Baltoth's Retribution had been a shining castle of beautiful white stone. There had been soaring towers and elegant curves the last time Kiyora had seen it. Well, it had been a pile of rubble. But the last time she'd seen it complete, it had been elegant.
Now it was half complete in its reconstruction. It towered instead of soared and had noticeably more spikes on it. Satyrs were working busily around it, and even a few dwarves. These Kiyora took to be those who had gone over to the demons.
Amidst all this, Arraxia lounged at the top of one of the towers. Her tail was flicking as she basked in the rays of the sun. Her dark hair had fallen around her shoulders, and her eyes were closed as though asleep. The demoness' frankly enormous bust was rising and falling. Kiyora reappeared next to her, suspecting she had been noticed.
"So this castle looks a bit different from last time," Kiyora said.
"Oh yes, I decided I ought to make a few changes," said Arraxia. "I spent some decades with my spirit bound to this castle, doing Melchious' bidding. I thought it might look better in black."
"Does it work?" asked Kiyora.
"But of course," said Arraxia. "With Baltoth's Retribution, I will be able to manipulate the terrain around it once again to do as I like."
"So you're going to bind your spirit to it again?" asked Kiyora.
"No, of course not," said Arraxia. "That degradation was forced upon me by Melchious. No, I shall find a way to use it without any bother. So do tell me what brings me the pleasure of your company?"
"The High Elves are planning to invade you," said Kiyora, tone conversational.
"Yes, I had heard some reports from Doltier," mused Arraxia. "Satyrs don't usually dare cross over the river to raid; I expect it may prove troublesome to defeat them. Are you here to suggest an alliance?"
"No, I'm here to get whatever I can," admitted Kiyora. "Alchara has offered me half of your territory if I help her wipe out the satyrs. If I assist them, my Nakmar can show them all the secret ways, and I can overwhelm you. The thing is, I don't trust Alchara not to betray me any more than I trust you."
"My, you do seem capable of intelligent thought," said Arraxia, opening her eyes. "I suppose you wish me to make a counteroffer, do you?"
"Well, it does seem reasonable," said Kiyora.
"I offer nothing," said Arraxia. "Take it or leave it."
"Are you sure about this?" asked Kiyora.
"Why yes, yes, I am," said Arraxia. "We both know you cannot afford to let the High Elves gain a foothold here. They are the superior power and a far greater threat to both of us than either of us is to the other. An alliance is the natural course of action, and I know you need to be more stupid to submit to Alchara. And even if you were, you blame her for trying to marry you off.
"You could never bring yourself to submit to her."
"Cute," said Kiyora. "In case you hadn't noticed, you are rebuilding Baltoth's Retribution. If you ever get this thing working again, it could give you a significant advantage over my Nakmar. And with your recent converts among Wraith's followers, I could be in trouble in a few years.
"And the only power I'd be able to turn to would be the High Elves."
"Oh, that is adorable," said Arraxia without much interest. "Couldn't you simply appeal to your master, Duke Vanion?"
"I could appeal to my ally," said Kiyora. "But I know that he isn't one to rush into combat. If I ally with the demon constantly trying to kill his son, he might be reluctant to help me."
"And I suppose you expect he will come running to your rescue when the High Elves take your lands?" mused Arraxia.
"Of course not," said Kiyora. "But Vanion is very influential in Antion. He could convince King Andoa to pressure the High Elves to back off from any attack on Nakmar territory. On the other hand, you don't care about what King Andoa thinks.
"Which one inspires more sympathy? The innocent dwarves who the High Elves have betrayed? Or the scheming runt who made a deal with a demon and is now being consumed by it?"
"Well, you seem to have thought this through," said Arraxia. "Very well, is there any assurance I can make that will convince you of my good intentions?"
"I want partial control over Baltoth's Retribution," said Kiyora.
Arraxia sat up and turned to eye her suspiciously. "...Really?"
"Yes," said Kiyora. "The Chieftains of the Nakmar and the rulers of the Satyrs will cooperate in its use. Both have veto power over the other's decisions. Assuming we ever get the thing working, of course."
"So, you would have me give up full control over this fortress and submit it to a committee?" asked Arraxia. "You're bolder than I expected."
"I'm taking a course on negotiating," said Kiyora.
"That seems a remarkably advanced subject for a mortal child," muttered Arraxia.
"I'm, and I've been in school for nineteen years," said Kiyora. "I'm well past basics. And I'm a teenager."
"Yes, yes, you're very smart." mused Arraxia. "I'll make you a counterproposal. I'll agree to your terms for a single condition."
"What is it?" asked Arraxia.
"I will be in command of this Alliance. I will decide our strategy," said Arraxia. "You will defer to me in all such matters. Do we have an agreement?"
"Nope!" said Kiyora.
Then she snapped her fingers for effect and teleported away.
The next place she went, she had never been before. Teleporting areas like that was always troublesome. She had to focus, and little by little, the picture would form in her mind. When she got the image clearly, she could go there at once.
In this case, the picture was of a forest of lush green moss and white trees. The leaves were of gold, and there were sparkles in the air. Honest to gods sparkles. From what Kiyora had heard, it was a picture of what the elven domains had looked like. Before Anoa the Bright went axe crazy on them anyway. She didn't particularly care for it. Even so, the place had an undeniable sense of peace as she appeared on a walkway.
One couldn't imagine something dying in this place. Not plants, anyway.
An elf with white hair, clad in equally white garments, stared at her as she appeared. His mouth was hanging open. After a moment, he shut it. "You are the Dreaming Goddess?"
"Yeah, that's me," said Kiyora. "I'd like to talk with Queen Dawn if you don't mind. Or Alchara. Whichever one is closer."
"We will bring you to her at once. Queen Dawn has been waiting for you," said the elf.
"Thanks, I appreciate it," said Kiyora. "Oh, and you might want to look into building some handrails here."
"We elves are not nearly as clumsy as other races." said the elf.
"What if an ambassador slips and falls off your little treehouse here?" asked Kiyora.
"Treehouse?" asked the elf, sounding insulted.
"It wasn't an insult," said Kiyora. "But where I'm from, we make our houses from living wood."
"How do you do that?" asked the elf.
"We ask them to form their limbs and roots into the shape of buildings," said Kiyora. "Of course, they have to be pretty big for that. Thousands of years old. So it isn't something you can do easily."
She was led through the various walkways and up a stair. There were no handrails to be seen there either. They came to a tall building from which the sound of a flute playing could be heard. Kiyora was escorted in and found that Queen Dawn was playing the flute.
"Welcome to Qor'dana, Dreaming Goddess," said Dawn. "I've been expecting you. Please, sit down; I'll have some wine brought at once."
"No, thanks, I'll have water," said Kiyora. "I'm underage."
"I don't understand," said Dawn.
"You should, shouldn't you?" asked Kiyora.
"Oh, you refer to my status as Alchara's mortal incarnation," said Dawn. "Yes, I am an extension of her will, but I do not possess all the information she has. When we met before, she was directly inhabiting me, so I knew things I shouldn't."
"Well, in any case, I'll just have water," said Kiyora. "Children my age aren't allowed to drink alcohol where I'm from."
"Strange. When I was your age, I was already among the hunting parties," said Dawn. "But that was before the fall. So it is natural things should change." Water and wine arrived. Kiyora took a glass and sipped it. It was purer than any water she had tasted. And oddly, somehow more real.
"We should discuss the details of our alliance," said Dawn.
"Yeah, we've got a problem," said Kiyora. "You see, shortly after Alchara left, I was approached by the Queen of the Satyrs, Arraxia. And she asked me to ally with her against a common enemy. You."
"You don't believe that, do you?" asked Dawn. "We are both elves."
"But I rule over dwarves," said Kiyora. "And my people are reluctant to assist a higher power which they perceive may turn around and do the same to them."
"Yet surely they have been hated enemies with the satyrs for centuries," said Dawn.
"Yeah, but they also make truces with them and trade," said Kiyora. "It varies from week to week. If one satyr tribe gets too powerful, they may even unite with the dwarves to knock them down a peg. And that isn't even getting into the Nakmar who have turned to worship demons."
"I cannot believe what I am hearing," said Dawn. "You would consider the word of a fellow elf on par with a demon?"
"Arraxia is twenty billion times better than Melchious," said Kiyora. "Before she came along, it was all cannibalism and raiding and sacrificing goats. She's cut off the raids and is working to bring the satyrs out of the stone age.
"See, she's an incredible narcissist and wants huge temples built in her honor. But she can't do that with a ragtag collection of cannibals."
"And you trust her not to betray you?" said Dawn.
"Of course, I don't," said Kiyora. "I trust her to act in her self-interest. And possibly honor the letter of her word. I don't trust her at all. I just am willing to work with her against a common enemy."
"Then why have you come here?" asked Dawn.
"Well, that's the thing. I was hoping you might make me a better offer," said Kiyora.
"You are playing both sides," surmised Dawn.
"Pretty much," admitted Kiyora. "The Nakmar don't like either of you much. If I'm going to justify allying, I'll have to show them some real benefits from it."
"Ah, I see. I see. I get the picture," said Dawn. "What exactly is it you want?"
"Well, how about the Goldenwood Harp?" said Kiyora.
"Out of the question," said Dawn. "That harp belongs to my goddess, not to me, and even if I could give it away, I would not. It was a gift from the Goddess of Music, Mia."
"You are your goddess," said Kiyora.
"And she has made it quite clear to me she would not part with it," said Dawn.
"...I'm listening to any counteroffers you want to make," said Kiyora after a moment.
"What about a controlling interest in the northwestern branch Savior's Run?" asked Dawn.
"Hmm?" said Kiyora, sipping her water.
"When we take control of Seathorius, we will be able to tax the waterways," said Dawn. "Savior's Run flows from the far north, between Seathorius and Qor'dana. However, it branches off about halfway through. One-half heads south through Antion and into the Ghost Mountains of Sorn.
"The other runs through-"
"The domain of the Nakmar, yes, I know; I don't need a lesson in geography, lady," said Kiyora. "So let me see if I have this clear. I help you eliminate the satyrs, and then you give my Nakmar total control over the western branch?"
"That is correct," said Dawn.
"Okay, I'll think about it. Thank you for the water," said Kiyora, finishing it and setting the glass down. "Have a nice day."And she disappeared again.