Duke Jukha and his wife were relaxing by the pool in his second-favorite of the steam caverns. His favorite cavern had been booked by a large family of buggebears, who were currently in the middle of a long soak in the Bronze Citadel’s deservedly famous volcanic-heated pools, after which they had the salon booked for the rest of the afternoon. It took time to wash, condition, dry, and properly brush the whole family. It was really a lot of fur. Even the pre-teens were as tall as an average human man, and their fur was thick enough to survive the long winter months of the north.
He could have gone to the large pool in the central cavern, but he had decided against it. Bookings had been pretty strong recently, and the cavern was the most popular area among the younger creatures. It could get pretty loud in there, and the lines for the slides were usually long.
He turned to his duchess, the pearl of the orc people, Leyad, and said “The thing is the humans. I’m still not used to the humans visiting. I know I could have the whole group of them thrown into the pit of lava within five minutes of giving the order ….”
Leyad interjected, “Oh, but don’t do that or even say it aloud. It is bad for business to throw guests into fiery pits of lava. Unless they give bad reviews.”
“Well, I was speaking hypothetically, of course. I am not planning on throwing any guest into any pit, of lava or otherwise. Although thinking about the issue of the reviews, I do feel that the young hobgoblin stag party would not have been missed. I’d heard that when they were back in Lagar’s Haven they bragged to everybody at the Unicorn about how they trashed their room and ordered around the staff as if they’d owned the place. That group I should have thrown into the pit of lava.”
“Right, yes, I remember them. It would have been fine to throw at least a couple of them in. Nobody would have blamed you, and it would motivate future guests. Maybe once in a while it is okay, and it may even improve our ratings. But not the humans though. We have only a few human visitors and I do think we could really expand that market. Things have been really good with the humans recently, and every time I’m in Lagar’s Haven it seems there are more ships from Vathary. We should perhaps visit Keley for shopping ourselves in the summer, and to spread a bit of publicity about our mineral pools and the expanded spa. The cavern tentacle monster does a really good deep-tissue massage, and I think humans go for that sort of thing. ”
There was an overly loud knock at the door.
“Sir, sir. Your niece is here.”
“Here? Why?” asked Duke Jukha
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“Have her wait for us on the veranda. We'll be right up,” said Duchess Leyad.
In a few minutes, the duke and duchess were attired in their favorite, most comfortable ducal robes, and came out onto the veranda to greet Princess Wyndyn.
The veranda was a ledge in the largest cavern under the Citadel, overlooking the lava falls and the Great Lava Pit. It had a very nice restaurant.
Wyndy was being served afternoon tea, as she watched the lava wyrms splashing about. She stood up to greet her aunt and uncle, first standing like a dignified royal for a moment, and then giving up and running over to give them hugs.
“Aunty L! Uncle Juk! I missed you all. And the Citadel is looking great!” said Wyndy amidst the hugs.
“It is great to see you dear. And, yes, we've been working to fix things up. We've added more slides in the heated pool room, and we have a giant octopus now that makes it into a wave pool and gives rides to the younger creatures, and the tentacle monster is usually booked two weeks ahead, and it is all just going so well,” said Leyad.
“I'm sorry that I've come to mess up your lives, at least for a while,” said Wyndy. “You've heard about the latest issues with humans at the border with Vathary?”
“Yes, we were there at the Equinox Party. We saw the ones you captured. Seemed like okay guys, for humans at least,” said Jukha.
“Oh, and we captured some more that evening.”
“Ah, yes. Well done. You are an excellent human-capturing niece,” said Jukha. “We are proud of you.”
“And we thought it a nice touch that you didn't torture them or kill them, but instead found dates for them,” said Leyad. “I know humans can be tiring.”
“Thank you, Uncle Juk, Aunty L. But the thing is, despite our efforts to treat the humans well and send them back, our spies report that the Vatharians are massing an army to invade us.”
“Wait, what? By all the gods, why would they want to do that?” asked Juhka.
“Our theory is that the Kat'sheth have gained some influence over the human king, and are pushing to invade. The canines said they tracked and almost caught a Kat'sheth the night of the Equinox Party,” explained Wyndy.
“What in all the hells is a Kat'sheth?” asked Leyad.
“Cat-demons of unusual evil,” replied Wyndy.
“Why do cat-demons want to use humans to attack Pelsa?” asked Jukha.
“We aren't really sure. It may just be a general evil and greed thing.”
“Well, okay, but what do you want us to do?”
“My father is calling a meeting of the Council of Lords and the Council of The Elected on Moon-Day next week. As you are both members of the Council of Lords, he asked you to attend. That is the official reason for my visit,” said Wyndy.
“We will certainly attend,” said Jukha. “But is there also more to your visit?”
Wyndy nodded. “Yes. It is to tell you my father's plan, and ask your help and that you start preparing the creatures and manufactures of the Citadel. He will ask the councils to approve a general mobilization – calling up every creature in Pelsa who is able to fight or help with supplies. He wants that to be a vote, to see that the people are behind him. If the vote goes his way, then we will assemble the largest army Pelsa has ever seen and march to meet the invaders. And who knows, maybe they will then reconsider.”
“And if the vote doesn't go your way?”
“Then my father and I will lead an army of whoever will come with us to meet the invaders. We may still have a chance.”