A long reigning king has reached the end. The eldest has the strongest claim, yet his rule is unlikely to last long. The middle son is inclined to autocracy, yet, deft in international politics and likely to keep the kingdom at peace. The youngest is quarrelsome with his peers, yet, sympathetic to the plight of his people. And there is the bastard, a playboy likely to leave governing to the parliament except when he wants to indulge.
Wraithvine is called to choose from these candidates. And the will, witnessed by hundreds, dictates that it must be one of these four… -- Deathshead419
It was clear why they needed an uninvolved, unimpeachable third party to this mess. Four children of the old king, each with a claim of sorts to the crown and the throne. Or at least a bunch of people backing them to take the throne. That was why Wraithvine got the last letter from King Regimimus III, begging the Eternal Wizard to select the best ruler for the realm.
The choices were: Regimimus IV - first born and already acting entitled to the crown, Andrus II - who was a firm believer in divine power, but also had a gift with diplomacy, Lekthys VI - popular with the people but incredibly unpopular with other leaders of other realms, and Bren the Bastard - who had been living off his father's stipend for all his life. He was not only a gadabout and scoundrel, but also an utter cad.
The only people who backed Bren were clearly manipulative sycophants who could put the worst Grand Vizeer to shame.
The laws of the land held that only a direct and immediate descendant of the king could inherit the right to rule. That may include by-blows, but it didn't include anyone else. Like, say, grandchildren of the king.
It would have been so easy to pick Regimimus IV's second child, Veilandra. She was canny, clever, and nothing like her father. But if she wanted the throne, she had to survive the inevitable revolution caused by her father's reign. Andrus II would start the kind of war against his own people that would wind up wiping out the entire realm. Lekthys VI would have peace inside his realm, but would also start so many wars between allies and enemies alike.
The best combination of power was to have Lekthys rule domestically with Veilandra as named heir until further notice, with Andrus as the designated diplomat.
Whether or not they'd agree to Wraithvine's judgement was the important, controlling factor. Not for the first time, Wraithvine wished more kingdoms had choosy artefacts that decided on the rightful head to wear the crown. Or, As some of them put it, the rightful ass to sit the throne. Things like that solved so many succession arguments.
Regimimus IV solved some of Wraithvine's issues by barging in to the office they'd given Wraithvine. "Well? How many more days must I wait before the announcement of my ascension so I can plan my coronation?"
"The rest of your life plus a decade or two," snapped Wraithvine. "A king who expects his authority is destined for a short, painful, and brief reign. As well as a short, painful, and brief end."
"I promised my father I would abide by your decision. I will hold to my vow."
There was the implication that, had he decided otherwise, he might have tried for the short, painful, and brief end via Wraithvine. "I'm grateful for your wise decision," ze said. Ze gathered up Andrus and Lekthys, and sat them together in a parlor.
"It's a difficult choice," Wraithvine announced. "Prince Lekthys, you are the best to rule your people and your realm." Ze held up a hand before he could leap up in celebration. "However... a king needs more than that to keep his people safe. Prince Lekthys, you are the last person I would trust at the negotiation table. To keep the people safe from realms outside your own, you must trust your brother Andrus to be your diplomatic representative in all negotiations." And framing it that way might yet be the only way to get Lekthys to accept it.
"You do have a way with the stuffed shirts," Lekthys allowed. "A gift for tricking sweetmeats from the shopkeeps."
"And putting it that way is why the people love you but other nobles want to strangle you," smirked Andrus.
"As for heirs... Currently, the best to reign your realm is your niece, Veilandra. Lekthys... I charge you with changing the laws to allow Veilandra to rule. She is wise beyond her years in and when she reaches her majority, she'll be better at both your skills. Name her your heir, and let her name her heirs. Face it, your own children have the same flaws as your brother and yourselves."
Names floated to their lips, but didn't pass. Each brother knew sons that qualified for similar flaws.
"For the safety of our people," Lekthys decided, "we will do as you say."
With six words, a history of peace began. Much to Wraithvine's relief.
[Photo by Willian B. on Unsplash]
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