Well, the answer for Leafy got personal, as Petal came next week with two guards again. The second Gazebo is half finished, so it should be a nice place for the Guards, albeit they look grumpier, than the previous two.
“As spokesperson for the crater, I welcome you all into Lords Domain.
“I thank you, spokesperson. We came to negotiate about the Mana rich water you called ‘Mana dew’. Although direct appliance seems to be toxic, using it diluted can be…” ahem
What a rude guard, is he the ambassador or her? I find their presence rather suspicious.
“It has it’s uses, and would like to ask for a small trade between us to deepen the friendship between us.”
“This might be possible. Negotiations should be made with Lord at our side.”
With this, they finally walk to the Mansion. At least I have an early warning about the Guards, as those might not been selected by the Queen. I hate politics…
…
“Welcome to my Domain. I hope the travel was not too stressful.”
“We thank you for your hospitality Lord. My name is Shimmering Petal and represent the Forest. These two ladies with me are my guards, assigned to me by my high mother to protect me, please take no offense in them being here.”
Rather clever her answer. The notion of them being from her Elder is saying much. They are not here to protect her, but to oversee. Saying, I shall not take offense means they are here to create offense in any way they can. If we fall out it would be best for the elder maybe. But there might be better ways to use that information.
“There is a gazebo made out of living plants nearby, I suspect it would be better to talk over there, as cold rock might not be to your liking. Leaf, might you please brew tea for our guests and us to relax while we discuss?”
“Yes Lord.”
Moving to the gazebo Snow came from the sewers to see what the ruckus is. She likes the dark and maze like tunnels and sometimes I prank her with changing the layout, she always searches everything anew, so it became a game between us.
The Guards got ready to draw their leafs, while I hold my hand up to stop them.
“Snow is a member of my Family. Please take no offense on her inquisitive nature.”
The guards relax, but one uses it to sow discord.
“Even the monsters are Freaks in here.”
If she did not want to hear me that, she would have used elven Root, so the attempt was obvious. Has no one explained to her I can speak Root? Well she is way too clumsy.
“Snow no Freak. Snow is Snow.”
{It speaks?!}
I not even need to answer, as Snow retaliated splendidly for herself. I hold in a small laugh by the yelp the guard did. I sign her to come over and scratch her behind her ears, as she is still too adorable for her own good.
Going to the Gazebo we sit on the shaped roots while we wait for Leafy to come back. Yeah, your neck will be massaged too Snow. No worries.
While keeping attention on snow with Ava I watch their expressions and behaviors with Miasma. It is still disorienting to see double, but not that vomit inducing anymore, luckily.
Their mimic shows, they guard against me and watch Petal with scrutiny. Nothing I can do right now, but it helps knowing what is happening right now.
As Leafy came with the tea, Petal took one cup with a thank you, but the Guards ignore her as if she were air. Nothing lost, as Leafy did one less, as she did not foresee Snow coming back right now. She mimics me with paw under the cup and one paw on the side.
“As we have our refreshments now, we should start discussing the feasibility of trading commerce with each other.”
“Yes, the water has some worth for us Roots, so we would like to ask a steady stream of it for our use, for exchange we would part with some of our own items. You seem to be interested in our sap and dew, might I ask, what you are thinking of using it for?”
“There are some aspects, I want to try to explore with it. On the other ten… hand we could have some use for it right now.”
Bending down, one of the Guards whisper in Petals ear.
{we can not just give it away without knowing how it got used.}
“The same could be said about our Mana dew, as you did not explain its use to us, no?”
Slight shock and anger on the face is a nice picture on that guards face. Maybe she just tries to remember if she spoke common by accident. Her head might also be just decoration.
“The true worth should be discussed between our ambassadors, so how about we leave them alone to discuss the worth between the traded goods. What do you want to do Snow?”
“Snow wanna play! Puzzle with Snow on it!”
“We will not leave our sister unguarded.”
That is not the right answer Guard Number two.
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“I assure you, the place is secure and no one will harm your ambassador. It would be detrimental for both of our sides if that happens, so there is no worry.”
“Still, we stay by her side.”
“Is that so… Well then I should stay, so you do nothing untoward my own voice.”
They are pissed, but can not say anything. It is their same reasoning. Let the games begin.
…
“It is not feasible for trade our water for such a low amount, the creation needs months…”
Snow has stayed, but right now is napping with her head on Avas lap.
“That might be so, but the water is not too useful to argue for such a high sap and dew count…”
I watch the Guards, unblinking by the way, while using miasma to moisten them once or twice.
“It should not be such a great strain on the whole harvest…”
In fact I cut the nerves already from the eyes. They are blind and just staring by not moving. Looking with Miasma is easier. They sweat and are strongly pressured. Well I use my Presence on them. Only slightly, but increasing it very, very slowly.
“Without proper explanation for what our products are used for, it will be hard to appease the eldest Mothers for the proper amount…”
How long are we talking? Dunno, when they came it was Morning, now it is getting dark. As they refused to sit, they stand with strong determination, but with that much pressure, they start to crumble.
…
“Ambassador Petal, we need to go back to the Forest, it is already dark.”
“Oh, that is no problem, we have for this eventuality these gazebos for your own convenience. This one would be a nice place for the guards, as I have to apologize for the inconvenience to ask to rest with my voice in her own gazebo, as hers is the most elaborate and should be comfortable enough for an ambassador.”
Still being nice I tell them my opinion. Restarting my eyes a phantom picture has burned itself into them. Need a bit restructuring to get their faces out of my peripheral.
“Well I thank you for your hospitali…”
“No, we need to go back.”
Wow, how rude are those guards? The last ones slept in the dirt and were happy, as the tree sisters were just talking the night about some gossip.
“My canopy might not be the Forest, but I can assure…”
“Shut up, potted plant!”
Someone snapped. It was nice for them to snap first. This gives me ammunition.
“For Guards to think of them higher than my voice, it seems I have to learn more about how the etiquette of the Roots work.”
“We are her Guards and know better than you folks outside of the Forest what is best for her!”
They really are not thinking straight, the pressure, dehydration and strain on their body seems to have influenced them way more than anticipated. Nice!
“You are overstepping your Authority, Soldier. The Ambassador sits there, and you order her like a child.”
“I do not mind…”
“Shut up! We are under the Orders of the Elder Mother, she is going back!”
Not even hearing out her own thinking. As scared she looks, she definitely wanted to say she would want to go home.
“If you say so, Elder Mother. Might I knew your name?”
“… we’re leaving.”
Rather rough the Soldier took Petal and left the gazebo. Her partner has her hand on the leaf blade pommel and looks at me with daggers in her eyes. Well, the cards are rather chaotic, but I should have a good enough hand to take the opposition down a peg.
Getting out of the gazebo, I raise my voice on the leaving party.
“Ambassador! We will travel to the Root city in tree days. Inform your Queen of it, as there are things to discuss directly.”
“You are not welcome!”
“Shut up Soldier! You are not above the Queen! She herself gave permission to travel in the Forest which includes the City!”
“You bas…!”
Did I mention I train my Presence on the alien in the middle of the crater? Yeah, it is stronger and sharper than ever. Not that I want to take over, but the intent to CRUSH has some nice effects too.
“Three days. I need an explanation on why two guards can stride around, insult my voice and deny our proclamations of our Alliance right in my face. I hope for a sufficient reasoning for sending obviously untrained Guards to a meeting between supposed friends.”
Taking away my Presence they start breathing again… and fell to their knees sweating bullets. Did you only NOW notice you are in the territory fifty of you did not scratch? Who informed these guys? Have they even been informed about what is going on?
…
“Lord, what are you thinking? I thought you wanted to help my friend, but this…”
“I am helping her. Obviously someone is messing with the orders of the Queen. By officially complaining it will be hard for anyone to do that again.”
“But this is the opposite of what I was trying to do.”
“You wanted to stop us from fighting, but that is only one reason. The true reason was, you wanted me to not start eradicating the Root or the Forest with collateral attacks.”
“Yes, that is true. If we fight…”
“It is OK. I do not want to kill any Root. As long as you are here, I can assure you that. The Elders of your clan want to take away the autonomy of your Friend and at the same time break off your friendship. I will not let that happen. They will not take your tree sister and turn her against you.”
“Again with… But this is a detriment for our Alliance!”
“Quite the opposite. If I just sit there and let them insult you with a smile on my face, they will get only more brazen. As Root you should know, cutting the problem by the weed does nothing. You have to burn the root of the problem to stop it.”
“But… isn’t that a bit too reckless? What do you gain Lord?”
“Huh, gain? Isn’t it obvious, that with this the Elders have a way lower chance to mess with Petal, so she can be more free to write and visit you? That was the goal, was it not?”
“…”
“Well for now, we should be readying us ourself for the meeting in three days. You should prepare for a few days, as I create an Amulet for you to wear as sign you are with me.”
“Wait, I go too?”
“Obviously? We do that for you two, so you should be there too.”
“Snow will too!”
“Sorry Snow, I need you here, as if I leave with Leafy, who will guard the grasswalker? Imagine someone stealing all of those, you would have no snack anymore.”
The glutton likes the cooked insects too much to evade that trick.
“No, Snow guard walker!”
“Thanks Snow.”
“L-Leafy?”
“Ah sorry, my Nickname I have for you in my head. I shall call you Leaf again. Sorry.”
“No, it is nothing Lord. You can call me Leafy or anyhow you want.”
Still rather submissive like always. I hate seeing her bow her head to every whim of me, but she wants to stop a disaster to happen to the root.
Well right now I need to modify much to be ready for a sudden intrusion into the City.