sense of what he heard from them during meetings such as these. It was always interesting to see how their own opinions and values played a role in each issue they had worked on together.

He didn't even flinch a muscle when the Queen stumbled. He had been at her side more often than any other guard since she'd fallen ill. He had seen stumbles such as these and had seen her strength improving over time. He had no fear of her causing any harm to herself at this point, he trusted in her personal strength. His hands moved behind his back as he listened to her speak, his fingers holding onto the wrist of the opposite hand as he observed how each person would respond to the Queen's words.

The stumble. Augustus was Iliana’s uncle, first and foremost, so when she faltered he moved to support her. When she steadied, he sunk back to his seat, hands folded neatly before him once more. He tried for composure, but that only lasted so long. Iliana bubbled over with ire. Her gaze cut toward her uncle, and his gaze sharpened to meet it. He protectively shifted however slightly near Scout Kane, as if Iliana’s look were a weapon that she wielded. As Iliana spoke his jaw tightened and the familial concern in his face faded into something far more severe.

Augustus rose from his seat, eyes fixed on Iliana. A compliant member of her court would have yielded to her leadership. Would not have undermined her in front of the rest of her cabinet. But for one reason or another, Augustus did not behave as a cabinet member should. He rose—though not in anger—as if Iliana had presented him with a challenge. The move seemed calculated as if he’d been waiting to make it.

“In the absence of another course forward, I would,” Augustus responded, leveling her gaze, “As a citizen of Lorendale, I would seek leadership where I could find it. You blame those in this room for lack of accomplishment in these weeks, but the crown rests upon your head, Iliana. So tell us, what is it that you propose?”

Cassian, husband, also moved to assist his wife when he understood her to be falling. Iliana had borne him two sons and had never appeared to frail before. She raised her hand to keep him at bay, and he complied, but he remained standing close. Though they did not always see eye to eye on matters, they were united.

His face betrayed nothing of what he thought of what she said. He simply fixed his eyes, scanning the cabinet, gauging reactions.

Augustus’ was not lost to him. In fact, when her uncle (his cousin) rose, something sharp entered into Cassian’s dark gaze.

He did not open his mouth. The queen had been addressed directly. To speak now would undermine her authority.

Her uncle getting to his feet almost made her shrink back for a moment. She almost never opposed him, as a mentor to her, as her father figure even, she felt a small part of her waver. She felt it in her throat as it constricted a moment before she realized that, as Augustus even pointed out, she wore the crown. Not him. “I advise you remember who you are speaking to,” Her voice low, and as she leveled him with those green eyes, her real father’s eyes, she didn’t back down. She gave her warning. Even as he pressed on about something he already knew the answer to.

But it was her name, not her title, not ‘Your Majesty’, but Iliana, that had her tick her chin up just like Kennet had taught her. This was not a private meeting. “I will not apologize for ensuring my health was in order before coming back. What I will apologize for is trusting one who was once supposed to be a mentor to me. ” If he wanted to challenge her in front of her whole cabinet, then so be it. “I’ve already said what I want. I want Lord Simon Mikaels brought here. I want resources given to Lord Allemeade and his farm to offer a place for gifteds that is safe and where they can learn to control what you fear. I want those who wish to go to Rainecourt Keep safe passage. What was not clear in that address? You had the answers. Yet you sat on your hands. Giving these options would remove most of them from the other areas of Loren. It would make the non-gifted feel more safe to see less of those around them. But it was not because we forced it but gave that option. To keep from civil war and unrest.” Her voice cracked a little.

Her eyes moved to Scout Kane, then to Tybalt Zane. “Did we ever find Honora? Where has Sir Ghayth Orvar gotten with his investigation? I have not glimpsed him in any of the shift changes…” she may have not made it out of her room, but she’d see the guards when her ladies entered or a healer did. She almost always saw October there. Several other guards… but not Ghayth.