Elise walked the halls of Dageth's branch school in Deepmere. She’d been attending classes for the past half a year. The knowledge she’d received was immense. Over five new spells had been added to her repertoire. First she mastered Iron Body. A massive improvement over her iron skin spell. She already began working on the next layer of the spell to improve it to Steel Body. She upgraded her Minor Haste spell to Haste which was the most difficult of her new spells to master. Beyond improving those two spells she also gain Forcebolt, Chain Lightening, and Minor Barrier. All useful spells. If she could master more layers of the spells they’d become even stronger.
She'd just finished for the day and was enjoying some tea at home when the knock came. Bellos, who was dusting a nearby shelf, sat his feather duster down before walking out into the hall.
“Good Afternoon. How may I assist you?” Bellos said. Elise couldn’t hear the reply but she did hear Bellos’s response.
“I shall deliver the message.” The door closed. The tromping of Bellos’s hooves told her of the kin’s approach.
“Young Madam, the family has received an urgent letter.”
“What does it pertain too?” Elise asked sipping her tea. It was really good. Sweet but not overly so. She should get another.
“That was less clear. The messenger said it was regarding the master’s daughter.” He handed her the letter.
Elise frowned as she flipped the letter over. A generic wax seal was in place. Why would someone be sending an urgent letter regarding her? That made no sense. They could just contact her directly. She broke the seal. She began reading while taking another sip. She immediately sprayed out the contents in a wide arc.
“Madam?” Bellos asked.
She ignored him. “FATHER!!!” Elise bellowed.
“This has to be some type of joke,” Loric said shaken as he looked at the letter. Elise at his side was equally disturbed.
Father,
Although we have never met I’m aware of our blood relation and of your importance. I wish for you convey the contents of this letter to the deciding body of Deepmere. I have received news that the council intends to send a kin army to their deaths to battle the mists. I find this unacceptable. I have consulted with mages on the matter. It appears that the mists are problematic for mana wielders hence the need for kin soldiers. I have a counter proposal. I will go in their stead with full cooperation from the mages of Deepmere. If I succeed in the task that would have been set forth for the kin forces, then they are to be freed. If I fail or am unable to complete the task then nothing will change and you can send forth the kin. I am willing to meet with the council at your estate to discuss terms. I swear to uphold the peace as long as your side does likewise.
A lack of response or sending the kin forth will result in a direct escalation of my activities with far less regard for the lives of the mages involved. It is in everyone’s best interest that we put aside past grievances to come to a mutually beneficial arrangement. If the council agrees to meet at your estate then place a yellow flag in front of your door. I will have people watching.
Azure Magebane
Loric set the letter down. He read it over twice now.
“Father what do we do?” Elise asked.
Loric laughed. “I think we can only do one thing.” He stood up. The council was in session right now discussing the issue of impending attack on the mists.
“We deliver the letter,” Loric finished.
“Grandfather might not be please. He would want to know first,” Elise cautioned.
“To the mists what he thinks!” Loric seemed surprised at his own words then laughed. “Yes. To the mists with that man desires. This is what I want to do!” With that he stormed out of his study. Elise watched him go, then smiled. It was about damn time.
The doors flew open to the Deepmere council. Very few were allowed inside and it was only interrupted for important news. When Lord Tarwin looked up to see his son his first response was to snap at him. He really was nothing but a disappointment. He hesitated as his granddaughter trailed behind him. Unlike his son, she had potential. He began to stand when his son spoke.
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“You may all stay seated this won’t take long,” Loric said his voice strong.
“I’ve been tasked to deliver a missive to the council. Thus I’m here fulling that duty as a father.”
Father? Tarwin wondered looking at Elise confused.
“This message is directly from the Azure Magebane.” With that Loric began to read aloud as Tarwin gritted his teeth. He wanted nothing more than to snap up and seize the letter. Yet, he could do nothing as the council reacted in various ways as Loric finished. Some were intrigued. Others, elves mostly, were furious.
“We can in no way work with that murdering kin!” Kelfina shouted.
Calvore of Dageth leaned back in his seat. “I disagree. This would be a perfect opportunity to get to know our opponent.”
“You only saying that because you haven’t lost anyone in a year!” Kelfina snarled.
Calvore shrugged acknowledging the point. “True. However considering what we all knew about Ulvandia’s… habits, I’m not really concern.”
“The chance to learn about this new power is worth putting behind our current dispute,” Archmage Denayd said eagerly. “I urge my fellow councilors to accept.”
“I don’t care about this Magebane,” Lord Arthos said. “I rather have her out of the way. However, as long as the mists are repelled then I'm satisfied. If this Magebane can do it while sparing the kin then a positive working relationship would be beneficial.”
Lord Tarwin looked back and forth between the arguing councilors. He started to calculate what would benefit him the most. Perhaps a neutral response would be best. Then he looked at his son. His face was determined, focused, something he hadn’t seen for years. Next he looked to his granddaughter. She shared his expression. For once his calculations fell to the side. He didn’t bother to check to see which position would gain him the most. He just acted based on what his family wanted.
“I think we should accept,” Lord Tarwin said. “My son can meet with the Magebane to ensure that her intentions are true. After that we can have the rest of the council join us at our manse.”
“I won’t accept this!” Kelfina shouted.
“You don’t have too,” Grand Magus Arwin said. “We respect our elven allies. Your dispute is with the Magebane, not us. Don’t act while in the city and let the negotiations proceed peacefully. Beyond that, it’s none of our concern.”
Kelfina turned crimson before storming away.
“I think we’re in agreement Lord Tarwin. Can you inform us once everything has been prepared?” Archmage Denayd said brightly. “I personally would love to meet this Magebane as soon as you make contact.”
“We’ll be in touch shortly,” Tarwin said as the council dispersed.
“The cowardly sacks of regurgitated rabbit shit!” Kelfina screamed as she stomped down the street. Her guards frantically walked in a protective escort.
“Ambassador Kelfina! Please wait!” Lord Arthos said trotting up. The elven guards tensed but allowed him through.
“What!” Kelfina said. “You working with any more elf killers that I should be aware of?”
Lord Arthos looked around making sure no one was in ear shot before casting muffle zone around them. He then leaned forward whispering in her ear. At first she was annoyed at having being interrupted, but as she listened a wicked grin appeared on her face. Once Arthos was done he pulled away dismissing the spell.
“You could nearly be an elf,” Kelfina said with a chuckle.
Arthos smiled.
“Come,” Kelfina said. “Have tea with me. I would discuss this more in private.”
“The yellow flag is up,” Hamal told Azura just as she finished eating. Her stomach seemed it flip upside down. It had nothing to do with the food, which was rather delicious. This was it then. She'd halfway hoped they would refuse. That would’ve been the easiest solution. Azura sighed.
“Does your mom know?”
“I told her first. She is getting things ready. Also Gerald told me to come get you. He’s been working on something for you.”
“Oh a present!” Azura said cheerfully and dashed off leaving Hamal behind. She completely missed the way he rolled his eyes.
One minute later Azura was in the smithy. The room was more reinforced than the rest of the underground chamber. It was surrounded in stone and bricks with a chimney extending to the outside from the forge. A massive anvil sat in the center and around them were various weapons. Azura wasn’t sure what the point of the weapons were but Gerald was confident he could create marvelous weapons and armor when he gained his ki. He was planning on becoming a ki smith. She had no idea if that was possible but it sounded interesting. Perhaps if he attuned his ki to fire or metal…
“Hey Gerald, Hamal said you had a present for me!” Azura said cheerfully bouncing up and down.
Gerald finished his another swing of his hammer on what looked to be a shovel head. He doused it in water before setting it aside.
“Hi Azura. Yeah, it’s been a side project I’ve been working on for a while now.” Gerald bent down lifting up a wrapped package. Like a child on her fifth birthday Azura tore into the package with gusto. She made a substantial mess. Soon she held a glimmering set of scaled emerald clothes, or perhaps armor. It was light weight and flexible. On closer examination she recognized the scales. Dragon scales but they were lighter in color than she recalled. The item was more like a tunic that covered her chest and arms down the elbows. There was a hole for her tail and it ended at her knees.
“Ooh, I love it!” Azura squealed.
Gerald looked sadly at the mess she made. “You’re welcome…”
“Why is the color different? I thought it was a darker green.”
“This was made from the softer under scales the dragon had,” Gerald said.
“Huh?”
“Dragons have two sets of scales. A hard outer layer and a sturdy but flexible inner layer. The outer layer is harder to work with but I managed the inner scales.”
“Wait… how did you get my measurements?” Azura asked suspiciously.
“Your mom,” Gerald said with a shrug.
"Oh... Wait! How did she get them!?"
Gerald shrugged again. “So any news on the plan?”
“They accepted,” Azura said still pondering if her mother was measuring her while she slept.
“Hmm. I almost wish they hadn’t,” Gerald said mirroring her own thoughts. “I guess that means it’s our turn soon.”
“Yup. Be careful Gerald. When I get back I want to see you alive and well.”
“You have the most dangerous job. Watch out and don’t trust them.”
Azura laughed at that. Their entire plan was around not trusting the mages. Oh sure they won’t mind her attacking the mist for them. It was after that they’re planning for.
“Naturally,” Azura gave him a hug and went to get changed.