Chapter 3

"Rei'Van came here to support the border regions in case of war, not to send its forces to other regions, leaving us less protected against this war you and Lightwood seem so certain is coming. I still don't see why I should agree to this Border Force. What does Rei'Van get from it?" Young Ha'Rey, the third son of the Lord of Rei'Van, had not been given mandate to give any forces away. Rai'Van was a small but populous region pressed in between Ashlon and Farseya. They had only little land directly on the border, and no villages near it. They hadn't seen the raids that Ashlon and Farseya had.

Alec stared out of the window as he half listened to the talks flowing back and forth between young Ha'ray and Lord Marklund. The fortress of Marnon Earni was not like Tuin Éstti at all. Rather than being buried into the ground, it rose in a single green tower high above the blue treetops of the forests that surrounded it. It was made of thick greenstone slates, polished to a glistening, mirrow-like surface that was near on impenetrable. Sporadic gaps all over the tower provided small windows that could be opened and used to shoot projectiles from at forces trying to get at the fortress. The insides of the tower were richly decorated with blackstone and gems. The room they were in was almost at the top of the tower, and Alec could see treetops swaying in the breeze outside. It was unsettling, being this high of the ground, when you were used to being below it.

"We have only 2 Miles of the border, whereas Ashlon have 10 Miles, and offer less to this alliance." Young Ha'Ray had been stuck on the same argument since before dinner the day before. This was day three of their talks, and the intensity of negotiations was taking a toll on all of them. Agreements had been made in terms of support of each other after raids in the form of resources and weapons. If the war came, each region had pledged to support their neighbors with shelter, weapons and troops if invaders came to close to their own borders. But it wasn't enough. Alec believed they needed something more, something stronger. Something that would show the king that they were ready for war, and that he needed to be so, too. Because war was coming his way, if the borderlands fell. This something, Alec argued, was a Border Force. A united army with troops from all the border regions that fought against the raids now, and, when the war came, against the army of the enemy. Lord Marklund largely agreed with this point, though he, as young Ha'Ray felt that securing his own region was the priority of the negotiations, and as such he wasn't fully prepared to send men away to defend other regions when they might be needed at home.

"We don't intent for your lands to be left unprotected, Ha'rey." Lord Marklund sighed, clearly loosing his patience. He was a stealthy man, heavy but strong, with cropped grey hair and sharp blue eyes. He was a man better suited for the front than at the negotiating table. He was doing his best, but Alec suspected that he hadn't realized that this was a point on which Ha'Rey was not conceding. Even if he did, his father would find a way to get out of the pledge to send over half of their force to the front.

"The Border Alliance we are trying to make here, cannot rely on the dragon riders. They serve the king, not the lords. The Border Force will not hold against the military forces of Artanarg, and it is not meant to. If the war is coming, and I'm certain that it is, the king will supply forces, but we need to send a strong signal to him, now, before the Artanarg Army is at our doors, that the border is at risk. That we need our king to support us. That is what the Border Force is for. To show that we know what threatens, and that the regions wont be able to stand against these attacks alone." Alec saw the brow of young Ha'Rey draw close together at his words, and he saw how Lord Marklund lent back in his chair, arms folded and eyebrows raised high. He silently dared either to speak what was on their minds.

"Why should Farseyan people die for Ashlon, if it is all merely symbolic to get the attention of the king?" Lord Marklund unsurprisingly took the bait, and Alec barely managed to suppress a smirk before it reached the corners of his mouths. Ha'Rey nodded eagerly, leaning forward in his seat.

"We have already agreed to stand together if the war comes. But the lords have their own troops to stand against raiders. Why should Rei'Van pay for Ashlon's weakness?" he said. Alec turned toward him, slowly, giving the young kid all his attention for the first time in the three days they had negotiated. He didn't say anything for a while, just caught the boy's eyes, putting all the strength he had into that one steady gaze. He could feel Marklund shuffle next to him, but kept his eyes firmly on young Ha'Rey, who was slowly crumbling, curling his shoulder towards his ears as his eyes shifted from a strong purple to a soft green. Only then did Alec take the word again.

"There is a simple answer to both your worries. If Ashlon falls, your regions will fall, too. The border between Ashlon and Rei'van is 17 Miles. 17 Miles of open land and villages that are not easy to protect. The Artanargh forces would have crossed the river. Farseya is well protected against air raiders. Their fighters are experts at forest fighting. Artanarg knows this. They would slowly but surely cut away the forest and take refuge in the Ashlon plains were they are hard to find.

"But that is not why you should join the Border Force. You should join it because it shows your people that their safety is important. That you hear their fear and you are prepared to do what it takes to protect them." The room was entirely silent when Magnus snuck in trough the door. He rose an eyebrow at Alec, as he placed a scroll on the table in front of him.

Lord Marklund was staring out the window, hardly noticing the disturbance. Young Ha'Rey was staring at his hands, his mouth moving as he ran through his thoughts. Alec watched them for a moment, smiling slightly at Magnus' thumbs up before the rider slipped back out of the room. Slowly, putting on a mask of indifference, Alec reached over to unroll the scroll, keeping his face blank as he read over the short lines. Then he rolled the paper back up, reached across the table and calmly refilled his glass.

"Ashlon is prepared to increase it's contribution to 5000 footmen and 3000 riders." he said calmly, casually, sipping his water. Two pairs of eyes were now sharply turned towards him. This was double what he had previously offered.

"You are devoted to this Border force." Lord Marklund remarked.

"I am," Alec simply replied. "As is Ulonia and Sorelina. Ulonia offers 6000 troops under Ashlon command, and sorelina pledge 2000 archers and 4000 riders to the Border Force. They have sent representatives to join our negotiations on this point."

"When was this arranged?" Lord Marklund lent forward in his seat, his steel* eyes sharp on Alec's face.

"I sent my rider to inform them of our talks. Sorelina is a border region, and should be included. Since they were already negotiating with Ulonia I thought it best to invite them to join us." Alec explained, calmly, in spite of the fire in Marklund's eyes. Alec knew it had been a bold move, but he couldn't show his doubts now. "Sorelina has suffered fierce and unrelenting attacks. It is Ashlon's responsibility to respond." he added. Lord Marklund watched him intently for a moment, a hard look on his face. Then, with a snort, he nodded sharply, once.

"Well, let's bring these representatives in here, since they are already here. Though these negotiations, I think we can agree, will only concern this Border Force of yours, Lightwood." Alec knew he was not forgiven for his intrusion. Marklund was heading the negotiations, and Alec had made significant moves behind his back. So he bowed his thanks to the lord, letting his eyes stay low.

It took another two days of intense negotiations. But by the end of it, Alec had gotten his Border Force. Marklund offered 3000 men, to be doubled in case of a war, if Ashlon was willing to share half of it's grain production the following year. Ha'Ray, clearly pressured, in the end agreed to join the Force with 1000 men though it came at the high price of a trade deal of 20% of Rei'van wool bought by Farseay and Ashlon.

"Let it be written." Lord Marklund finished the negotiations with these sacred words. Though nothing had been signed yet, further talks would break the treaty.

"You drive a hard talk young Lightwood." Lord Marklund had a hard look on his face as he watched Alec with his arms tight across his chest. It was clear that he wasn't entirely happy with the agreement. "Time will tell if it was worth it." Alec very carefully didn't let his emotions show, as he got to his feet.

"It will." he said, simply, leaving the room.

Magnus was waiting outside the door. He smiled when he saw Alec, one eyebrow shooting up his forehead.

"You got the deal?" He asked.

"I did," Alec said, walking down the hallway, which ran through the whole structure in one long spiral. "You played a huge part in that. So thank you." He turned to send Magnus an honest smile. On the first morning he had send Magnus off with two letters written during the night. One for Lady Faria of Ulonia and one for Lord Bernath of sorelina. Both detailing his plans for a Border Force, both detailing the price Ashlon was willing to pay. To have gotten the letters delivered, and brought back representatives in time, Magnus would have had to ride long and hard.

"If this means a strong alliance against Artanarg, a few sleepless days was a small price to pay," Magnus smiled, softly letting his shoulder nudge against Alec's.

"If honoured, the alliance is very strong. But it comes at a heavy cost for Ashlon. My father may not be pleased with us." Alec felt the sleeplessness himself now, too. His head bussed unpleasantly, and he felt his movements turn sluggish.

"Your father trusts you." Magnus said, his fingers brushing softly against Alec's as they both swayed down the curving hallway. "And now we both deserve rest. I hear there's to be a party in celebration of the alliance. We will need our strength." Alec could hear the smile in Magnus' voice, and he felt a small smile spread over his own face at the sound of it. "I suppose you are going to insist on separate rooms," Magnus had turned to face Alec, whose eyes widened dramatically.

"I…" He gurgled out.

"In which case this is my stop," The smirk was soften by the tiredness in Magnus' eyes. "You did well. You must have, to get this landed." Magnus carefully ran a fingertip down the length of Alec's cheek, leaving the skin tingling pleasantly. "Be proud. And sleep! The papers can wait." with that the rider disappeared through a door, leaving Alec alone and confused in the hallway.

The youngest daughter of Lord Marklund had a pretty smile, and warm green eyes. Her pearly laugh fell easily from her lips and spoke of a carefree nature. She was light of build, and even the smooth, dark-green dress, becoming though it certainly was, couldn't make her appear tall. Her flaming hair was done in intricate braids, fresh flowers woven in to it. Alec smiled at her, as he led her back to her seat. She bowed slightly, looking up at him through her lashes.

"Thank you for the dance, Lord Lightwood," She said in her clear voice. "If it pleases you, we could call for some refreshments." There was a hint of red dusting over her cheeks.

"It would please me, Lady Clary, but I fear there is another waiting for a chance to dance with one of the brightest flowers of this evening." He smiled conspiratorially, nodding to where young Ha'Ray was standing a little ways of, watching them with purple eyes. She sighed, softly, knowing as well as Alec that there were duties to be performed tonight.

"Perhaps later, My Lord," she bowed again, eyes lingering on him as she made her way towards Young Ha'Ray.

Alec watched him leading her to the dance floor with a small smile. Then he turned on his heels and went in search of refreshments on his own. Once he had gotten hold of a glass of sweet wine he found a less disturbed corner to watch the party from. The five days of negotiation still weighed heavily in body and mind, despite a good nights sleep. The treaties had been signed and marked. He had done his job. Still, his thoughts went in circles, trying to spot holes and things yet to be done.

"So the Lord can dance." Magnus' voice pulled Alec's thoughts back to the party going on around him. The rider was once again in his ceremonial uniform, the silver embroidery standing out against the soft blue of the well-fitted tunic and the slightly darker belt. He had styled his hair into peaks, the golden accents standing sharp agains the black strands. There was mischief and merriment in the golden eyes resting calmly on Alec's face. "And, might I add, dance well at that. My suspicions were correct. Your physique does indeed do wonders on the dance floor. A rare treat to us all." Alec had no idea what to say to that, so he turned to face the dance floor. Ha'Ray was twirling Lady Clary across the floor and her light laughter could be heard over the music. "But perhaps, all it took was a pretty girl with a pretty laugh." Magnus mussed, also watching the dancers.

"There are many ways to ensure the honouring of a treaty." Alec said, simply, taking a sip of his wine.

"Ah." Magnus said, nodding slowly. "The subtleties of negotiation."

"Well, it is bad form to insult the host right after the signing of a major treaty." Alec mused, subtly trying to sneak a glance of the smirk widening on the riders face.

"It certainly would." Magnus agreed. "And I supposed that it was more chore than pleasure. Or has the securing of an alliance put the lord in a dancing mood? Because I would be remiss not to offer my assistance if that is the case." He offered a ring-clad hand with a flourish and a glint in his eyes. Alec shook his head at the rider.

"Why not." He heard himself say the words, and saw himself take the hand. He saw the shock flash over Magnus' face though it quickly morphed to a pleased smirk like the ones he so often aimed Alec's way. What had possessed Alec to accept Magnus' invitation he didn't know - maybe the lingering exhaustion, maybe the relief of an alliance secured. But he couldn't regret it when he saw the twinkle in Magnus eyes as he swung Alec onto the dance floor.

It was an upbeat song that started playing shortly after Alec and Magnus had taken position opposite each other. One of those which rhythm rolled effortlessly through the body, making standing still hard, even for Alec. There was a blinding smile on Magnus' face as they clapped, stepped and swung through the steps of the dance. Alec had to sporadically look away from the mirthful eyes and soft smirk, not to mention the smooth sways and rolls of his lithe body, just to be able to breathe. He spotted Lady Clary watching them with an indecipherable look on her face, young Ha'Ray trying to catch her attention next to her. Alec tried to send her a friendly smile, but was soon caught up in Magnus' grin. When the song stopped, Alec felt breathless both from the quick-paced dance and from the laughter.

"Thank you, my lord," Magnus bowed deeply, "That was both a pleasure and an honour."

"I'm inclined to agree." Alec smiled, following Magnus of the dance floor, and indicating to a server to bring them drinks.

"Did you just admit that dancing can be a pleasure?" There was a playful light in Magnus' eyes that lit up his face in a beautiful way. Alec felt himself smile broadly in response to it, inclining his head slightly.

"Perhaps it can be. With the right partner," he said, enjoying the way Magnus smile widened.

"I'm glad to hear it." Magnus bowed again, then rose the glass the server had passed him in a toast. "To the alliance." he said.

"To the alliance."