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No one spoke a word after my question was asked. Instead, they continued to look at me, one or two with indifference, some with wariness, but all unamused.
“He’s exactly as Alteria claimed he was, even if he is a bit younger than the reports stated.”
My eyes turned to the one who spoke. It was an elf with long, black hair. He was dressed in fine robes that made me think he was some kind of priest. The bastard looked like one of those types who enjoyed his days sitting around mountains of books and old tomes, praying to whatever deity the empire cared about. I knew not which one god he was supposed to be aligned with. The empire had about ten of them, maybe more.
“Even when she told us her report, I’d prayed that it was untrue. Her loyalty in keeping Hæňgaram standing cannot be called into question. However, I question her methods of doing so, especially with one such as this. I’m afraid this stain will be too much to wipe away, even for the emperor.”
The next one who spoke was also a man, but a member of the Leo Tribe. A man with the head and fur of a lion, adorned in prestigious armor. He glared at me, his sharp fingers intertwined together.
“Perhaps not, but we have indeed run out our course so far. This treachery runs deep. Will we even have a home left standing if we do not exhaust every resource? That said, his prowess speaks for itself. This was the man who sailed to Delverhold, a land once thought to be a myth and a folktale. I’d have not believed it myself had Knight-Captain Balamar not been the one to speak it before us.”
This time the one who spoke was a woman. She had a hood over her head, but I could make out her dark-brown hair. However, beyond that, I caught a glimpse of her eyes. There were no pupils in them. I might have taken her for being blind if I didn’t see her looking at the others.
“Indeed. I read her report and it continues to sound even more outlandish each time I look at it. I too share the table’s grievances. The pirate is brash, self-centered, egotistical, rude, and a harbinger of disrespect, nevertheless we must consider the reasons we would undertake this measure. Forces continue to draw close. It would do well for us to remember why we were created in the first place.”
This one was another woman, notably much older than the rest of those around her. In fact, she seemed around my age before my untimely death. Her face sported a few wrinkles here and there. Among those there, she seemed like a senior officer.
“We do not doubt our mission nor the origins of our table. However, we doubt the intent of this pirate. There is a reason the empire detests them after all,” another, a man with glasses said.
“Perhaps Knight-Captain Balamar isn’t as free from her blood as she tries to make everyone believe. She spent many months aboard this pirate’s vessel. It’s not hard to imagine that she might find her allegiances elsewhere,”
“That is uncalled for, Court Magister, especially given that Alteria isn’t here to offer a retort. I believe for now she is being punished enough. She has gained numerous accomplishments ever since she was allowed to join the Hæňgaram military. I have faith that she has the nation’s best interests at heart.”
The Court Magister in question was a skinny fucker. The type to hang around and rub shoulders with merchants, politicians, and attendees to the emperor’s court. Of all those in that stuffy environment, it’s ones like him that I hate the most. Though I was a pirate, and ought to admire a ruthless backstab on an unaware bastard, the lot just put me in a bad mood.
The other who responded to him was another beastman, this one from a bird tribe. He had the head of a hawk, with the build of a large man, one easily capable of reaching Goron’s height. His wings remained tucked behind his back with a long, black strap. I also noticed that one of his eyes was missing.
“And how do we know this pirate can be trusted to keep his word? Can we even trust any word he brings before us?” another asked before I grabbed everyone’s attention by slowly holding my hand in the air. The water in their bodies obeyed my command and forcefully turned their heads towards me. Some of them looked shocked, stunned by what I’d done.
“Aye, well for starters, you lot can face ‘The Pirate’ and call him by his name. Now, how about we clear the stale air here? I ain’t your friend. I sure as hell don’t give two shits whether your empire becomes a smoldering crater like Taptos or not. I struck a deal with your Knight-Captain and it’s for that reason I’ve become your ally for now. Once this shit’s over, I’ll be sailing away, and hopefully, we’ll never have to see the ugly mugs of each other for the rest of our lives. Until then, use whatever means you have for yourselves to justify my presence here, but know that you don’t want to cross me unless you wish I make Ynro a seabed like C’ula,” I threatened, utterly fed up with this Hæňgaramian grandstanding.
“You dare… çeşme escort guak!”
I tightened my hold, forcing water up one of their throats. The person gurgled and choked before I eased my hold. “Give me what I was promised and you get to keep standing for many centuries to come. I believe that be a fair deal, aye?”
None on the table spoke a word. I noticed the female Defender of Knights who brought me here seemed ready to attack me, reaching for her sword before one of them raised their hands.
“Very well, Eric Drakclaw. Ease your rage and excuse our rudeness,” the mature female veteran of the table said, though her eyes showed not a single bit of pleasure in having to be polite to me.
That was fine with me. I cared not for it anyway.
I released my hold of them and the scholarly man touched the side of his head. “Fascinating. So this must be the strange water ability the Knight-Captain spoke about,” he said as I took a step forward.
“Now, discuss your hate of me and all pirates later. Why am I here? And why isn’t Alteria here at your little meeting?” I asked as the group looked at each other.
The lion beastman faced me. “Did you think that inviting a pirate into Hæňgaram would bear no consequences regardless of intent? She’s been imprisoned for a short while deep in a secure location under the guise of a failed assignment. She’s been there for about two weeks now,” he said while I hummed. So that was why I couldn’t track her mana through the capital.
“You sure know how to show your gratitude to the stern lass,” I remarked as the lion beastman slammed his fist on the table.
“It might seem uncommon to you, Eric Drakclaw, but here in Hæňgaram, the rules are enforced and punishment is carried out regardless of outcome or intention. That is the reason we have stayed as a place of strong will,” he said.
I offered no retort, even though I was greatly tempted to do so. It was rather hard for me to imagine such a lass in chains and behind iron bars. Then again, that was how I met her the first time.
“Aye, well, save your patriotism for one of your nation’s troops. There were some men of mine that I’d lent to Alteria. I assume since she’s told you lot about me, then she told you about them as well. Where are they?” I asked.
The avian beastman turned to the other members of the table. “What does he mean?” he asked, a stern gaze on his face.
“Alteria returned on a ship with Silver Commander, Ivios Arteus. It was told in her report that Eric Drakclaw’s vessel had a brief skirmish with them and a ship from Callamum. Their memories were erased of the event and some of the pirate’s crew were stationed in House Balamar for a short while. Since then we’ve found a use for them in this deal of ours,” the woman at the head of the table said before a fist slammed down.
“And you didn’t think some of us ought to know about this?! Are we to be overrun with pirates?” the bird beastman asked before the head woman turned to him.
“I know not what type of combat they’ve been trained in, but they are clearly a subtle bunch. None of them draw attention to themselves and handle their work with pride. Besides, it’s much easier to be lent forces that are already aware of the situation at hand instead of risking the leak within our own army. All would have been told eventually,” she said, no hint of remorse found upon her visage. She then faced me.
“Currently, we have asked for many of them to journey outside of Ynro. They are investigating just how deep Zevmar’s inner workings have gone, along with available troops and national ties. The leaders of their groups have consistently warned that the orders of their captain shall take priority above all else,” she mentioned and I couldn’t help the smirk that showed on my face.
Perhaps I’d best reward the bastards and bitches of Hilvir when I found the proper opportunity.
“Hard to believe a pirate could discipline anything,” the lion beastman said with a growl before I stepped forward and pressed my hand against the table.
Everyone’s attention on me, I spoke. “So aside from Lady Knight, this is all the sailing swashbucklers that know about the bastard, Zevmar?” I asked.
The head woman nodded. I clenched my fist and leaned up. “Then, I’ll get the first question outta the way. I’ve had my way around a fight with some of the bastards in your military before. Just from looking at the lotta ya, you seem to be high-ranking men and women. Well, most of you anyway. What stops you from bringing a charge against the bastard and taking him down?” I asked.
Alteria told me a little bit of the reason and I’d conjured a guess for myself. However, I’d need what information I could get to figure out how an event such as this had gone down in my previous life. Also if Seraphina was going to get involved, then this would be a little more difficult than I’d thought. Between her and I, neither başakşehir escort of us seemed willing to hold back on any wide-scale destructive abilities. I also had no moonstone on me with which to contain her. Liara had all but taken that from me. I already knew that when we met again, she’d likely be furious with me. Hell, I wondered if the battlefield would turn into hell itself from her fury.
“You think we’d be having this table formed if such a matter were so simple? It’s more aggravating than even having your presence here. I’d like nothing more than to march up to that traitor and have him put on trial for his crimes. Unfortunately, there are no obvious crimes from him that would condemn him as a traitor to the emperor. Not to mention, he’s a very well-respected soldier and a member of the most prestigious clan in the empire. The contributions of the Lightfeather house aren’t to be scoffed at. If we bring a charge against them without valid reason, we run the risk of being labeled traitors ourselves. We’d be sentenced to being burned at the stake,” the lion said, his claws clenching.
“Zevmar’s also something of a hero to the empire. It was because of his achievements that the empire expanded as far as the northern territories, a place known to be wrought with powerful beasts and unruly bandits. Many admire him and a lot of soldiers volunteer to be part of his elite guard. He’s also established a very strong rapport with several wealthy merchant owners, thus bringing prosperity to not only his house but also Hæňgaram as a whole. Some even consider him to be the reincarnation of Lumnina,” the man with glasses said while I snorted.
Lumnina was supposedly one of Hæňgaram’s celebrated deities. A woman of peace and prosperity, she was said to be the one who birthed the angel who mated with the woman to give the Lightfeather house their light magic. I didn’t know how much more people could suck the dick of the Lightfeather house, but even I could be surprised.
“He is very meticulous as well. The war which he plans continues to take shape with no way of stopping it. Sairan troops were spotted near the outer borders of Rappala. Supposedly, they’re here to trade on the resources purchased from an auction on Delverhold. The rewards from there have gotten the entire world moving. I believe we have someone to thank for that,” he said before I turned to him.
“Aye, well thanks for that…”
“Ennan Riul,” the philosopher-like man with glasses said before I continued.
“Well, thanks for that, Ennan, but I sailed for Delverhold for other matters, not just for you. The lot of you are just beneficiaries of that. Besides, I had a feeling that was the case. That’s why you can thank me for getting Zevmar to test just how meticulous the bastard can be,” I said as they continued to look.
“You planned for this to happen?” the hooded woman asked.
“Aye. An ambitious bastard like that ain’t gonna let an opportunity like this go. If any of you see him, I suggest you look for signs of weariness. He’s gonna be in meeting after meeting trying to handle not only his own business but the duties of the empire as well. Something’ll crack eventually. However, best we be quick about it. It only takes one slip up for fuckers like him to catch on,” I replied.
The others remained silent for a moment or two. “He’s more clever than we expected.”
I turned and noticed a woman with red hair, a bit brighter than that of my mother. She was also notably older, seemingly a year or two younger than the woman heading the table. “Indeed. The spoils of Delverhold have brought Hæňgaram many visitors. Even now, they continue to flock toward the empire. Even the Mage Association seeks an audience with the emperor to study the treasures that the empire won from that auction. Murmurs of alliances and trades are heard even on the lips of even the commonfolk,” Ennan said.
“All while lining his own pockets. A pirate indeed,” the hooded woman said with something akin to a smirk.
“You said it lass, not I,” I remarked before a cough got everyone’s attention.
“These benefits are well and nice, but let’s not forget that it’s because of this that there have been a few skirmishes here and there in the outer lands near Hæňgaram. One of the towns near Navos was attacked by the Ssarizan Kingdom. Even some of the less guarded convoys have been attacked and raided. There are curses hidden in these blessings as well,” the avian veteran argued.
“But now you know the absolute enemies from the maybes, do you not? Best concentrate your efforts on those absolutes, lest you let your treasure drown beneath the abyss of your doubts,” I returned.
Once again, they were silent before the head of the table spoke. “This is true. It’s likely that many of these enemies could have contacts with Zevmar. Should we monitor them closely, then we might be able to find some way into his plans. küçükçekmece escort We can only pray for the voyage of the souls of our men lost to keep the empire standing.”
They all offered a brief prayer before the head of the table looked at me. “You have come under the guise of a merchant, Eric Drakclaw. Obviously, you chose that occupation because you knew we’d be receiving an excess of such groups at the entrances. Yet, how did you get in front of the multitudes before you?”
Ah, now that was one of the questions I had for this group of patriotic bastards seated at this damn table.
“Told one of your guardsmen quite the tale. It be so grand that even a pirate such as myself can’t make it up. Told him your city of Taptos has turned into a crater that journeys to the very center of hell itself. Only one survivor of the place remained and something tells me he ain’t gonna be fit for any military duty any time soon. Story shook the guard right down to his steel boots. Apparently, my crew and I are at your little… guest mansion until our story is verified,” I replied, hoping for someone to begin explaining themselves on the matter.
…unfortunately, no one did.
Instead, the Lion beastman stood up. “What?! What do you mean Taptos has become a crater? Explain yourself!” he roared, his voice rumbling the walls and my ears.
“Ragni, control yourself!” Ennan urged as the lion beastman pushed himself away from the table. He walked over to me, standing well over my own height. In fact, I’d say my forehead came just up to his neck.
“You expect me to control myself when a pirate claims that one of our cities has been reduced to nothing with only one survivor and no one in the entire empire of Hæňgaram was aware of it until just now? I refuse to accept this mockery. Who to say this pirate didn’t attack Taptos to grant himself a cover story into the city? We saw what he was capable of doing to all of us just now. We also know what he’s capable of from the reports of C’ula. He could have easily done this,” the one named Ragni accursed, his mane of hair getting right in my face. He bore his sharp teeth at me, almost ready to tear my head off if I allowed him.
“Aye, I could have easily done that. Glad someone else thinks so, but you best know something about pirates. We’re a fucking prideful lot. We don’t take credit for someone else’s work. Whatever happened to your city wasn’t by my hand or the hand of my crew. Take that for whatever honesty a pirate can have. If ya don’t believe me, then wait for those soldiers of yours to return. Now, I suggest you cool the fires of your anger somewhere else, but I repeat our greeting,” I warned as Ragni snarled.
“Fortunately, there’s no need for that. Lina, is it possible?” the head woman asked the hooded woman to her left.
The pupil-less woman slowly nodded. “Of course. If I may have everyone’s silence for only a moment. I wish to focus,” she said as she closed her eyes.
Suddenly, I felt the vast stores of magic within this hooded woman begin to swirl around and take shape. The normally unseen language of magic by which all spells were constructed began to appear in front of me. I then understood what the woman was doing when her magic captured a bird that had been flying in the air above Hæňgaram. The lass was Beast Mage, a special type of arcane wielder that could form temporary contracts with any animal and make use of its abilities.
I was actually a little jealous of Hæňgaram at the moment. Beast Mages were supposedly very rare, yet they are highly sought after. Many tried to use them to get great beasts in servitude to other nations. More often than not, this was met with harsh rejection in the form of death to any parties with the beast mage. However, there have been a few great powers in the past that have successfully formed pacts with beasts via beast mages. Some liked to think that Kavtha became the guardian of C’ula from a pact with a powerful beast mage.
Either way, the woman formed a pact with the small bird outside. She then cast another spell, increasing its speed.
The journey must not have taken very long before we all heard her gasp. “I-Impossible!” she said, her face strained with grief and confusion.
“What is it? Has the boy told the truth?” the avian beastman asked as the woman named Lina swallowed deeply.
The beast mage seemed too afraid to speak, her hands trembling on the table. However, she found her voice after a little while. “I-It’s really gone. The entire city is gone. All of the trees, the buildings, everything is dead silent. No matter w-where I send the bird, I sense no living soul. Taptos has been turned into a land of the dead. No, n-not even that for at least spirits would wail in agony and anguish. There isn’t a single sound out here. It’s as if t-the very land itself doesn’t exist at all,” she said, her voice trembling in nigh silent shudders.
The entire table seemed to descend into an uncomfortable silence. Ragni wordlessly backed away from me and took a seat, his eyes lost and unfocused. Well, it seemed like I wouldn’t be getting any answers on that damn mystery from anyone here.
“How? How could the entire city of Taptos be gone? Could it have been an attack?” one of the other members of the table asked, but no one came up with an answer.