Isamu was in a bad mood.

Ever since this damn journey had started, things had been one bad event after another. Oresa was spending all her time with Sahshir, and he hadn’t gotten the will to spar with anyone. Now, here he was on guard duty, sitting at the door to the council chamber.

It annoyed him. Oresa could do what she wanted; of course, Isamu didn’t care how she spent her spare time. But they had been warrior companions for multiple lifetimes. And Sahshir had always been more of a lancer type until now.

So maybe he did mind how she spent her time.

Whatever. Isamu’s job as the hero was to punch whoever the reigning tyranny of the week wanted to be punched.

“So here we are, once again, out in the cold,” said Isamu.

“We are here as guards, not honored guests, Isamu,” said Urus, meditating as always. “We ought to expect to be shut out of negotiations.”

“Well then, why is Oresa attending the thing? She’s one of us,” noted Isamu.

“She is a Princess, after all,” said Cadas.

“Yeah, and Sahshir is keeping her on a leash,” noted Isamu. The creep had been eyeing her this entire time, and Isamu didn’t like it.

“She seems to be keeping herself in his company, actually,” said Urus.

“What?” said Isamu, surprised. “Why would she do that?”

“Apparently, he is helping her with her training,” said Urus.

“Well, I could do that,” said Isamu, annoyed.

Urus and Cadas looked at him flatly. Isamu shifted beneath their gaze. “What? What are you looking at?”

“One of us probably could have done it,” mused Urus. “But we didn’t.”

“...So what are all these negotiations about?” said Isamu, trying to change the subject. Oresa had yet to ask for help. She was best at healing anyway; her shield spells weren’t any good.

“Several things, actually,” said Urus. “The obvious is that it provides a pretense for our mission. But that’s only one of many.

“The primary purpose is establishing trade rights and how they should operate. King Nagos has been trying to arrange a system of free trade. One where merchants are allowed unrestricted access to any island. No more pirates, and hopefully, no more war.”

“Oh yeah, because the pirates are going to just give up raiding like that,” said Isamu.

“Nagos’ plan is a system of tariffs, so far as I can tell,” said Urus. “Islands tax merchants for moving through their waters freely. No more piracy or raiding, so long as you pay the fee.”

“If it were that easy, why wouldn’t someone have done it by now?” asked Isamu.

Urus tossed his staff into the air and caught it by the end with one finger. Balancing it, he shifted the quiver of his bow and arrows. “It isn’t that simple.

“Until now, there have been so many different factions in the Islands of Power. Such an arrangement would have been impossible in previous decades. However, some islands would agree not to raid or pirate others individually. However, recent events have consolidated a great deal of that power. Great powers have the mastery of most of the islands.

“Sorn controls the south. The High Elves hold the western isles, while the north belongs to Dinis and Calisha. And to the west, many pirate leaders are nominally aligned with Nagos.

“With power consolidated, those same powers can now work out a deal with some ability to see it arranged.”

“Do you think it’ll work?” asked Isamu.

“I hope so,” said Urus. “If Calisha doesn’t have to fight on this front, we’ll have secured all our fronts but the west. We’ll be able to put our full attention on Harlenor and the High Elves. It should make our conquests that much easier.”

“Yeah, and we get to miss the entire war,” noted Cadas.

“Well, Oresa will probably be glad about that,” said Isamu.

So they waited. Urus and Cadas played with Sornian cards while Isamu paced back and forth. The guards of King Belosh eyed him warily before he looked right back, and they stopped.

And eventually, Oresa reemerged. Urus moved forward to meet her, folding his game. “Oresa, you’re back.”

“Oh, hey, Urus,” said Oresa. "Isamu, Cadas, how are you?"

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“We’re pretty much waiting on Tuor at this point,” said Isamu.

“How are things progressing?” asked Urus.

Oresa sighed. “The negotiations are dragging out. Everyone has their own ideas of what is reasonable, but I’m sure they’ll finish things. Sahshir, let me come out here.”

“We’re fine,” said Isamu, looking at the city.

He hated this place. East Kalthak was at least mostly wild, and you could see nature. But this place was all stones and walls. No grass or trees at all. And then there were other reasons.

“Isamu, are you alright?” asked Oresa.

“...This quest doesn’t make any sense,” said Isamu.

“What do you mean?” asked Oresa.

“The Heaven’s Eye is Elranor’s relic,” said Isamu. “Even if we could get it, and I’m sure Tuor has a plan for that, how would Baltoth use it? It’s not going to do any good.”

“Perhaps it has something to do with the Grail of Immortality?” mused Urus.

“You mean that artifact Sahshir stole from Zigilus?” asked Oresa.

“How are you going to use it with the Heaven’s Eye?” asked Isamu flatly.

Urus paused. “The Reasonists were once responsible for guarding the Grail. That was before Rammas’ rebellion led to it being given to Tuor. We fell under suspicion because he had found us.

“It allows one to reincarnate eternally with your memories, albeit with a cost. The Heaven’s Eye was documented to have powerful healing abilities. That and immense holy power to save entire armies and people. With both of them, it may be possible to achieve true immortality.

“If I were to speculate, Baltoth may seek to break the chains of prophecy.”

“What prophecy? What are you talking about?” asked Isamu.

Urus sighed. So this was one of those essential things Isamu was supposed to know about. Whatever, it wasn’t like Isamu needed to be in the know to hit people. Urus was the guy who knew stuff and kept him informed. “There is a prophecy that the Heir of Kings, a descendant of Anoa the Bright, will kill Baltoth and end his reign. That prophecy has dictated our foreign policy against Harlenor for centuries. It has, ever since the assassination of the last King of Harlenor United, Anoa the IX.

“There were rumors earlier that the Heir of Kings had returned. Rumors have been confirmed.

“It may be that Tuor intends to remove them in our journey to Gel Carn as well.”

“What are we even doing here, anyway?” asked Isamu. “I don’t see why Sahshir needs us?”

“I expect his interest is more in Oresa,” said Urus. “Given the healing power of the Heaven’s Eye, Sahshir likely wishes to heal his disease. He would likely wish to ask for her hand in marriage in such a situation.”

“He can’t do that!” said Isamu, louder than he should have.

“It is a tradition between Western and Eastern Kalthak,” said Urus flatly.

But Oresa put a hand on Isamu’s shoulder. Her touch was warm, and Isamu wondered why things had never gone beyond this. It's probably a lack of commitment and interest on his part. Besides, Oresa wasn’t really in love with him anyway. “You don’t have to worry, Isamu. Sahshir doesn’t view me that way.”

“You sure?” asked Isamu.

“Yes, he...” began Oresa. “Well, he’s incredibly cold. But he is also dutiful and wants to bring out the best in people.

“It’s strange, but even if he doesn’t care about people, I believe he is a good person.

“He’s also incredibly dedicated to Baltoth.”

“That’s not to their credit,” snapped Isamu.

“Isamu?” asked Oresa. “What do you mean?”

“Look, I know we all swear loyalty to Baltoth,” said Isamu. “But what has he ever really done for Kalthak beyond taking taxes every year and drafting us for war?” He’d seen a lot of drafts over his life. Baelgost loved going to war, but Isamu usually just hunted bandits.

Mass battles were not his thing. They were too messy, and you couldn’t enjoy the fight.

“Baltoth saved us from Safara,” noted Cadas.

“And divided our nation up into two while he was at it,” noted Isamu. “There didn’t use to be an Eastern Kalthak until he chopped the place up.”

“Isamu, you sound like Rammas,” said Urus.

“So what if I am?” asked Isamu. “Rammas rebelled because Baltoth had started forcing his damn laws on us. Crucifixions for every crime limit on marriage. We’re supposed to become poor copies of those damn Medi.

“Hell, we’re even ruled by Medi now.”

“How can you say that?” asked Oresa. “Father is only half Meid. I mean, yes, I know our relations with the Medi haven’t always been perfect, but Baltoth saved us.”

“And now he’s starting her religion all over again in Dinis,” said Isamu. “He didn’t stop Safara; he just forced her to work for him. Last I heard, Sahshir put up a temple to her some time ago.

“The way I see it, Safara is still eating the world. Just on Baltoth’s behalf now.”

“I’m not fond of Medi myself,” admitted Cadas.

“Cadas!” said Oresa.

“Before they conquered us, they often used us Drens as slave labor,” said Cadas. “Valranor, let them subjugate us. Those days are long gone now, but that doesn’t mean we’ve forgotten it. And the Medi don’t think much of us when we meet them.

“I like King Belosh and your family, but your ancestors adopted our customs.”

“Rammas betrayed Baltoth and tried to overthrow him,” said Oresa. “If he’d succeeded, Calisha would have fractured.”

“Yes, that much is true,” said Urus. “However, it is undeniable that Rammas had much support during his revolution. One does not gain support unless people have some reason to support him. One cannot inspire armies without a cause, after all.

“And no one follows a cause they do not believe in.”

“Maybe, but it wasn’t the answer,” said Oresa. Then, suddenly, she paused. “Urus, would you spar with me?”

Urus blinked. “Are you certain?”

“Yes, I wish to see how my skills have advanced,” said Oresa.

“As you wish,” said Urus.

The spar wasn’t nearly as one-sided as Isamu had expected.

Urus was still far more powerful, easily controlling the combat. However, Oresa was not nearly as helpless as she’d been against Sahshir. Her shields kept extending the battle, and Isamu quickly lost interest.

Finally, the battle halted.

Urus and Oresa bowed to one another as she sheathed her blade. “...I see, so I’m not on your level quite yet. Still, I promise I won’t be such a hindrance in the future.”

“You were never a hindrance, Oresa,” said Urus.

“It’s nice of you to say that, Urus, but I was,” said Oresa. “I mean to make sure it never happens again. How did I do?”

“Better than I expected. Your stances are far better,” said Urus.

“Yes!” said Oresa, leaping for joy. As she did, her skirts were sent flowing around her as she landed. “Um, I think I’d better get some heavier garments.”

At that moment, Tuor showed up like he usually did. Isamu didn’t like or trust the bastard at all. Sahshir was a cold-hearted bastard, sure. But Isamu couldn’t see him cutting someone’s throat in the dark. Tuor, though, was a different story. Isamu figured the man would cut a dozen children’s throats if he thought it would help him. “That would be wise, Princess Oresa. This land is far colder.”

Isamu had seen Tuor pretending to be friends with Sahshir. He's probably trying to manipulate him to his own ends. “Tuor, what are you doing here?”

“I am here to meet with Sahshir and also with you,” said Tuor. “We have important matters to discuss.”

Great, more fetch quests.