A/N In the anime, Fahn addresses Kashue by name without title, meaning that they are both close and on the same rung of the social ladder. At this point I would think that Xapferey is both a good friend and rather close to them both at this point.
Chapter 16: Malkira and movements.
9 months after chapter 15
The past 9 months were both a joy and a bit of a burden for the royal family of Draconia. A pleasant burden considering it was their daughter, but most beings tended to be groggy and a bit cranky on 5 hours sleep due to a fussy child. The two were never cranky with Malkira, and the child was crawling far quicker than a Human or Elf child.
"Dada," Malkira said as she gently pulled her father's pant leg. Xapferey looked down and gave a surprised smile at his child. "Dada wan up," Malkira said as she reached out for her father. Xapferey picked up his child both awed and impressed at her words so early. Though considering Malkiraa was a half-Dragon, her mental accomplishments should have been expected.
"Xapferey?" Deedlit asked as she entered the main area from the Flyer's launch bay where she was learning the advanced technology.
"Malkira said her first words," Xapferey replied in a quiet awed voice as the child turned to her mother.
"Mama, mama," Malkira said as she waved proudly at her mother. Deedlit smiled herself as she came to join the two her green eyes alight and her joy mingled with Xapferey's.
Two days later, Xapferey had Malkira in his lap as he read to her and she pointed at a letter. "E."
"Very good Malkira, what's the next letter?"
"…Esss. S," the child enuciated slowly looking up at her father for both answer and approval.
"That's right… Deedlit come see, your daughter is reading."
Deedlit came and with a happy prideful smile she congratulated her child. Over the 9 months, the two had worked hard to balance their relationship between each other and Malkira with their duties as King and Queen. As a result, to save the time and to gift their allies as well, Xapferey had sent a runecrafted disk of sorts, which would allow for real time communication between the kings and councils of Flaim, Valis and Draconia. Along with the disk Xapferey sent a letter explaining his reasons for such.
To my friends and allies Kashue and Fahn, This disk is to foster closer cooperation and speed of communication between ourselves and our councils as needed. The fact of the matter is that official letters of state can be intercepted or altered without either side knowing it. That and some pressing situations may need to be discussed immediately, and cannot wait for the travel of official couriers for the sake of communication.
Kashue, when Shooting Star assaulted your peoples, we had been both fortunate as I had been both near the area and prepared for the Dragon's wrath. Had I been further away, the time he attacked your lands could have gone far worse for all involved.
Fahn my friend, when Karla seized your daughter on the road is part of why I am sending this letter and these disks. These disks can allow for a person or a room to communicate to one or both of the sister disks in real time, meaning responses are immediate as if they were in the same room in a regular conversation. In such an instance or if Malkira were to be seized by another party, searches by all three nations could be arranged immediately. Personal meetings between could be held with ease, and without risking members of our courts to bandits or other hostile nations.
Your friend and ally
Xapferey Manaweaver
King of Draconia.
Two weeks after sending the message the runic disk on Xapferey's desk began blinking. Activating it led to an image of Kings Fahn and Kashue in their offices and they both nodded to each other before turning the attention to Xapferey.
"Well, this is certainly a more… convenient manner of communication," Kashue said to Xapferey with a smile.
"It's a step to the closeness of communication my people shared with their allies for both the sake of commerce and mutual defense."
"The benefits are certainly worth this project," Fahn agreed.
"It may seem things are too easy with this runecraft, but this is only small scale… I lack the means and the opportunity to make this wider scale."
"Well if it proves to be as useful as you recommended, I will likely request more of them, if not outright purchase the designs," Fahn said.
"Agreed, I myself find your recommendations are very accurate. My people and I were grateful that you were close enough to aid us against Shooting Star and that the damage and casualties could have been far worse without you. "
"Well I'm glad to help my friend. I'm certain we would all do the same for the other if we could."
"Indeed," Fahn agreed simply. "How fairs your child Malkira?"
"She's doing amazingly well, she's talking and reading."
"Already? She cannot be older than 10 months."
"Just over 9, she's half-Dragon, they mature mentally faster than Human or Elf children. There are times where I do have to chase after her, she is crawling and getting almost everywhere and into everything." Fahn laughed in reminiscence.
"Ah yes, I remember when Fianna was in that stage… children… you love them with all you have until they cause you to go grey."
"Indeed, my scales may go grey at this rate… Still I'm proud of what she's accomplishing as she grows."
"As any father should be" Fahn said with a reminiscing smile.
"Excuse me please, regrettably I have some affairs that require my attention." Kashue said.
"Very well my friend, feel free to contact myself as you need."
"Farewell Kashue," the desert king nodded before his image faded from the disk. Fahn gestured to Xapferey signifying that he wished to continue the conversation.
"I have to say as she grows I'm not going to enjoy when her more Draconic traits begin manifesting."
"They do not already?" Fahn asked curiously.
"No, I have an excellent physician sent to me by a… contact who was kind enough to grant me some favors. Any debts between us are now paid and he will only be able, if he does still send any more aid, it will be mostly indirect from here on out. Ahem, anyways, according to my own research and the advice of my physician without going into too many details about genetics or capabilities of other races… The child develops their more Draconic features in their early teens, much like say the maturity of a human child. It's a feature to avoid stressing the mother or inadvertently damaging her."
"I see… why are you not looking forwards to such things?"
"Because she will be considerably stronger than any human. My physician has advised me that the weakest half-Dragon is strong enough to punch through solid stone or bend steel without too much effort. Odds are things will be broken due her… unexpected strength as the changes are usually rapid and the child will likely grow stronger before the can adapt their habits to the changes."
"Ah… There are some lords wishing me to convey the offers of an arranged marriage for your child."
"I understand, but I am going to have to decline those offers. It wouldn't be fair to the partner… Malkira has the same lifespan as her mother and myself. Immortal and mortals do not end well for either partner. I have heard tales of other Elves and Humans falling in love, it usually ends in tragedy for both."
"I do understand…" Fahn was about to mention Xapferey's changes, but the disguised Dragon raising his hand forestalled him.
"My case was… unique and required a ritual of which death had considerable possibility of occurring. I was lucky and strong enough. I am giving you a tale from a far land called the Lay of Luthien. It is one of the reasons why I am extremely hesitant."
"I shall read it as soon as I can… And the other reasons are if I may ask?"
"It is not widely known yet, but my people are now protected with human rights laws and a modified Charter of Rights and Freedoms based on laws that existed in my homelands. Arranged marriages made by myself would contravene both. There now some cases being processed by our courts taking these into account."
"An… ambitious project… but the results cannot be denied."
"Traders and their loose lips," Xapferey said with a sigh as Fahn nodded.
"Your people certainly have a much higher standard of living than many others similar to them in different lands."
"It's the choice of … blades or butter. Do I fund my military or my social-economic capacities of my people? A balance is needed I find and I seek to rectify problems that plague the… less shall we say economically blessed."
"I understand and I believe we have much to learn from each other."
"Please excuse me Fahn I have some affairs that require my attention."
"Of course, I understand."
Xapferey disconnected the call and secured his computer before he opened project: Defiance. Malika's image appeared in the bottom left corner of his screen as he plugged in a set of headphones.
"Well I'm glad that Defiance and Flyer-II is being prepared… what are the hulls composed of?"
"Endurinium ablative hull armor as specs require. We have the specs to replicate it, we just need power and with the overly rich supplies of deuterium we have easy access to."
"Understood."
"We need to discuss armaments of Defiance, compared to the standard Defiant class."
"Bring up Defiant class specs on screen… hmm, standard weapons, 4 phaser cannons, probably 4 phasers, 4 forward dual use torpedo tubes, 2 aft… This won't do at all, if not for their quantum torpedoes, our Flyer-I could probably beat the crap out of the Defiant. Never mind the point defense."
"We'll have to obviously increase the size if we're going to add to the weapons. I would recommend keeping similar design, although I would recommend increasing length to 221 meters. Height to 41 and width to 155 meters."
"That would cause a considerable rise in crew requirements."
"Minimum of 40, bare bones of 15. But it'll have the room for you to go crazy on weapons milord… we do not have the same capacity for dimensional alterations as the Cilarista if you consider the armaments of the new Dana class mark-VI."
"Six? I've never heard of the six, I barely know the five."
"10 km length addition, 42% more weapons in each fire arc, shields and ablative generators 500% improvement over the five."
"Good grief, you could practically ram a planet into that thing and I'd be more worried about the planet. Point taken… umm… 40 phaser arrays, 36 phaser cannons, give me nine and six dual purpose assault tubes… 200 point defense."
"Good, cause 9 was stretching it… we could do 12 regular photons…"
"Well Malika if we push it that's what 27 photon or quantum torpedoes in a single volley?"
"54 photon, 27 quantum, they are larger and with the assault tubes we can fire mixed volleys."
"Pocket battleship indeed… in the proper hands…"
"The larger specs will make it take more time and with Flyer-II, larger specs means it could carry 5 Flyer class. If we build all of them, it won't be ready until Malkira is 21 at least."
"Do it… Prioritize Flyer-II for now… double the workforce, cargo and supply gathering."
"Aye milord."
"Oh and Malika, I saw your little jaunt to Flaim, Allania and Marmo… what were you doing?"
"Making sure your alterations did not damage the timeline and render your knowledge useless."
"Good, but never do that again without my permission; if you had been caught it would have made things very difficult on me. Now, as for the other big project?"
"Research is progressing, I would recommend another 9 years practice."
"I'll practice, and before you say it, the fleet is for other purposes is that clear?"
"Yes milord."
"Good, now we shall begin researching magical databases ok?" She nodded, "You are Malika-H-01 not Malika Shadowshifter is that clear?"
"Perfectly my lord, I will follow your orders to the letter."
The plan was for many databases to be tied into runecrafted HUDs of all sorts, allowing doctors' access to diagnostic databases, military purposes and many other applications to the growing nation. With a population of now 68,000 and many villages and towns popping up throughout the realm Xapferey could stand proud of his achievements. Deedlit smiled at him as she entered the room and set Malkira in her crib, both were learning things that Deedlit had never considered before but she understood now what her husband was doing and preparing for.
Xapferey walked over to his wife and daughter; Malkira was sleeping soundly while Deedlit snuggled into Xapferey's side.
"I fed her and hopefully she'll sleep through the night, I have to agree with those… television shows you were making we watch before having me attend those lessons on that… holodeck of yours. Why are you constructing such vessels?"
"Better to have them and not need them, than need them and not have them."
"I understand even if I am a little terrified of what they can do."
"I know, truth be told, I have bigger plans my dear… sadly even if we did explore in the beyond there are always enemies to find… besides I've been wanting to explore space all my life."
"I do as well now, to walk forests on other worlds, to commune with nature where no Elf has likely tread. Thank you for opening my eyes to the worlds beyond our own."
"We know only what we wish or need to know dear Deedlit, you have both now." With that the two crawled into bed, keeping an ear open in case of a plaintive cry from their child.
*Pagebreak*
Sircans Star system
Cilarista homeworld of Xanroth
Capitol city of Jastar
Emperor's quarters
Having returned from the Vadakass system, Xapferey had wanted peace and quiet with his wife. That and to give the engineers aboard the racial flagship S.S Sharnorasian a break from his constant requests to retune the inertial dampeners.
Once more he cast his mind towards Camelot and Merlin's home. From there he had determined that the Dorcha attack had forced the city into a highly defensive position. Surprisingly, Arthur despite Camelot's rules against magic was speaking with the court physician and Merlin about it. Projecting his will forwards, Xapferey made an avatar to speak with Arthur and the ones there.
"An ambitious plan young Pendragon, but it won't work."
"Who are you Sorcerer? Come to try and assault Camelot when it is supposedly weak?"
"Hardly young one, please sit, I have a proposal to discuss."
"I have nothing to say to a Sorcerer."
"SIT DOWN BOY!" Xapferey roared, his voice filled with divine power and such a powerful suggestion that even Merlin was awed at the power and all three were helpless to disobey. "I am no common Sorcerer Arthur Pendragon I am a God."
Xapferey strode to the window where the Dorocha could be heard shrieking and flying about. He casually caught one in his fist and brought it inside.
"The touch of the Dorocha bring icy death to all… Disembodied sprits of the dead… rank amateurs, I could make better undead than this while completely stoned and in a coma," Xapferey said in complete disdain as he showed them the trapped spirit. With a slight grin Xapferey closed his hand over the Dorocha and brought it to his mouth and sucked. A small burp later Xapferey consumed the undead almost casually.
"Excuse me… that was nasty."
"You've made your point, you are no common sorcerer," Arthur admitted grudgingly.
"Magic is not all evil young man, much like the usage of a sword, it can be used to harm or to help. Slaver versus a knight if you will… but you shall see what I mean in time."
"What is your proposal than?"
"Truthfully Arthur I have been watching for awhile, when I can. I can offer you an escape from the Dorocha."
"You have proven that you can defeat the Dorocha, why do you not simply do that?"
"Because I have extremely powerful enemies Arthur… and they would destroy you simply because I even considered the notion of helping… how to put this. Hypothetically you have a large army moving through the lands and you are moving to counter a powerful nasty if not outright evil king. You or your scouts discover a very small village being raided by bandits, or being led by an evil man and his men. You wish to intervene but cannot because your enemies would notice and they would raze the village to the ground, kill the inhabitants, regardless of who they were or their age. Then alt the ground so nothing grows there ever again. Instead you offer small aid and facilitate their escape to better lands. Camelot is that small village, from my perspective and from the war that I am fighting I need all my forces on hand, I cannot spare any to protect you, and even minor protection would draw their attention."
"I see your point."
"Perhaps it would be wise to hear him out sire," Merlin added as Xapferey gave the manservant and hidden Warlock a small secret smile.
"Merlin, summon the great Dragon Kilgarrah and tell him to bring the hidden egg and the sword you put in the stone, you will need it in the future," The Cilarista lord sent to the young at the moment in his larger humanoid form, looking similar to Manaweaver though his human form was over 7'5 and his face hidden by a hood leaving only his gold Cilarista altered eyes to be seen.
"I'm not sure the people of Camelot would accept such an offer, god and safety from the Dorocha or not."
"Truth be told, very few of the people of Camelot bought into your father's rhetoric on magic. Some of the guards believe it, and a fair portion of the knights do… many have their doubts or are just afraid of being accused of sorcery."
"I will consider your proposal."
"Very well, I have a friend of a friend who will help shield Camelot from the Dorocha… she owes me a few major favors and she is nearly as powerful as myself. I will also make you aware of what your new lands will be like and what the king of those lands has done. Fear not gentlemen," Xaoferey added a power to his voice, one that conveyed the truth and to convince them that he was being truthful. "He will not leave you out in the cold, and this plan will get you both what you really want. To love and be who you want to be… You may call me Alecnor Arthur, Alecnor Sharnoras... be advised I will know if those who try to move to the lands of Lodoss are simply going to cause trouble there."
"I understand Lord Sharnoras… and I will consider your proposal and inform your… ally of when I have made my decision after evaluating everything I can of these lands of… Lodoss."
"Very well then, Lady Shadowshifter?" A black-feathered phoenix with purple eyes turned into a hauntingly beautiful dark haired woman with an aura of power that simply wafted off of her. Malika Shadowshifter, Grand Shadow Lich and second of the Darkwielder realm, a subset of the Sharnorasian high empire; she nodded at Arthur and walked to the window to wait.
A/N One more bit of Merlin, then we will have them meet up in time for other plans
