“We are here, Khan Kubla. Why have you called this council?”
Kubla gazed across the table at the large Tigra, who seemed unperturbed by the scrutiny. As always.
“My security forces have spotted large groups of lizard men making their way here from the swamps. You were also seen meeting with some lizard men. I want your assurances that you have not invited yet another people to be a drain upon the city. There is no Accords with the Ra’shan for you to invoke.”
Xhere nodded, leaning back slightly to steeple his paws on the table. “You may be assured.”
Kubla waited a moment, but the Tigra said nothing more. “Then why are the lizards here?”
“Had you but waited for our normal council meeting tomorrow, you would have learned this without all this extra effort.” Xhere leaned forward slightly. “The Ra’shan have left their swamps. Most have headed east into a mountain cavern they believe goes all the way through. These few that remain will fight with us when the Empire attacks.”
Kubla’s eyes narrowed. “So you’ve taken over security for the city, have you?”
“Not at all. Details were to be discussed with you at the council meeting, as is appropriate.”
“Why did they go to you instead of me?”
“Because I am familiar to the Ra’shan, having worked with them prior to The Sundering. I have already informed them of the arrangements here in the city and they are prepared to present themselves to you for consideration. Tomorrow.”
Kubla dug a claw into the padded arm of his chair. “We’re already here, so let’s get that done now.”
Xhere nodded and rose. “Very well. I’ll send for the Ra’shan.”
Once the Tigra was gone from the room, Kubla turned his gaze to the cloaked Panthra. She looked at him, those emerald eyes always judging him. That sneaky cowards may think she was so smart, but he would show her. He would show them both. This war with the humans was the perfect opportunity, one he needed to work out the last details with Sasha about.
If all went according to plan, the Lyonin would be the last clan of Majestix on this section of Ryode, the Empire would be weakened, and the Lyonin would have a worker race to help prepare to finish off the wounded beast.
Even this news with the Ra’shan could be turned to his advantage. A smile crossed his lips, drawing a slight frown from Shaka.
That just made his smile even brighter.
***
“How many soldiers have we assembled?”
Brightheart listened to the council discuss the logistics of war. Over ten thousand soldiers, dozens of berserkers, nearly a hundred mages, and the assorted monsters under Feron’s control, though who knew where he’d been hiding them.
It was an impressive testament to what humanity could do if united, even just this small part of it. Once the Majestix and the rebels were dealt with, energy could be focused on crossing the Silverspine Mountains to reach the rest of the people on this section of Ryode.
There was promising news on that front as well. One of the iron mines in the mountains had recently opened into a cavern that seemed to travel a great way through the mountain. While the cavern was being explored, the mine itself was being expanded and more tracks laid to accommodate moving troops and supplies.
Even if they found a cave all the way through, they were still years from having a useful path.
“The monster attacks have grown worrisome since we pulled all the soldiers together. There is even a report that an entire village was overrun.”
“All those things are easily remedied once this little rebellion has been crushed. There will always be more villages and people to fill them. Rebellion must be stamped out in such a way that the people remember it for generations.”
These councilors had no idea of the true purpose of the Empire. They couldn’t see beyond Ryode. Couldn’t see to the results beyond their lifetime. Couldn’t even conceive of a world united, nor of the ability to liberate and conquer other worlds.
The Mage Council knew. They understood. And they had welcomed Brightheart into their ranks. He glanced across the meeting room and caught Crighton’s gaze. The two shared a nod before returning to the meeting.
Things were moving towards a bright future. One he could feel in his heart. He reached up to rest a hand on his polished breastplate. A heart now powered by magic.
How appropriate, considering it was magic that was going to allow them to move these men, mages, and monsters faster than anyone dreamed possible.
Brightheart idly wondered which world their little dead dragon had been the God of and what he would think of their use of his gifts.
***
Hanna looked around at the tent that would be the home for her and Marcus until something more permanent could be arranged for the entire settlement. Knowing Marcus, he’d want to wait until they had a new Academy before settling down.
A fond smile adorned her lips as she thought about Marcus, who had been waylaid and dragged off to a council meeting. With Typhonus still out of communication, Marcus had been deemed the leader of the mage contingent. The bewildered look on his face as he’d been led away had been adorable.
There was a thump from under the carpet and a lump formed, wandering around. Hanna watched the lump for a few moments, stifling a giggle, before gently guiding the elemental to the edge of the carpet.
The head of a stone snake peeked out as Akara slithered free of the carpet. She seemed ot look around the tent before focusing on Hanna. There was more detail to the snake body than Hana remembered.
It seemed like their connection deepened with each significant event in her life. After the cave Hanna could feel Kara’s presence at all times, even when teleporting with Marcus. It was as if the elemental could be anywhere, instantly, without having to travel between the interspacing distance. That had some interesting implications that bore some thinking and research.
She was beginning to think like Marcus. Maybe he would gain some measure of her love for combat!
Refocusing on the present, Hanna smiled at Akara. “What do you think of my new place? Definitely easier to get into than the Academy.”
Akara bobbed her head, then turned to regard the cloth walls that were meant to provide privacy. Hanna grinned. “Yeah, I’m not too impressed with the walls either. What say you and I do something about it?”
There was a burst of agreement from the elemental, who then slithered along the underside of the wall, digging a shallow trench. While Akara did that, Hanna went to the edge of the carpet, letting her fingers dig into the soil of the plains that surrounded the Majestix city.
The bedrock here was buried deep. However, she wouldn’t need something quite as robust for what was essentially temporary housing. Besides, other than making a seat from the border wall, this was her first efforts at non-combat related earth manipulation.
Hanna’ instructors had focused on visualization when not using standard spells. She reached out to Akara and through the soil, sharing her vision and exerting her will. This was more about convincing the earth to do what she wanted rather than forcing it, for the earth wanted to remain as it was.
Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
There was a slight trembling in the ground. Sweat beaded on Hanna’s brow as she combined her will with Akara’s to guide the soil. Her brown eyes, the color of rich soil, took on a low glow.
Slowly, the soil seemed to flow out from beneath the carpet, over Hanna’s hands, and then into the trench dug by Akara. That soil then bunched up, building on itself and hiding the cloth walls from view.
Hanna lost all sense of time as she worked the wall all around the tent, leaving an opening for the doorway. At first the wall looked like it was just a pile of dirt, but eventually it smoothed itself out, compacting to the hardness of stone.
By the time she drew back her focus, Hanna was drenched in sweat, a pleased smile on her lips and a sense of satisfaction in the back of her mind from Akara. Pushing to her feet on shaky legs, she looked around their new abode. The walls were plain, but they were solid. No one was going to be able to cut their way into the home without being obvious about it.
Walking over to the area she’d left for the door, she rested a hand on the wall, silently thanking the earth for the help and the gift. Akara’s presence in her mind seemed to glow with contentment.
“Ah! My leg!”
Marcus must be home. Wonder what he would think of the changes?
Stepping through the doorway, she caught sight of Marcus trying to disentangle Akara from his leg. The snake seemed even more detailed, with discernable scales and an intricate hood. Chiding the elemental, Hanna managed to coax her down before she could fully trip the man.
Reaching out, she took his hand before he had his balance back, pulling him through the doorway. “Welcome home.” She threw her arms around him, pressing her cheek to his.
Marcus wrapped his arms around her waist, a slight hitch in his voice as he said, “I’m home.”
After giving him a kiss on the cheek, she leaned back to gaze into his eyes. “Don’t get used to me waiting at home for you. I intend to be at least as active as you, when we aren’t working together.”
Marcus smiled at her. “I wouldn’t dream of it. Besides, you’ve already exceeded what most elementalists have accomplished and I can’t wait to see what else you can do. Not to mention how much you’ve helped and inspired my own work. Now that I think about it, there are dozens of projects I think could use your input, like in the Academy guard and…”
***
“I don’t see why we can’t find our own place to settle.”
Dallon glanced at his wife as they followed the two men who had apparently been sent by their son to guide the household to a place set aside for them. While he was in partial agreement with Annamarie, he was also curious to see what Palcon had arranged.
Alaina linked arms with Annamarie. “I for one am looking forward to finally meeting your son. I’ve heard so much about him but never had the chance while he was home. And I think it’s nice that he’s taken the initiative to prepare a place for his family and household.”
Annamarie scowled, though she didn’t separate. “You don’t get a vote. I’m still mad at you.”
Dallon heard coughing behind them that sounded suspiciously like laughter. He knew better and kept his laughter to himself. He also kept himself out of that particular conversation. While he felt Annamarie was taking things a bit far, their interactions were quite amusing.
“Let us reserve judgment until we have spoken with Palcon and both heard his reasoning and seen his accommodations.”
Annamarie pouted, then nodded. “Fine.”
It was only a few more minutes before they were led to an area along the edge of the tent city. ALong the way Dallon noticed several patrols moving through the area, all of which appeared well armed and attentive. A few times he recognized men from the guard, who nodded greeting as they passed.
When they reached a roped-off area, Dallon caught sight of Palcon standing amidst a group of non-humans. They weren’t a race he was familiar with, appearing to be a sheep derivative. As they got closer, he noticed more of the sheep people setting up tents and roping off other areas.
Palcon finally seemed to notice them and broke off his conversation. Before he could get out a word, he was intercepted by his mother, who engulfed him in a hug, one that was returned with equal emotion.
Dallon gave the two a moment before joining, wrapping his arms around both.
Palcon was the first to break the silence, though not the embrace. “It’s good to see you. I was worried about what was happening in the city.”
Annamarie tsked. “Typhonus’s warning gave us plenty of time to get out, along with the household. You were the one in combat. I haven’t been able to cross blades with anyone, not even a monster.”
“Ignore your mother. She’s still upset her friend keeps killing everyone first.”
There was some muttering from Annamarie, but the only intelligible word was selfish.
Hiding a smile, Dallon separated himself from the group. As he stepped back, he noticed one of the sheep people standing nearby, clasping an ornately carved staff. She seemed to be watching his son.
“Palcon. Would you introduce us to your companion?”
Palcon released his mother and stepped back to wave a hand at his companion. “Mother, Father, this is Evalyn, one of the people rescued from Feron’s compound. Evalyn, these are Dallon and Annamarie, my parents.”
Dallon and Annamarie bowed and Evalyn returned the gesture, though her expression never seemed to change, a careful neutral. He examined the girl. With his unfamiliarity with the race it was impossible to put an age to her. “What are your people called?”
Those strange eyes regarded him with a level gaze. “We have recently been called Woolens by Palcon.”
Dallon turned his attention back to his son, who at least had the good grace to blush. “I needed a name for them if I was to interact with them on such an extensive basis. They hadn’t chosen a name for themselves yet. This is only until they choose one of their own.”
Dallon nodded. That settled that, though he noticed an amused look on his wife’s face. Something to enquire about later. “Care to tell us why we were directed here, rather than securing lodging for ourselves?”
Palcon gave a slight smile. “I was recently given responsibility for the Woolens. It occurred to me that I could help them become more independent while also helping the family. We could help them get settled in textiles as well as train some as fighters or archers.”
Annamarie clapped in excitement. “New students! I’ll make twin blade style the dominant one here in the south yet!”
Dallon directed a fond smile at his wife. “We’ll still need defensive warriors, love. Sword and shield is still important.” Ignoring her pout, he turned back to Palcon.
“Son, let’s go work out the details of combining our households.”
The blush returned, brighter this time. “They’re not my household, Father. Just my responsibility.”
“There is no difference, my son. This you will learn.”
They all made their way into the roped off area, which was quite a bit larger than the estate back in Terrace. As they neared a tent situated in the middle of the area, Dallon leaned over to whisper to Palcon, “You mother has brought a friend, too. She’s… interesting.”