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One of “those” nobles
This border post was busy, just like the last; the queue for Customs stretched nearly three miles. When a patrol spotted the gilded crest on the carriage door, a small group of knights trotted up. The knight captain asked a few questions before waving them through without delay or inspection.
They were offered an escort of four knights, but the man inside declined politely. As the carriage rolled past, the captain glanced through the open window and recoiled. Inside, the man in his fifties lounged with two very young-looking women at either side.
The younger one had her dress hiked up, his hand resting on her thigh; the other perched on the edge of the seat, making room for his hand to possessively grasp her behind. The girls laughed softly at his touches, leaning into him, their smiles bright as if this were all they had ever wanted.
The utterly inappropriate sight made the captain’s stomach turn. He frowned, but before he could grunt his disgust, his eyes caught the muscular swordswoman in her fifties, sitting across from them, arms crossed, watching the three without a hint of disapproval. She glared at him, daring him to comment. It’s another one of those nobles, he thought.
Unwelcomed guests
It was a picture-perfect day, the sky a deep blue, lightly speckled with fluffy clouds. Summer was in full swing, and the small delegation made sure to enjoy it after the long ride from the snowy country they hailed from, stopping off in every little town for sightseeing and shopping.
In contrast, the ministers had been in crisis mode ever since the rider came from the border post to warn that a high-ranked delegation was heading to the palace. Preparations were made to skip the usual political chess games and receive the diplomat immediately upon arrival. No king would want a foreign dignitary of his power and his personal guard lingering inside their borders any longer than necessary.
But as the minister of spies gathered information on the convoy, the reports were concerning. There was no luggage train. No small army of soldiers leading the way. No string of spies that they would have to spend the next decade routing out. Only a single carriage, carrying one diplomat and three aides.
What could be confirmed was a swordswoman, fifty; a magician, twenty, maybe twenty-three; and a secretary, sixteen at the oldest. The carriage was said to be stopping at every town along the way, the four spending the night at inns together in a single room. It was not long before the ministers were debating whether those heading toward the capital were truly a royal envoy or charlatans looking to peddle snake oil.
Reports read that man had been meeting with royals across the world, creating pacts. There was no way they could disrespect an envoy of his power, but they could certainly not risk working with a fake. They needed time to investigate further.
Keeping up appearances
After three weeks in this country, the carriage slowly rolled down the city highway toward the royal palace. Flanked by manicured lawns and bushes clipped into elegant knight-shaped topiaries that boasted of the country's wealth and power.
The delegation was greeted by a procession of maids and butlers in a foyer of excessive opulence and splendor.
The diplomats thanked the minister for his time when he announced that the king would graciously make time for them in a week or so.
The minister watched the delegation take their leave with long professional bows; perfect, well-practiced bows. He noted that the implied insult of not having an exact date did not seem to bother them. They would happily stay in the town until the monarch sent word that they would be granted an audience.
Any excuses for a holiday
The group booked into a modest inn, one hardly befitting a diplomat from another nation. They spent their time visiting tourist sites, dining out, and simply enjoying the warm climate. They did not even canvas for information that might aid their petition with the king, all the while being watched closely to determine whether they could be trusted. Their characters were under constant scrutiny.
The spies returned no information that might hint at their objectives, telling their masters only that the man was lecherous. He would flirt with his staff, openly groping his swordswoman guard. Or sniff the young secretary’s hair, his whispers leaving her blushing. And he’d disappear into a random shop with the elf woman, only to reappear later with her ears pink and dress disheveled.
Once the spies decided there was nothing left to learn about him, the ministers concluded he was no man to be admired, and the Dragon god faction was not to be feared.
Eventually, no longer able to stall, they called for the representative.
A puppeteer
The delegation stood in the middle of the grand hall. At the far end, on a raised throne too large for him, sat the young king; barely thirteen, and recently crowned, trying very hard to look older than he was. Flanked by ministers and a council of advisors, he put on airs convincingly enough for the common folk. But his nerves were obvious to the veteran team of delegates.
They walked forward and took their practiced formation:
a pyramid. The Dragon god's representative at the front.
And in a row behind him, the elf at his left was holding an ornate box;
The swordswoman at his right, arms crossed, feet shoulder-width apart.
And the tiny blue-haired secretary behind him, struggling with two armfuls of scrolls each nearly taller than she was.
A minister stepped forward, short and pudgy, hair combed to hide obvious signs of balding. And spoke with more authority than a man in the king’s presence should.
A simple offer
The representative began to explain the Dragon gods' offer. He stated that the Dragon god had foreseen the return of the Demon god Laplace, and in preparation for the evil being's resurrection, had begun to unite the kingdoms that were nearly whipped from the world nearly 500 years ago.
“The Dragon god understands that a pending doom, still fifty years away, holds little sway over the hearts of the shortest-lived races of this world. Thus, he has opted to build the infrastructure that would allow men, in the future, to stand as one against the coming threat. So to those who accept the membership of the anti-Laplace faction, we offer these helpful items.”
“First!”
The elf stepped forward, presenting the ornate box, lifting the lid to reveal a levitating crystal carved into the shape of an arrow. ”This beacon, once activated by a mage, will cause every one of its counterparts to glow and align themselves to point towards it. If Laplace and his armies should threaten your lands, then every member of the faction will mobilize to counter the threat.”
“Second!”
The secretary nervously walked forward to place the scrolls next to the box. “These are blueprints to unique teleportation circles; with these, your mages can create a secure personal network of teleportation sites within your borders to use as you see fit. And upon request, we can install a larger one at our own expense to connect to one inside any of the other member nations of the faction, with their consent, of course. “
“Third!"
"Though civil wars are your own concern, the Dragon god and his vassals vow to mediate on your behalf in any matter that involves another nation that would risk the long-term safety of your nation.”
“We only ask that your nation prosper as a member, and when the time comes, half a century from now, your people stand with us in the field.”
When the representative finished, the portly minister began his rant.
“You think us fools? You speak of prophecies set to come decades after we pass from this world. Well, even if it were true, why would men need such bribes to be convinced to fight the being that once tried to remove men from the memory of the world?”
With a politically neutral smile, the representative replied, “The prospering of all members of the anti-Laplace faction can only benefit us in the fight against him when he returns.”
The Minister scoffed: “You, a man who leisurely winds his way across the country, bring such a dire warning and simply offer us a dozen treasures each worth a king's ransom and expect us to believe you have no nefarious intent. Your actions within our borders are not unknown to us; if you were not a representative of the Dragon god himself, we would have had you thrown from our steps.”
The representative bowed respectfully: “I am glad to hear that you are so eager to see to the issue at hand with such haste. But there are fifty years yet before his return. I unfortunately won’t be around when the time comes, so my companions and I are content to enjoy these days of peace before I pass.”
The minister frowned at the man, who so easily ignored being chastised.
The representative looked past the portly minister and toward the young man on the throne. “ Although I won’t be around when the banners are called, I hope to see you on the field from the land beyond.”
“Well, these matters need proper discussion; my companions and I will remain in the city until you have come to a final decision. I hope that we can work together in the future. Please, with your leave, we shall depart for today.”
The boy nervously nodded.
The party left the throne room.
The beautiful elf stayed behind, and once the representative was gone, she took on a serious aura.
Every guard and knight instantly took on a battle stance. The court magician felt a wave of nausea as the pressure of the mana she released hit him. He meant to raise his staff in opposition, but failed to move when he felt her gaze on him. Without even turning to look at him, she simply continued to address the minister who dismissed the envoy.
She began to speak. With a crystal clear voice that seemed to everyone in the room that it was speaking directly to them:
“The man you so greatly misjudge is the 7th of the Seven Great Powers. His first wife is a king-class silent-caster mage.”
The sunlight coming through the windows dimmed.
“His second wife is a king-class mage and vice principal of the Ranoa Magic University.”
A low rumble of thunder rolled in the distance.
“His third wife is sword emperor Mad Dog Eris.”
The clouds grew thicker and darkness swallowed the hall as daylight failed entirely. The servants moved in a panic to light the candelabras.
“Among those who have the honor to be called ‘good friend’ are Alex Ryback, the North god, Pope of Millis Cliff Grimoire, 3rd prince of Shirone Zanoba.”
The outside world vanished beneath the hammering roar of rain.
“Those that have sworn to rush to his aid are Demon king Atofe, Empress Kishirika Kishirisu, Queen Arial Asura, Death god Randolph, Sword god Jino Britts, Water god Isolde, former North god Alexander, and North emperor Doga.”
The nobles and ministers watched frozen in silence as she smiled politely, as if she were merely reading from a menu.
“The man who commands half the strength of the world offers you bread, salt, and a place by his hearth.”
A warning of flood came in the form of alarm bells echoing from the barracks just outside the castle.
“I hope we can enjoy long and prosperous lives together.”When her final words fell silent, so too did the sounds of the storm.
Light spilled back through the windows, and the court realized as one that they could breathe again.
The enchanting elf bowed in the most polite political way and walked out of the throne room.
Another happy customer
The next morning, a carriage bearing the Dragon god emblem rolled through the city street. The old swordswoman who was usually content to just sit with her arms crossed and watch the man across from her. Now had her sword arm resting on her jigging knee. While her other hand moved in surprisingly motherly strokes, rubbing the little blue head napping against her muscled side.
The little secretary was never good with mornings.
Because of that, the beautiful young elf and the old man had the opposite seat to themselves.
So she leaned her head on his shoulder, smiling like a giddy schoolgirl.
He folded a letter, sliding it into his breast pocket before breaking the silence.
“They came back with a favorable reply far quicker than I thought. Now that I think about it, it’s been getting easier to recruit new members lately.”
The young elf smiled, “ I guess they are finally starting to see your charm.”