There was a deep silence for a few moments as the two looked at each other.

“By vassals, you mean you wish to rule over Locksley?” William took a deep breath.

“That is indeed what I mean,” Thorian nodded. “However, you would still hold authority, second only to me within Locksley, and for most of the day-to-day affairs, you would be in charge.”

“This is a difficult request,” William admitted with a sigh. “What you’re asking of me is to betray the royal family and the capital. We call that treason, and it would severely affect my own legitimacy as a lord.”

“I understand it’s not easy,” Thorian nodded before continuing. “But I find your loyalty to this capital of yours very interesting. Is the capital city still standing? Is the royal family still alive?”

“It is true I do not know the answers to those questions,” William bit his lip before taking a deep breath. “But that does not mean I can act while assuming that the capital is no more. My men’s loyalty would certainly falter if I did such a thing.”

“Now, would it?” Thorian raised an eyebrow. “Do they truly care so much about this royal family that is so far away from them, that they ignore the dangers lying close at hand?”

William looked deep into Thorian’s eyes before asking, “Are you saying that you would invade Locksley if we do not comply?”

“I would certainly not wish to do so,” Thorian responded with a smile. “However, my goal and my wish is to establish my own kingdom, one that is so vast and powerful it stretches beyond the horizon.”

William sat in silence, looking down in thought for a few seconds. "Certainly, if you wished to invade us, there is nothing we could do to stop you. We lack the power to contend with your might."

"Let's not talk about invasion; that would just sour the mood," Thorian shook his head. "Rather than seeing this proposal as a threat, I want you to view it as an opportunity. Joining me offers immense benefits. Not only do you gain my protection, but you also gain access to my dungeons to strengthen your army. And what do you lose in exchange? A vague sense of honor, for the eternal prosperity of your city. Is that not a deal worth considering?"

William sighed before admitting, "It is indeed a tempting offer, and if the choice was mine alone, I would readily accept."

"And whose choice is it?" Thorian raised an eyebrow. "Are you going to ask your council, full of corrupt nobles, whether you should become vassals to a monster?"

"No, it's not the nobles I'm concerned about," William chuckled. "But I do care about the opinions of my most loyal men, who have shed blood and tears for Locksley. They deserve as much a voice in this matter as I do."

Thorian listened to William's words for a few seconds before asking, "Tell me truthfully, what are you afraid of? Do you believe that I would treat you any less than I treat my own kin?"

"That is certainly a concern," William nodded. "However, I have heard about my children's adventure in your village and how well you treated them. Moreover, considering our interactions, where you were always truthful and did not hide anything from me, I've come to believe that you are a just king."

"Then why the hesitation?" Thorian raised an eyebrow.

At this question, William sighed and looked down silently for a few seconds. "This decision involves the future of Locksley; I cannot rush it. Could you please give me until sunset to deliberate with my men?"

"I can," Thorian nodded with a smile before standing up. "But I do hope you come to a reasonable conclusion. I do not wish to cross swords with you, William. However, I will if it's the only path to achieving my goals."

"I understand, and I will do my best to avoid bloodshed," William nodded as he also stood up. "Thank you for being accommodating and giving me time to deliberate."

"That is the least I can do," Thorian smiled before leading William outside. They quickly met up with the rest of William's men before Thorian and Nox guided them out of the village.

As they walked out of the outer gate, Thorian addressed Nox, "Escort them back to Locksley. The forest is dangerous to traverse alone."

As Thorian watched William's party leave, their eyes met one last time before William and his men made their way into the forest. Forlune then approached Thorian and asked, "So, how did it go, my lord?"

"Better than expected," Thorian chuckled. "He was certainly open to the idea and understood its benefits, but he needs to convince his men to see the matter in the same light."

"Isn't he a lord?" Forlune scrunched his eyebrow in confusion. "What kind of lord needs the approval of his men to make a decision? Who is ruling whom at that point?"

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"Humans are complicated," Thorian chuckled in response. He then looked back at the forest with a longing gaze. Despite maintaining a composed attitude, he was still worried. William, we were true friends in our past life. Please make it so that we are not enemies in this one.

* * *

William Ravenwood’s POV

As William and his companions approached Locksley, they bid farewell to Nox before venturing into the heart of the citadel. Traversing the inner city's streets, William was besieged by a storm of thoughts. His recent imprisonment in the Strongheart dungeon had pushed him to the brink of despair. During the fleeting moments when he wasn't subdued by sedatives or toxins, the distant screams of Nalia's sacrifices haunted him. He harbored no illusions about his impending fate in those dark chambers.

Yet, in his darkest hour, they had been his salvation. A profound sense of indebtedness weighed on him. They saved me when all seemed lost, he mused, his lips pressed tightly together. I owe them my life.

For William, repaying this debt was imperative, even if it meant servitude. However, the stakes extended beyond personal obligation; they encompassed the fate of Locksley itself.

In a world besieged by monstrous forces, a fragile city like ours stands little chance to survive and prosper on its own, William pondered, casting a brief glance at his companions. But will they see the necessity of this small sacrifice as I do?

Upon their arrival at the main palace, General Henry noted William's preoccupation. "My lord, you've been troubled throughout our journey. What terms has the Monster King set before you?"

"Let's discuss this in the privacy of my study," William proposed, a reassuring smile crossing his face. "This matter demands discretion."

Following William's lead, Tristan, Oswald, and General Henry entered the study and closed the door behind them.

“Thorian has made his request clear,” William began, turning to face his son and his men. “He wishes for Locksley to become a vassal state under his kingdom.”

“A vassal?” Tristan echoed, looking thoughtful. “I feared worse, yet it remains a bitter pill to swallow. Our people would struggle to accept being ruled by beings akin to those who have caused them so much loss.”

“This could destabilize the city,” Henry added with caution. “It would give any dissenter a cause to rally people against you, my lord.”

“That is indeed a problem,” William pondered for a moment before acknowledging. “And that is the reason why I wanted to discuss this matter with you.”

Cutting through the conversation, Oswald interjected, “Forgive me, my lord, but I believe those concerns are secondary.”

“And why is that?” William inquired, genuinely curious.

“Because those are issues we can address,” Oswald explained, pausing to choose his words carefully. “However, if we provoke the monsters, our survival is at stake. Would not all of Locksley perish? Tristan, am I mistaken?” he turned to his friend for confirmation.

“You're right,” Tristan agreed before facing his father. “Having witnessed their might firsthand, I can say with certainty that Thorian alone possesses the power to annihilate our city.”

“But what about Nalia?” General Henry raised a point. “She was immensely powerful too, capable of wiping us out had we not acquiesced to her demands.”

Oswald clenched his fist, before letting out a long sigh. “Nalia offered us no hope. She sought to exterminate anyone beyond her control and desired to rule Locksley with tyranny.” He then directed his gaze at William, “Should Thorian intend the same, rebellion would be my choice. Death in defiance of tyranny is preferable to me than living like a slave.”

William listened intently to Oswald's declaration and nodded in agreement, “Your resolve is commendable, Oswald, and I value it deeply. Indeed, should Thorian wish to oppress our people, treating us as lesser beings, I too would take up arms against him.” He then took a moment, his voice softening, “But my impression of Thorian is different. He saved our city from Nalia when he could have exploited our vulnerability for his own gain. He saved my children from certain death, and despite not being his subjects, he disclosed the location of the abyss to me.”

Hearing those words, Oswald's shoulders relaxed, and his gaze shifted between Tristan and William. "You're right, my lord. Thorian is nothing like Nalia. At the very least, he's a man who keeps his promises."

The room fell silent for a moment until General Henry addressed William. "My lord, may I ask what you truly desire? Whatever it is, I will support it."

"What I seek is the safety and prosperity of our people," William stated firmly. "If submitting to Thorian is the means to achieve that, then so be it. My honor is a small price to pay."

General Henry paused, his expression contemplative, before he gave a slight nod. "As you wish, my lord. I will respect your decision." A moment of silence followed before he voiced a concern. "Nevertheless, we must proceed with caution. Stirring too much unrest could cast a long shadow over the future of Locksley."

William acknowledged Henry's insight with a nod, acutely aware of the delicate balance at play. If we mishandle this situation, the Bloodsworth and Callfield families will seize the chance to incite rebellion. While Thorian's support could easily quash such uprisings, the aftermath would leave enduring scars. A rule cemented by bloodshed would be dark and tyrannical.

Amid the tense atmosphere, Tristan offered a glimmer of hope with a smile. "Father, if you are inclined to accept Thorian's terms for Locksley, perhaps we could seek a compromise. Negotiating a period of autonomy under his oversight might pave the way for a more gradual transition. This way, we could tackle smaller issues incrementally, avoiding the upheaval of confronting them simultaneously."

William nodded thoughtfully. "That's a compelling idea. Extending the integration process could indeed soften the impact. We could begin with joint military expeditions into the dungeons alongside Thorian's forces before moving on to further integration." He paused, pondering the idea before looking back at his son. "Do you think he would be open to such terms?"

"I believe so," Tristan responded with confidence. "From my interactions with him, Thorian has shown himself to be quite reasonable."