Hope Falls

"I am, and that makes you feel...." Kael fished for the compliment then, smirking.

“That I am confident you are well prepared?” Wyatt raised an eyebrow.

"I was looking for proud, but I can settle for confident, mm."

“Ah, I apologise for not catching the train of thought.”

Kael tutted gently, frowning as he glanced out of the window. "I am going to finish up for the rest of the day now, see Daphne."

“Enjoy spending time with your guests.” Wyatt nodded, turning to take his leave.

"Guests?"

“Her sisters arrived earlier. I’ve had to make arrangements for their guards and the like.”

"Oh, nothing was passed onto me." Kael frowned.

“You have a full diary, I imagine it was passed on to inform you once all the important meetings were out of the way.”

(( Home now and lost all the other responses. Time to scroll back ))

"Mm, more than likely. I certainly need to get to Daphne then. I - Rauiri is back off of his leave in two days, the first thing you and I need to do is pull him into a meeting. We'll meet that morning to work out how to tell him, who will lead?"

((Have fun))

---

“I think it’s fairly straight forward, we tell him he has a chance to step into my shoes if he wishes to, he will likely accept as he’s adopting a family of five.”

"Well, perhaps kinder to have the conversation with him immediately then. It will give him time to process it whilst he is on holiday and he can tell us by the time he returns? Yes? Do you want to go and fetch him." Kael grinned. "I am excited. I have had conversations like this with one or two people now and I find it gives infectious joy."

“Did you not wish to be done for the day?”

"I can delay for another hour for happiness. Go, go and fetch him?"

Wyatt gave a nod before leaving the room.

Kael pushed to his feet, grabbing a third glass and filling it, and the other two with alcohol as he waited.

"Those flea-bitten mongrels. Smart, to win the praise of all of their people as renegade rebels. Overthrowing a secure kingdom and then using that support to do worse than their predecessors." Conan pushed what was left of his food away, and towards a member of staff. "Sarika and Draven Adair were ruthless. There is only two more beasts to slay though; Aloha female and the ideology."

"The wolves I have met, and I - they are all underdogs now, excuse the pun, so I am familiar with their circles. They are poor, disadvantaged and scared. Desperate." Marcus frowned.

"Desperate people do desperate things..." Cassius whispered.

"They do, which increases the violence and theft and adds fuel to the stereotypes and it is a vicious, vicious cycle."

Conan raised an eyebrow, leaning back in his seat as he listened.

---

"A hunt..." Agatha echoed. "A hunt, with men but without clothes that are awkward and allow us to actually be able to... you can organise something like this?"

“They are all you described because their alphas waged war. They have nobody to blame but their own leaders who refuse to accept defeat and keep coming back for more.” Aesira said quietly, glancing between her brother and Marcus.

---

“Mm… I wouldn’t be able to participate, obviously but I can have it arranged if it’s something you wish to do.” Daphne nodded. “My husband enjoys hunting too, so this would be on the condition that you give him a fair chance at proving himself. I think it a fair exchange.”

---

Wyatt entered the room a while later with Ruairi in tow.

"Children who are being refused crumbs of bread because of what their leaders done, because of their species. A wolf struggle to eat, a whores son trying to make their way." Marcus wrinkled his nose. "I had friends, they were wolves. We all grew up with as much aggro as the other. They were good, they were treated bad. They had never even seen Sarika or Draven Adair. If the crimes of a leader is the crime of a people, that is when the leader becomes a hero... that's- thats just my belief, from what I have seen, Sir."

"The Adairs are not hereos!"

"I don't believe they are!" Marcus grimaced. "A common wolf on the street is not responsible for what they have done though."

---

"I - Okay. Okay, fine. I'll accept it."

---

"Cavanaugh." Kael greeted, faking a frosty exterior as he nodded towards the seat in front of his desk. "Apologies for pulling you in on your leave. This was an urgent matter though, it couldn't wait. Feel free to take a drink."

“Thank you.” Daphne smiled at the small victory.

---

“Let us not argue over the crimes of other people during breakfast mm?” Liara suggested gently to diffuse the tension.

“Let us not argue at all.” Aesira sighed softly.

---

“Just tell me how long I have to clear out my rooms, Sir, and I’ll be out by the time required.” Ruairi grimaced at Kael’s attitude, rubbing his forehead.

"It didn't feel like an argument to me." Marcus frowned, lowering his gaze and directing at Liara and Conan, "Apologies, Your Majesties. I was just trying to join in the conversation..."

---

"I would rather hear an explanation," Kael frowned, trying to stop his forehead wrinkling with the confusion as he lowered himself to sit down. "What is going on?"

---

"If I look ridiculous in those riding leathers though, if they are uncomfortable or indecent then I won't be wearing them."

“You don’t need to apologise.” Aesira assured as she took his hand, using her free hand to slip under the table and gently pat his leg. “All is well.”

---

“I would not tell you to wear something ill fitting or indecent. You will be fine, I assure you.”

---

“You want an - why am I explaining to you that you are dismissing me?” Ruairi frowned in confusion.

"What have you done that makes you believe you are being dismissed... explain."

---

"If you are lying to me then it us confirmation to us that you have had your views twisted whilst you have been here alone."

---

"No, no need to apologise at all." Conan added after his daughter. "It is.... most of our feedback comes from those with money. A view of someone who has lived with people might be important. Even if they are uncomfortable truths."

Marcus grimaced. "It wasn't a criticism. Not everyone is in league with their leaders, is all. You were all unreachable to me, until you weren't. Figurehead leaders, yes but did I ever think I would meet you? That I mattered? No."

“Your attitude as I walked in, Sir. It seemed grave. You have been reshuffling your staff in the coming up to your coronation, I believed it was my time to be… shuffled off.”

---

“I do not lie, Agatha. Never accuse me of such when I have never lied to you before. Accuse me of being immodest and unladylike in my discussions but never a liar.” Daphne snapped then, getting to her feet. “I am going to get someone to hurry your rooms along. I thought being reunited with my sisters would be joyous but from the second you laid eyes on me you have not had a single kind word. Not even a polite you look well sister.” She swallowed tearfully, shaking her head at the both of them.

---

“Of course you matter.” Aesira frowned. “Very much so.”