Chapter 39
Good Relations
The evening sky had already turned a deep, velvety purple and was dimming even further to pure black as Telepe made his way through the empty halls of Vahtache's palace. His boots echoed softly off of the marble floors as he strode beneath the glowing crystals lighting his way, pausing for only a moment to absently slip out of the way of a passing servant carrying an amphora of wine. Fortunately for the servant, his reaction was almost a reflex, and he was so absorbed by his thoughts that he didn't even notice the sour look the servant shot him.
Perrif had yet to select a new ruler for Vahtache, and while she still had time to make her decision, what frustrated Telepe was the fact that there was no clear candidate to succeed the former royal family. Appointing a native Ayleid noble was out of the question. For one, there were few left, and whomever was selected would have a disproportionate amount of power compared to the other kingdoms. Often, the ambitions of the royal family were kept in check by the other nobles, who had their own designs and plots, which put restraints on their power. However, Telepe reckoned that there were only two, perhaps three noble lines remaining in the city. If any of the remaining families was granted the throne, their power would be virtually limitless.
Worse – and the more obvious reason why they couldn't allow an Ayleid to assume the throne – it was more than likely that the new king would abuse their power to exact revenge on the humans in their city. Telepe had not borne witness to the slaughter of the elves beneath the city, but given what he knew of Pelinal, it was most likely brutal and cruel to the point of matching on the Ayleids' own sadism. The rumors alone could be more than enough to incite the elves against the rebel slaves, and if those rumors were confirmed, the human citizens of Vahtache could all but expect a purge.
However, a viable human candidate also had yet to emerge. Arpenia had been unique in that the elven nobility had given their human subjects a great deal of responsibility, so they were already familiar with the nuances of ruling a kingdom. In Ceya-Tar, Akripa had proven himself a natural leader, capable of officially taking the reins of the kingdom after spending years tacitly guiding and aiding his fellow slaves. To Telepe's knowledge, there was no such person in Vahtache, no one of exceptional intellect or leadership that they could coronate without fearing that the kingdom would fall into ruin once the rebel army departed.
At first, he had considered suggesting that another human from Arpenia be called to Vahtache to serve as a clerk and advisor for a puppet ruler until they could select a permanent ruler. However, the longer he considered that idea, the less he liked it. They were already relying heavily upon the educated humans of Arpenia, and that posed two potential problems. First, Arpenia only had so many men and women that they could send to other kingdoms before they simply ran out of quality advisors. The Ayleids in Arpenia had been more willing than most to teach their humans writing and mathematics, but it wasn't as though every slave in the city had received a scholarly education. Eventually, the pool would run dry.
Telepe was also wary of corruption. While the men of Arpenia had yet to show themselves as anything less than loyal, faithful advisors wherever they had been sent, he wondered what would happen if an advisor decided that they held more loyalty to Arpenia than to their assigned ruler. It was possible that a particularly ambitious or cunning advisor would retain their loyalty to Arpenia over their new kingdom. If they did, they might advise a naïve king to take actions that would weaken their own domain while potentially strengthening Arpenia. Taken to its logical extreme, it might even encourage the formation of an Arpenian empire in the south. While Telepe realized that such was very unlikely to happen, he nevertheless felt it prudent to prepare for all contingencies.
That line of thinking made him realize that the rebels had also likely been placing too much emphasis on local rulership at the expense of establishing regional coordination. The rebels had time and again exploited the Ayleids' disunity and their emphasis upon loyalty to their individual city-states. At the moment, the rebels were unified under the leadership of the Paravant. However, if they focused solely upon establishing rulers in the various city-states, they would, in time, fall into the same trap – prizing loyalty to their home kingdoms over the unified cause of the rebellion. As such, it was necessary to forge entities that transcended the local kingdoms.
To that end, Telepe was in the midst of seeking out Perrif and Morihaus, to present a plan that he had been considering since before they had left Sancre Tor. He was uncertain how viable they would find his idea, especially since it had its own flaws, not the least of which was creating a system of overlordship, which he feared might eventually lead to the creation of regional warlords with power over multiple kingdoms, if they were careless with their selections. Still, he felt that it was the first step to not only establishing a broader system of realm-wide unity, but also addressing many of the leadership problems that had become increasingly apparent as the rebellion expanded and the rebels acquired more and more territory.
Telepe paused outside of the room where he had been told that Perrif was sleeping. To his relief, he saw a dim yellow light shining through the cracks in the heavy wooden door, suggesting that she was inside. With a pleased smile, he knocked lightly on the door.
He was startled when he heard a deep, muffled curse from inside, followed by an answering hiss, and then a faint rustling sound. He stood there, bewildered, as the rustling grew louder, and then he flinched at a crash that sounded like a metal dish or pitcher crashing to the floor. That was followed by another, louder curse and a low murmur of sympathy, and then there were a few moments of silence.
Finally, the door was flung open, and Telepe stepped back, slightly alarmed, as Perrif peeked at him from behind the door. "Telepe? What is it?" she half-demanded.
Telepe hesitated as he looked her up and down. Her dark hair was matted and disheveled, hanging wildly around her shoulders, and he noticed a faint sheen of sweat on her skin. As he looked closer, he also realized that her chest was heaving, as though she was trying to catch her breath.
"Ah… I wished to speak with you about an idea about consolidating the army," he said slowly, a sense of nervousness and unease creeping over him. "I had also hoped to discuss it with Morihaus, though I wished to present it to you first."
"Oh! Is… is that so?" Perrif asked, seeming slightly dazed. She ran her hand over her face, then frowned at the sweat glistening on her fingertips.
"Yes… though… this seems to be a poor time to suggest it," Telepe added quickly. "If you would like, I can speak with you later this mor-"
"Ah! No," Perrif said suddenly, holding up her hand. She sighed, then shook her head, apparently mentally composing herself. "No. Come in."
Perrif pulled the door open a little wider and stepped aside as she invited him into the room. Telepe's anxiety grew acute as he was struck with a sense of foreboding, and he briefly considered simply walking away. However, he decided that it would be even ruder to decline her invitation at this point, so he reluctantly stepped into the room.
The first thing he noticed was that a silver goblet of wine had fallen to the floor, and that a plate and tray were scattered across the desk's top, as though someone had run into the desk and knocked over its contents. His eyes then trailed up from the floor, and he was stunned to see Morihaus standing at the window with his back to the door. The minotaur leaned on the windowsill, staring outside, his arms crossed, and his wings folded against his back. He seemed almost serene… were it not for the fact that he was clad only in a hastily pinned cloth skirt. His fur was also glistening with sweat, much like Perrif's skin, and as Telepe looked closer, he realized that Morihaus was actively avoiding his gaze.
Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of Perrif once again as she closed the door. He saw that her robe was hastily tied, so that the center of her chest was half-exposed, and that her legs were rather unsteady. In the candlelight, he also realized that her face was flushed with exertion, and, he suspected, embarrassment.
He then also noticed that the cot in the corner of the room was skewed at an angle, and that the rough blankets and pillows were scattered on its surface.
He stood in the doorway, stunned by the scene before him, and for the briefest instant, his eyes widened as comprehension dawned on him. However, thankfully, his diplomatic training then took hold, and his expression became neutral once more. Perrif peeked up at him from beneath her hair, and though he doubted that she had seen his momentary astonishment, it was clear that she was bracing for his reaction to their obvious indiscretion.
Calmly, Telepe turned to the man-bull and announced, "Ah, general! I'm pleased that you're here, as I wished to discuss this with you as well. This saves me the trouble of tracking you down later."
Morihaus turned from the window, and Telepe pretended not to see the furtive glance that he exchanged with Perrif. He motioned to the chair by the desk, tacitly asking if he could take it, and when Perrif nodded, he sat down and pulled his scroll out of the wooden case, then unfurled it.
"Over the last several weeks, I've been pondering the organization of our army," he announced, as Perrif and Morihaus crowded closer to look over his shoulder. "I've come to realize that as it has grown larger, it's become increasingly unwieldly, especially with 'centurion' remaining the highest rank in the hierarchy, save for you, General." He glanced up at the pair and explained, "Therefore, I'd like to propose a solution – the creation of a rank between centurion and general."
"Indeed?" Perrif asked in an intrigued tone, folding her arms over her chest and leaning in a little closer. Telepe noticed that her embarrassed flush was gone now that she was focused on his proposition. He resisted the urge to smile to himself.
"Yes. While Morihaus would retain overall command of the army, these new officers would be granted control over the regions that we've conquered," Telepe explained. He rolled the scroll further down to reveal a map of Cyrod, which he had marked with a reed pen, dividing it into sub-regions. "For instance, I would recommend that we treat the Blackwood as one single region, and the area around Sancre Tor as another. These new leaders would have control over the recruitment of men from these areas, and would be tasked with overseeing the provisioning and armament of their men, drawing from the resources of their assigned locations. They would, as I said, still report to you, General, and requisitions for supplies outside of their areas would be approved or denied based on your judgment."
"Intriguing," Perrif remarked, glancing up at Morihaus. "What are your thoughts?"
"Hm. If they must recruit their own warriors from their regions, how would they know how many men they have available?" Morihaus rumbled, folding his arms over his chest.
"To that end, I would propose a census," Telepe explained, lowering the scroll slightly. "We have enough literate men and women that we can assign a few to calculate the population of a region. The commanders could then recruit from the population, using the census as a reference guide so that they don't overtax their regional supplies. In truth, a regional census would also be useful for a number of other items, not the least of which are taxation and tracking population growth."
"What of the kings, though?" Perrif asked. "Would they not protest?"
"They likely would," Telepe admitted. "Which is why these new officers would need to be individuals of forceful personality and sound mind. They would need to work with the local rulers, who would certainly be permitted to keep their kingdom guard, but would also be required to provide a number of levies that can be called upon to reinforce the rebellion's army. In exchange, it would be wise of us to remind them of the benefits of the army's protection," he added with a sly smile.
Morihaus nodded slowly and began pacing back and forth, his massive arms folded over his chest, his head bowed in thought. "How did you intend to divide the regions?" he asked.
Telepe laid the map out on the desk and began pointing to the subdivisions that he had created. "As I said, the first region I was considering was the Blackwood region, extending from the mouth of the Niben up to about Culotte. The other region that we currently control is Sancre Tor and its surrounding territories. I also propose the formation of a third region in the east here, extending from roughly Nornal to Sedor," he added, tracing his finger along the map. "We could also eventually create a region comprised of the Jerall Mountains in the north, and another region that encompasses the Great Forest, perhaps with Lindai marking the border between the Sancre Tor region and the Great Forest region."
"We should give these regions names that are easier to remember," Perrif remarked with a chuckle. "It's not as though 'the Army of the Sancre Tor Region' has a particular ring to it."
Telepe smiled slightly and looked back down at the map. After considering for a few moments, he suggested, "What about colors? Blackwood and Sancre Tor both have distinct colors tied to them – black and gold, respectively. The eastern region has several rivers running through it, so perhaps that could be the blue region, while the Jerall Mountains are silver in color, and would make a good complement to nearby Sancre Tor's gold. Obviously, the Great Forest would be green."
"What of Colovia?" Morihaus asked, moving his hand away from the Nibenay Basin out towards the western regions of Cyrod.
Telepe hesitated, then shook his head and smiled faintly. "Let's concern ourselves with that when we turn our attention to the west," he suggested. "For now, we have more than enough to occupy ourselves in Nibenay."
"A fair point," Perrif agreed. "I do rather like the concept of colored regions… legions," she added with a wry grin. "The Gold Legion of Sancre Tor, the Black Legion of the Blackwood… yes. Those are names that the men can rally around." She chuckled to herself, then turned back to Telepe. "What of the legion commanders, then? Do you have suggestions?"
"For the Black Legion? Not at present," Telepe admitted. "However, as that is our most established legion, I would recommend a seasoned veteran from our earliest campaigns, someone who you personally trust and who has shown unmatched competence and loyalty."
Perrif raised an eyebrow, smiling faintly. "Yet you seem to have a candidate in mind to command the Gold Legion," she remarked.
Telepe nodded firmly, standing up and folding his hands behind his back. "I wish to offer my wholehearted recommendation that Edanu be given command of that legion," he announced. "He is already the de facto leader of Sancre Tor, and the other centurions in the city defer to him on all decisions. This would simply be a matter of making his authority in that region official."
Perrif chuckled lightly as she ran her fingers through her tangled hair. "Well… you have been working with him for several months now, and while I personally do not know him very well, I do know and trust you."
"I assure you, it wouldn't just be me giving that recommendation," Telepe insisted. "His men are fiercely loyal to him, and Prince Dynar has also borne witness to his leadership abilities. He is not the most brilliant general, nor the most charismatic leader, but he possesses a good intellect and personality in equal measure, which I personally find more valuable than if he was particularly brilliant in only one area or the other. What's more, he has already been overseeing Sancre Tor, and by extension its surrounding territories, for months. Even though he's had no oversight from you or Morihaus, he has remained loyal and administered the region ably. I have no reservations providing my recommendation for his official promotion to commander of the Gold Legion."
Perrif continued to smile slightly at Telepe, seeming amused at his forceful assertion. She then turned to Morihaus. "General, you have worked with the Black Legion far longer than any of us," she said. "Can you think of any centurions who might match Telepe's description of Edanu?"
Morihaus stood a bit straighter, gazing down at the floor thoughtfully. "Would you permit me a few moments to collect my thoughts?" he asked after a long pause. "I would like some time to consider my recommendations."
"You have my leave to do so," Perrif nodded.
Morihaus bowed his head briefly and then lumbered out of the room, his hooves echoing loudly on the polished marble floors. A slight smile played on Perrif's lips as she watched him depart, and then she turned to Telepe with a bright smile. "Thank you for your suggestion, Telepe," she said, folding her hands in her lap as she took a seat on the bed. "Morihaus had been worrying over the expansion of the army for weeks now, especially considering how unwieldly it has become relying solely upon the centurions. In truth, he had already devised a solution not very dissimilar from yours. I imagine seeing that your proposal is so similar to his has given him some measure of confidence and relief."
"I'm pleased that I was able to assist him, then," Telepe chuckled. He then glanced away uneasily. "Though you have my apologies for interrupting you if you were speaking with him."
"Oh! We weren't spea-" Perrif began. She suddenly realized what she was saying and turned bright red, and then she looked away, unable to meet Telepe's eyes. "I mean-!" she exclaimed.
A slow grin spread across Telepe's face as Perrif covered her face with her hands. This was the first time he had ever seen her so flustered. "So… if I may," he broached delicately. When she peeked at him through her fingers, he asked, "You and Morihaus are…?"
"We have… become close, yes," Perrif coughed, still unable to fully meet his gaze.
"I see," Telepe said slowly. An awkward silence hovered between them for a moment, and then he added, "In truth, I'm happy for you. I also believe it's a good match. Morihaus is a brilliant general and a most loyal companion."
"Loyal… yes, he is," Perrif remarked with a mysterious smile, her gaze wandering away from Telepe as she lowered her hands. "However, it's more than simple loyalty that draws me to him. Aside from those that escaped with me from Sancre Tor, Morihaus is my oldest companion. What's more, before I met him, I was merely one of thousands, perhaps millions of Nedes dreaming of freedom. Morihaus was the one who made my dream a possibility. It was he who transformed a small band of frightened refugee slaves into a warband. It was he who devised the strategems that have allowed us to stand against the might of dozens of Ayleid kingdoms. He is wise, courageous, and his strength is matched only by Pelinal's. And I feel that, perhaps even more than Pelinal himself, no one is more devoted to me." She turned back around, her smile turning almost shy. "How could I not be enamored with him?"
Telepe grinned at her as he set down his scroll and sat on the edge of the desk, folding his arms over his chest. "Indeed. What's more, it's a match that none in your rebellion could protest, as none could challenge him for your hand. After all, what man could hope to compare to a god?"
"Perhaps. Though I would rather this not be brought to light just yet," Perrif requested, her smile fading. "I do not wish for the others to feel that my favor for Morihaus suggests that I value them any less. What's more, were our enemies to discover our… connection, I fear that they would seek to exploit it, to harm me through him. I cannot prevent him from fighting alongside our warriors, but it is one thing for him to risk his life as a warrior, and another for him to be in danger because of my affection for him." She stared at Telepe intently. "I am trusting you with this secret. Please, keep your silence about this."
"You have my word," Telepe assured her easily, holding up his hand. "I know well how that sort of bond can cause no end of worry."
"Yes… I suspect you would," Perrif said slyly, her smile creeping onto her lips again. As Telepe frowned, she added smugly, "Come now, do you think me blind? You and Tari have always been close, but you two have been inseparable of late."
Telepe felt heat creeping along the back of his neck, though he was slightly surprised to realize that it didn't spread to his ears like usual. He was a bit embarrassed, but certainly not ashamed. "Ah… yes," he muttered, glancing away with a sheepish grin. "When we were traveling to read her Elder Scroll, we had a bit of time to talk and resolve some… lingering doubts. Once we did, we chose to become… more affectionate with each other."
"I'm pleased!" Perrif laughed merrily. "For as long as I've known you two, you've been quite close, and I often wondered why you maintained an odd sort of distance with each other. I'm glad to see that's no longer the case."
"I simply consider myself fortunate that she was willing to wait while I settled my concerns," Telepe chuckled sheepishly. "She's a most remarkable woman – intelligent, bold, and fearless. I consider myself fortunate to have caught her eye."
"She is fortunate as well," Perrif smiled, approaching him and laying a hand on his shoulder. "You truly deserve each other, and I hope your joy lasts."
A clatter of hooves caught their attention before they could say any more. As they looked up, Morihaus walked into the room, holding a scroll. He approached Perrif and held it out to her, whereupon she opened it up and examined the writing. "These are the centurions that have shown the most courage and valor throughout our campaign in the Blackwood," he explained, folding his arms over his chest. "While I would like to make a personal recommendation, I also wish to discuss my selection for legion commander with you first, as ultimately, it is ultimately you that he serves, not I."
Perrif glanced at Telepe with a faint smile, and then she turned back to Morihaus and inclined her head. "I thank you, Morihaus, but please know that I have always placed my trust in you when it came to our armies," she said softly. "You fought alongside these men even when I was not present, and you know them far better than I. I shall certainly hear your reasoning, offer my opinion, and confirm your selection, but please know that I wholeheartedly trust your judgment."
Morihaus' eyes widened with surprise, and then he inclined his head humbly. "You honor me, Paravania," he muttered.
"Paravania?" Telepe mouthed to himself, unable to resist grinning at the unfamiliar variation of her name. There was something tender about the way Morihaus said the name, which led him to think that it was reserved for them alone.
"Telepe?" a voice called from the hallway. Telepe looked away from the pair in time to see Tari wandering the halls, gazing around for him. Telepe cleared his throat, and when she turned towards the sound, he held his hand up to her and smiled.
"What is it?" he asked gently.
"I was wondering if you had eaten-" she began as she stepped into the room. A moment later, she abruptly stopped short and slowly gazed around the room. Her eyes roamed from Telepe, sitting casually on the edge of the desk, to Morihaus and Perrif in their half-undressed state, and then finally on the disheveled bed leaning against the wall.
Morihaus and Perrif pointedly looked away from her as Tari gaped at the damning scene, while Telepe struggled to keep from bursting out laughing. His mirth evaporated almost instantly, however, when Tari abruptly turned back around and quickly strode towards him. He let out a gasp of surprise as she reached out and grabbed the front of his tunic, and he could feel an intense heat burning behind her eyes as she gazed up at him.
"My lady… I would like to steal Telepe, if you have finished speaking with him," she announced in a harsh tone.
"Please," Perrif encouraged. Telepe glanced at her over the top of Tari's head, but she had already turned her attention back to Morihaus, and a moment later Tari was all but dragging him out of the room with her.
After a few steps, Telepe managed to pull her hand from his tunic, but when he did, she took the opportunity to twine her fingers with his as she led him down the hallway. "Tari-!" he protested.
Without warning, she suddenly turned and stood on her toes, pressing her lips heatedly against his. Telepe's eyes widened briefly with surprise, and though he didn't pull away, he did gaze down at her with a look of confusion when she finally broke the kiss. She then pressed into him, her hands splayed against his chest.
"Telepe…." she began in a low, husky whisper. "I agreed that we should exercise caution and restraint while we were traveling. Even shortly after the siege of this city ended, there was still a danger that a few of our enemies might have escaped our blades, so I remained patient." She took a deep breath and pressed a little closer, and Telepe felt his heart pounding as her small body pushed against his. "However… the city is now safe, and this palace especially is well-guarded. We are in no danger here." She brushed her lips against his once more, then whispered, "I don't wish to wait any longer."
Telepe inhaled sharply, and then a delighted grin spread across his lips. He didn't bother asking her if she was certain. Rather, he responded by pulling her up onto her toes again and kissing her passionately, which she immediately reacted to with just as much ardor. A moment later, they were rushing down the hallway to his room, where he all but barreled through the door with her in his arms.
As they tumbled into the room, Tari's hands clenched the wool fabric of Telepe's tunic, holding him tightly to her as they kissed. Telepe barely managed to keep his balance as she backed towards the bed, pulling him with her. Only when she felt the mattress against her calves did she pause for a second to break the kiss and glance over her shoulder. When she turned back to him, she smiled gently and put her hand on his cheek with a tender look in her eyes.
"I love you," she said softly.
Telepe felt a shock of joy run through him, his heart hammering furiously in his chest. A slow smile spread across his lips, and he slid his hands down to her hips, pulling her against him a bit more securely as his silver eyes peered into her bright green.
"And I, you," he replied.
A delighted grin spread across Tari's face, and she placed another quick kiss on his lips before insistently pulling him down with her. "Show me," she whispered.
Telepe responded with another deep, heated kiss as they fell onto the bed together. He was more than happy to spend the rest of the night with her, doing just that.
A low but insistent knocking suddenly jolted Telepe out of his dreamless sleep, and a moment later, he became aware of a soft, warm weight on his chest, preventing him from sitting upright. He slowly opened his eyes and looked down to see Tari sleeping comfortably on his chest, one arm draped across his bare shoulders. He smiled fondly down at her for a moment before he laid his head back onto the pillow and closed his eyes again, hoping that he had only imagined the knocking sound, and that he could enjoy a bit more time basking in his blissful warmth and satiation.
To his annoyance, the knocking resumed, a bit louder and more insistent this time. Telepe briefly considered continuing to ignore it until Tari stirred and grunted, clearly also disturbed by the sound. She opened one eye and smiled up at him, then pressed her cheek against his chest again so that she could glare at the door.
"…You should probably answer that," she remarked absently.
"Mm… no," he replied stubbornly. Tari turned back to him, chuckling softly as she rested her chin on his chest.
"I agree," she said smugly, before sighing and nudging his hip. "But the message could be important. You should see to it."
Telepe groaned to himself and put his hand over his eyes. Another, much louder knock caused a brief surge of anger to flare in his chest, and he reluctantly pulled out of Tari's comfortable grasp. He pulled on his breeches and tunic, then ran his fingers through his tangled hair before stalking over to the doorway and wrenching it open.
"Yes?" he asked, half-hissing the word. He looked down to see a teenage boy staring up at him, his hand raised to knock on the door again.
"Forgive me, but the Paravant wishes to speak with you at your earliest convenience," the boy announced, lowering his hand. "She claims that she has received visitors from some of the surrounding kingdoms, and she requests your assistance in treating with them." When Telepe raised an eyebrow at the boy, he added quickly, "She also mentioned that if you wish to take some time to make yourself presentable and break your fast, she can wait a short while, though she urges you not to delay too long."
Telepe's mouth twisted into a scowl, but then he nodded reluctantly down at the boy. "I see. Thank you for delivering the message," he said blearily. "You may inform her that I'll be along in a few moments."
The boy inclined his head and hurried away as Telepe closed the door behind him. When he turned back around, he saw that Tari was sitting up in bed, the sheets bunched around her waist.
"Summons?" she asked with a yawn.
"Unfortunately," Telepe sighed, wandering back to the bed and taking a seat on the edge of it.
"I see. A pity, as I was hoping to have a bit more time with you," Tari admitted. She edged closer and wrapped her arms around him from behind, pressing her chest into his back and her cheek against his. He smiled and squeezed her hand as she added, "Nevertheless, duty does come first."
"Unfortunately," Telepe repeated, then grinned at her wryly when she chuckled. "Though she's permitting us a meal, at least, if you'd care to join me."
"Of course. Allow me a moment to collect myself," Tari said, placing a soft kiss on his cheek before crawling off the bed to retrieve her chiton.
The pair shared a quick meal of dates and bread soaked in watered wine, and then Telepe spent a few additional minutes through his pack to pull out his formal grey tunic and black breeches, which he hastily donned before they made their way out of the door together. The page was leaning against the wall just outside of their room, anxiously shifting his weight from one foot to the other. Telepe started towards him, but then paused and turned back to Tari, suddenly pulling her against him. Tari let out a surprised but delighted gasp, then grinned up at him as he gave her a wistful, apologetic smile before brushing a quick kiss against her lips. "I shall try not to take too long," he assured her.
"You shall take as much time as Perrif requires of you," Tari chastised him, though she softened her words with an appreciative smile. "I have my own tasks to attend to anyways. If you would to seek me out later, you can likely find me in the palace gardens. The previous king was growing a remarkably hardy crop of foxglove that I wish to examine."
"As you say," Telepe chuckled, holding up a hand in a playfully defeated manner. Tari grinned and touched his cheek, then quickly pulled out of his grasp and began strolling down the hall towards the palace entrance. Telepe sighed to himself as he watched her depart, and then he nodded to the page, who waited until Telepe acknowledged him before he began leading Telepe in the opposite direction.
The boy guided him through the halls of the palace, and eventually they arrived in front of a pair of wooden doors. A hoplite standing guard outside of the room opened one of the doors for him, revealing a large, ornately decorated room that Telepe suspected had once been an art gallery. The walls were lined with ornate tapestries and painted vases, and bronze Ayleid statues loomed in the corners of the room. The center of the room was dominated by a large, rectangular table made of marble, around which a few figures were arrayed. On one side of the table sat Perrif, clad in a rich red robe, with Morihaus standing behind her and Prince Dynar seated to her left, both wearing bronze armor. Across from them sat a trio of Ayleid nobles, two of which were garbed in rich, brightly colored chitons trimmed with gold and jewels, and the third of which was likewise wearing ornate, ceremonial armor. Telepe's eyes briefly lingered on the three elves until Perrif noticed him entering the room, whereupon she smiled warmly at him in greeting.
"Telepe! Welcome," she announced, motioning for him to take the seat to her right. "I trust you slept well?"
"Quite soundly, thank you," Telepe replied in an even tone. He noticed the mischievous look in her eyes and the subtle way she smirked at him knowingly, but he refused to give her the satisfaction of a reaction. "Please forgive my tardiness."
"Not at all!" a young Ayleid man wearing a deep blue chiton and silver circlet replied, waving off Telepe's apology. "We only just arrived ourselves, and it is our fault for arriving unannounced."
"Telepe, allow me to introduce our honored guests," Dynar explained, motioning to the other mer. "This is Elindir, Prince of Fanacas; Karanbel, General of Belda; and Lady Sarinen, of Nagastani." He motioned to each of the elves in turn, each of whom acknowledged Telepe with a nod or a smile, though Telepe noted that while their gestures were cordial, there was no warmth in their eyes.
"It is an honor indeed to make your acquaintances," Telepe said graciously as he slipped into the chair beside Perrif. "I hope your journey was not too arduous."
"It was quite pleasant, actually," Lady Sarinen replied in a cool but civil tone. As she spoke, the page that had led Telepe through the hall began hurrying around the table, pouring goblets of wine for the guests.
"Now then, you mentioned that you had important matters to discuss with us?" Perrif asked, folding her hands in front of her.
"We did," Prince Elendir replied, his voice melodic and almost sweet. "We would first like to congratulate you on your recent victory here in Vahtache. This city has long been a bitter rival of ours, and while we have fought many wars against her, we were never able to breach her walls. Your conquest of her was… inspired."
"It also shows the nascent power of your reb- of your cause," General Karanbal added, his deep, booming voice echoing off the hollow marble walls. He leaned forward slightly, and Telepe winced as his bronze armor caught the light streaming in from the windows and reflected it into his eyes. "You army has proven itself worthy of respect. As such, we wish to reach an accord with you."
"Indeed?" Perrif asked pleasantly. "Then how might we accommodate you?"
"All of our kingdoms would like to enter a non-aggression pact with you," Lady Sarinen announced bluntly.
Telepe managed to keep his expression blank, barely disguising his confusion at the elves' sudden declaration. He opened his mouth, but before he could speak, Perrif smiled pleasantly and replied, "We are delighted to hear that you seek a peaceful relationship with us." Telepe closed his mouth and glanced at her out of the corner of his eye as she laced her fingers together and rested her hands on the table. "What do you propose?"
"We would ask very little of you," Sarinen replied simply, apparently taking the lead for the Ayleids just as Perrif was for the rebels. "If you agree not to assault our cities, we shall, in turn, leave yours be as well."
"That seems a rather reasonable request," Perrif replied pleasantly. "We can certainly agree to that."
Telepe remained silent, but he privately felt that Perrif should press for more. While he would certainly encourage her to push for peace with the kingdoms that wanted it, something about the elves' sudden desire for peace disturbed him. He also felt that they were in a good position to push for more than a simple non-aggression pact – the Ayleids had come to them with this offer, meaning the rebels were in a position to dictate the terms of the agreement, and he didn't want Perrif to squander this opportunity. He surreptitiously glanced at Dynar, but the elven prince was staring at the mer across from him and didn't meet his gaze. Telepe inhaled slowly, mentally reminding himself that Perrif had already successfully negotiated with other kingdoms without his assistance. If she wished to conduct these talks, he needed to trust her judgment.
"Wonderful," Lady Sarinen said with a sharp nod of her head, and she began to push herself up. "Let us have this agreement drafted, and we shall be off-"
"Do you not wish to request more?" Perrif asked sweetly. Sarinen paused, halfway out of her seat, and she tilted her head curiously at Perrif. "We have much more to offer you than a simple peace negotiation, if you would consider our proposal."
Sarinen glanced at Karanbel cautiously. The elven general responded by lifting one shoulder in a slight shrug, while beside him, Prince Elindir raised an eyebrow. "What… precisely would you be offering?" Sarinen asked slowly.
"What do you desire?" Perrif replied with an easy smile. "We have an abundance of trade goods that we could offer you, if you wish. For instance, with our latest victory, we have acquired a surplus of high-quality weapons and armor, far more than our warriors can use. We've even found ways to improve our arms – our smiths have developed a forging method that allows us to temper the bronze, more than doubling its strength and durability. We could show you, if you'd like."
"Ah. I assure you, we have little need-" Sarinen began.
"Have you?" Karanbel interrupted. Sarinen paused and turned to glare at the general, but the Ayleid warrior was already leaning forward, clearly intrigued. "I noticed that your men are no longer simply donning captured Ayleid armor. I wondered if you were simply altering them to fit your soldiers, though I also thought their cuirasses seemed a bit thicker. You say you've strengthened the bronze? Without increasing the weight?"
"General… the heartlands are quite peaceful right now," Sarinen said icily, narrowing her eyes at her compatriot. "We have no need of additional arms."
"They are peaceful now, yes," Karanbel countered, his own voice hardening as he met the lady's gaze. "However, it is not unwise to prepare for future conflicts."
Telepe glanced between the two mer as they glowered at each other, biting the inside of his cheek thoughtfully as he watched them. Finally, Sarinen sighed and turned back to Perrif. "If you are offering your forging methods as a gift, we might be persuaded to accept it," she said reluctantly.
"Wonderful!" Perrif said cheerfully. "In that case, could we perhaps offer you other goods as well? I imagine that with our blockade of the Niben, it has become increasingly difficult to acquire certain comforts that you have become accustomed to. We also have a surplus of honey, for instance, if you are interested. There was an exceptional harvest from the hives of Veyond this year."
Sarinen's eyes widened slightly at the mention of the blockade, and Telepe noticed a brief flicker of fury flash across her face. Realization dawned on him, and he glanced at Perrif with a very faint smile. Her offer had been innocent enough, and a prospective ally might have been intrigued or elated at her offer – in fact, Elindir did seem to be nodding thoughtfully, while Karanbel clearly remained interested in her offer of arms. The anger that had flared in Sarinen's eyes, however, had belied her true intentions. She likely had an ulterior motive, and did not relish having to negotiate with the rebellion.
"We appreciate your generosity," Sarinen said tightly, inclining her head towards Perrif in a deferential bow. "Nevertheless, we must insist that our first and only priority is securing peace with your rebellion. Any future agreements must be of secondary consideration, and we would like to discuss them at a later date, once cordial relations have been firmly established."
"Of course," Perrif said with a warm smile, matching the mer's bow with one of her own. "Rest assured, we want nothing less ourselves. Would you allow me a few moments to confer with my advisors? I am still a novice at the art of negotiation, and I wish to ask their guidance before I provide you with a response."
"As you wish," Sarinen said coolly. Telepe noticed that the suspicion in her voice had faded, and she seemed to have been mollified by Perrif's admission of her own inexperience. "We shall take our leave for now."
"Much obliged!" Perrif said with a bright smile, and she motioned to her guards.
The hoplites stepped forward and swiftly led the elves out of the room. When the door was closed, Perrif's sunny façade dropped, and she laced her fingers together, glancing back and forth between Telepe and Dynar.
"I would have your thoughts," she said, dropping the sweet, almost simple tone she had been speaking in up to that point.
As Dynar pushed himself up, Telepe leaned back in his chair and folded his arms over his chest. "Rather single-minded, aren't they?" he remarked airily. "At least Lady Sarinen was. She clearly came here with one objective – to secure a non-aggression pact with us, and nothing else."
"Yes, but why?" Perrif asked, frowning at him.
"If I had to guess? She was given a directive from her king and ordered not to deviate from it," Telepe replied, turning back to her. "Her staunch refusal to accept any of your offers suggests to me not that they are trying to keep the terms of the treaty simple, but that they are trying to avoid giving you a chance to push for more than a simple promise not to assault their lands. In fact, I suspect that she can barely tolerate speaking with you. I don't know if you noticed it, but she was furious that you mentioned that we control the mouth of the Niben." He smiled lightly as he put his chair back down. "Between that and your unconditional offers of trade goods, you rather effectively forced them to deviate from what I suspect was a carefully structured script that they were instructed to follow. Was that intentional?"
Perrif chuckled, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "When I negotiated with Mackamentain and other kingdoms, I noticed that Ayleid envoys typically expect threats and intimidation, and prepare themselves to fight for concessions. When a gift is offered instead, they typically react in one of two ways – with confusion and suspicion, or with greed. The former you saw with Lady Sarinen, and the latter in General Karanbel. Either way, it often throws them off their guard and gives one an opening to exploit."
Telepe grinned and shook his head. He had exploited the Ayleids' confusion when gifts were freely offered before as well, but he was amazed that Perrif had noticed and turned it to her advantage so quickly. "Masterfully done," he praised her softly. Perrif answered with a bright grin of her own and inclined her head.
"Quite," Dynar agreed, slowly sauntering around to the other side of the table, his hands folded behind his back. "However, I would also warn you that the reason why most Ayleids are unaccustomed to the concept of gifts is because we fear our opponents shall use whatever we offer against us. While we are unfamiliar with compromise and consolation, we are exceedingly well-versed in using any advantage that is presented to us." He pinned her with his eerie blue eyes. "Take care that you do not inadvertently allow your enemies to actually seize an advantage from you."
"I shall bear that in mind," Perrif nodded, her grin fading. "Now. What of our guests?"
Dynar looked over at Telepe, then glanced towards the door, where the Ayleids were waiting outside. "I concur with your assessment, Telepe, and I would also add that I believe those three decided upon their terms before meeting with us, and jointly decided to only negotiate peace terms."
"Well… two of them did," Telepe amended. Dynar glanced back at him, and he explained, "If you watched their interactions, it seemed as though General Karanbel was taking his cues from Lady Sarinen, and she was particularly piqued when he seized upon our offer of arms, as that was a deviation from what they planned. I believe that word of Vahtache's fall reached them at roughly the same time, and they conspired with each other before coming here, agreeing to reinforce each other's positions."
"Then what of Fanacas?" Perrif asked.
Telepe shook his head. "I do not believe Prince Elindir is part of their alliance. While admittedly it's difficult to tell, as he remained silent for most of the negotiation, I noticed that Lady Sarinen was not watching him to ensure he followed her lead as well."
"That would make sense," Dynar remarked thoughtfully. "Fanacas is on the other side of Vahtache, far from Belda and Nagastani. It is unlikely they could have exchanged messages so soon after Vahtache's capture."
"Precisely," Telepe nodded. "It's more likely that Fanacas heard of Vahtache's fall at roughly the same time as Nagastani and Belda, and independently decided to meet with us. They may have arrived at the same time as Belda and Nagastani, and they simply chose to join their fellow Ayleids in speaking with us. Prince Elindir also seems content to simply follow Lady Sarinen's lead so long as it concludes with peace, but I do not believe he is conspiring with her."
"Intriguing," Perrif murmured, before turning to Dynar. "Your thoughts?"
"I believe that assessment is accurate," Dynar agreed, standing behind the Ayleids' chairs. "What's more, I feel that Fanacas is negotiating with us in good faith, while Belda and Nagastani have ulterior motives in attempting to secure peace with us. They do not wish to be attacked, but they have no interest in forging an alliance. They do not trust us."
"That's a bold conclusion," Perrif remarked. "What makes you think that?"
Dynar smiled and tilted two of the wine glasses forward for Perrif to see. "Belda and Nagastani have not touched their wine," he pointed out. "If we feel that an enemy cannot be trusted, we will not accept food or drink from them, as they may be poisoned. Sarinen and Karanbel have not even brought their goblets to their lips." He set the cups down and tilted the third one forward to show that it was nearly empty. "Prince Elindir, by contrast, has been enjoying his drink. I'm glad, too, as it's a rather delicious vintage."
"So then the question is, if Nagastani and Belda are still hostile to us, why are they seeking a non-aggression pact?" Telepe pondered, leaning back in his chair again as he rested his hand on his chin. "Surely they must have known that our siege was taking its toll on our forces. Why not simply band together and attack us while our army was weakened?" He glanced over at Dynar. "You know more of the kingdoms in this region. Are they averse to working together, perhaps?"
"Not especially," Dynar replied, shaking his head. "At times they've fought wars. They've also allied with each other when it was convenient for them. They have neither a particularly strong bond nor a bitter rivalry."
"Perhaps they decided that fighting us was futile," Perrif suggested, though her tone indicated that she doubted her own theory. "Perhaps the tales of Pelinal's prowess have cowed our enemies into seeking to avoid conflict with us."
"It's not as though that's stopped the other kingdoms that fought us," Telepe pointed out drily.
"No, I believe that if they felt they had an advantage, they would press it," Dynar agreed, shaking his head. Then he looked up, his eyes flashing as a thought crossed his mind. "Unless they are not the ones seeking a non-aggression pact."
Telepe frowned, and Perrif tilted her head. "What do you mean?" she asked.
"As Telepe said, there is little reason for Belda and Nagastani not to attack us," Dynar said, turning towards them and folding his arms. "Our army has been weakened by the siege, so they apparently outnumber our exhausted, decimated forces. There is no reason for two independent kingdoms not to march on us, yet they seek peace talks when we have not even provoked them. I have never known an Ayleid kingdom to pass up such an advantage." He smiled grimly and lowered his chin slightly. "However, perhaps they are not the ones who do not wish for us to attack them. Perhaps they are simply two small parts of some larger scheme, and they are being ordered to negotiate a peace treaty with us because some more powerful ruler sees more value in ensuring that we shall not attack them."
Perrif and Telepe glanced at each other, understanding dawning on both of their faces. "You believe that Umaril has ordered them to seek a non-aggression pact with us," Perrif concluded.
"It would explain their behavior," Telepe said slowly, running his thumb along his chin thoughtfully. "Lady Sarinen's hostility towards us is very thinly veiled, and General Karanbel was quite interested in Perrif's offer of additional arms. That would be understandable if they're still eager to wage war with us, yet are being forced to restrain themselves at Umaril's command." He looked towards Perrif, adding, "It would also explain why Lady Sarinen was furious when Karanbel sought to alter her proposal. Perhaps Umaril instructed them to only seek a non-aggression treaty – additional contingencies complicate matters, and if one party sweetens the offer, they can also demand more from the other party in return, which may be what Lady Sarinen feared when Karanbel leapt at your offer. She wishes to keep the treaty to non-aggression alone. To say nothing of the fact that she fears Karanbel gaining an advantage on her own kingdom once our rebellion is defeated," he added with a bitter smile.
"Which also suggests that they aren't as united as Umaril had hoped," Perrif noted. "Nor are they pleased that they must submit to his authority. Even so, the question remains – why does Umaril wish for these two cities in particular to make peace with us? What about them has him so concerned that he would encourage them to preclude an attack against them before we even considered it?"
Perrif turned to Dynar, who shook his head. "I confess, I am uncertain as well," he admitted. "I do not know of anything particularly special about either city that would draw our attention, nor that would make Umaril prioritize their safety."
Telepe ran his fingers along the stubble on his chin, then held up his hands. "Very well. Speculation will get us nowhere, so instead, let's focus on the matter at hand – are we going to negotiate a truce with these kingdoms?" When Perrif and Dynar remained silent for a few moments, he glanced at the elven prince. "Your Highness, what are your thoughts on Fanacas?"
Dynar glanced at him, then shook his head. "Their desire for peace seems to be a matter of genuine self-preservation. They are an isolated kingdom that has few allies to begin with, and with our conquest of Vahtache, they have been completely cut off from the rest of Cyrod. We have no reason to provoke them, so I have no reservations about negotiating a non-aggression pact with them."
"Very good," Perrif nodded. "And what of Nagastani and Belda?"
Telepe shook his head. "I believe we should secure a truce with them as well." When both Perrif and Dynar gave him a surprised look, he explained, "Even if their motives are suspicious, the fewer enemies that we must contend with, the better. Our army is still recovering from the battle for Vahtache, and aside from vague misgivings, we have no cause to march on Belda and Nagastani."
"True. But it would also be foolish to simply comply with their demands," Dynar countered, though his tone was not unkind.
"I concur," Perrif agreed, and Telepe nodded as well. "And they did come to us requesting peace, which does allow us to make certain demands in exchange for giving them what they desire. To that end, do you two believe they would agree to this arrangement?"
Perrif spent the next few minutes explaining her idea. When she finished, Telepe and Dynar offered their advice about how to phrase her request and what other offers she might make. Once they were all satisfied with the proposal, Perrif smiled gratefully at them, and then turned to the guards and signaled that they could once again allow their Ayleid guests into the room.
As the mer were once again ushered into the room, Telepe appraised them closely. General Karanbel swept into the room at the head of the trio, seeming the most eager to resume and conclude the negotiations. Lady Sarinen followed close behind, and though she was largely successful at keeping her expression neutral, Telepe noticed a tightness in her lips and a certain reservation in her movements that suggested that she was quite wary of the rebel envoys. Prince Elindir, by contrast, strode confidently into the room and smiled pleasantly at them as he slid easily into his seat.
"After much consideration, we have decided that we would be happy to agree to a non-aggression pact," Perrif announced, smiling warmly at the elves as she placed her laced fingers on the table.
"Excellent," Lady Sarinen said shortly. "If you wish to draw up the treaty, we shall sign it immediately and be on our way-"
"Of course," Perrif interrupted, pinning Sarinen with a pointed look that silenced her immediately. "And since you're so eager to establish our friendship, we're certain that you would not mind a few additional terms, would you?"
Sarinen visibly bristled at Perrif's request, while Karanbel frowned deeply, and Prince Elindir gave her a politely intrigued look. "Such as?" the elven woman asked coldly.
"First, we would like your assurance that you shall abolish slavery in your realm," Perrif said simply. "After all, we are waging this war because we believe slavery is an abhorrent institution that must be eradicated. You must understand that we cannot abide our new allies continuing to practice slavery when all others have been required to free their human citizens."
"You have our assurance that our human… friends shall indeed be freed," Sarinen said, almost too quickly, which suggested to Telepe that she had been prepared for that demand.
"Excellent!" Perrif smiled warmly. "Furthermore, as a demonstration of our trust in each other, we would like to request the right to traverse your lands freely, and to gain entry to your cities whenever we wish."
General Karanbel's face turned slightly red at the demand, and Sarinen's lips thinned as she narrowed her eyes. "For what purpose?" she asked sharply.
"For one, journeying across Cyrod is quite difficult for us," Perrif answered calmly. "We must constantly contend with hostile patrols, and even a simple journey can prove quite long and arduous, as we must either avoid the main roads or risk skirmishing with trained warriors. Nagastani and Belda both border the main highway, and while we cannot expect you to ensure our safety beyond your borders, it would be a great relief if we could at least travel through your territory without fearing assault from your patrols." Both Sarinen and Karanbel seemed to relax slightly at her explanation, which Telepe supposed meant that they at least found that part of the demand reasonable. "As for access to your cities," she continued, "we would like to trade with you as well. Our merchants must therefore be permitted entry inside your walls. They may also be guarded by armed warriors, and we do not wish for your guards to be alarmed if they see our men bearing arms inside your cities."
The lines around Sarinen's mouth tightened again. "We do not need to trade with you," Lady Sarinen said bluntly. "We merely want your assurance that you shall not attack us. In exchange, we swear that we shall not attack you. No more, no less."
"Are you certain?" Perrif pressed, her eyes widening with polite, innocent surprise. Telepe bit the inside of his cheek to keep from smirking at her act. "We are offering more than a simple cessation of hostilities. We are offering you the benefits of a full alliance, and all that comes with it. We would happily share with you our bounty of bronze, food, pottery-"
"That is quite unnecessary," Sarinen insisted, a hard edge in her voice underlining her growing frustration. "We shall look after ourselves. We value our independence, and we do not appreciate your intrusiveness. Leave us to our affairs, and we shall leave you to yours."
Perrif gazed at Sarinen for a moment longer, and then she shrugged and turned to Karanbel. "What of you, General?" she asked pleasantly, favoring him with a warm smile. "You mentioned earlier that you were interested in our arms and armor, yes?"
"I can assure you that the general has no interest in a trade agreement with you either," Sarinen interjected shortly, her eyes flaring.
Perrif turned to Sarinen and tilted her head slightly. "You would speak on behalf of both Nagastani and Belda, Lady Sarinen?" she asked. "You said that you value Nagastani's independence. Do you not respect Belda's?"
Telepe just barely kept himself from grinning as Karanbel glared at Sarinen and nodded in agreement. Sarinen responded with a venomous look, and then she turned back to Perrif. "And who are you to speak to me this way?!" she snarled, completely dropping her stoic façade. "We could have arrived at your walls wielding naked blades and sharpened spears! Instead, we extended an offer of peace! Yet instead of gratitude, you demand that we submit to your scrutiny, that we throw open our gates to you as though we're your vassals?!"
"Of course not. Our cities would be open to you as well, Lady Sarinen," Perrif assured her calmly, folding her hands on the table once again. "Your people would be free to come and go from our cities as they please."
"You are most magnanimous," Sarinen spat sardonically. "That does not mean that we must extend the same courtesy to you. You are disrespecting our sovereignty!"
"And by speaking on behalf of Belda and Fanacas, you are disrespecting theirs," Perrif countered coolly. "You may keep your gates closed if you wish, but we have nothing more to discuss." She then turned to Karanbel once again. "As I was saying, if you wish to purchase arms from us-"
Sarinen's eyes widened with fury at Perrif's tacit dismissal. She lunged over the table, placing her hands on the cool surface as she leaned towards Perrif. The hoplites near the door immediately unsheathed their swords, but Perrif held up her hand, silently ordering them to stand down. "Do you believe that your insolence shall be tolerated by us, or by any kingdom in Cyrod?!" Sarinen hissed. "Your position is far more tenuous than you realize, girl. You would be wise not to dismiss those who come requesting peace, especially when you are in no position to bargain for more."
Perrif met Sarinen's glare with a level stare of her own. "It is a strange envoy who threatens another with peace," she remarked coldly, her smile having completely vanished.
Sarinen sneered. "If we did choose to wage war against you, girl, do you truly believe that you could stand against us?"
Before Perrif could answer, a loud knock at the door echoed through the room. Telepe jumped at the sound, then let out a breath that he hadn't realized that he'd been holding; he had been so absorbed in the argument between the two women that he hadn't noticed. Perrif didn't break eye contact with the elven woman as she called out, "Enter."
The hoplites opened the door, and Telepe turned to see a woman clad in leather armor rush into the room. "Forgive the interruption, my lady!" she gasped breathlessly, having apparently run through the palace to reach them. "Whitestrake has just returned!"
Perrif finally looked away from Sarinen, a slow smile creeping across her face. She pushed herself up from the table and announced, "Forgive me, but I must welcome our champion back to Vahtache. Please… join us."
With that, she turned and swept out of the room, her bare feet barely making a sound on the cool marble floor. Sarinen's eyes widened with rage as she gaped silently after Perrif, aghast at the abrupt end to the argument, and then she stormed after Perrif, her face flushed with rage. Telepe and Dynar briefly glanced at each other, then hurried out of the room after her, followed closely by Karanbel and Prince Elindir. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see the two male elves whispering to each other, and he thought he overheard one of them say, "…never allowed her to dictate terms…."
As they emerged into the courtyard, Telepe's gaze was once again drawn to the Oblivion Gate, shimmering eerily with rainbow lights in the mid-morning sun. Pelinal had already emerged from the portal, and he seemed to be struggling to drag something out of the gate behind him. A horrific, high-pitched keening echoed throughout the courtyard, setting his teeth on edge, and he resisted the urge to clap his hands over his ears. As Pelinal grunted and heaved, he slowly pulled an enormous wagon through the shimmering portal. The body of the wagon was a sickly yellow-white, like rotting teeth, and had a vaguely skeletal appearance. Telepe soon realized that the terrible screeching noise came from its enormous wheels. The sound wasn't merely distressing, but downright haunting – to Telepe, it evoked images of a widow who had just seen her only son slain in front of her.
Perrif waited serenely for Pelinal to finish pulling the cart through the gate, apparently oblivious to the hair-raising din. When the wagon had been fully dragged through the portal, she waited patiently for him to compose himself, and then she approached him, wearing a warm smile. "Welcome back, my champion," she said pleasantly, as though she was awaiting a routine report on a patrol. "What news?"
Pelinal took a moment to remove his helmet and shake out his white hair before grinning fiercely down at her. Without a word, he yanked the front latch of the wagon, and hundreds of ragged, half-skeletal hands spilled out of the wagon into a pile at Perrif's feet.
"I have returned, triumphant, from Meridia's realm, my lady," he announced, his voice booming across the courtyard. "I present to you the hands of the Thousand-Strong of Sedor."
While Perrif knelt down to inspect the hands, Telepe peeked over his shoulder at the Ayleid envoys. Prince Elindir was gaping, speechless, at the pile of hands littering the ground, while General Karanbel stared intently at Pelinal, clearly sizing the knight up. Lady Sarinen, however, had turned pale with a combination of shock, horror, and fury. Her eyes were fixated on Perrif as the woman finally pushed herself up from the ground and smiled at Pelinal.
"Well done, Sir Pelinal," she praised him, placing her hands on his shoulders and squeezing them firmly. "It is no small feat to charge into Oblivion itself and return with a Prince's coveted collection. Please… take as much time as you wish to rest and recover. We shall host a celebration of this monumental achievement tomorrow evening. Until then, I shall ask no more of you. You have more than earned your respite."
Pelinal inclined his head towards Perrif in a deep bow, then turned his icy blue gaze on the trio of elves gaping at them. He narrowed his eyes at them threateningly, and they immediately looked away. Pelinal snorted disdainfully and stalked into the palace, paying them no further mind. Perrif, waited for him to depart, and then she approached the elves. She stopped in front of Sarinen, who hesitantly turned towards her.
"Lady Sarinen," she said in a smooth tone, folding her hands in front of her. "You asked if we believe we can stand against you. Tell me… do you?"
Sarinen visibly swallowed as she stared down at the grass, apparently unable to meet Perrif's gaze. She was silent for several long moments, and then she murmured in a reluctant, halting voice, "…We… have decided that… if you wish to traverse our lands and visit our city… you may do so."
Perrif smiled pleasantly and inclined her head graciously. "We are most grateful for your magnanimity," she replied smoothly, ironically echoing Sarinen's own term. "Now, we have a celebration to plan, and we would like to invite you, our new friends, to join us as our honored guests."
Sarinen nodded numbly as Perrif approached and put a hand on her shoulder, allowing herself to be guided back into the palace, still clearly in a state of shock. Karanbel and Elindir both stared at the wagon for a few moments longer, then turned and followed Perrif and Sarinen back into the palace silently.
Telepe watched the elves as they made their way into the palace, and then he noticed that Pelinal was lingering in the shadows near one of the columns, watching Perrif and the elves carefully. The knight caught Telepe's eye, and Telepe nodded respectfully towards him. Pelinal snorted disdainfully and turned away, which made Telepe chuckle to himself as watched Perrif stride through the palace entrance.
Perrif had negotiated masterfully, he mused to himself, feeling pride swell within his chest. However, the warm glow of the emotion was poisoned by a trace of anxiety. He privately admitted to himself that he was uncertain that he could have won the elves' reluctant agreement to enter their cities at will. Of course, Pelinal's arrival had been extremely fortuitous for her, as his heroic arrival with prizes stolen directly from Meridia herself likely would have been more than enough to force the elves to submit to almost any demand Perrif had. Even so, there was no denying that Perrif had quickly become a very skilled diplomat… but that also made him wonder how much longer she would have need of his services. If he was indeed only agreeing to aid her until she and a few others could successfully conduct diplomacy on their own, then his time in Cyrod was growing short. And in truth, he was having less and less desire to leave.
Telepe took a deep, shuddering breath and pushed those thoughts out of his mind. For now, at least, Perrif still had need of him, and he should take pride in his pupil's accomplishments. In the meantime, he had a celebration to look forward to, he reminded himself. And until then, perhaps Tari had finished her work in the gardens, he thought with a slight smile.