A Perfect Idea

''All I can say is that, these ambitious Princes are trying to start something. Trouble. Trouble which they cannot end, that is what they are trying to start with me.'' As soon as the entourage from Magus left, Prince Bane and Xavier started to discuss.

''Take it easy nephew. You already did a great job by the way you responded to Prince Harry. Even I was shocked. I didn't know you had the ability to stall like that.'' Xavier praised Prince Bane.

Prince Bane darted his eyes towards his uncle to show that he appreciated the compliment, and then he moved on to thinking about wat to do.

''Eh, nephew. While you are thinking of what to do to the Vandersar Princes, I would love to make a suggestion.'' Xavier started again.

''What is it?'' Prince Bane asked.

''Well, like I just said, I am very impressed by the way you responded to your rivals, the Princes of Magus. In that case, I would love to suggest that you abandoned Sent in terms of having her make decisions about anything for you. If she were to decide about anything, let it be strictly between both of you and not something that has to do with kingdoms.'' Xavier was careful as he spoke, hoping that his nephew understood his point of view and did not take it the wrong way.

Well, Prince Bane had started to get reasonable at this point. After he saw that the Princes at Magus had risen and had started to step up to him, his masculine inclination suggested that he rose up to the status quo and let Sent be a woman and make women decisions.

''I understand, and I must say to you that I have been in that mood for a while now. In fact, I have already stopped allowing her make decisions for me concerning official duties.'' Prince Bane glanced at his uncle and saw him nodding in approval.

''You know where we would be by now if I was still allowing Sent take charge. As far as Sent is concerned, Magus should be burnt down and if I was still referring to her to get things done for me, Magus would have been on fire by now.''

''Indeed.'' Xavier replied, nodding.

''Well, I am just glad that you have eventually come to this point. It takes a tough challenge to bring out the toughness in anyone, and the more I see you rising up to the task, the more I am just gracious to the ones before us that you indeed have it in you, because I always thought that you had it in you.'' Xavier could not hide his relief.

Prince Bane managed to break a smile.

''Now that we have that out of the way, what are you doing to do about Magus?'' Prince Bane asked Xavier for a suggestion.

Xavier did not even think twice before he started to give a reply and it was obvious that he had been thinking of a way out for a long time.

''The other seven kingdoms, that's how.'' Xavier watched his nephew, waiting for him to be able to understand.

''What bout them?'' Prince Bane asked.

''Bane, the seven kingdoms are important, that is why you want to rule over them. The fact that you are superior to them does not in any way mean that they have lost their importance. I hope you know that Magus is responsible for ninety percent of the food we eat in Persia? The other kingdom beside Magus, has the toughest soldiers and with or without numbers, they can do damage to any kingdom they take on. I also hope you know the importance of the other kingdoms, they have their power points. If you can get them on your side without Magus being under Persia anymore, then to hell with Magus. They are as good as irrelevant.''

The more Xavier spoke on what he had in mind, the more Prince Bane's eyes widened in realisation.

How come he had not thought about this for the entire time? He was busy trying to make sure that Magus did not leave his jurisdiction, unknown to him that there were other ways to make Magus yield.

''Uncle Xavier, why didn't you say this since? We have been wasting time with Magus when we should have started working on the other kingdoms.''

Xavier shrugged.

''I mean, you had Sent as your first hand decision maker so I naturally thought that my opinions and suggestions were not welcomed.'' Xavier said the truth.

Prince Bane rolled his eyes.

''Fine. I guess it's good enough that you have eventually spoken up. We can plan to meet the seven kingdoms and hear from them. Their response to who they will side with between Magus and Persia will determine if we would sign that treaty or not. But, I do not see myself signing any treaty. Magus will have to succumb to Persia.'' Prince Bane was adamant.

''If those damn Princes are so power hungry, then I can afford to make them ceremonial heads in Magus, but taking a political stand is something which is not happening. That's final.'' Prince Bane made his uncle understand that.

Xavier nodded.

Xavier, a much more older person than Prince Bane wondered how the Prince intended to do away with Margaret.

It was only a matter of time before Margaret would unleash the powers that she is capable of, and the fact that she even came to Persia with the Princes was enough for anyone who was attentive to know that whatever powers Margaret had from being able to interpret the sacred code was already forming.

''We must start to visit the other seven kingdoms right away, uncle. You take the lead.''

''Why don't you summon them instead? It wiuld hold more power if they had to sit here for you to address them, instead of sending messengers to them.'' Xavier advised.

Prince Bane nodded. It sounded like a perfect idea.