An interesting Gambit

Keimut sat Morwen down across from him as he waved a hand over his arm, a dozen white and blue hexagonal dragon scales materializing in his hand. Morwen frowned, seated opposite him, obviously annoyed at not having been given any game pieces. He glanced up to sneer at her.

“What’s the matter, captain? Have you no scales of your own to play with? Perhaps you should have considered that before accepting my offer.”

Morwen could tell he was trying to put her in her place, but she was having absolutely none of it. Matron Azil placed a significant stack next to Morwen with a practiced smile.

“I will see to it the elven captain can play.”

Keimut glowed as the expected moment arrived finally. Morwen could tell he’d positioned Azil into responding. Now if he won, he’d have some of her scales and be all the richer for it. Morwen sighed, detesting politics. She reached out, picking up one of the tiny pieces. “If I win,” she said slowly so there would be no misunderstanding, “Then you’ll consider joining an alliance with the Federation to fight Sauridius?”

Azil laughed softly. Keimut simply maintained his practiced look of arrogant superiority. “We’d consider it. Yes.”

Morwen rolled her eyes as she moved a piece across the board. It was barely a step forward at best, but she wasn’t about to lose this point for nothing when they knew full well what the stakes were. Her heart beat faster as he took a second step toward victory. They’re just trying to play their way around me... But then again, we know that already too...

“And if you don’t?” Keimut said with a questioning look.

She glanced up to meet his gaze, narrowing hers slightly. His expression went from smug satisfaction to surprise in seconds, realizing how much he had given away.

“What else besides scales have I to offer?” Morwen asked.

Keimut grinned. “I would absorb your mages into my riders, growing my forces and prestige. A fair trade, wouldn’t you agree?”

“No. I wouldn’t. But I’ll accept your terms.”

Keimut placed his first piece, a blue scale, onto the board. Morwen placed one of Azil’s scales. The board shifted it to black. Keimut dropped another. Morwen followed suit, and the two fell into a pattern of rapidly placing scales to the board. Soon the board was nearly covered in them, with Keimut ahead by four points. At this rate, he’d win the entire match.

“What an interesting gambit, Captain.”

Morwen simply stared back at him. The barest hint of a smirk on her lips.

He should have won with the next move, but Keimut’s hand paused over the next hex before moving. Morwen caught the flash of uncertainty. Her eyes narrowed as she realized he wanted to move last. She picked up her own piece and made ready to play. She began making her moves as quickly as possible while waiting for him to take his turn.

He possessed skill, that was certain. Slowly but surely, he was pushing her out of the edges of the board. Forcing her to work in the middle. She’d expected that and placed a piece in an opposite corner, denying him a full ring of control. He ignored it, only continuing to slowly advance toward the center, where he could keep a tight watch in every single direction at once.

Morwen played several more pieces across the board. One near his border, then three in the corners, and finally five between the centers of each side of the game, effectively locking him out of full dominion, and granting him only majority control. Next came the counterattack. She channeled her divine foresight, unraveling the various threads of the web of fate. Every possible action and reaction spread out before her. The future unfolded into a swirling storm of possibilities stretching into infinity. But within this whirlpool of chaos one possibility stood alone from all others...

She looked up to meet his gaze and smiled. Then she dropped a new piece into place. A white dragon scale, dropping down right next to one of hers which was still standing firmly upon its starting point. His eyes widened with shock as he realized what was happening. Morwen held her hand out palm open as if to say ‘give me your scales’ while tapping her forehead with her other hand as though to ask why he didn’t see the inevitable outcome. With an exasperated look at the board Keimut glared at the board. Nostrils flared as he seethed before her.

In an explosion of motion he rose, striding briskly to the opening of the roof, shifted into his wyrm form and flapped powerful wings flying off as he roared angrily into the sky, smaller drakes and dragons veering clear of him.

Azil slid down next to Morwen on the couch looking pleased.

“Well done little tree child. No one has ever beaten Keimut. Let alone soundly humiliated him at Darstrix Aryte before. You may have just made a bitter enemy.”

Morwen sighed pinching the bridge of her nose as the exhaustion of using her divine foresight power had taken a toll on her stamina. She’d made her point but at what cost?

“He can take a number and get in line.” Morwen replied finally. “About that alliance though?”

Azil’s smile dropped slightly. “That discussion will have to wait.”

“And the Sauridius?”

“They have Keimut’s backing.”

“Damn. Why about you? Could we at least count you an ally?”

Azil considered it for a moment then eventually nodded. “Yes. Though to what extent I cannot say for certain yet.”

Morwen sighed. It would have to be enough. As Morwen rose, Rozien , the enchanted tone tucked into her jacket jostled loose enough to see. Azil’s eyes lit up with curious hunger. The matron dragon pointed to the tone as Morwen hastily tucked the book back into her jacket.

“What an exquisite spell book.”

Morwen frowned, uncomfortable with the increase in attention paid to the time.

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“It’s quite old. And something of a personal project of mine.”

“Ah. So it’s not for sale then?”

Morwen smiled politely. “No.”

“A pity. You could have tripled your winnings just on its purchase alone.”

Morwen patted the book inside her jacket softly. “Family airloom. I couldn’t bare the thought of parting with it.”

Azil bowed her head diplomatically. “Of course Captain.”

“Matron, might I inquire if the Sauridius have forces camped here?”

“They do. Several frigates and troop transports worth.”

Morwen frowned, and then the worst possible thing happened. She saw one of their number in the crowd at the party. She was young, a hatchling weaver by her looks. But she stood out as different from other weavers due to her tall stature as well as having two horns growing down through her forehead and ears that curled slightly outward... Oh gods! That’s her! Tanak! Ominek’s daughter.

He must have ordered his children here ahead of them. Already sinking his claws into the dragons here. Morwen just hoped they weren’t binding the dragons as was their usual method. Morwen took several steps forward trying to maintain the illusion of being distracted when in fact she had stopped dead in her tracks, barely breathing or even thinking. The girl wasn’t looking in her direction but that didn’t matter either. Their eyes locked and recognition flared. Worse, Morwen could sense her eyes on Rozien’s place within her jacket and she suddenly realized how egregious she’d blundered. It was possible they’d be after Rozien as well.

Morwen bowed before Azil. “Thank you for the entertainment but I must get back to my ship. All this excitement has made me weary. I shall rejoin you tomorrow.”

With that Morwen took her leave of the party. She wove a quick portal spell and returned to the Cadaver Crasher. Once there, she found a few of her crew waiting patiently for their return. Her heart thundered in her chest, knowing full well she’d been spotted by one of those who sought the book’s power. She strode for her cabin, erecting a privacy ward swiftly and removed Rozien.

“Do you think they are here for me?”

Morwen frowned. She couldn’t be certain, but since he was a key component of the first spell ship it was a strong guess.

“I don’t know for sure. But it might be best if we keep you out of view for now. Best not to draw the dragons or Sauridius to your true purpose.”

She saw doubt flash across Rozien’s face before returning with a soft smile. This was her war to fight to now. His time for fighting had long passed. “Your command.”

Morwen nodded curtly, then went about her nightly grooming routine. She had to fight the urge to channel her divine sight again. That took a toll on her and she was still getting used to the ability. Overuse might make her sloppy and she didn’t want to lean on it like a crutch. Having a sharp mind was as instrumental as having a sharp eye. Both would help her win the day, no matter how long it may take.

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Morwen woke late the next morning, feeling refreshed from her rest but stiff after sitting too much at the party last evening. With Rozien safely tucked away in her spell book pouch within her jacket once more, she sat down to work on some of her new spell books while drinking tea. It wasn't yet noon when there came a knock on her cabin door. She looked up surprised and stood immediately.

"Enter!"

A tall red skinned human shifted dragon stepped into the room and gave a bow before holding his hand out to her.

"I am Lord Lothiriel Dragonborn," he said with a polite smile before continuing, "We have been sent by High Priestess Azil. As I'm sure you've already guessed we're here to offer you support should you need it."

Morwen smiled, taking his offered paw gently. "Thank you for coming." She felt a little nervous as she hadn't had time to prepare for this eventuality. If it had come sooner perhaps she'd be better prepared... but she did not wish for anything that might upset the balance or make things harder on herself or others than needed. They had not taken any action against her so far but the threat was very real. And since the Sauridius were involved... There was no telling what the other factions might do either. But then again if one side could claim victory over Keimut and the dragons, then surely there must be a way to find and share power without all of these deaths and suffering. Surely, someone else in their position would see reason? She wanted to believe that, even though she knew they didn't care about such noble causes like freedom or self-determination.

“Something to drink? I might have a bottle of light wine in my private stores if you’d like?”

Lothiriel shook his head. “No thank you. Azil asked that I come to let you know that until Keimut is dealt with she can’t move against him. The pitched support for the Sauridius was already decided before you got here.”

“So how can we proceed?”

“With caution. Andlkang is host to many parties and many opportunities to erode Keimut’s position publicly.” Lothiriel replied looking thoughtful as he stood there waiting for her answer.

“Keimut did seem rather fond of his Darstrix skills. Perhaps a rematch is in order. A chance for him to try and redeem himself as strongest of the last Wing.” Morwen said.

Lothiriel gave a nod but seemed less than happy at the prospect.

"Perhaps you should send out some invites." Lothiriel said thoughtfully, "A public challenge from the federation diplomat who bested the top dragon might serve us well in setting the stage."

Morwen nodded. "I'll get on it right away." She called upon her divine sight, and it was only then she realized just how exhausted she was after using it so much recently. Her mind felt heavy with fatigue while her body was tense with worry and anxiety.

The exhaustion returned in full force and she felt like she’d just pulled an all night shift on the bridge. She swayed, bracing herself.

“Forgive me. But I think I’ll need some time alone. Thank you for your counsel. I’ll send a message again when I’m ready to move.”

“Of course captain. Be well.”

Lothiriel departed the ship at an even pace. Morwen was too distracted with her fatigue to see him linking up with Tanak outside the dock.

“Well?”

“She has it. But she’s wary of revealing it.”

“You’re certain?”

“Positive. Your bauble identified the book just as you said it would.”

“Good.” Tanak said. They needed to prepare a sortie. And soon.

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