AN: "Cookies" → Speech / spoken air quotes
"Cookies" → Thoughts
"Cookies" → Spells / Martial Arts
"Cookies" → Message spell speech
I don't own Overlord
Have fun, enjoy and please review
for my own sanity sake I will shorten "Roble Holy Kingdom" to "RHK".
Chapter 43
→ RHK Hoburns Royal Palace / Arachne ←
Arachne and the others were still talking amongst themselves while Remedios just stared at her and Tuare remained at the side. Though usually she and Arachne would talk without any pause, it was still an official setting and thus the facade had to be upheld.
As noon came closer Remedios went to get a servant. A bit later dinner was served and soon after that the tired sister of Remedios entered.
"Mmmm, me hungry." she simply stated and proceeded to load a plate.
Remedios sighed and shook her head.
"She had always been like this. At least after night watch." Remedios explained and Arachne simply nodded along.
Fluder and Leinas seemed to ignore this and Tuare stood still like a statue.
Kelart continued to eat for a solid 15 minutes, when she relaxed and looked around. Food still in her mouth she looked at the group like a fish out of water. The poor girl gulped down and looked at her sister.
"Who are they?" Kelart simply asked. Remedios sighed, again.
"They responded to our plea for a healer. The one in the wheelchair healed you." Remedios began and Kelart nodded.
"It seems that I have to thank you." Kelart bowed a bit, making Arachne feel even more unsettled.
"It was nothing…" Arachne replied, looking away.
Afterwards they continued to eat, though Kelart would sometimes glance towards her. This also made Arachne feel even more as the center of the room. Normally, which means in the embrace of either her old-mother or Jircniv, she wouldn't have a problem with this. But now she is, to some extent, amongst strangers.
"You said you were also here for negotiations?" Remedios' voice cut Arachne out of her thoughts.
"I-yes. It is about a potential alliance between Baharut and Roble." Arachne confirmed.
"Then you shall rest. I will arrange for the queen." Remedios smiled and Arachne simply nodded along.
"I will have a room prepared for them while they wait." Kelart promised and waved for a servant.
"This is going to be annoying." Arachne thought and sighed inwardly, wishing she was back by her old-mother.
→ Arwintar Nazarick-mansion / Zesshi ←
The early morning, at least for Zesshi, seemed usually to be more relaxed than the one for the terror-twins. Those two tended to rise early, though Zesshi didn't know how they were awake and then seemingly disappear in the care of Yuri Alpha.
Arche and herself usually slept a bit longer, at least until Entoma would wake them up for breakfast. Breakfast itself was mostly relaxed. Mother would either talk with Yuri, Arachne or Entoma, though Entoma recently began to creep onto her lap and thus ate with her. That act brought a lot of jealousy amongst the other girls, but Entoma was the big sis, so Zesshi kept her mouth shut, for now.
After breakfast Zesshi would usually train with Leinas, though today it wasn't possible. But that wasn't a problem. What was a problem, or more accurately terrifying, was Entoma telling her to keep her afternoon free. She watched Entoma leave the gym when Zesshi released the shudder she suppressed.
Zesshi left the gym shortly after Entoma and searched for mother. She found her in the indoor garden, as was usual since it existed. She had heard that it had flooded Albedo's office with paperwork, which made Zesshi smirk and shudder back then.
She walked up to mother and simply indicated a hug, which the older drider reciprocated and soon Zesshi found herself in a relaxed position and cuddled with her. She placed her head on the abdomen to listen to her future sister's heart. But she only received her mothers heartbeat.
"Mom, I tell big sis to get Pestonya." Zesshi told her and ripped herself off Arachama, who looked confused.
"Is something? Do you need help? Are you ill?" mother asked, squinting four of her eyes and poking Zesshi as if to test her health.
"I'll be back soon." Zesshi said and ran off, leaving an exhausted Arachama to sip some tea.
Zesshi shortly after found Entoma, and Ninya, in the kitchen preparing some cake and multiple snacks.
"I can't hear the future sister. Please call Pestonya." Zesshi told Entoma, who immediately sprinted towards the next table.
Since Arachama was placed under house arrest, emergency scrolls, containing "Message" and "Gate", were placed nearly everywhere. Zesshi herself could have sworn she found some amongst the stack of toilet paper.
Entoma grabbed a "Message" scroll and seemingly talked with no-one in the room, though both, Ninya and herself, were sure she had contacted Pestonya.
"Continue the preparations, Ninya." Entoma ordered and grabbed Zesshis arm.
"We will now watch carefully over mom. Her health has the highest priority." she continued and both sprinted back towards the garden.
Once they came back panic set in. Arachamas eyes were closed and she seemingly didn't move. Entoma immediately shot towards her while Zesshi opened all the windows to enable fresh air.
"Mom, mom. Please react." Entoma began to beg when Arachama looked around confused.
"What is going on? Are we under attack?" Arachama asked, already preparing to cast high level magic.
Entoma meanwhile only seemed to have heard 'attack', and was searching for the attacker. Zesshi meanwhile got closer and engulfed mother in a gigantic hug.
"Calm down, mom. I only got scared as I haven't heard my future sister's heartbeat. Procedure was to call Pestonya in that case." Zesshi told Arachama, who calmed down significantly.
Soon afterwards the typical portal opened and Pestonya ran through. Entoma, completely exhausted from her own panic, was already incorporated into the pile of insects and spiders.
"I came as fast as possible. Could you two get away from Lady Arachama please, woof?" she ordered and both, slightly begrudgingly, obliged.
Zesshi observed how Pestonya casted a few spells and how mother was engulfed in a green aura a few times. Pestonya though seemed to calm down, which relaxed mom quite drastically. After a while pestonya smiled, or had the closest thing to a smile she could do, while Entoma and she looked at her.
"There is nothing wrong, Lady Arachama. Everything is going as it should be. The shell has formed and soon it will be laid. But it is not only healthy, but also strong.~woof" Pestonya smiled.
This took the air out of everyone within the room.
"Can I take a nap now?" Arachama yawned.
Zesshi herself went to her mother and both cuddled until Zesshi needed to change clothes.
→ RHK a city in the east / Demiurge ←
Demiurge overlooked his forces and grinned. His eyes gleamed in the evening sun. He had gathered two of these catapults and the last artifact was beneath the city he was observing.
"Are the forces ready?" he inquired.
"Yes master. Shall we attack? Can we plunder their dens?" one of the demi-humans replied, fear shining through his question.
"We have the forces already here. Give the signal. I will need a great massacre to ensure the blood-ground for the ritual is perfect." Demiurge answers, the grin got even deeper, promising destruction for his own master's sake.
He took out some of the smoked albion sheep, which was cut in bite-size pieces, and prepared his makeshift throne. He decided to observe the carnage through the 'Mirror of Remote Viewing' and placed his foot on another demi-humans head.
A signal, the sound of a horn, was given and the catapults fired. A mixture of sewage, corpses and plague was thrown against the city. Giving the cover of the hills up, but also working as a second signal for the demi-humans to charge.
Demiurge, having only given his objectives, was interested to see the strategy and couldn't but smile at the effort of the demi-humans.
They ran over the cover and tried to sprint for the gates first. Sadly, for them, the defenders were fast enough to close them. Gathering in front of the gates, which was a deathtrap once the enemy would be ready, wasn't bringing them any further and as such the attacker brought ladders and ropes. They threw the ropes and placed the ladders. Some even tried to climb. All the while new attackers gathered.
Some of the defenders were already climbing stairs to the top of the stone wall battlements as quickly as possible. Most carried either spears, halberds or bows. Civilians, mostly able males, were also running upwards, carrying stones, pots with boiling material and arrows.
The first demi-humans were already climbing between crenellations when the second wave of defenders arrived. The patrols of the walls, already engaged in combat, tried to throw the ladders off the walls and to cut the ropes.
Around the gates the demi-humans suffered high casualties, but further away the forces seemed to be evenly matched. There the battles went back and forth, at least until the second time the plague-claw- catapults threw the next portion of sludge against the walls.
It had hit a major mass of defenders and Demiurge relished the suffering the mirror showed. He saw how some were seconds later engulfed in plague boils. Others seemed to melt away. Green fog covered the battlements and thus some of his own forces were also hit. Though Demiurge saw that his demi-humans, at least some, were impacted differently. The surviving ones mutated, growing horns and mouths over their bodies. He liked it.
While the defenders were limited, and had to resort to more and more people, the attackers had no problems using their numbers, never showing doubt out of fear to him. Wave after wave tried to attack the walls. Wave after wave they were repelled, though fewer and fewer losses occurred while more and more defenders found themselves rotting, melting, cut down or straight up eaten. After the 5th wave they breached the walls and the massacre ensued.
Demiurge smirked. His forces had managed, with replenishable losses, to take the city. He nodded towards one of his servants.
"Let them loot, let them relish in their misguided pride for tonight. I will take a look at my price for tonight." Demiurge laughed and used "Teleportation" to get into the city.
He reappeared in the front of the city hall. Empty halls greeted him and he strode into the middle of the marble entrance.
"Show me the way, 'Shadow Demon'." he ordered, growing impatient.
A shadow appeared and moved through the floors. He followed it diligently. The walls grew cruder, older and rougher while he got deeper and deeper. Soon they reached a closed door, which was no hindrance. He destroyed it, getting even more impatient. He was invigorated by the thought of his price.
It took more than half an hour until he reached his destination. A great arch covered an opening. Multiple tunnels led from it and right in front of it was his price. A bell. Green fog flowed in its close proximity and gave Demiurge chills.
"I can't wait to use this little treasure. But first I need a bit of help, "Gate", hehehe." Demiurge smirked and was not far off to cuddle the bell.
Far outside the city two figures observed the massacre. Two smirks chittered with each other and soon one of them left to report to its masters
"So glorious-beautiful. Definitely worthy butchery-massacre." the remaining one whispered in anticipation.
→ Arwintar Nazarick-mansion / Zesshi ←
Zesshi was just finished clothing, with the help of Entoma, and now wore the formal clothes she had in Re-Estize. She looked into a mirror and turned a few times before she was satisfied. Both she and Entoma then went back north where Zesshi was cuddled by her mother while Entoma set up a table. Arachama herself had chosen a similar outfit and was now fawning over Zesshi. It didn't really calm her mother, but Zesshi enjoyed it, although she wouldn't admit it.
Entoma finished preparations as fast as possible and just in time. As Entoma went to do other duties a portal opened. Lord Ainz and Albedo came through and Zesshi got wide awake immediately. But moms embrace stopped her from bowing.
"Good afternoon, Monga." Arachama greeted and petted Zesshi.
"You as well, Aracha. How are the children doing?" he asked, helping Albedo to sit down on a seat mat.
"They are doing well, though Arachne gave me shudders yesterday." Arachama answered.
"Did she? I hope she didn't do something drastic." Ainz chuckled.
"She is in the Roble Holy Kingdom for the empire. I just hope she is doing well. But I also couldn't do otherwise and let Demiurge help me with her safety." mother snickered.
"I am sure she will be back soon, mother." Zesshi chimed in, getting more and more pats.
"I certainly hope so." mother sighed while Lord Ainz and Albedo nodded along.
Zesshi, after a short while, grabbed a tea cup and sipped along.
"How is it going with the territories?" mom inquired.
"We have immigration towards our kingdom. Interestingly most are either adventurers and mages. The system I worked out and tested proves itself suitable. But we receive reports from territories, which are north in the former Slane Theocracy, that raids are occuring. Demiurge and I are working on it." Albedo summarized.
"We truly have to give that prince a bonus." Arachama mused and ate a bit of cockroach cake.
Albedo looked at mother while Lord Ainz sighed.
"He will not receive any rewards. The only thing he will get from us is a permanent residence near Neuronist." Lord Ainz told mother, who looked confused.
"We haven't liked him since the battle at Katze Plains. Despicable character." Zesshi explained, holding her spit back.
"Ahh. He was the midget you used as a scapegoat." Mom smiled and stroked Zesshis hair, again.
"He is thoroughly doing his kingdom harm. We let him do it and then we can punish him for all the other things for good. I am sure no one will miss him." Lord Ainz said and his eyes flared up.
"Ok." Arachama smiled, still a bit confused.
Zesshi then stopped listening in, as she ate cake and drank tea. Her mother, Lord Ainz and Albedo exchanged plans, pleasantries and information on people she didn't care for. Her interest only peaked when she heard that her future sister would be Lord Ainz heir, as she thought Albedo's child would take that position. But Zesshi didn't mind.
"But to another topic and why I asked for your daughter's presence today." Lord Ainz said and Zesshi immediately got on alert.
"How may I serve you, Lord Ainz?" Zesshi asked and bowed her head slightly.
"Dear Arachama said in her report that you knew about dwarfs. I dislike surprises, but am willing to take calculated risks. What do you know about them?" he inquired.
"What would you like to know?" she replied.
"Let's start with their whereabouts and then we will continue with the probability of integrating them towards my kingdom." Lord Ainz stated.
"Today the dwarven kingdom is split in two, the northern, and much smaller, part, and the southern part. That split happened roughly 200 years ago. From what I know, thanks to the theocracies documents, the thirteen heroes fought an 'Leviathan', once called 'Tob' in its forest. During the battle an earthquake destroyed the connecting underway of the two parts. The northern part trades, in extremely limited capacity, with Baharut.
The southern part traded with the Slane Theocracy. The trade was usually food, wood and coin against tools, weapons and ale.
If you want to integrate it within your kingdom you need to tread carefully and befriend both parts." Zesshi told Lord Ainz.
"So you know where they are. But why do you know that?" the Lord commanded.
"I, roughly 100 years back, was ordered to help the dwarven champion Gongrimm 'Mammoth' Ironspine to clear the underway of some Quagoa. I seem to have left a lasting impression." Zesshi beamed.
"Could you lead us to the northern dwarves first?" the Lord inquired.
"No. I never met one of them. I only know of them because Ironspine talked about his brother. That's all I know about the north. If you travel there, could I accompany you there?" she replied, eyes sparkling.
"That isn't necessary. I can't risk my child's life, again." Mother cut in and cuddled Zesshi even harder.
"But mom. It wouldn't be risky. Lord Ainz will be there." Zesshi tried, using her last breath.
"That was the excuse last time." Arachama remained stern.
"This will be hard work." Zesshi thought and sighed audibly.
→ RHK Hoburns / Arachne ←
After a while in a nice room Arachne and Leinas, who were separated from Fluder, were gathered and met the aforementioned Fluder again. They would then be brought to a nice tea party. Remedios and Kelart were already waiting. With them was a blond with long hair, which was held back by a crown. She seemed quite innocent and her gown underlined that impression.
"Good evening. This is her majesty Calca Bessarez, the queen of the Holy Roble Kingdom. My queen, this is the group of the Baharut Empire." Remedios introduced and Arachne bowed slightly
"Good evening, your majesty." She greeted and Calca smiled at them.
"You as well. I heard the emperor wants a military alliance. I am not disinclined, as long as certain conditions are met, that is." Calca replied.
"Of course." Arachne smiled a bit.
"If you have nothing against this, your majesty, I am sure we can leave you two to the negotiations?" Remedios asked.
"That is correct. But stay close, we haven't catched the wretched monster yet." the queen nodded.
"Of course." Remedios agreed and the group left the two alone.
"So, what are your conditions?" Arachne grinned.
"We will need military support soon. The demi-humans seem to be preparing for a massive attack on my kingdom. Then we want assurances against Re-Estize, if they become more aggressive towards us. I also want safety for the north, especially as the south falls more and more behind in their duties." the queen told her.
"The second point isn't a problem. The first and third are interesting." Arachne thought.
"If you would do the same for us, we should not have a problem with the second point. Re-Estize will fall soon, why not carve it up?" Arachne inquired.
"Ho ho. That is quite the proposal." Calca played coy.
"Of course. But do you see any future with the kingdom intact? The king, right now, is terminally ill. Even if he survives, his time is running short. The heir is nothing more than a warmongering moron, who is already responsible for a lost war, the loss of many men, has dissolved an important alliance, made his kingdom a laughing stock and is driving out the rest of his populace. Don't let me start on the nobles, they are, with few exceptions, a catastrophe in waiting. Are you telling me otherwise?" Arachne smirked, a toxic green flame in her eye.
"I only said the proposal was quite something, not that I am disinclined. But there is a new player in the field. I heard Baharut is already working with them. How was the Sorcerer King called? Ainz Oaf Gown?" Calca inquired. Arachne had to suppress her anger, which she did with all her willpower.
"Yes. Baharut has an alliance with Ainz Ooal Gown, the Sorcerer King. That would be actually the one opportunity for your kingdom, wouldn't it?" Arachne tried.
"Oh-ho. How so? I heard there are no humans in his direct vicinity. Only spider-demi-humans, undead and other non-humans." Calca continued.
"Yet he is powerful. My niece, a few times moved, brought Re-Estize, one of their most bitter defeats. But where did she learn all of her skills?" Arachne smiled as she saw Calca nodding along.
"So we can have the two points easily taken care of. If possible I could even cut the south off and move from there... I have a point though before I sign something. Though the doctrine of our country is against this I want to talk to both, the Sorcerer King and the Empire of Baharut." the queen demanded.
"I will see what I can do. But otherwise do I see the points as taken care of?" Arachne grinned.
"Of course. I see why the emperor likes you. Make the meeting possible and I will sign the papers." Calca laughed.
"Thank you. I will move out to home this evening then." Arachne fell into Calcas laughter.
Meanwhile Remedios was unconscious on the ground and whispered some words. The others looked at her as if she was mental.
→ Arwintar Nazarick-mansion / Zesshi ←
Zesshi felt tired and only the presence of Lord Ainz kept her awake. After talking about dwarfs the topics became dull for her. Something about Arachne and the emperor, a potential ally in Roble and the plans of someone called Demiurge, who was hunting down powerful artifacts. She only listened with one ear while mother was stroking her hair.
"I think we should ally with the dwarfs. But we will do it after the child is born and safe." Lord Ainz told mother, who nodded along.
"Then I will travel to the southern part and you north. I am sure Zesshi would like a nice hiking trip with me." mother smiled and pressed Zesshi even deeper into her stomach.
"That sounds about right. By the way, how is the training going?" Lord Ainz inquired.
"It is going onward. Arche is getting close to trying her first 5th tier spell. The twins though developed an interest in business, thus I let them learn at Yuri's side. The others are learning and, for me, that is most important, spending time with me." Arachama grinned and Zesshi felt the heartbeat of her mother increase slightly.
"That is good. I also hope the arrest isn't too boring?" Lord Ainz said.
"Not really. But I am getting tired more frequently and feel constantly exhausted. Pestonya though said that it will soon be over. I can't wait to lay the egg and cuddle with it." Mom beamed.
"I thought it would be placed in Nazarick to be safe, Lady Arachama." Albedo threw in, peeling herself from Lord Ainz.
Silence wept over the group.
Zesshi bliked. Lord Ainzs flames dimmed slightly. Mothers eyes turned to Albedo and Zesshi could feel the heart beat getting faster.
"Heh?" Lord Ainz and Zesshi said, completely confused by Albedo.
"What?" mom herself asked and Zesshi could hear the thunder in her mothers voice.
"For the security. We can't have a future heir in such an unsafe environment." Albedo begann.
"We will discu…" Lord Ainz tried.
"I am the mother and thus the egg will remain in my close supervision." mom smiled, viciousness seemingly flowing from her.
"But the sec.." Albedo groaned.
"Is already prepared. This mansion is safer than my inventory. You and Demiurge, if I might remind you, have stationed more sentries here than Re-Estize has levies. The place is bugged harder than Kyouhukous lair. I think it can remain here, or are you trying to separate a child from its mother?" Arachama fumed, the unspoken threat lingering in her voice.
Albedo meanwhile turned to Lord Ainz and Zesshi.
"I am standing with mom." Zesshi said and held her hands up.
"We can surely increase the safety here…" Lord Ainz sheepishly tried.
"As you say, my love." Albedo gave in.
"Now then. Can we have a cherry cake, Enti?" mom asked cheerfully.
"Of course." Entoma replied and ran off.
The rest of the evening was less stressful than the outburst.
→ Karak-Ar-Araz surface / Ironspine ←
A small group of dwarfs stood at the surface gate of Karak-Ar-Araz. Normally this would already be a strange sight, as most dwarfs hated the surface world. But it was necessary. The mood was a mixture of happiness, amongst the younger dwarfs, and annoyance and grumbling, amongst the older ones. The rain didn't help the mood of the older dwarfs.
Amongst the group were Gongrimm, this time with less back pain but a hurting knee. And he let the group know, if they wanted to or not. Though Gongrimm kept it more to inaudible grumbles under his beard.
The chief engineer, who sat at 170 years old, was nearly jumping in the air, which kept the longbeards, and thus Gongrimm, grumbling. The name of this one was Orgel Powedernose, thanks to old rumors of him having snorted coal powder.
The engineers underlings, though Ironspine had enough decency to not use the word, were already preparing some prototypes in secret, probably to surprise some of the council members.
Then there were the mentioned council members and even some throng leaders. Most of that group were already old, for their standards, and thus had joined Ironspine by grumbling in their beards.
Rangers were the last group. They had already formed themselves in three groups and the group-leaders were waiting for orders.
"You will scout the countryside, argh, and report back in three days. Then we will move it up to a week and then two weeks. If you find a village, get information." Ironspine ordered.
"As you say." replied the rangers and left.
"Why increase the intervals?" Powdernose asked.
"We need to cover the surrounding area first. Afterwards we can cover more ground. Another reason is that some of your maniacs want to blast a mineshaft downwards." he answered.
"They aren't maniacs!" Everyone who thinks the old ways can be improved is a maniac. Old, reliable and durable are the best words for a reason." Ironspine grumbled, others agreed with him.
"Are the prototypes ready?" Powedernose inquired, ignoring Gongrimm, which he found disrespectful.
"Yes. We only need the ammunition." a minion replied.
"Dear council-members. I present to you the newest technology of the dawi. We have worked for quite some time, but here it is. The canon and the multi-canon." Orgel grinned.
Silence remained supreme and got awkward after roughly five minutes.
"Oh right. We have developed a special kind of ammunition for those. Thanks to its mechanism it can fire split balls at the enemy, piercing it easier than the usual bold throwers. It gets loaded here" he opened the back and placed a shell inside," and then a mechanism can be used to shoot it." Powdernose explained.
"So it goes out there?" Ironspine asked, pointing at the muzzle.
"Indeed." Orgel nodded.
"Only to get it under my head. You want to show us your invention, which fires shells. You got us out on the surface and pointed the canons at us? Never heard about gun-safety? What if it shoots by accident?" Ironspine inquired.
Some of the other council-members looked at him before moving sideways.
"Ohhh. I haven't thought about that." Powdernose sighed and moved the cannon towards the south.
"If you want to fire in a direction, take the west." Ironspine ordered and the engineers sighed.
The students started to run to move the targets in accordance with the canons.
"Why the west? Is it something with tactics?" a young council member at the age of 140 asked.
"No. There is the land of the demi-humans." Ironspine sighed and some of the older members laughed, probably for the first time that day.
The younger ones just shook their heads.
Soon everything was prepared and ready. Powdernose meanwhile looked torn and brought everything to a mess.
"Calm down and proceed." Ironspine ordered and Powdernose gathered himself.
He gave a signal with a flag and soon the roar of cannons shuddered everyone amongst the spectators. Some complained about the noise. Only Ironspine and Powdernose remained standing stoically.
After the last shot was fired Powdernose took out some ear plugs.
"I forgot. Should have given you those." he sighed and only got annoyed huffs.
"How come he is still standing there?" a young member inquired.
The engineer poked him and Gongrimm looked back, then took out ear plugs.
"Hmm?" Gongrimm looked, raising one eyebrow.
"How did you…?" one asked.
"He told me about the gunpowder he developed. I am not the most intelligent, but I am not retarded." he sighed and looked into questioning faces.
"I like that. 'Gunpowder', much better than 'Snorting sulfur'." Orgel thought loudly and Ironspine sighed.
"How long will you need to train a few of 'em?" he simply inquired.
"I could have them built and then start to train the crews. Give me four months for the most rudimentary training. After that it would be training to improve their skills." Orgel replied and Gongrimm nodded.
"Good. Keep your maniacs from blasting a hole in our ground until the crews are ready. I don't want uncertainties and if there are any I want insurance." he grumbled and went back to the gate.
"I hate rain." he thought as he entered the underway.
→ RHK Hoburns / Arachne ←
After a relaxing afternoon Arachne and her group were ready to go home. Fluder and Kelart had exchanged a few tidbits of information while Leinas and Remedios had talked about training. But none had so much fun than Arachne and Calca.
"I am ready to cast. Tell me when you're ready." Fluder grinned and held a "Gate"-scroll.
"I can cast "Gate" now. Don't need to use a scroll. Once I get it together the emperor will send an invite, dear Calca." Arachne smiled.
"Of course. I will sign the alliance then and there during the meeting." Calca grinned.
"Then we will move out. "Gate". Till then, your highness." Arachne giggled and was pushed through.
Leinas and Fluder followed soon after and they all stood in the garden of the imperial palace.
"I will get the emperor, so we can give him the report." Leinas told them and moved out.
It didn't take long for Jircniv to arrive and soon Arachne was in his warm embrace.
"How did it go? Nothing happened to you?" he asked.
"No. Everything went as perfectly as it could. By the way, you need to send a messenger with an invite for the queen of Roble." Arachne answered.
"Why?" Jircniv inquired.
"Simple. She wants to meet the Sorcerer King. The messenger will probably need two weeks. Meanwhile I will contact our ally." Arachne snickered and JIrcniv sighed.
"Do we really need to do that?" he sighed.
"The empire will profit from the meeting, since we will not only talk about a military alliance, but two more topics. One is the support for Roble. The other is the partition of Re-Estize. We can only profit." Arachne grinned and pink flames shone in her eyes.
"Then you do your part." Jircniv said and kissed her forehead.
"Of course. Afterwards we can finalize our parts…" she promised and grabbed him.
She cuddled him for a while, but no one saw the sinister smile that promised pain to whoever dared to interrupt her.
AN: A shorter chapter, but I had a lot on my plate this time. I hope you enjoyed this. If you did feel free to review and comment.