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Hysteria walked into the room wearing a black dress to signify that she was still in mourning for her departed sister and former heir to her throne, Theodora, it had been two months since the eruption and yet she still had yet to show any signs of her mourning ending any time soon...perhaps when this month was over she would return to wearing her vibrant reds and greens. She would sigh slightly as she was about to move onto the next room when she saw Agnes, unable to hide her grin at seeing her old friend "By Antari how you've aged Agnes." she said to the woman with a slight scoff in her voice, but then she smiled as she went over to the wheelchair bound woman and leaned down to give her a hug "Welcome back Agnes. I have heard that you where out visiting our neighbors in Zalto, did you find anything of interest?" she asked her as she went over to the table and she took a seat, her curly blonde hair laying upon her back as she leaned back "I'm glad I ran into you actually Agnes, I have something I want to talk to you about that concerns Bellris quite hardly, and as a major speaker of the council it will need your approval" she said to her with a smile.

Hysteria sighed "It saddens me that you have yet to find anything of use" she said to her old friend, She had hoped that maybe she had found a way to reverse it as Hysteria herself had lost her wings and her magic when the Empress had come to power, it had made her wonder if she had done something wrong to offend Antari and the rest of the gods. Looking up at Agnes Hysteria smiled "You are a very gentle soul Agnes, despite your tough exterior" she said to her old friend before looking out toward the window, It was starting to rain today it seemed, that would be good for the crops, it would wash any ashes remaining down stream and pound the rest into the ground in order to give the harvest a more fruitful bounty "A raise of taxes' Hysteria said while still looking out the window before turning to look back at Agnes "We have done well since we became a republic, raising the common intelligence and transforming the castle into a school where good ideas" she said to her "but what I want to do now will be two things." Hysteria stated as she leaned back in her chair "I plan on buying weapons from Phobos, I already have done so by altering my personal businesses farming routes, My idea is to get every man and women in Bellris armed so that if we are attacked they will be able to defend themselves...at the very least until the army arrives" Hysteria said "We have one of the biggest pieces of land we call our own so if Lionis ever attacks us from the west we will be looking at a massacre, so if the people know how to defend themselves in a time of need it will be better" she said "the thing that I want your approval for Agnes is the creation of a major road connecting all the major cities of Epsilon" she said to her "I've already spoken about it with Roland and he agrees with the idea and he is already gone to speak to Zalto about it" Hysteria said to Agnes "I'm sorry for moving forward without getting council permission" she said to her "however their are many good sides to this road. Faster travel, less loss of produce, more jobs for the masses... It should cut down on the missing caravans as well if we have a road for them to move on...made of stone instead of dirt"

Hysteria chuckled slightly "I'm not sending out a delcoration of war, but what I meant by arming the citizens is truly that, arming the citizens. To many times in the past have we been unable to defend them because we have not been able to get to the village under attack before the people where already wiped out. With Refugees from Ethe coming in though the eastern boarder and their loyalty to the Emperor they Ethe could trade safe route though our eastern boarder for supplies and help in rebuilding their Kingdom." Hysteria said to Agnes "It is simply a precaution... In my own mothers era, Enthrallia, not Napaysha II, we faced an attack from Ethe as retaliation for our growing population taking some of their territory. Our army could not march their in time and our people were not armed, they where slaughtered for the thousands and though the King of Ethe said he did not condone it and that it was a radical faction of the army it does not excuse the fact that it was still the Ethan army that did such a thing...if the people are armed they can defend themselves hopefully long enough until the army gets to them, or they can fight their way to freedom and run" Hysteria stated "My goal is the preservation of the lives of our people as best as possible, and with us becoming a republic as of last year our population has grown, people are healthier and more fed, with the opening of the castle as a school they are more educated, those without wings if they have a weapon can fight just as hard as those with wings and weapons. What I chose is a hard road but it is better for us as a nation" she said to Agnes as she stood up and walked over to the woman as she went to the window "as for the road, I understand it will take a long time...I will probably be dead by the time its completed but if we can somehow manage it it will all be for the better, and it will pay for itself. Safer and Quicker travel, jobs while its being made... The plan is already in motion as we speak dear friend. Like I said I sent Roland to Zalto yesterday in order to speak with the King. Roland has the ear of the King's only daughter so I doubt that it will fall though, however I have no way of persuading Ethe to my side, no bargaining chip other then my word, However I can go speak to the queen of Ethe...and with the situation they are in right now I doubt she would be in a position to refuse me when if we offer her a trade of aid to her kingdom in order for this road to be build to her doorstep, our only opponent would be Lionis but if we have have backing of the three Kingdoms they will be forced to go along with the road" Hysteria stated before turning her head to look at Agnes "I may not be a mind reader Agnes but I know what you are thinking...Phobos is unstable, the King has to simply be beaten for our plans to unravel, but I know King Herod is a good man, and a good king, he makes up for everything that his father lacked in both diplomacy and careing, not to mention strength. He has already agreed to think about it but with circumstances as they are now I doubt he would say no." Hysteria smiled "He will soon have an heir after all, and the Blood of Bellris will sit upon the throne of Phobos as well as the Council"