410 There Goes The Last Adult Supervision

"It needed to be," Ann answered firmly, "The longer we wait, the more people die needlessly outside our walls. Lord Brarthroroz has assured me that these are genuinely civilians, and regardless of where they came from, they still deserve to return home safely."

"I understand," he said, pausing as he considered his next words, "But don't you think that you're taking a great risk. The people here already barely trust our new allies and adding daemons too? I think it's a dangerous move. Are you sure they aren't seeing this as an easy opportunity to infiltrate the palace?"

Ann shook her head.

"No, they'll see it as an act of mercy. Eromaug's dead and they answered to him previously. These people aren't his soldiers or his tools or his experiments anymore."

Bartholomew studied her carefully.

"Mercy? Or perhaps they'll see it as weakness…" Bartholomew held his hand up in an effort to calm her as Ann frowned at him, "Hear me out, my Queen. Some of these daemons fought against us. What happens if old loyalties rise again?"

"Eromaug is dead Bartholomew." Ann answered, "Their only loyalty right now is to their own families and whoever the new ruler of their realm will be…I don't even know how any of that works for Daemon Lords honestly. But until then, Lord Brarthroroz has taken responsibility for them."

He nodded slowly, considering her words.

"Hmmm. You'll need the Enclave's sanction for a formal amnesty that will hold up legally."

"I'm fully aware," Ann said, "But for now, under my supervision, I've authorised a temporary amnesty and we can iron the full details out at a later date once this war is over. But for now, I would like for you to help draft the first terms of surrender for them all to agree to once they arrive."

Bartholomew looked at her for a long time before speaking again, and when he did, he seemed almost sad.

"It seems as though you've already made the decision, haven't you?"

"I have," Ann said with a slight incline of her head and he smiled faintly.

"Then my input or approval isn't really needed, is it?"

"It's still valued though Bartholomew," Ann said, her voice softening and he sighed a deep, tired sigh.

"You've grown into this crown faster than any of us expected." He chuckled, glancing down at his hands as his voice shook, "That's the trouble with youth and that righteous fire that burns brightly…the drive to fix all the wrongs and count their victories as they roll in…everything seems to come all at once and no one has chance to adjust to the new way of things."

"Translation: he's proud of us, but I think he's done with his time at the palace," Maeve said softly.

Bartholomew folded his hands and took a deep breath, raising his head to look her in the eyes again.

"I think it's time I stepped aside and returned to my books and musty old office at the Enclave," He smiled tightly, "My work here is finished and what remains, my assistants can continue in the library. Coral is far more capable in this new royal household than I am."

Ann stood and reached across to him, covering his hand with her own.

"You're not being pushed out, Bartholomew, please don't think that."

"I know," he chuckled, "Although it's probably past time that you did push me back to the Enclave. You need younger voices here at your side, not old ones stuck in the ways of the past. I can still help as an advisor from the Enclave, but here? I just simply can't keep up with the hours of work that this war is demanding…not at my age."

Ann nodded once, allowing the sadness to settle over her.

"It looks like you've already made your mind up." She said with a small quirk of her mouth and Bartholomew chuckled.inclining his head, the motion small but full of grace.

"That I have, my Queen. You'll do well, Ann. Better than your father ever would have done…even without the interference…"

"We'll see." Ann said softly as she moved around the desk to pull him into a hug, "You'll still have grandpa duties once the triplets are here."

Bartholomew laughed as he patted her on the back.

"Then I shall look forward to that.day arriving." he said as he turned to Coral. "I'll instate you as the sanctioned liaison to the Enclave now and I know that they'll respect the appointment as you have proved yourself more than capable."

Coral nodded wordlessly, as shock held her expression frozen in place as he chuckled and patted her on the shoulder gently.

"I'll see you all soon. Make sure you take care of yourselves." he said, and with a last smile he turned and they watched him leave the office quietly.

A strange sort of silence settled over the room as the door clicked shut behind him and they each exchanged looks with each other, none of them knowing what to say really.

"Well," Maeve said with a snort, "There goes the last adult supervision."

Ann exhaled slowly, rubbing her temple.

"Coral, send word to the Enclave. You're their contact now. Have them meet you in the lower hall once the first convoy arrives with Lord Brarthroroz and Brad please make sure that the screening posts are double-manned just so the nobles don't kick up a fuss about lax security. I don't have the patience to deal with them just now."

"Already on it," Coral said.

As much as it pained her to lose Bartholomew from the palace, deep down she had known that it was never a permanent appointment. Especially after the revelations of secrecy that had spanned decades at this point.

Still, she would miss him, and already, the palace felt a little emptier with the knowledge that his grandfatherly presence wouldn't be there on the sidelines watching her bring everything to order.

"He'll still be watching," Maeve said, "Just from that crusty old armchair in his office surrounded by his dusty old books."