P.S. 1 – Chapter 41.1

The old Verglas war room still held a map of both Verglas and Iceheart. Pieces of string indicated supply lines, figures showed the nobles and the groups of knights, and every relevant town and fortification was present. But now most forces faced outside, with several Verglas units present at the Iceheart border, defending the territory from raiders.

Honestly, not much had changed since the war. They had replaced the Flameheart figurines with Iceheart ones, and now had improved insight, but it was still the same map, the same places, the same lines. Just a different focus, as now the main priority was supporting rather than disrupting.

Eirwen still held Red far away from it all, refusing to get him involved. Not yet. Not while he wasn't at her standing yet. Soon. Didn't stop him from occasionally spying on the map and asking questions, but he mostly left the advisor role to Aoife. A line carefully drawn until they could cross it safely.

Today, she only had Verglas advisors with her. Seren, Pertrellan she should call her in a formal environment like this, was still very happy to have returned. The Comtesse really didn't like leaving Eirwen alone, even if her vacation had done her well. She had taken less than kindly to discovering Eirwen's peril in the mountains, resulting in troop movement that for a moment had Iceheart worry Verglas was invading them. Thanks to that, more Iceheart reinforcements had been able to go to the mountains, enabling a better war against the Frost Giants. Though Eirwen knew Seren had wished she had been able to come herself.

Right now, Pertrellan and others were all discussing how to support the merchant and supply lines, in response to some independent territories trying to find a gap in the Iceheart border. They were all ignoring the constant ambient mana flow, which was unlike anything the territory had experienced before. A few days was all the people had needed to get used to it, though noticing it had exposed a few children with mana talent.

While they were discussing the availability of escorts to essential caravans, a mana disruption drew their attention. Immediately, all gave Eirwen a questioning look. She already was focusing her senses on Red, verifying what had happened. He was holding a shattered mana stone, but seemed alright himself. She noticed him smiling in response to her paying extra attention to him. After a brief mental touch, she brought her attention back to the war room. "A failed experiment. I'm guessing he pushed it further just to see what happens."

A few acknowledging nods, then they turned their attention back to the map. There was a big gap in the form of the mountains that they would need to plug eventually. Reducing giant activity might get someone tempted to try a snowy path. There were solutions, but most of them were not within her right. For now.

Several moments later, mana flared up from the sparring grounds. They all knew what that was, but still sent Eirwen questioning looks, with barely concealed entertained smiles on their faces. She sighed as she focused the part of her senses covering that area, observing Aoife deliberately disrupting other people's mana through excessive usage of her own. Aoife looked up towards Eirwen's primary viewing point and smiled at her. Now that Red no longer had to keep secrets, he and Eirwen had helped Aoife grow immensely, teaching her many of their own tricks. Improved sensing was part of that, so once more Eirwen had been caught observing.

Eirwen looked at her advisors, pretending to look grumpy. Judging from their grins, she was falling miserably. "Comtesse Carraig is teaching everyone the impact of having a flame burn wildly next to you. But you already knew that. No need to encourage me to pay proper attention to both my lovers. Shall we continue?"

She already knew to give both of them proper attention. Though tonight, she'd be on the receiving end of that. With both of them using a lot of flame mana during the day, Eirwen could look forward to a passionate night. It was a good thing they were all on contraceptives, doubled doses due to Gigantification messing with it. Otherwise there would have been children on the way already.

She did want that, though. She should prepare for that. But right now, she needed to discuss preventing sabotage. The West had to stand strong and unchallenged, so her rule could protect all she held dear.