{Night 17: Malik's Grudge}
"No, no, no, no, no, no, and just in case I missed it, no!" I yelled aggressively.
"Malik, at least forming trade-agreements with them would be highly beneficial to us! Do you forget that both of them have access to goods from all over the world?" Hassan pointed out, gesturing with his staff.
"I don't care!" I yelled, running around the corner.
We were on one of the layers of the ziggurat, standing outside as we discussed what to do about these letters. 'We' being my 'court'— Zaria, Hassan, Chaya, Uriel, Kahil, Zahara, and Master Alban.
I was totally against seeing anyone from these countries about their negotiations.
I bet they just wanted to subjugate us. That was the only reason such high-and-mighty empires would come down to chat with rinky-dink folk like us Rotters! Ships and people coming around for trade was fine, but whole fucking delegations?! I don't think so!
As I bolted for the next corner, Hassan zipped in front of me.
I made a slashing gesture with Flauros—
Chaya flattened me with a flying tackle.
"I refuse I refuse I refuse!" I roared, trying to shake her off.
"Y'know, Mal's kinda gotta point." Zaria said as everyone gathered around. "Not-Rots never take us seriously, an' all they do is take from us. Why should we let 'em waltz in and boss us around?"
"See?! See?! Zar gets me!"
"But at the same time, I believe those two are currently at war. We're kinda in between them." Kahil pointed out, rocking back and forth on his heels. "I suppose it's easy enough to claim neutrality, but it wouldn't last long."
"Besides! Sindria just got Reim and Magnoshutatt on their side! That's a super-power and something Kou had been after for a while now!" the old quack declared, tapping his staff against the stone of the ziggurat.
Finally shaking Chaya off my back, I stood up. "And wasn't Magnoshutatt a little place like us?! Until people started sending delegates?! Huh?!" I snarled, throwing my arms out wide.
"Malik, you're acting like a brat." Zahara sighed.
"I am a brat!" I snapped back, flipping her off.
Sighing, she turned to Zaria. "Sweetie, would you stand next to him?"
Neither of us really knew what she was doing until she'd ordered Uriel to sit on us. Taking Zaria's staff away, Zahara declared, "Now we should go write those dear young men back."
"You bitch! Just wait till I get outta here, I'll tear yer throat out!" I howled, Zaria shrieking all sorts of incoherent abuse next to me as the others walked off. "Uriel, you traitor, I'll skin you alive! Geddoffa us, you fucker!"