Ajax and Farsan appeared in a remarkably identical room to the one they had recently departed, save for the glyphs on the floor and the attendant. Fernberry was absent, and in his place stood an orange skinned Tiefling woman. “Please state your name and place of residence.” She said, holding up a ring laden hand and stepping in front of the exit.
“Ajax Goodfellow Barnes III out of Nars.”
“Farsan Bartino Elshenar IV from Thulm.”
Her eyes went glassy for a moment, then came back. “Proceed.” She stepped out of their way and back to a chair and escritoire to the left of the door.
The antechamber held a Gold Dragonborn guard sitting at the desk, and a Halfling woman wearing a uniform with the same small orange starburst tucked into the corner as Shadowdreamer had been wearing. “Gentleman, I’m Chief Wifiradottir. I’ve got a carriage waiting outside with Minister Desheir who is going to be taking you to the palace. If you’ll come with me.” She turned on her heels and went out the door, and they fell into step behind her.
“Do you know who is coordinating the evacuation fleet for Wellunda, Chief?” Ajax asked, trying to keep up with the small woman.
“Commodore Rilaz, but Crown Princess Angoha is trying to convince her father to allow her to lead.” Chief Wifiradottir said over her shoulder. She had led them up a flight of stairs and into less utilitarian spaces of the embassy. Despite the early hour the place was bustling. They rounded a corner and came to the main atrium, and Ajax saw through the windows that the sun was just beginning to rise.
“Farsan, are there any insights you can give me about your aunt and grandfather that would not be apparent from public sources?” Ajax said.
“I still don’t know what the bloody hell is going on Ajax.” Farsan said with a bit of heat. “You were going to give me an explanation, weren’t you?”
“Apologies. I’ve had a lot vying for my attention.” Ajax said. Farsan gave him a strange look at that. “I assume you’ll get the bulk of it shortly. Either from Minister Desheir, your family, or their advisors.”
They had come to the main doors of the embassy and a pair of flanking guards opened them as the group approached. A carriage draped in the teal primary color of Wellunda sat waiting, a matching liveried attendant standing beside it. “That’s your ride.” Chief Wifiradottir turned and faced the two of them. “I wish you success, Emissary.” She hesitated, then continued. “I have some distant family in Raxiredow, third cousins. They’ve got young kids. I’m hoping they are heading to Duskwater Anchorage as fast as they can.”
“I will ask Chernoff to look after their safety, Chief, and hope that Shuulak speeds their feet.” Ajax touched the symbol under his shirt and bowed his head.
“Thank you. It means a lot” Chief Wifiradottir said, trying through sheer willpower to stop the water that came to her eyes from falling.
They turned away from her and began walking towards the carriage when Farsan whispered. “Which is Shuulak again?”
Ajax sighed. “Travels, Farsan. The Vos’arane patron. You may not pay much heed to the gods, but they are always there.” Ajax said as much as he dared, remembering Chernoff’s warning.
“We have small shrines to Oriart, Lontoh, and Purgu around the vineyards, but other than remembering them long enough to appease my tutors, I could never keep all sixteen straight.” Farsan admitted.
“Seventeen.” Ajax corrected. “Everyone always forgets Vangog. Luck. They have no patron race.” They reached the carriage and the attendant opened the door for them. Ajax was only mildly disappointed that it did not have an expansive interior. They were quite uncommon outside the Empire.
A Human woman with greying temples was reading through a stack of papers when Ajax and Farsan entered, and she set them down when they had seated. “It is good to finally meet you, Emissary. The Empress doesn’t often send you to our shores. You seem to get the more difficult jobs, if our records are accurate.”
“I didn’t realize I was such a celebrity. That is the second time, just today, I’d been given a similar greeting.” Ajax said. He felt the carriage lurch as it pulled away from the embassy. “May I presume you are Minister Desheir?”
“Enroma Desheir, Minister of the Interior to his Highness Farsan Bartino Elshenar II. Grandfather to your companion there.” Minister Desheir turned. “Hello Farsan. How much have you been told yet?”
“Vanishingly little.” He glared at Ajax and crossed his arms. “I’ve heard mention of an evacuation fleet and talk of Raxiredow and Duskwater Anchorage, but that’s about it. Can someone please tell me what the hell is going on?” Farsan asked.
“The Tenkan Autarchy has invaded the Phyldraste Republic.” Ajax said plainly. “The Republic has asked for assistance from the Kingdom and the Empire in evacuating civilians.” Ajax said, then directed his focus back towards Minister Desheir. “The unstated assumption is that Phyldraste expects to lose. Is that an accurate assessment, Minister?”
“That is our reading of the situation, yes. The Autarch has spent the last century since consolidation expanding his borders. Phyldraste was aware of this, of course, but thought they had more time to prepare.” Minister Desheir said. “Zimeyre will have a better bead on the military aspects. I’m trying to find places to put refugees.” She gestured to the papers she had been reading.
“Can’t we help them fight?” Farsan asked earnestly.
“The Kingdom is not keen on sending our soldiers to fight, and die, on foreign soil when we are not directly threatened, and I’m sure the Empire feels similarly.” MInister Desheir looked at Ajax for confirmation.
“I am not technically a part of Her government, but She prefers diplomacy.” Ajax qualified. “With the Talan Badlands separating them, it’s hard to justify sending military aid to the Republic.”
“So we’re just going to sit there and watch the tentacle heads sweep over Phyldraste? What happens if in thirty years they attack us? Will Nars sit back and watch? Again?” Farsan directed his ire at Ajax.
“Makarett and Nars have a much closer alliance, Farsan.” Ajax assured. “I’m certain the Empress would send every sword at Her disposal if Wellunda called for aid. She does not have a similar relationship with Phyldraste.”
“Someone is going to have to stand up to the Tenkans eventually.” Farsan insisted. “A haunted wasteland isn’t going to stop them.”
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“A haunted wasteland is a woefully incomplete description of the Talan Badlands.” Ajax said. “A desolate stretch of chaotically warped wilderness the size of this entire island. Scouts out of Kruuth constantly report the most disturbing creatures wandering out of the badlands, changed and deformed from common stock.” Ajax was laying it on thick. He felt the need to ground Farsan more firmly in the realities of the world. Gone was the time for youthful naiveté. If what Chernoff said was true, and Ajax had no doubt that it was, Farsan had to gain a great deal of maturity, fast. “The only known protection against the anomalies is Argonite, and it would take a mountain of it to safeguard an army to pass through unscathed.”
“Then they’ll come by ship.” Farsan sulked.
“And then the Sithra will also charge them in Argonite.” Minister Desheir butted in. “It doesn’t come up often, but warships can only pay their tariffs for crossing the open ocean in Argonite. So the Autarch will pay in Argonite or in lost soldiers no matter the path he takes, were he to attack the Kingdom or the Empire.” She pulled a curtain back and looked out the window to check their progress. “We are much better prepared than Phyldraste was, young Elshenar. Your grandfather and great grandfather have been watching the Tenkans for a long time.”
“As has the Empress.” Ajax added. “Trust your elders, Farsan. They’ve been at this awhile.” Farsan gave a sour look, but said nothing more.
They had reached a tunnel leading under the rear of the palace by the time the carriage came to a halt. The attendant opened the door and the three occupants exited, finding themselves in a stone walled passage with torches burning, Wellundan guards everywhere. “Follow me.” Minister Desheir said to Ajax and Farsan. “The King has set up a command center in the west conference room. He and his advisors are there.”
She led them quickly up and through the palace, passing more and more guards the further they went. A few attempted to stop or slow down the group, but Minister Desheir’s glare withered them in their boots and they let them pass. Even if the specifics hadn’t spread, the lower echelons knew something was up.
They turned a corner and saw at the end of the hallway a closed ornate looking door that had two Sithra guarding it instead of the mostly Human guards they had been passing. The willowy crustaceans stood a head taller than even Ajax and crossed spears blocking the door as the group approached. “Hold for identity confirmation.” The one on the right said. A pattern on the floor began glowing. “Minister Desheir. Ajax, the Grey Emissary. Farsan IV. All on the approved list. Proceed.” The glowing faded and they uncrossed their spears. Minister Desheir stepped forward and opened the doors and the group entered the command center.
A half dozen people were inside, sitting or standing around the room. A large conference table littered with papers dominated the floor space. Ajax had to tear his eyes away from the magnificent floor to ceiling windows facing the harbor to observe the occupants. A lean old man with a subdued crown adoring his head spoke first. “Good of you all to join us. You made stupendous time from Noaaki.” He grinned. “Introductions are in order for our guest. Everyone, if you weren’t aware of this man before, this is Ajax the Grey Emissary. The Empress has tasked him to coordinate the evacuation fleets of the Empire and our Kingdom.” King Farsan said. “Emissary, this man to my right is the Minister of Defense. Adelei Zimeyre.” He pointed to a dark haired Human man to his right. “The Minister of Transportation. Zohnos.” A Sithra to his left. “My daughter, Crown Princess Angoha Penelopa Elshenar.” A greying redhead standing by the windows. “Commodore Maphila Rilaz, Commander of the Fleet.” A blond Human woman in military dress. “And last but not least, Lieutenant Inga Orvoga. Our liaison to the Blue Company of the Ka’Zanto Combine.” A brown and buff striped Vos’arane.
Ajax nodded to each one in kind as the introductions went around. “I am pleased to meet all of you, though I wish it were in less perilous times.” Ajax sat down in an offered seat, and Minister Desheir sat next to him. Farsan looked out of place for a moment until his aunt beckoned him over and they both sat against the wall, speaking in low voices to each other. “I have a sack full of sending scrolls and the ear of Captain Amberscale who is preparing the Empire’s fleet in Dinnzhe.” Ajax continued. “Can you get me up to speed on the Kingdom’s preparations so I know what to relay to her?”
King Farsan looked to Minister Zohnos and the Sithra spoke up. “Every vessel between Port Warrow and Makarett capable of transporting passengers is being prepped to launch within the next six to twelve hours.” She said. Ajax tried to listen as hard as he could whenever a Sithra spoke, but he was always unable to discern any difference between the red shelled women, auditory or otherwise. “Travel time to Duskwater Anchorage is eight days from Port Warrow, ten from Makarett. Return time will add a day, we’re going to be loading at triple capacity so they’ll be moving slow.” She referenced some documents on the table in front of her before continuing. “There are only a few passenger vessels anchored at the harbor in Here, and the travel time coming from so far south makes them unable to be used for this endeavor.”
Minister Zimeyre spoke up. “Current estimates put the Tenkans reaching Duskwater Anchorage in two weeks, sixteen days. Ships from Here wouldn’t make it in time.”
“Thank you for the context Adelei.” Minister Zohnos said. “As we’re only going to get one shot at this, we’re also attempting to outfit fishing vessels to be able to take on passengers as fast as possible. Those preparations are being drawn up as we speak, and as soon as the first wave is loaded with supplies and sent off that work will begin. We anticipate an additional thirty percent capacity from those modifications, and they should be departing within thirty-six hours.”
“We are also securing the services of the Combine, in conjunction with Chancellor Melk’s office, to coordinate the loading of ships in Duskwater Anchorage.” King Farsan added. Ajax knew of the Ka’Zanto Combine, a splinter Tenkan faction and mercenary group, now attracting and incorporating other races into their mix. None of their Companies were based within the Empire, and their leaders were among the only Tenkans most other races wanted anything to do with. “The Blue Company is currently stationed there and are asking to relocate to Port Warrow at the conclusion of this campaign. We have found this to be a mutually beneficial arrangement.” He paused, then Angoha cleared her throat. “Ah, yes. Against my better judgement, my daughter is going to be coordinating with the Combine on the logistics. She’ll be leaving on one of the first ships this morning.”
“I will not allow a single innocent to be left in harm's way.” Angoha said with steel in her voice. “These people will soon be our subjects. It is important to show them that we take that responsibility seriously.”
“The Blue Company is also providing a rear guard action for this campaign.” Lieutenant Orvoga said with only the faintest of clicks evident from her mother tongue. “We have scouts out along the road to Raxiredow to determine the speed of the Tenkan advance and will attempt to slow that pace if it becomes necessary.” Ajax had no doubt the Combine could engage quite well in those sort of guerilla tactics.
“This is a lot of information. Thank you for it.” Ajax said as he turned and looked at each individual in the room in turn. “If you’ll give me a few moments, I’ll do my best to summarize and consolidate to Send to Captain Amberscale. As well as relay her preparations.” He reached down and set his satchel of scrolls on the conference table. He reached for one and read the words in a quiet voice as he felt the magic seep from the paper into his fingers, up his arms, and into his chest with each passing word.
Captain, the Kingdom is sending ships from Port Warrow and Makarett within twelve hours. Estimate eight and ten day journeys, respectively. What are your preparations?
Emissary, fast frigates are leaving Dinnzhe inside the hour. Estimate seven days to Duskwater Anchorage. IGB Seventeen onboard to coordinate the embarkation of civilians.
The scroll disintegrated to a fine ash as the spell resolved. The ash lingered for a moment before itself evaporating. He grabbed another.
Blue Company of Ka’Zanto Combine already on location doing similar. Have the guard battalion defer to them and Crown Princess Angoha for logistics on embarkation.
Understood. Remaining ships leaving Dinnzhe before sunset. Eleven day travel time. Bixi also preparing ships, leaving by this time tomorrow. Fourteen day travel time.
Be advised, Kingdom believes Tenkans will be descending on Duskwater Anchorage in sixteen days. Blue Company watching the advance and ready to delay if necessary.
Copy. Please compile a list of persons able to cast Sending in proximity to Angoha and Blue Company leadership. Will cross reference against our own.
Good idea. I will have that list for you soon. Any other pertinent info you need transmitted to the Kingdom at this point?
Thank them for their sway on the red ladies of the sea. Tariffs were waved for this endeavor. Wenn’s blessings to you, Emissary.
And Chernoff’s to you, Ajax thought, but he did not spend another scroll.