"War of the Lake" by Jenny Olivera

Ships burned. Bodies burned on the ships. Even more bodies littered the water. Captains yelled to their crews to attack. The sides spoke different languages, but the commands were largely the same.

All this for a lake. Queen Shorice sighed and pulled back her spying globe. The magic sphere, unseen by the combatants below, glided back to her hands, where she collapsed it.

:It's not about the lake, and you know it,: the mouse on her shoulder gently reminded her.

Shorice reached up and rubbed her familiar's nose with her finger. Yes, Tyram, I know. But it just seems like such a waste. I can see Fressum's queen's point; after all, we have the ocean and they do not. They would benifit more from Palic's Sea than we would. But as you said, it's not about the lake.

:Will you meet again to discuss with her?:

As soon as this battle is over. I've already sent out the message.

Even without the spell, she could see the battle out there over the water. From this distance, she couldn't tell which ship belonged to which country. She bowed her head and pulled her cloak around her as she stood on the lakeshore. We might as well be killing ourselves, she thought. She shivered, wanting to turn away and hide.

Queen Shorice expanded the spying globe and sent it back out over the battle. There were people dying out there. Every death was in some way or another her responsibility.