Chapter 56: Diplomacy 2

Elania studied the imposing southern gate into Hels. Steel bars stretched up to an obsidian black arch. The tunnel was deep enough that the center was lit by torches, and she noted multiple cuts in the stone that were likely precursors to murder holes.

From what she could tell, the defensive tunnel was well-built. She hadn’t been able to tour the entire city perimeter in the air, but she suspected that every entry point to the city was similarly protected.

Eladu wasn’t a safe place to live, and despite the villages and towns she had seen around Contia, it felt like the cities she had seen so far were first and foremost bastions of defense.

Her gaze slipped back to Rynor. She needed to pick his brain and try and gather whatever information she could; it was obvious just how poorly she’d been armed for her mission.

“So, any major issues or problems Hels is facing lately?” she asked.

Rynor frowned. “Why do you ask?”

Well, maybe her question had been way too casual for an “envoy” or whatever. But she really didn’t want to try and learn how to improv how she thought a diplomatic corps member was supposed to act. Pretending to be an actor in a spy thriller seemed like a bad idea.

Elania ended up shrugging. “Honestly, I don’t know much about what’s happening here. Neither do the Towers, I think. Figured I’d try to get up to speed on current events.”

Rynor glanced at her. “Other than the Monevoians making threats and the Bterreans screaming about an invasion from the east, Hels has been relatively quiet. If you’re a demi-divine, but not a Tower… Uhh… I don’t think anyone here knows much about what is happening in Contia, either.”

Elania nodded, doing her best to suppress a frown. Didn’t airships fly between the cities for trade? Shouldn’t there be a little more awareness than this?

“What about Lightbringers?” she asked.

He shook his head. “Not aware of anything on that front, but I don’t really keep track of such things.”

“Thanks.” Elania paused, considering her next question. “How would you describe Hels’ and Contia’s relations?”

Rynor blinked, surprise flickering across his face. “Isn’t that something you… uh. Sorry. I haven’t really thought much about them, to be honest. Just another city-state to the south. Not a threat like the Monevoians, so no exciting news.”

It was easy to curse Arlois for being so misleading. Some allies they were, not even keeping lines of communication open! Elania sighed.

“Maybe it’s just because the Towers are immortal,” she said. “They forgot to send a messenger for a while.”

Rynor shot her a look. “For a decade?”

Elania frowned. “The guard mentioned that.”

“That was Eira Lyrion. She’s the Commander of the Hels Guard, the Obsidians. I doubt she is wrong about that,” Rynor said.

Elania bit her lip. “Does the Commander of the Obsidian Guard come to meet every visitor at the gates?”

“I don’t imagine so, but for a demi-divine? One wanting inside the city? I can’t imagine she wouldn’t.” Rynor frowned and looked at her gear again. “Is that a firearm? I’ve heard of them, but it looks small.”

Elania nodded. “It’s a new design. My oracle created it.”

“I suppose it’s artificed. Maybe Lady Lysander would be interested in learning about it,” Rynor mused.

Elania raised an eyebrow.

“Oh. Sorry. Huh, you need a rundown on the important people, don’t you? Lady Aria Lysander is the Chief Engineer of Hels Forge. The forge is the institute that mandates and organizes the city’s defenses and artifice,” Rynor said.

“Guess my work’s going to be difficult,” Elania muttered. “Arlois just sent me here without preparing me at all.”

“Good luck with that.” Rynor’s tone held a hint of amusement.

An awkward silence settled between them. Elania’s gaze drifted to the city beyond the gate, her mind churning. “Does Hels use a lot of artifice in the defenses?”

Rynor frowned, his expression becoming guarded. “Can’t reveal any secrets, I’m afraid.”

Elania fixed him with a stare. “Contia literally flies in the sky because of artifice. I know little about Hels, but I’d like to learn more.”

Rynor’s posture relaxed slightly. “We have artificed utilities and services: night lamps, heating, that sort of thing. The defenses… they’re a mix of anything and everything that might stop an invasion.”

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

Elania leaned forward, her interest piqued. “Such as?”

Rynor shook his head. “I’m much too sober to be revealing that sort of thing, trust me.”

The wicket gate creaked as it opened again. The Obsidian—Eira—emerged and headed straight for them, her purple-black helmet focused on Rynor.

“Why are you still out here?” she asked. “What if we had to open fire on her? Huh? You want me to feel guilty for killing your ass, Rynor?”

He laughed weakly, and Elania put her hand on his shoulder. “I could have protected both of us from the blast,” she said. “Unless you were aiming to remodel half your city.”

Eira turned her gaze to Elania and was silent for a moment. When she finally spoke, it was with a firm voice.

“Councilor Isara Dayne confirmed the validity of the seal and content of your missive. However, until and unless High Chancellor Valaran confirms your mission here, you are not recognized as an envoy,” she explained. “That said, Councilor Dayne has requested your presence at the Hels Diplomatic Corps to go over… things. My guard and I will be escorting you to see her. You will not be permitted to travel without an escort in the city or without my approval. Do you understand?”

Elania nodded. “I suspected something like that, yes. Thank you.”

There. That was absolutely diplomatic, wasn’t it? And she hadn’t even let a single iota of annoyance seep into her reply. She was getting the hang of this.

Eira seemed surprised at the easy answer for a second before continuing. “Very well. Rynor, you are coming in as well. Unless you want to be locked out.”

“The gates will be closed?” Rynor asked with a frown.

“For the rest of the evening and night, yes,” Eira replied.

Elania and Rynor followed through the wicket gate. As soon as they were through the small steel door, Eira barked a series of orders at the gate captain, who quickly assembled an escort to accompany them.

They proceeded through the tunnel, and Elania confirmed there were a series of murder holes above. No one would get through the gate without fighting through multiple hellish chokepoints while things fell on their heads.

When they reached the other side, Rynor turned to Elania with a smile. “If you wish to visit the Arcane Academy later, you’re more than welcome.”

“Thank you, Rynor. I will consider it if I have time,” Elania replied politely. She wasn’t sure she’d have cause to visit such a place, but who knows?

He parted ways, and she fell into a quiet stride beside Eira. The escort moved into place around them, their vigilant gazes turned inward and never straying far from her. They didn’t appear that strong or much different from the Neftasu Guard.

Elania glanced over at Eira. She was probably the only dangerous one, and from what she could tell, she was probably about as strong as a Lightbringer paladin. However, judging her obsidian armor was hard. Maybe it was more sturdy than the polished silver of the Lightbringers?

[System Analysis] was really lacking in the “how strong is this person or thing” department, and she hated it.

As they moved through the streets, the atmosphere felt different from what she had seen in Neftasu or even Contia. People were laughing and cheering while eating and drinking in the streets. Kids ran around happily.

There wasn’t any evidence of poverty or fear of invasion… although she knew from Neftasu that such things could be easily hidden.

The architecture differed from Contia’s, with more angular designs and darker hues. Everything seemed to be painted black or purple. The roofs looked like slate of some sort instead of the metal sheets of Contia or the pure stone of Neftasu.

The buildings also tended to loom over the streets. Angled arches sometimes jutted out into them sharply two or three stories up. It cast a series of shadows across the ground below.

The further they dove into the city, the more often citizens stopped and stared. Elania smiled politely, trying to appear non-threatening despite the armed escort surrounding her.

Eira was silent.

Elania wanted to talk, but it felt like the woman had slammed a wall between them.

The scent of spices and smoke filled the air as the street widened into an avenue. A large plaza greeted them, with a towering building in its center. It looked official and was apparently their destination as the escort aimed straight for the guarded double doors.

A woman in a silver and gold robe was waiting for them inside. “Welcome, Envoy Elania. I am Isara Dayne, Diplomatic Councilor of Hels.”

Elania nodded and offered a smile. “Thank you for the welcome, councilor. I apologize for the abrupt arrival, but I was dispatched with some urgency.”

Isara smiled. “I can imagine. I am sorry for the welcome, but we truly weren’t expecting anyone of your… stature to visit us. We did not know that a new Tower had risen in Contia.”

Elania smiled weakly. “I’m not exactly a Tower. Arlois has taken me under her wing, and I’ve gotten to know Ember and Elysia a bit, but I only arrived in Contia recently.”

The smile on Isara’s face slipped slightly, but the woman nodded. “I think we will need plenty of time to discuss things. I have already sent the Towers’ missive to High Chancellor Valaran, but I do not know when, or if, he will respond.”

Elania frowned. “Surely he will have some response? I was not expected to remain here for more than a few days before returning to Contia with a reply.”

Isara smiled at her apologetically. “The High Chancellor has ruled and protected the city for a thousand Eira gestured to two of the men who had been part of the escort, then stared at Elania and interjected into the conversation. “You will be watched at all times. At no point may you leave this building without gaining permission from the Guard or the High Chancellor. Do you under—”

Isara bristled and, for a second, seemed like she was going to stomp in her dress. “Eira! You are being vulgar. Please show—”

Eira held up her gauntleted hand and silenced the councilor. “Isara, you have your job, and I have mine. Lady Elania is a serious threat to the safety of the city, and we can’t know whether she is legitimate or not.”

“I’m legitimate. Also, I’m right here,” Elania muttered.

Eira looked at her. “Good, then there will be no—”

“Enough! Out! If Envoy Elania needs to go somewhere, I will summon you!” Isara shouted.

Eira straightened. “Very well.”

Elania watched the commander turn on one foot and march out with the rest of the guards. The two designated watchers remained at a respectable distance.

“I’m sorry about that,” Isara said as she turned toward Elania. “Would you like to see your guest room now, or would you like to go get some refreshments?”

Elania considered. It would be nice to unload her pack, but it felt like that wasn’t really needed. She wouldn’t leave any of her belongings out of sight, anyway.

“I’d love to have a drink and talk some more, councilor,” Elania replied.

Isara smiled. “Please, call me Isara while we are in private. There’s no need to be extremely formal while we talk.”

“Elania is fine for me too, then,” Elania replied.

That seemed to be the right thing to say because Isara’s face lit up like a Christmas tree.

Elania smiled back.

Now, she just needed to figure out what was real, what was a facade, and what the chances were that Hels would actually be able to help Contia.