"Ten soldiers on each side, including our bodyguards," James said as Elaine scribbled on a piece of parchment. Next to the bard sat Helen and Dahlia, their gazes on her as she wrote down the terms for the parley.

"Ten soldiers is too little," Dahlia muttered.

"Honestly, I think it's too much," James said. "I don't want to intimidate Ivan."

"Negotiations are all intimidation," Helen growled. "I doubt Yorn acquired his status and rule with peace talks alone."

"So let's send at least two ship's worth of men," Dahlia said.

Helen shook her head. "Now that's too much, even for me. Fifteen good men should do the trick. If we were to add orcs, then I suggest a lower number."

Dahlia frowned. "That's still too low. No disrespect, but I doubt fifteen of our own soldiers will be able to hold off an ambush."

"You're underestimating our own forces and overestimating Ivan's strength," Helen said. "Last I heard, most of the prisoners who once served Ivan have told us the Jarl's forces are nothing more than peasant folk and 'reformed' bandits. They're not skilled, and their gear is liminal."

"Still, who knows what Ivan's been up to these past months?" Dahlia asked. "We should come in with an overwhelming force, take Horuk's orcs with us and their ships."

"We can't overdo it," James argued. "We want an alliance, remember? Not a good look if I just bully him into it."

"As much as I hate to agree," Helen started. "James has a point. From what he's told us, Ivan is desperate. Desperate means skittish. If he even gets a whiff that we're going to break the rules of our own parley and meet him with an overwhelming force, then he's going to fuck off permanently. Next thing we know, we're waging a clan war on the southern islands. And believe me, island warfare is ugly."

"We also can't allow too many soldiers to come with both sides," James pointed out. "If something does go wrong, we don't want a small war happening in whatever town we agree to meet at."

"That brings me to another question," Helen pointed out. "Where are you planning to meet Jarl Ivan?"

James paused for a second to think. He hadn't really thought about it. If anything, he had assumed the parley would be held at some neutral town in the south, but now he wasn't so sure. His politicking with the other clans and towns had shown him that nearly every island in Valenfrost was claimed by one clan or another. There were some exceptions, such as Yorktown before his involvement and Farhorn—which lay near the Abyssal Sea.

Regardless of those exceptions, territory was an important thing and at a premium. The settlements closest to Yorktown were the towns of Hinesworth in the far west and Runarstead in the northwest. Both of which had once been under the control of Yorn Halvorson before he had died and left them without support. They were now Olafson territory.

James' own territory stretched from Yorktown to Aldren, to Vindis, and a few outposts that were stationed on some uninhabited isles. He had been in talks last month with the mayor of Farhorn about his interest in taking the small town into his clan, but that didn't seem too promising. Farhorn was barely anything substantial. It was more of a small village rather than a town, and its island was more of a small isle of gravel and dirt. Its placement was also too far away to be of any use.

In short, while James had made quite an impact on Valenfrost clan politics, his own territory and standing was less than impressive. It also meant there was little to no place for him to set up a meeting with Jarl Ivan.

"Well, I was thinking we could meet on one of his islands," James suggested.

"Well, don't," Helen answered with a frustrated growl. "You need neutral ground. Vindis is probably a good place, but I doubt the clans will let you use it."

James nodded in agreement at that. The clans that still had some stake in the floating city were certainly not going to be fond of allowing someone like Ivan to even step foot on the docks. It was a well-known fact that nearly all the clans in the south disliked the Falk Clan.

'More than dislike. They call him an enemy. I wonder why?' James thought about the possibilities. He decided to save that train of thought for another time.

"Alright, so alternatives," Dahlia started. "How about we find an uninhabited isle, like the one Horuk used before we took his clan in?"

"Finding a decently sized isle that's not near any other clan territory is like finding a virgin in the midst of Vindis," Helen commented. "It'll take more time than it's worth."

"What about neutral waters?" James asked, an idea popping up in his head. He wondered if Valenfrost had something similar to international waters like on Earth. "An area in the sea that's not owned by any clan."

Helen stopped at that. She leaned back in her chair, a thoughtful look on her face as she rubbed her chin.

"That's not a terrible idea, actually."

"Just like the time when Yorn Halvorson talked a truce out with the Lumen Kingdom's Commander during the Outsider Wars, when they met in the waters outside of Svendgard," Elaine mumbled in reflection, her pen tapping the parchment. "The bards say that it was such a tense meeting, each side containing an armada's worth of reinforcements. At the end of it, however, Commander Hammond had emerged praising Yorn and declaring his respect for him."

Everyone in the room turned to the bard, whose thoughtful murmurs echoed throughout the silent room. She turned to them with a shrug, her left hand brushing some black hair out of her face.

"It was one of the few times that a Lumen authority openly praised Valenfrost. Thought it was interesting to think about."

"Well, I doubt this meeting will be as important or tense," Helen said. "As for neutral waters, well, there are a few stretches of ocean I can think of."

"A meeting on the waters can limit the amount of forces each side brings," James said. "It could be a good thing."

"Or it could be worse," Dahlia murmured. "Ivan could just bring an armada with him, and we'll be caught off guard."

"Not unless we bring Frostbite," James pointed out. "Gate runes, remember? If it turns ugly, we'll be out before we know it. We don't even have to bring Falrick, not when we have Malik. I'm sure he could activate them."

"Still–"

"It'll be fine," Helen said with a sigh. "Ivan is a low-ranking Jarl. While he controls a good portion of the southern islands, his territory is littered with abandoned towns and outposts. His men are stretched thin, and his authority is quite laughable."

The veteran pointed over at James. "James has nothing going for him. His territory extends to one successful fishing town and a half-baked island covered in ash. No offense. However, his strength and standing in the south are far more than what Jarl Ivan could achieve. When you look at it from another point of view, Ivan has no other choice than to ally himself with James, especially since no other clan will even think about meeting with him."

Helen allowed a moment of silence to wash over the room. Everyone had their sights on the parchment, where the parley agreements were half scribbled.

"That is our leverage," Helen continued. "Our status is our strength. Ivan wouldn't dare try anything. Not if he valued his own life. He knows full well what James can do."

Dahlia was silent for a moment, her arms crossing as she stared at the parchment. "So, who's going to accompany the meeting?"

"That's easy," James said. "Malik, Helen, and Haggard. Our heavy hitters, so to speak. I know Falrick's going to be busy the entire time with Aldren's vault."

Helen shook her head. "I'm not going, neither is Haggard. I raided Ivan's territories during my time with the marauders. Not taking the chance of any of his men recognizing me. Haggard, I can't trust that idiot to keep things civil."

James raised an eyebrow. "Then who do you recommend?"

"Silas and a squad of his orcs," Helen raised a finger as she spoke. "Squads six and seven, led by Greene and Farin." Another two fingers.

"Not Rowan?" Dahlia asked. "She controls our best squad, no?"

"Kate led one of the squads during the Battle for Yorktown," Helen pointed out. "She had lost people to Ivan's soldiers. I'd rather not have her around for the talks. The same goes for Jonas Harris and Dirk Andal."

"I see why you chose Silas, but I think Horuk might be better for this," James suddenly said.

Helen shook her head. "No way. Silas is the diplomat, not Horuk.”

"That's exactly why," James said. "Silas is the only one who could manage both New Aldren and the orc tribe here on the island. Taking him away from here would be detrimental, even for a short while. Besides, Horuk would be better off just being around as intimidation. He doesn't even have to step off the ship."

"What happened to not intimidating them?" Helen asked.

"Nothing wrong with a little show of power," James said with a shrug. "Horuk and his orcs should be more than enough anyway. Add that and the two raven squads you picked out, and we're clear."

Helen let out a breath of frustration but nodded regardless. "Fine. So it's settled. You will be accompanied by a squad of orcs led by Horuk, two Raven squads led by Thorkel Greene and Benard Farin, and Malik Ymir."

"I'm coming too," Dahlia interjected.

"No, you're not," James immediately responded. "You're technically second in command. Meaning you're watching over the clan while I'm gone."

Dahlia gave a frustrated sigh. "Yes, but—"

"But nothing," Helen interrupted. "You're second to secede after James if something happens to him. Unless, of course, you want to heft that responsibility to Seamus or the council."

Dahlia stopped at that and gave a defeated sigh before she leaned back in her chair. "Fine."

James couldn't help but feel bad about the way he had responded to her. He knew Dahlia had just wanted to accompany him to keep him safe despite the armed escort he was bringing with him. He couldn't blame her for wanting to be careful. Hell, he would've been more than open to bringing her along for the meeting. She was better at this, he was sure of it. It also would've been more comforting to have her at his side.

Yet James knew that he couldn't risk the worst. There was a reason why he didn't want to bring Silas or Falrick. If there was even a small chance of this going wrong, James didn't want his close friends to be the first to fall. Or any of his important allies getting seriously hurt. He wanted to prepare for the worst, for even the slightest chance of failure.

'There will be more time to talk to her about this later,' Faust whispered in his thoughts. 'Let us focus on finishing this for now. Time is of the importance.'

James silently agreed with that before he turned his attention back to Elaine, who was scribbling down the terms Helen was laying out for parley.

The rest of the day would be spent writing out the rest of the conditions they had agreed on.

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

----------------------------------------

When James went back home with Dahlia that night, the Shaman had little to talk with him about. She had resigned herself to the cot, not much of a conversation leaving her as James got ready for bed. Dahlia was clearly frustrated with the decision to leave her out of the parley, and she refused to talk more about it.

James had decided to leave her alone then and instead focused on trying to get some sleep. The day was short and night time had come early. He would have to make the most out of the week, in sending the messenger to Ivan and awaiting a response.

James wasn't sure the exact length of time it would take for his messenger to reach the Hawk Clan, but he hoped it would be a quick venture. For the time being, he could probably go back to focusing his attention on the needs of his clan and the possible expansion he could make in the south.

That was for another time, however. For now, James just wanted to sleep soundly in his warm cot, his thoughts no longer clouded with the worries of his people and the responsibilities of his standing as Jarl.

Unfortunately, James did not simply drift off to a dreamless sleep. Instead, he was met with the sight of an endless plane of water, the dark, wispy mist curling and caressing his body.

At first, he had thought he was in the mindscape, the same place he and Faust often met. Yet that possibility quickly subsided when the mist parted, and he was met with the glow of a monumental structure.

It was a colossal tree, its branches reaching for miles and miles. It was stupidly tall, the peak of its canopy extending so high up that James could swear it was touching the stars. The tree's trunk, despite being miles away, was so wide that it dwarfed any stadium from Earth.

It was such a memorable sight that James knew exactly what he was looking at.

'The Tree of Fate, why am I here?'

James noted the way his thoughts were still kept to himself, indicating that this was no normal trip to the mindscape. This was something else.

James couldn't stop himself from taking a step toward the tree, his body moving on its own. Just when his foot made contact with the water, the world turned into a blur. The tree moved instantly, its lumbering form dashing towards him at frightening speed.

"N-No… I'm moving towards it!" James thought aloud as he was rushed toward the magical monument. His body lurched like it was being dragged through water, his body compressing underneath the pressure. Before he knew it, he was at the tree's base.

James stumbled as he arrived, his legs nearly giving out as he tried to correct himself. As he finally got his footing under control, someone spoke.

"My, what an entrance."

James froze at the sound of Iendis' voice. He slowly turned to the source, his eyes settling on the demi-goddess he had met months back. She was still restricted to the tree, her body wrapped in white bandages and golden chains. He could see hints of clothing underneath the white gauze, but it was hard to tell what she was wearing. The upper half of her face was wrapped in white, blinding her eyes but allowing her raven-black hair to flow freely to her shoulders.

Iendis leaned against her chains, her grin growing as James met her gaze—or where he guessed her gaze was.

"Why am I here?" was all he could manage to say.

"Well, I've summoned you of course" Iendis started, her soft voice almost caressing against his ears. James had to resist a shudder. His supposed 'attraction' towards her was artificial. Not real. She was pushing on his emotions, like some invasive entity that cared little for his real feelings.

"You don't think of me like that, do you?" Iendis asked, her lips forming an exaggerated pout. She drifted over to James, the chains on her body slowly growing taut as she floated. "While I can't read your mind, I can still feel your emotions in this place."

"You're manipulative and frankly crazy," James muttered. "You're also the reason I was summoned here."

"Is that such a bad thing?" Iendis asked, her grin returning. She positioned herself above James, but the laws of gravity were apparently not a thing in this plane of existence. Her hands reached out to James, who ignored their grasp. "If it weren't for you, Vindis would be at the bottom of the Black Sea. That or controlled by Deimos of the marauders."

"First of all, fuck you. Second, Vindis wouldn't be in any danger if I had never come here," James argued. "Me being here has caused more than enough chaos, even if it all worked out."

"What a beautiful coincidence, is it not?" Iendis asked with a giggle. "You live the life of a hero, save the city, and begin a search for power! All while my father's influence is pushed across Azura."

"Life of a hero?" James asked, barely holding back his anger. "People died. I almost died! And now we have a kingdom breathing down the neck of this entire nation whilst I deal with clan politics and orcs. Not to mention the abominations from last year!"

Iendis shrugged. "Cost for such a life of excitement, I suppose. I mean, were you really happy back in that shared apartment on Earth? I suppose if I were to ask your old self, he'd be happier to take the chance of going to another world instead of wasting away at that dead-end job."

James ground his teeth in frustration. "Stop messing with me. Tell me the real reason I'm here."

"Not the type to waste time, are you?" Iendis asked with a frown. She gently floated down, her bare feet touching the water just slightly, almost like she was walking on its surface. The demi-goddess was a tall being, her form towering over James by a few feet. The young Jarl could have sworn she had been shorter the last time he had conversed with her.

'Then again, Thien can change and mold his form. Who's to say Iendis can't do the same?'

"I am here to propose a quest to you," Iendis said, her hand brushing some of her locks back. She had a wide grin on her lips, the visage reminding James of the Sigil of Chaos. That cartoon-like grin and beady eyes. He wondered if that was what Myr looked like in reality. It could probably explain why his children resemble the Chaos drawings, even if only slightly.

"A quest?" James asked, clearly confused about what the demi-goddess had proposed. This was a first for him. He initially worried that this would be a holy mission of sorts, like the ones cultists enforced out of the need to please their Gods. That worry was soon quelled when he took into what she had said.

'She's proposing a quest to me. Doesn't mean that I'll be forced to take it.'

"What're you proposing?" James asked, a little more prepared. Iendis only smiled at him, her fingers playing with a tassel of one of her loose bandages.

"Your quest is to kill Jarl Ivan Falk of the Hawk clan," Iendis said simply. "Do that, and I shall grant you a reward of great power."

James nearly stumbled out of surprise. He stared at the deity, watching as her expression stayed the same. Even with bandages covering her eyes, James could swear he could feel her pupils focused on his face. He had tried to hide the shock in his expression but failed. And now the Demi-Goddess was reveling in the reaction.

"Kill Ivan?" James asked slowly. He hoped this was a trick or dark joke of some kind. Instead, he saw a cold resolve in the way Iendis chuckled. She was serious.

"Why of course," Iendis said, her head cocking to the side as she looked down at him. "He was your enemy, no? He attacked your people and allied himself with Gryff. Killing him seems to align with your interests."

"You're joking," James said, his eyebrow twitching in frustration. He had to use all his will not to scream at the deity. "I'm going to meet with the man soon for negotiations."

"My, what a serendipitous moment!" Iendis said with feigned surprise. "Killing him shouldn't take much effort then?"

"Why do you want me to kill him?" James asked. He felt as if he knew the answer to that question. Regardless, he felt his stomach lurch at the thought.

"Isn't it simple?" Iendis expressed mocked confusion. She leaned down, face level with James' own. "You can figure it out, no?"

'Chaos,' James instantly thought. That was the only answer he could come up with. Iendis simply wanted chaos. That was all she and her accursed brother ever wanted.

'Killing him wouldn't do anything, would it? Helen had told me that his men had little faith, and his soldiers were mostly hired bandits and mercenaries.'

James wasn't sure if that was true or not. Iendis always had an agenda. Her ordering James to just kill the Jarl seemed simple enough, as simple as assassinations go. Yet if nothing really came from it—outside of James acquiring the southern territories—why would she send him on a quest for it?

There was something more to this. He knew it.

'If I kill him, a war will happen,' James figured. 'Maybe Helen was wrong, or things have changed in the past year. Ivan's forces have probably grown in either strength or loyalty. Either way, if I kill him…'

Someone would take over and retaliate.

A conflict in the south. A small war that spanned across islands. James had heard the stories of the Outsider Wars. He had heard of the brutal tactics and months long sieges that happened throughout the years, all of it draining resources and manpower. Even during the twilight years of the war—when the barbarians had retreated—islands were still fought over in the south, the conflict extending for years.

Even if it were small, James would cause chaos in the south. Something that Myr would wholeheartedly approve of.

"Please," Iendis said. "Think about it. The reward I offer will be important in the coming years. For when the Graveyard returns."

"Graveyard?" James questioned. He looked at the Demi-Goddess, who was already starting to float back to the tree.

"You don't know, do you?" Iendis asked with a giggle. "Ah, there is so much more you don't understand, my dear Draugr."

"Stop with the cryptic shit!" James yelled. He had enough of this. "Tell me! Why do you want me to kill Ivan? What's the Graveyard?!"

Iendis paused at his outburst, her expression turning to that of… worry?

"My dear James," she whispered. "There is a way of doing things. A holy law, you might call it."

James blinked. That sounded familiar. "Holy law?"

"Deities such as myself are limited in the ways we can interact with mortals such as yourself," Iendis explained in a soft tone. "Vague quests, heroic prophecies, and, of course, cryptic dreams."

James recalled the strange dreams he had back during his initial months in Valenfrost. He had already figured out that Iendis had used those to communicate with him and lead him to her island of followers.

'She used Thien to peer into my mind. He eats dreams, remember? Changing them up was easy for him.'

Something, some law of sorts, was keeping the deity from truly speaking directly with him. At least when it came to saying important things.

'I remember now. The Holy Law of Interference. Where have I heard that before?'

"The Graveyard is something that will become relevant in due time," Iendis continued. "As for Jarl Ivan, well…"

James could catch the hint of a smile forming on her lips. That was more than enough to confirm that this quest was nothing more than a way for him to cause more chaos.

'But what if that reward is something vital?'

Iendis did help James, even if that help came at a cost. If the reward she provided was something substantial, then perhaps…

'No! I can't lower myself to that level! Not when I know the outcome of what will happen.'

James wanted to avoid starting another war. Especially if it meant preventing chaos from taking hold in the south. He was going to go against Myr and his ideals. Even if the Mad God and his children had helped him, they were nothing more than beings that had no care for the lives lost in their games.

James refused to participate in such things.

"I'm going to leave now," James said coldly. He turned around, his back to the Tree of Fate. He didn't even take a step before a shadow appeared in front of him. It stood tall, taller than even Iendis. James stared at the anomaly before realizing that the mound of darkness was, in fact, a figure cloaked in black robes. His hood fluttered as it opened to reveal a wax-like face whose beard was like that of sharp bristles.

There was a grin on Thien's face, the boatman's eyes twinkling in the shadows of his hood. James couldn't speak at all, his voice dying in his throat as the deity began lowering himself. Not into a crouch, no. Thien instead jerked down, like he was tugged down by an invisible force. Before he knew it, the demi-god was face to face with James, his grin full of white blocky teeth. Like the symbol of Myr itself.

"Not polite to leave without saying goodbye," Thien said with a hoarse voice. "Quite rude, in fact."

"You guys summoned me here to try and coerce me into playing your games," James responded cooly. In reality, he had to force himself not to react to the sudden appearance of Thien. The boatman, despite being friendly, had a sense of danger emanating from him, like a predator waiting for the moment to pounce on vulnerable prey.

'He preys on the dreams of sleeping children, eating whatever hopes and joys he finds and replacing them with nightmares.'

James internally shuddered at that thought. He'd rather not think of the consequences of angering Thien while still stuck in his own dream.

"That's not entirely true," Iendis said. "I am also here to give a warning, my Jarl."

"Warning?" James asked. He turned to the demi-goddess, watching as she brought out a small pinkish blossom. One plucked from the tree itself.

"A fate?" James muttered, his heart pounding in his chest. He had seen and experienced the blossoms before, back when he had come to the Tree of Fate. There were no happy memories associated with them.

"One that bodes a future that comes soon," Iendis warned as she floated closer.

"Aren't I supposed to give something in return?" James asked, his eyes still on the blossom. "A payment to the tree?"

"You've paid before," Iendis said. "Paid more than enough times. Now, take the blossom. It shall give you insight."

"I just want to get out of this," James muttered, his breathing growing heavy and his heart rate quickening. He put a hand to his chest as he stepped back from the blossom. He still remembered the death and destruction he had witnessed the first time. He did not wish to see more of it.

"There is no price to this knowledge. No quest, no black fates," Iendis whispered. She floated closer, her fingers extending the blossom to James. "Take the warning and do what you will with the knowledge. You don't even have to accept my quest."

James did not know what to do. He couldn't back out, not with Thien looming behind him. Not with Iendis confronting him. No, James did know what to do. The problem was that he had no other choice.

He touched the blossom.