Warning: Mentions of prejudice/discrimination/persecution, mention of a deadly pandemic
Chapter 32: The Founding of the Alliance Part 7: At the Library Part 1
They turned to face the bookshelf. "Oh!" Evan exclaimed and moved forwards, pulling out one of the books. "Look at this," he said. "They have a book on Ding Dong Dell." In his hand was a book titled Ding Dong Dell: A Guide.
"Oh? What does it say?" Aranella asked.
Evan carefully flipped it open and began to read from what sounded like an overview of the kingdom's history. He read to the best of his ability, but occasionally stumbled over the more difficult words, where he would turn to Aranella for help. "A kingdom steeped in history and tradition. Ding Dong Dell is a kingdom situated in the northern part of the Summerlands. Grimalkin, mousekind, and humanfolk have coexisted there for centuries. It has the longest history of any of the world's nations, thanks in no small part to the unwavering protection of its Kingmaker, a majestic creature both plant and animal by the name of Oakenhart,Kingmaker of the Cradle of Creation."
"So Ding Dong Dell is the oldest kingdom?" Roland asked.
"The oldest one still standing at least," Aranella replied.
"The cats and mice of Ding Dong Dell have a long history of animosity," Evan continued. "This animosity is understood to have begun when both races set their sights upon the fertile grounds of the Memoria Moor and clashed over who would be the ones to settle it. This clash was eventually resolved when a grimalkin, King Tom Tildrum-oh!"Evan explaimed. "That's my ancestor!" He continued. "King Tom Tildrum I discovered that a King's Cradle lay in the mountains overlooking the moor and formed a bond with the Kingmaker within. But the conflict between both races did not end there. The early days of the kingdom saw the mousekind being driven underground, into the caverns beneath the nation which serve as the city's sewers." Evan stopped reading and looked to Aranella aghast. "Is that true?"
Her expression was one of reluctant confirmation. "That isn't how the grimalkin accounts tell it of course, but it is consistent with those of mousekind recollection. Either way, that mousekind once resided in the sewers, is, unfortunately, fact."
"Yikes," Tani muttered as the higgledies uttered. "Higgle…"
"Yeah…" Roland agreed.
"Gosh…" Evan mumbled. "They were permittedto returnto the surface on the condition that mousekind's royal family, the Dock clan, renounce their royal status and live among the people as common folk. This condition was met though reluctantly, and mousekind stepped out into the light of day for the first time in centuries; Though this was apparently not without persecution.
Following this emergence and integration with the grimalkin and humanfolk populace, the mousekind were not granted the same rights and freedoms as the other two races, though many claim this was in response to the many various uprisings instigated throughout the nation's history by mousekind rebels wishing to claim Ding Dong Dell for mousekind.
What is clear however is that the strife between mousekind and grimalkin has yet to come to an end even as of this writing, and is likely to continue for many generations more." He paused to turn the page. "Oh… goodness…"
"Higgle pig?" The higgledies asked, tilting their heads in unison.
"What is it?" Aranella asked.
"Recent turmoil. Ten years ago, Ding Dong Dell took a major step on the road towards peace between mousekind and grimalkin by the appointment of its first mousekind chancellor in the kingdom's long history, one Otto Frederick Mausinger. But any hope of that peace being realised was dashed when Lord Chancellor Mausinger, in the wake of the untimely demise of King Leonhard Theodore Tildrum, staged a coup with the intent to seize power away from King Leonhard's sole heir, Crown Prince Evan Pettiwhisker Tildrum.
By driving the young prince out of the kingdom, and forming a bond with Oakenhart thereby becoming King of Ding Dong Dell, not only has he finally and truly succeeded where all of his predecessors had failed, as a direct descendant of mousekind's royal family, the Dock clan, he has also consequently restored his family's royal status at the same time, and after all these centuries.
Whatever one's opinion of his actions may be, one cannot deny that from a historical point of view, this was quite the extraordinary accomplishment." Evan couldn't help but let his ears droop at those words. "However, despite this author's previous expression of admiration, it is difficult not to be concerned for the future of the kingdom under the reign of King Otto Mausinger I, as his first act as king was a promise to deliver retribution upon the grimalkin for all that they have wrought upon mousekind, and then locked down the nation so as to prevent anyone from escaping this fate. The mousekind may be revelling in this change, but dark times are undeniably ahead for the grimalkin and even humanfolk who call the place home."
"Goodness, they have all of that?" Aranella looked just as surprised as everyone else.
"Blimey," Tani muttered.
"When was this written?" Roland asked.
"That's what I'd like to know."
"I'm not sure, but this section looks like it was recently added," Evan replied. "The ink is still new in comparison to the rest of the book."
"I guess they must've added it after news of the coup hit Leafbook," said Roland.
"It certainly seems that way," Aranella agreed.
"But exactly 'ow much o'what they be sayin' is true?" Batu asked. "Is this Mausinger character who they be sayin'e is?" He asked, gesturing towards the book in Evan's hands.
"Why yes he is," she confirmed with a nod. "King Leonhard wished to make peace between grimalkin and mousekind as you know, but of course he could only achieve that with the support of someone who was themselves mousekind. It made sense to him that the individual in question should be the living descendant of mousekind's royal family; For if they were to lend his support to King Leonhard's cause, their people would listen to them, and hopefully follow. That individual was of course King Mausinger."
"What be the chances that Mausinger were thinkin' o'this as an opportunity?"
She titled her head at him, one eyebrow quirked. "That would depend on what you mean."
"You were tellin' us that'e were poisonin' Ol'Leonhard. What be the chances that'e were plannin' sumthin' along those lines from the very beginning?"
"That would probably depend on whether or not a broken heart, and by extent Doloran, was the cause of Mausinger's actions," Roland answered instead.
"An' you," he gestured to Roland, "were sayin' that weren't bein' necessary."
"Sure," he nodded. "But if he isn't broken hearted, then he was planning, or at least waiting for a whole decade. You'd have to wonder why, and then," he frowned, "why now?"
"So yer thinkin'e be broken'earted then?"
He nodded again. "I'm starting to think that's looking increasingly likely."
"Guess we'll be finding that out," said Lofty. "But all I need to do like, is get one good look at him and I'll know right away."
"Would a picture do?" Tani asked.
"No good mun," he shook his head. "I need to be able to look into his heart see. Can't be doing that with a picture."
"Or a video?" Roland asked.
"A what?" They all chorused.
"Uh. A moving picture."
"A moving picture is still a picture like," said Lofty. "I need to see him in the flesh."
"I see. That somewhat limits our options."
"Unless we send in the higgledies," said Aranella.
"Unless we send in the higgledies," he agreed with a nod. "But we won't be able to get close enough to Ding Dong Dell to do that right now."
"And you think Broadleaf will have some manner of technology that will allow us to do so?"
"Admittedly I'm hoping they will, but I'm also pretty confidant. Anyway speaking of Broadleaf, let's see if they have anything on it." Sure enough they did, a book titled, very imaginatively, Broadleaf: A Guide. It was much shorter in length than the one on Ding Dong Dell, and also seemed to have been written very recently as well.
"What does it say?" Tani asked.
Roland opened the book and began to read. "A kingdom at the cutting edge. Located in the centre of Autumnia, Broadleaf is, as of this writing, the world's most recently founded nation, having beenofficially establisheda year ago when President Zip Vector formed a bond with the Kingmaker of the Cradle of Wisdom, the living fortress, Bastion.
Before the kingdom's founding, Broadleaf existed first as numerous settlements scattered amid the region's dense forest, until the discovery of a rich seam of magical ore. Following this discovery, President Vector's inventions and business savvy united these settlements into one nation, and turned them into the world's most technologically advanced kingdom.
One of Broadleaf's most ambitious projects, one that took a number of years to complete, was the construction of a giant tower called the Treehouse. The structure's design was inspired by the giant trees that used to grow in the region, and towers over its surroundings, providing a clear view for miles in all directions. It also houses the population, as well as its numerous institutions, and serves as the headquarters of President Vector's company, from which the nation takes its name, Broadleaf Inc.
The completion of this project however was not without cost, as the construction efforts itself, as well as the intensive mining and exploitation of the magical ore that fuelled Broadleaf's explosive development and upon which the kingdom was founded, has caused the local environment to become terribly polluted.
As a result of this devastation, several conflicts have erupted between the people of Broadleaf and the local monsters and bandits for control over the region's dwindling resources. During the Treehouse's construction, many attempted to mount an attack against the nation while it was preoccupied but proved to be no match for their advanced weaponry, with the battles serving instead as an excellent showcase for the company's wares.
But despite these victories, a shadow now looms over Broadleaf. As unless they can turn things around and undo the harm they have caused, they seem set to follow in the footsteps of their ill-fated predecessor, the Kingdom of Hamelin."
Aranella hummed. "With all of the current unrest going on in the nation, it sounds as if Broadleaf's fate is to be a short lived one."
"Do you think the unrest is Doloran's fault?" Tani asked.
"I think it likely, but we shouldn't assume," Roland replied.
"Do you think they can turn things around?" Evan asked. "Undo what they've done?"
"Maybe," he shrugged. "Who knows?"
He uttered the inevitable question. "Maybe we could help them?" And everyone sighed, though fondly.
Roland gently placed a hand atop Evan's head, between his ears. "Why don't we take things one step at a time, okay? If we can get through whatever Doloran's plotting first, we can look at ways to help each other out, all right?"
It was Evan's turn to sigh and he nodded reluctantly. "All right."
Roland's smile slipped off his face as is own words came back to him. What was he talking about? What did he mean we? Once they'd dealt with Doloran, his work here would be done, and he would be returning home. He couldn't forget that. And he almost missed what Tani said next. "So what about that other kingdom we're headed for?" She scratched her head and squinted at nothing as she tried to recall the name. "What was it called again?"
"Hydropolis?" Aranella supplied.
She snapped her fingers. "Yeah, that's the one. Anything on that?"
Aranella consulted the bookshelf. "Why yes, there is." The book was entitled Hydropolis: A Guide. Roland was beginning to detect a pattern. She opened the book up and began to read. "An ocean kingdom governed by strict rules. Hydropolis is a maritime kingdom comprising a chain of islands known collectively as the Hydropelago. The population is made up of a race called merfolk. They are humanfolk in appearance, with scales in place of skin, fins on their arms and legs and in place of ears, and seaweed like hair, and come in a variety of colours.
As is to be expected of a kingdom on the sea, fishing is a major aspect of their economy, with the cultivation of a variety of ocean dwelling plants in numerous marine gardens around the nation being a close second. Its fresh seafood dishes are highly regarded by those who have been fortune enough to taste them.
A thousand years ago, the Kingdom of Hydropolis lost a portion of its population – as well as habitable land – to a mysterious illness. Leucippes Labyrinth, so named for the merfolk man who navigated the labyrinthine rock and coral formations surrounding the island and became the first merfolk to set foot on its soil, was one of the islands in the Hydropelago until the appearance of a strange sickness for which no cure could be found resulted in the entire population being wiped out. Following this tragedy no citizen of Hydropolis has been permitted to set foot on the island lest they spread the illness to the rest of the nation, but with the locals regarding the place as being cursed, no one has dared to visit the island since.
Then three centuries ago, Hydropolis saw fit to close its borders and withdraw from the rest of the world for reasons that are as yet unknown. It still maintains a level of trade and tourism, though they are greatly restricted and carry punitive tariffs. Consequently, the kingdom seldom receives any visitors, but perhaps that was the desired effect.
Its current ruler is Queen Nerea, one of a long line of Hydropolitan Royalty, and their Kingmaker is Brineskimmer, a ferocious sea serpent and Kingmaker of the Cradle of Water. Curiously there seems to be a lack of clarity over exactly when she assumed the throne, as well as how long her reign has lasted. Whatever the case, she dutifully continues to uphold the regulations laid down by her predecessors, and has even introduced yet more restrictive measures of her own for her people to follow. Many of the populace object to these draconian rules, and though local officials do their best to suppress this dissatisfaction, it has yet to be fully quelled.
Hydropolis is a beautiful and fascinating kingdom, yet one cannot help but get the distinct impression that something is amiss. By far it's biggest and most compelling mystery is that twice a year, a sound like thunder can be heard emanating from the heart of the nation, and is purported to be increasing in frequency, where it was but only once a year. The source of this noise currently remains a mystery as the locals feign ignorance when questioned, and any attempts to discover the cause are repelled by the appearance of a ferocious storm whenever the sound is due. It is as if something, or someone, wishes for it to remain that way."
"That's ominous," Tani remarked as Roland frowned and repeated. "A sound like thunder?"
"I wonder what it could mean," Aranella wondered aloud, one hand raised to her chin.
"I'd be sayin' te give'Ydropolis a miss, if it weren't be'avin' a Kingmaker," said Batu.
"Well we can't start being too picky over our choice of allies," said Roland. "The more we reject based on this, that and the other, the less we'll have to fight Doloran."
"Aye…" He conceded. "I suppose ye'ave the right o'it."
"Besides, Pugnacious said we need Hydropolis in order to get to Broadleaf," Tani added and shrugged. "So we don't really have much of a choice."
"Aye… Ye be right in that as well."
"Oh, look. There's one on Goldpaw," said Evan as he pulled another book off the shelf. Roland guessed the title before he read it; Goldpaw: A Guide. Once again this was to the best of Evan's ability and with assistance from Aranella. "A kingdom where all is left to luck. Goldpaw is a large kingdom situated in the southern part of the Summerlands. The local population consists almost entirely of dogfolk, though a small number of humanfolk often migrate to Goldpaw from its protectorate, the shipyard of Capstan-upon-Hull.
In Goldpaw, fortune is its most prized commodity and governs much of the nation's way of life, with the tax rate being determined by the roll of the die, and state-operated casinos funding much of the nation's economy. These casinos are also popular with visitors to the kingdom, and are some of its most well-known establishments.
Fortune-telling is also highly prized, and is a potentially very lucrative career choice, especially in times of confusion or distress, as it is during these times that people turn to them to consult the stars for advice. As a result, the next Grand High Roller, the leader of Goldpaw, tends to be selected from candidates with a notable proficiency for clairvoyance." After struggling with that sentence, he paused to comment. "Gosh, this is so much harder than Ding Dong Dell."
"You're doing very well, Evan," Aranella assured him.
"Yeah," Roland agreed. "There was a lot of big words in there."
"There sure were," Batu agreed.
"The current Grand High Roller, Master Pugnacious is one such individual," Evan continued.
"Wait, so, Pugnacious can see into the future?" Tani cut in, one eyebrow raised.
"The writers of this guide certainly seem to think so," Aranella replied.
"But can he? Is that possible?"
Roland and Aranella exchanged looks. "I wouldn't be so sure of that," he said.
"Well I'd say anything's possible, mun," Lofty supplied.
"Higgledy pig," the higgledies agreed.
"If he could, don't you think he would've seen Doloran coming?" Roland countered.
They all hummed in unison at that. "Fair point, mun, fair point," Lofty conceded.
"Longfang, a maned dragon with five tails and Kingmaker of the Cradle of Fire, is held in high esteem by the populace on account of his reputation as a bringer of good fortune, and is believed to be an agent of Lady Luck," Evan continued. "Lady Luck, or the Mistress of Fortune, is the eponymous deity who governs luck for the people of Goldpaw, and is regularly beseeched upon to grant individuals her favour. She is represented by an automaton that commands the rolling of a ceremonial dice. Its main purpose is to decide the tax rate, but can also be used to assist in the decision making of other matters, such as the outcome of a trial.
It is a common knowledge, or at least a common assumption that Lady Luck was built soon after the Kingdom was founded. Yet, curiously, no such documents supporting this assumption can be found. Indeed, the earliest mention of the automaton is at least several centuries later."
"That's interesting," Roland commented.
"That be soundin' like Lady Luck weren't bein' built with the foundin' o'Goldpaw at all," said Batu.
"What does that mean?" Evan asked.
"That the people's assumption about Lady Luck and what it was built for could very well be way off," Roland replied.
"But why would that be?"
"Things can change over time," he explained with a shrug. "And what used to be common knowledge at one point can become something very different further down the line."
"I see…"
"Is that it?"
"Actually there's more. A beacon of regional peace. The port of Capstan-upon-Hull is considered part of Goldpaw for administrative purposes, though is otherwise a separate state that maintains autonomy over most of its internal affairs. It was formed from the remains of a small kingdom that was subsumed into Goldpaw in the wake of a series of bloody wars, as Goldpaw vied with its neighbours for control of the Calmlands, with Goldpaw eventually emerging as the victor.
Nowadays, Capstan-upon-Hull is a renowned shipyard, with their ship-building expertise second only to Hydropolis. It is also a major fishing port, from which Goldpaw receives its seafood."
"Well that explains Capstan," said Aranella.
"What else is there?" Tani asked as she glanced over the bookshelf.
"There's a book here on the Other Nations of the World, whatever they mean by that." Roland pulled the book off the shelf and flipped it open. "Oh, interesting. One of them is the greenling nation, which is apparently called Ferndal, or uh…" He squinted at the words on the page as he reread. "It used to be."
"What does it say?" They chorused.
"A nation at one with the trees. The greenlings are a largely reclusive people, who have hidden their city deep within the large forest to the north of Goldpaw. They are seldom seen but are known to be humanfolk in appearance, with green skin, pointed ears and diminutive statures.
The greenling nation was once the small village of Ferndal in what was once a small forest. But this small forest grew into what is now known as the Forest of Niall, and Ferndal grew with it, becoming the greenling nation.
Though they are recognised as a nation in their own right, they do not have a Kingmaker. Instead, in times of need, the greenlings call upon the Guardian of the Forest, a creature of great power – enough to rival that of a Kingmaker – that dwells deep within the forest depths. It is unknown exactly how this creature came to be, as the greenlings, if they know anything, refuse to explain.
Whatever the case, it has successfully guarded the forest – and the greenlings – for all this time, and there are rumours that the remains of Kingmakers and their armies who attempted to take the forest for themselves, litter the forest floor."
"Why weren't they callin' upon this Guardian o'their's te deal with the tainted'edgehound, instead o'sendin' us te take care o'it for'em?" Batu grouched, his arms folded.
"Because it sounds like it only comes to their aid in times of great need," Roland replied. "The tainted hedgehound was hardly that." Batu grumbled in reply.
"What else is there?" Evan asked.
"The Kingdom of Al Mamoon. Anyone heard of it?"
"We have, though…" Aranella shrugged apologetically. "Not much is known about it, I'm afraid. When the great rifts of the north and south were rent open, the Southern Rift destroyed much of the kingdom and essentially isolated it from the rest of the world. They survived the calamity but in turn became quite reclusive."
"I guess that's understandable. But are you sure they're still around?" He frowned and glanced down at the book. "They're not on the network if they are."
"I suppose it's not impossible for the kingdom to have fallen in its isolation, but as for Leafbook," she spread her hands, "that isolation would likely be the explanation for their absence."
"Oh right… Good point."
"So what does it say?" Tani prompted.
"A kingdom of bountiful fruit. Al Mamoon is a kingdom located in the southern part of Autumnia.
It is most famous for babanas, a fruit that can only be grown in the arid climate of the Drylands Desert. Besides being one of the kingdom's main exports in times past, many of the local dishes use the fruit as a staple ingredient.
Little else is known about the kingdom and its culture, as a great calamity struck the world three millennia ago, and great rifts were opened through land and sea. One such rift tore apart the region where the Kingdom of Al Mamoon was situated and devoured much of the kingdom and its people in the process. Though Al Mamoon ultimately survived the calamity, it was as a fraction of its former glory, and in the centuries following the people kept mostly to themselves.
The Drylands are surrounded by mountains on all sides, making landfall impossible. The only way to enter the desert is via a pass through the mountains to the north. Because of this, and with the rifts making crossing the desert a lengthy ordeal – combined with the sweltering heat – one would have to have been very determined to visit, and so consequently, such visitors to the kingdom were few and far between.
But access to the desert as well as the Kingom of Al Mamoon itself has now become impossible, as at some point within the last few centuries a viscous sandstorm began to appear whenever someone attempted to enter."
"A sandstorm?" Aranella repeated. She frowned and raised hand to her chin. "I'd not heard of that development."
"Well, it says sometime within the last few centuries, so it seems to be relatively recent. And with most of the kingdoms keeping to themselves these days, it doesn't seem like the library is the leading source of knowledge it once was." He frowned at the pages of the book as a thought occurred to him. "You know they might've even got the idea from Hydropolis – the Al Mamoonians that is. Or maybe whatever happened to Hydropolis to cause them to close their borders also had an effect on Al Mamoon. From what I remember of the map they're in roughly the same area after all."
"Yes," she nodded. "Perhaps you're right."
"It would also explain their absence from Leafbook then if the sandstorm is still around."
"Indeed…"
"The cause of this sandstorm is unknown, but it has so far proved impervious to any attempts to dispel it, instead serving as a most effective barrier between Al Mamoon and the rest of the world.
Its last known Kingmaker was a large beast that resembled the hardened flora of the Drylands, by the name of Cactaurus, Kingmaker of the Cradle of Mirages." Roland frowned and hummed. "So they basically dropped off the proverbial radar some time ago and now no-one's sure if they're even still around, let alone still have a Kingmaker."
"The proverbial what, mun?" Lofty asked with a puzzled frown.
"Uh. Collective awareness."
"The Drylands are south of Broadleaf," Aranella observed, one hand raised to her chin. "So if anyone would have more information on the fate of Al Mamoon, I would wager it would be them."
"Let's hope so. Because if they are still around and they do have a Kingmaker, they'll be another target and we'll need their help as well. So that's something we're gonna need to find out."
"So it looks we're going to Broadleaf to find out about Al Mamoon as well," Tani summarised.
"Looks like," he agreed.
"If them Al Mamoonians aren't around no more, the question o'what we'll be doin' will be answerin' itself. So what'll be'appenin' if we be findin' they are, but they don't be'avin' a Kingmaker no more?" Batu asked.
"That's a good question. Evan?" He gestured towards him. "As you're our King, that means it's up to you to decide what we'll be doing."
"Oh. Ummm…" Evan replied, raising a hand to his chin and dropping his gaze.
"Don't forget, since you appointed me and Aranella as your Royal Advisors, that means you can ask us for advice."
"And me as well, mun," Lofty reminded them, gesturing to himself. "As a Kingmaker that means I'm a source of counsel as well like."
"Uh, yeah," Roland was unimpressed. "I think we'll pass on that."
He raised his fists in objection. "Oi! I can give proper good advice as well you know!"
"You mean proper good advice on food?" Tani chimed in.
"The cheek!" He objected as the others laughed.
"Thank you, Lofty," said Evan diplomatically. "But um… I think I would like Roland and Aranella's advice for now… Sorry."
Lofty took a step back. "Cor! Stab me in the heart why don't you?!"
He raised his hands in apology. "I'm sorry."
"Higgledy pig," the higgledies added.
Lofty shook a fist at them. "Don't you start!"
"Maybe when you have more Kingmaking under your belt," said Tani.
"Well all right, fair enough I suppose," Lofty relented before puffing up again and placing his hands on his hips. "But I'll become a proper fount of wisdom given time, like. Just you watch!"
"I'm sure," Roland said neutrally, then placed a hand on his hip. "Anyway, you wanted our advice on Al Mamoon, Evan." He gestured in offering as he continued. "So here's mine; The more powerful Doloran's Kingmaker becomes, the more help we'll need, so no allies are too many. The question would be if they could be convinced to join the alliance, assuming they don't have a Kingmaker. Given the length of their isolation, as well as whatever reasons they had for throwing up a sandstorm to cut them off from everyone else, I would imagine it's gonna be pretty difficult to persuade them to see Doloran as being a potential threat as well as convincing them to get involved."
"I agree with Roland," said Aranella. "Though I would also add that it doesn't mean we shouldn't try."
"So you think we should?" Evan asked. "Pursue them as allies?"
Roland and Aranella exchanged looks. "It doesn't look like we'll be able to find out more about them until we get to Broadleaf anyway," he replied. "So I think the answer to that question is gonna come down to exactly where we are that point, and how much we know. All of this is gonna be moot if we discover they're long gone."
He nodded. "All right. Then we'll decide later."
"That would probably be best. But listen, Evan." He looked to the others as he added, "And everyone else for that matter. Our quest to gather allies won't just be about building an army to stand against Doloran. If we discover that he really is targeting the other nations, then we want to stop him from stealing the kingsbonds in the first place, and thereby prevent him from accomplishing his goal."
"Right," they chorused.
"Obviously," said Tani.
"But bein' that we be'avin' a Kingmaker, will we not be becomin' a target ourselves?" Batu asked.
"The strength of a kingsbond depends on the population of a kingdom, which obviously makes the other nations prime targets. As we're just starting out, the power being channelled through Lofty and Evan's kingsbond isn't even enough for Lofty to take on his dragon form at the moment. So it should be safe for now." Roland assumed a thoughtful posture as he continued. "Although that being said, I guess it's true that he might set his sights on us if he becomes desperate enough." They exchanged looks at that, but then Roland said. "But I wouldn't worry." He raised his fist. "We're with you, Evan. And we won't let anything happen to you."
"Right!" The others chorused, mirroring Roland's determined expression and posture.
"Higgle!" The higgledies added, doing the same.
And Evan smiled. "Thank you, everyone."
A/N: Summary of the greenling nation in my notes lol: A strong independent nation that don't need no kingmaker.