(Untitled)

[wizard_howell]

Sophie and Howl are far from the only ones taking an audience with the king this morning. There's a whole room full of advisers, hangers-on, Royal this-and-thats, Very Important People, the Mayor of Kingsbury, and so on. Wizard Suliman is there, and that fills someone with hope that he'll be released from his obligations as Royal Wizard

Comments

[talkstohats]

Not single anybody out, my eye, Sophie thinks; he just doesn't want to have to thank Howl publicly, as he knows he ought.

(Well, and Wizard Suliman, and Prince Justin, and she supposes there are several other people who played a significant role, and . . . all right, so there's more than just Howl. Still!)

It's odd for Sophie to remember that just a few months ago, she would likely have been completely tongue-tied in a room full of Ingary's best and brightest - or, alternately, wealthiest and most pompous. Now, after seasons of sitting through long war meetings with these people day after day, the idea that they might be intimidating to anyone seems ridiculous. They're only people, most of them looking very tired indeed.

And Sophie is no exception; though the war is over, last night did not particularly help her with catching up on her sleep, and midway through the King's speech she catches herself stifling half a yawn.

Howl had better not laugh at her for that.

[wizard_howell]

Part of him can't believe this is over. It's been their life's work for so long now. But as the king finishes his first speech -- the blanket self-congratulatory one -- and moves along, the smile starts to fade from his face. There's more, of course, that he and Sophie will have to do: they no longer need to produce medical kits, but there's rebuilding that wants doing. As with any war, places have been soundly trounced and destroyed, and there are prisoners to look after and return. Towns to rebuild and protect and so on, and some of that, he knows, will be delegated to them.

The king's next words pierce through the muddle in his brain. "And this is why I'm counting on both my Royal Wizards and, by the way, welcome back, Wizard Suliman. The path will be long and difficult, but with their help, we'll have a better time of it. Remember, after any war, all countries involved are more vulnerable, their weaknesses exposed to the world at large. I know all residents of Ingary will accord the proper respect to those in my employ. In fact,

[talkstohats]

Sophie feels the pressure increase on her shoulders; she doesn't have to glance up at Howl to guess all too well what he's thinking.

(Of course it isn't over. If there's one thing you learn from being the eldest, it's that responsibility doesn't just go away with a snap of your fingers - much as Howl would like it to.)

"I'll be relying on the diverse talents of everyone here," the King continues, "especially in the absence of my brother, who will be remaining in Strangia to direct affairs there." He inclines his head towards Prince Justin, who nods back. One of the lesser Counts, in a fit of ill-advised enthusiasm, attempts to start a round of applause for the Prince-General, then flushes and falls still as he realizes that no one else is going to follow suit.

Sophie's brow furrows, her shoulders stiffening slightly. Now that the war is over, what does Justin need to be doing in Strangia? Shouldn't they all be pulling out?

[wizard_howell]

That stiffening in her posture is obvious; he lets his hands do what they want there, which is rub her shoulders gently. He may be a wizard and a fairly good one, but he's no mind-reader and he can't send his thoughts to Sophie, as nice as that would be. They'll just have to wait for their trip home.

If Prince Justin is going to stay in Strangia... well, that could mean any number of things including establishing a second head of government. Of course someone will need to oversee things there; the king certainly can't leave the current regime in power there. Oh, he sees trips to the north in their future.

Bugger it all. He's going to demand another vacation before they do anything else. It's Ben's turn to hold the reins for a time.

"...without the superiority of our forces, and the extremely clever advice from several key people." Now the king stands -- along with everyone else -- and walks in their direction. He takes Sophie's hand in his and nods to her, then to Howl.

Now that's a surprise. Howl's arm goes round Sophie's waist.