AN: "Cookies" → Speech / spoken air quotes
"Cookies" → Thoughts
"Cookies" → Spells / Martial Arts
"Cookies" → Message spell speech
"Cookies" → Language unknown to character POV / known only to reader
I don't own Overlord
Have fun, enjoy and please review
Chapter 54
→ Happy Farm / Throat the dirty ←
It was an interesting morning for the rat when the new boss came around, Demiurge if he was correct. A bunch of demons followed said devil and on orders of the boss began their work. In the beginning he was confused, until the demons did the 'dirty' work.
"I don't-not ask how it-that works." Throat thought and shook his head as he was scampering to Demiurge.
"We better go. I can't wait to see the ratmen in action." Demiurge smirked.
"I'm hungry. So we-we are in agreement-pact." Throat responded, already liking his frontal teeth.
A strange portal appeared and his new master bade him to go through. Once he did he found himself in the middle of a demi-human encampment. Demiurge appeared soon after.
"Everything is prepared?" the voice of Demiurge inquired behind Throat.
"Yes, master." A demi-human with parts of a goat answered.
"Great. Throat, you will lead through the tunnel below. Take the soldiers you need. The rest will make an assault on the surface." Demiurge ordered.
"Yes-yes-yessss." Throat responded. His bluestone-eye glimmered red as he already planned his part.
"I take-take rat-ogres, clanrats-pawns and screaming bell." Throat nodded.
"That is ok. But doesnt the efficiency decline underground?" Demiurge asked.
"Hehehe. Wait and see-see. It will be glorious-great." Throat smirked and began to gather the necessary forces.
While he ordered his minions to gather the forces he wanted, the rest of the army prepared the attack. Crude ladders and a coal tipped trunk was ready for any signal. The weapons were ready and anticipation for their next meal shone in the eyes of the demi-humans.
"We take-scimper rat-ways" Throat told Demiurge as he met his chunk of the army.
"Then I will contact you when it is your time to strike." Demiurge agreed and Throat began to move.
Not far off was a small opening and every rat entered and the bell entered. Shortly after they reached their destination.
"Can't wait to show no-furs the might of us vermin." Throat mused in his mind.
→ Kalasknika (RHK) ←
The last few days the city Kalasnika was cut off and besieged by the demi-humans outside. Luckily a few paladins of the order managed to get inside before the siege began. The small assaults by the more impatient demi-humans also diminished their numbers over time and starvation should set in at some point. The city hoped that their reserves would last longer than the reserves of the demi-humans.
Sadly, for the paladins, rumors had spread that a demon, some might even say Jaldaboath, was leading the forces. This news terrified the militia forces. The demons did not help their morale either.
Suddenly the gruesome sound of a horn came and the resting soldiers sprinted towards the walls to reinforce the ones already manning them. First came the smaller demi-humans, rushing ladders and a ram towards the walls.
The archers started to fire at the demi-humans. Volley after volley. First the arrows of lesser quality and then more and more the arrows of finer quality rained upon the demi-humans. The growling of the attacker filled the archers with glee while the defenders tried to keep the ladders from the walls and to stop the ram in its tracks.
As usual the tide of demi-humans suddenly stopped and the remaining ones fled the field. The corpses furthest would be taken back while the ones closer to the walls were clogging the moat.
"We won!" a soldier suddenly shouted after a few minutes of silence.
Celebrations began and jubilations echoed through the walls.
"Bring new arrows. We already used half of our ammunition here." the leader of the paladins ordered and a few already left to do the order.
Suddenly a new sound filled the air. It was like scratching the fingernails over a chalkboard. The ears of the soldiers cried in pain while the air itself felt like mold. The celebrations immediately stopped as the soldiers stared out of the walls. Then the shock began to set in.
"Archers, fire at will! Now! Go go." the leaders shouted and the arrows flew towards the mass of flesh before the walls.
The grass of the plains, which had normally covered the area, was now covered in thousands of demi-humans. They looked like a mixture of men and rats. Crude weaponry was carried by them. The chittering, squealing, chattering and the squeaking filled the air, so that it vibrated and the men felt defiled. But the worst was the pure number.
"These f*ckers are everywhere!" One of the soldiers shouted and the rest agreed.
When another sound echoed through the air the ratmen began to run towards the city. Arrows after arrows after arrows flew towards them. But no matter how many corpses of their disgusting kin littered the ground they just sprinted onwards.
As they reached the moat they gathered the siege equipment and tried to climb the walls. It was then that the most terrible sound anyone heard in the world rang through the air thirteen times.
→ Kalasknika (RHK) / Throat the dirty ←
"Start your assault" Throat heard inside his head.
"Yes-yes." Throat answered and waved towards the screaming bell. The priests began to chant.
"Rats, rats, we're the rats
We prey at night, we stalk at night, we're the rats
Let's see what kind of trouble we can get ourselves into"
During the chant the bell tolled thirteen times. With each toll cracks formed at the side of the walls and in front of them.
"Clanrats to the front-deadzone!" Throat orders and some 'voluntolds' were pushed forwards.
The cracks got bigger and bigger with each toll and soon the former city wall was crumbling down into the ratway. Luckily, for some 'voluntolds', it was directly onto them and only killed half of their numbers.
But now they were on eye-level with any who survived, who themselves had to stand up and reorient themselves.
"Attack-maim-kill!" Throat ordered as the skaven charged.
The rat-ogres crashed into the defenders and hacked to pieces, only leaving some lucky survivors for the rest. The clanrats then took care of the lone survivors.
Pride filled Throat as he slowly but surely entered the surface again.
"Clan Pestin beast is best-best. Yes-yes-yesss!" He shouted in ecstasy as he observed the rat-ogres crashing onto the armored, and better trained, defenders.
The battle would be over shortly after the demons and devils joined the massacre. Sadly only the corpses would feed the army. But the silver lining was that Throat would meet many of the surviving defenders the next day at his master's farm.
"Quite a happy time indeed." Throat relished as he ate a man-thing whole and prepared to meet the 'great boned-thing'.
→ Arwintar Nazarick-mansion / Arachama ←
It was the early morning, when Enti woke Arachama and ended in the inescapable hug of the arachne. The arachne herself though was occupied with the last preparations for the coming meeting.
She first got herself dressed as formally as she could with her former ingame items, which resulted in a toxic-green and black kimono and her hair bound in a braid. Meanwhile Enti prepared the breakfast before collecting her younger sister. The twins, known by Arachama and guessed by Enti, were already smuggling treats throughout the whole mansion.
As she was placing her hat, which she discarded for this occasion, Enti re-entered the room.
"Mom, breakfast is ready." Enti smiled uneasy.
"Thank you. But what is it that makes you uneasy?" she asked.
Enti meanwhile sneaked into the arachne's lap.
"The twins have so much energy and I think they have another foodsource." Enti sighed.
"Hmm. Are you sure? Did you ask them?" Arachama inquired.
"Let's see how the twins will act." she mused .
"I will, mom." Enti answered and laid her head against the stomach of Arachama.
"Then we can sort it out." she snickered as she stroked Entis 'hair'.
The mansion was soon eating breakfast and Arachama heard around the room. Zesshi, Leinas and Arche were talking about the new body of Leinas and potential tactics. Yuri, Ninya, Cixous, Fouire and Fith were already strategizing a great cleaning. Enti meanwhile glared daggers at the twins, who had just placed some snacks in their bags, unbeknownst to Enti, and were playing innocent children, which they mostly were.
"I know you're stealing sweets." Enti suddenly threw at the twins.
"We are not." Ure smiled while Kuude played shocked.
"They are becoming good actors." Arachama thought as she hid her smile behind a teacup.
"I took inventory and a sizable quantity of cockroach-chocolate was missing. I know that you must have taken it, as you are the only ones who eat them." Enti expressed, having her own gotcha-moment.
"No, we get the sweets when we help around the mansion. Isn't that correct, Ure?" Kuude promised.
"I should be concerned that they can lie that well." Arachama whistled in her mind.
"Indeed. You can ask Ninya, Yuri, Tuare, when she is back, and the other maids" Ure agreed and smiled as innocently as possible at Enti, who was now fuming.
Enti, still glaring daggers, went to gather Yuri and Ninya.
"Technically they get some sweets from them, though most are just taken." Arachama smiled behind her teacup.
"So they are getting sweets from you all?" Enti bursted, immediately jumping into composure afterwards, as she pointed towards the three 'culprits'
"Yes. They help us and we give them those tokens." Yuri explained and held a token up.
"And some of those tokens the twins 'accidentally' collected from them." Arachama remembered and hid her smile again.
"They also exchange tokens amongst each other." Ninya threw in.
"What do you mean?" Enti inquired, an intense glare leveled at the twins.
"They always have the same amount of tokens." Ninya recalled.
The twins began to sweat at that moment and Arachama snickered a bit as she leaned forwards.
"You might want to tone it down and use a proxy for the future." she smiled as the twins carefully nodded.
The rest was less amusing for her, as Enti couldn't prove the accusation, though everyone at table would be more careful around the twins.
"I need to go now as I will arrive at the imperial palace together with Monga." She smiled and kissed and hugged her children goodbye for now.
→ Nazarick Ainz-office / Ainz ←
It had been a relaxed morning for Ainz, if compared to the drama yesterday, until now. He had done his overdose of paperwork, made sure Albedo, Shalltear and Nabe were occupied and already prepared almost everything.
Sadly the day took a drastic turn downwards, as Demiurge wanted to report his success. Normally that wouldn't be a problem, but Ainz already prepared today's meeting and wanted to meet his friend as soon as possible. Especially after she had promised to wear the kimono he once gifted her.
"Though it was more of a joke back then." he giggled in his mind as the fatal knock came from the door.
"Come in." He ordered and a proud Demiurge came in, followed by a rat-men.
Once they were closer both kneeled, though the peculiar skaven pressed his snout onto the floor.
"My lord, I am here to report our proceedings in regards to the plans." Demiurge told him.
"What proceedings? As in more than the thing he does in Roble? What else is going on? I hope it isn't too bad." Ainz shrieked and felt the suppression kick in.
"Then proceed." he ordered, hoping to understand a small bit of the situation regarding his friend's creation.
"First the attack that was prepared for. I got a more detailed report here. The skaven proved themselves useful. Though I ask to keep this one for a while longer." Demiurge began and pointed towards the three armed monstrosity on the ground.
"Clear that with Bubonica. I also want to see results in her own war soon enough. The faster we have peace the better. I heard that Aracha is preparing her moves?" he inquired.
"Indeed. Though she is working slowly. The data we collect from the palace indicates that her plan will fester for a short while longer. I would also propose to place both, her plan and Bubonicas strike, as close as possible." Demiurge answered
"That would mean that the war would mainly be one sided." Ainz sighed.
"Casualties-food is to be expected-normal." the rat-men threw in.
"What does he mean by food? Why is he talking so casual about his own kin dying? At least I want my family in Nazarick to be safe." Ainz thought as he looked at the skaven.
"Is that so?" Ainz inquired.
"Yes-yes. Great-good skaven tactic. Overwhelm-devestate with large-great numbers. Works like charm-charm." the skaven answered.
"But the amount of casualties could lead to problems, where to bury them, how to keep their population up etc." Ainz threw in.
"Though I shouldn't complain. I let Zesshi deal with Katze Plain. I wonder if…" he thought as he looked at the skaven.
"Food-food and dead-dead are same-same. Throat thinks-thinks the wait-linger is worth it, mighty bone-thing." Throat bowed again.
"Tell me. When the battle at Katze Plain commenced a large quantity of soldiers were killed. Overnight the corpses disappeared. Is your kin responsible?" Ainz asked.
"Oh yes-yes. Great feast-meal. Mistress Bubonica had everything collected." Throat replied.
"So they observed the surface to some extent. But I don't really like him. He seems like one of my former superiors at the company. Backstabbing, slimy and with a brown nose. Though this one has literally a brown nose." he thought.
"What else do you wish to report?" Ainz ordered Demiurge to continue.
"We have a new angle in regards to another project. Its main concern is in regards to recreation and different species. We try to crossbreed the sheep with incubi and succubi. The results will be expected soon enough, once the succubi and female sheep are pregnant or not." Demiurge explained in a clear voice without a hint of opinion.
"Are the conditions on your farm well? Are the sheep cared for?" Ainz asked, hoping that Demiurge at least would treat animals better than humans.
"Of course, my Lord. Throat himself fed them this morning. Though we needed to ehem convince some of them that the demons arent dangerous towards them." the devil stated.
"At least the animals on his farm are happy. But why would he need the ratmen for that? I thought this skaven was a breeder and a mutator… oh please no. Better ask him afterwards. I hope for the best." Ainz thought in an ever higher voice until the suppression kicked in.
"Anything else?" Ainz asked, wanting to change the subject as soon as possible.
"Yes, my Lord. I would propose to let the demi-humans continue their rampage towards Hoburns." Demiurge proposed.
"Then let them. As long as it will help us in my plan." Ainz gave his ok.
Throat now stood up as Demiurge turned around.
"Wait a moment Demiurge. Throat, wait outside for a moment." Ainz ordered.
"Of course. Mighty bone-thing." Throat answered.
Once the skaven left Ainz looked at Demiurge.
"What do you think of this skaven?" he asked.
"He is useful and has proven his merit to some extent. Though some more information on him would be most useful, my Lord." Demiurge answered, to the dismay of Ainz.
"Just keep the skaven in check. They are useful, but also treacherous if the spider papers are anything to go by. I already read about more than 300 plots today. Though none against us so far." Ainz reminiscent.
"As you wish, my Lord." Demiurge bowed before he left.
"Now that my household psychopath and the imported psychopath are gone I can finally finish my preparations before…" Ainz thought before his door knocked again.
"Come in." he ordered before he, for a short time, felt like he was in heaven.
Before him stood Arachama in said kimono and she looked gorgeous. She even seemed to have worked some green strands in her braid and he felt calm in her aura.
"Hi Monga. Are you ready?" she smiled as she got a cooky with small insects out of her inventory.
"I only need to change. I will be right back." he confessed and left for his room.
"If I can see her like this the rest of the day then it will be a great day." he thought as he changed.
→ Karak-Ar-Araz / Ironspine ←
The bones from Ironspine were creaking and pushing themselves. The old dwarf, by pure the might of pure will, still kept one and on. But Ironspine still moved up the stairs, even if the pain grew each day. But there was quite a bit of information to deliver.
With him were his grand nephew and Gotrek Softhand and Ironspine decided that preparations were to be done.
Once they were within the palace he asked a hammerer to tell the high-king that there was a situation that required his presence. Afterwards the trio went to the council-chamber. There Gotrek waited, Gondo continued his research and Ironspin napped, dreaming of greater days.
Sadly dreams dissipate at the best parts and thus he was awakened by Gotrek.
"He is almost here." he said.
"Hmpf. I am getting too old for this trouble." Gongrimm grumbled as he took out a cup of ale.
Grommel Bonebart came through the door and took seat at the throne, trying, and in his opinion failing, to exude an aura of might.
"It doesn't help that I know I can easily beat him in combat. Or that brother could have stomped him in the ground without his runemagic. And yet he tries to have our prestige. But that is the situation." Gongrimm grimaced.
"Now then. What is it you wish to discuss?" the hiking demanded and raised his nose an inch.
"Wrong move, again." Gongrimm thought.
"As the ally of our clan, Lord Ainz Ooal Gown, is meeting with potential allies, clan Firebeard will send a delegation. The honorable ally even proposed to bring a delegation of the dwarven kingdom." Gotrek reported and immediately the face of the high-king turned red.
"So clan Firebeard negotiated with this Nazarick?" he inquired.
"Of course. As by the agreement of Grommelbart 25 generations back. We don't take up arms against the dwarfs and keep a part of our rights. Chief amongst them is that we can negotiate and initiate diplomatic relations for us at our behest." Gotrek explained.
"That is true. Grommelbart negotiated this between his two sons. Thus clan Bonebart and Firebeard were born." Gongrimm threw in and scratched his chin.
"Yes. Yes. Yes. But what do I care about this Nazarick? We trade with them. Their problems aren't ours." Grommel stated.
"Actually, to some extent they are if the Sorcerer Kingdom is attacked." Gotrek said nonchalantly.
This most certainly got the attention of Grommel Bonebart.
"Anything else?" the high-king demanded.
"Clan Firebeard would also be, if the situation calls for it, help Lord Ainz Ooal Gown. We owe them a deep debt for the rescue of our clan head, the acquiring of our dead kin and the reconnection with the northern part." Gotrek explained.
"So what do you propose?" Grommel grumbled.
"Gotrek, Gondo? I will continue from here. Will see you later." Gongrimm told them and both left.
"What was that?" Grommel asked.
"That, dear high-king, is how you are steering clan Firebeard away from our holds. It is also how you are blundering a great chance." Gongrimm sighed.
"Heh?" the high-king stummered.
"After this day the existence of our kind will be known. Clan Firebeard will be at this meeting either way. It would be unbecoming if the high-king himself wouldn't be present to make connections. Aside from all that. Clan Firebeard also has a unique thing in their alliance with the Sorcerer Kingdom." Gongrimm explained teasingly.
"What unique thing?" Grommel laughed.
"In cases of emergencies they are allowed to settle in the territory of the Sorcerer Kingdom. They have almost prepared everything, except for housing. They are well positioned in a powerful position. Use your head for once." Gongrimm pleaded.
A short moment of silence burst through the room.
"They have the choice under whom they live and thus serve. It certainly helps them to make their decision that Karak-Ar-Araz, the high-king and most of the younger clan heads are trying to push them around. It further helps to make their decision when the queen mother of the Sorcerer King's heir is supporting their research." Gongrimm told Grommel, who was becoming pale.
"But they can't. They produce our armor and fill the armory. They are our runelords and hone the anvils of doom. They should be loyal to us, their kin." Grommel stumbled.
"Take this lesson from an old throngleader. You don't demand respect and recognition. You earn them. Give them a good reason to stay and make for good relations with this Ainz Ooal Gown and Arachama so that we don't have to face clan Firebeards anger." Gongrimm hissed and prepared to move.
Just as he was at the door a hand was on his shoulder.
"Gongrimm Ironspine?" the high-king asked, a sad undertone in his voice.
"Yes, high-king?" he inquired, not turning around.
"Thank you, but could I ask a favor of you?" the high-king wanted.
"What would that be?" Gongrimm replied.
"Could you prepare a meeting between me and the Firebeards clanhead soon enough?" he answered.
"I will try. But first you should prepare for the meeting with the manlings." Gongrimm responded and Grommel nodded.
The hand retreated and Gongrimm got to the entrance of the forge.
Once there he met Gotrek, Gondo and Belegar. All were wearing formal clothing, though Belegar still kept his anvil on his belt. Ironspine sighed and remembered that those anvils were also a status symbol in his brother's clan.
"Gongrimm, how are you?" Belegar asked as he and Ironspine gave a short hug.
"I am great. Though I have news. The high-king would come along to meet the leaders of the Sorcerer Kingdom. He would also like to have a meeting between him and, as he put it, 'the leadership of clan Firebeard'. It would be good if you could organize something in that regard." Gongrimm reported and Belegar nodded.
"That is good news. Indeed. I will prepare something for this week. But first we wait for Lady Arachama to arrive." Belegar responded.
The high-king arrived a short time later, just after Arachama arrived. Not long after the group was gone. He himself had spent most of the time in a trance to ignore the back pain.
→ Arwintar / Neia ←
The trip from Hoburns to Arwintar had proven to be quite easy. The Queen had listened to Remedios and used a ship to sail from northern Roble to Re-Estize and then traveled in a couch. Luckily, in her own humble opinion, the price got this information delayed and thus was unable to stop them.
"And even if he wanted to make war against us. We have the superior navy, the stronger army and they would have to work themselves through a marauding horde of demi-humans. Noone can be stupid enough to try this." Neia hoped.
The coach was traveling carefully through Arwintar towards the imperial palace. The commoners looked at her and slightly bowed, though the normal business wasn't interrupted. Neia meanwhile observed the crowd from her horse to make sure nothing could endanger the queen.
As they approached the imperial palace the guards of said palace rode towards them and brought them inside. The coach was parked in the back of the court, where another coach also stood, and the queen left it.
The emperor of Baharut meanwhile exited the palace with the beautiful women in the wheelchair. She was pushed by a beautiful maid. Remedios meanwhile helped the queen while Kelart was ecstatic to meet Arachama.
"Good afternoon, Emperor Jircniv Rune Farlord El Nix." the queen smiled.
"Good afternoon, Queen Calca Bessarez. I welcome you in my empire and my home. Hopefully the meeting will be satisfactory." the emperor greeted.
"Good afternoon, Remedios and Kelart Custodio. Hi Neia." Arachama greeted them and the two older nodded.
"Good afternoon, Lady Arachama." Neia responded and bowed slightly.
After the short greeting they retreated into the garden, where the meeting would take place.
But on their way a portal opened and a few figures walked through.
→ Arwintar Imperial-palace / Jircniv ←
The official greeting was mostly over and Jircniv was leading the group to his garden for some tea and cake when the typical portal opened. He was already used to it, thanks to the legions, but it shocked him that it could open in the court that easily.
The first figure to come through was Arachama the elder. She looked around and then nodded towards him.
"Good afternoon." she greeted as his unliving nightmare stepped through. Luckily the Sorcerer King wore a mask, thus not giving him the need to explain the alliance with the religious zealots.
"Good afternoon, Emperor Jircniv Rune Farlord El Nix." he spoke.
"Welcome to my home, Sorcerer King Ainz Ooal Gown." Jircniv replied.
To his surprise the portal did not close and four dwarfs came through.
One wore a crown, which looked like a bird on a ring, and fine clothing. The other was woretorn. Another one wore a toga while the last one looked relatively young. At least the last one would be young if you ignored the beard.
But those beards were common amongst them together with their short stature.
"Honor to your ancestors, manling emperor." greeted the one with a crown.
"He is greeting you and wishes honor upon your ancestors." the oldest amongst them translated.
"Honor to your ancestors." Jircniv replied, slightly uneasy and the oldest translated.
"How does he…" Jircniv began to think.
"I worked with manlings before. Back when these evil kings were raging around. Even before that. Call me Ironspine." Ironspine, as he called himself, told him. This shocked Jircniv to the core, as he was knowing the history of his own empire.
"I am the High-king of the dwarfs." the one who greeted him posed and stroked his beard.
"Gotrek Softhand, from the clan Firebeard."
"Gondo, clan head of clan Firebeard." the other two introduced themselves.
Jircniv nodded and then signaled for them to follow him as well. He led them to the garden where almost everyone began to eat, except for the undead amongst them. Afterwards the Queen went to Lord Ainz Ooal Gown and introduced herself, along with her entourage, except Neia. Neia wanted to go to the dwarfs, seemingly curious about them.
"You should greet the oldest first. It is traditional for them and will garner you some goodwill amongst them." Arachama smiled at Neia, who nodded and shot off.
"But wouldn't that be disrespectful towards the position the high-king has?" Neia asked.
"Age goes before position in their society. Their ancestor-worship is like that. Though some of the dwarfs are more liberal in that regard than others." Arachama answered as Jircniv closed in towards her while Neia went to the dwarfs..
"So I failed at the basics in diplomacy here?" he whispered in her ear.
"Nah. They understand our 'manling traditions'. But you could fail if you don't get the blessing, dear." Arachama giggled and gave him a peck.
"Of course dear. Who will you talk to during my task?" he inquired.
"I see that Kelart is coming for me. Might as well get some entertainment from this." she smiled at him.
"Then I go." he pecked her and left.
"Time to face the mother dragon." he thought as he plucked his clothing to order.
Luckily for him Lady Arachama was alone and drinking by herself. As he got closer she smiled and placed the cup she had aside.
"I hope the tea is to your liking?" he inquired.
"It is delicious. Thank you. I know that the guests were not planned for, but it would only be fair to get them in the loop as soon as possible." she smiled at him.
"It isn't a problem. Though I am surprised. I never heard of a high-king amongst the dwarfs. And I only heard about a 'Firebeard the mad'." he had to confess.
"That is because they are from the southern mountains. The one your empire is trading with once was a northern part of their kingdom." she explained and he nodded.
"I understand. So they are your allies and Nazarick wants them involved if something goes terrible?" he inquired.
"It is certainly one aspect. The other two are that dwarfs hate negative surprises and that dwarfs don't like it if they feel overlooked. The way it is going down now is more open for them. Meaning they are neither surprised, overlooked nor feel they lied to." she summarized and he understood.
"Now to the danger." he sighed inside.
"When we are talking about alliances. I have a proposal." he began.
This most certainly got raised eyebrows from the arachne.
"What proposal would that be?" she inquired.
"I would propose a political marriage?" he asked.
"Oho. You understand that I am careful around my relatives?" she inquired.
"As is your right. But Arachama and I spent a lot of time together and trust each other. It would also solidify the alliance my empire has with the Sorcerer Kingdom." he smiled, trying to seem trustworthy.
"Hmm. It most certainly is an argument. I will give you your answer in half an hour." she smiled.
"Then I will hope for the best." Jircniv nodded and left.
→ Arwintar Imperial-palace / Arachama ←
While the meeting was ongoing Arachama mainly observed the tea party and listened in on the discussions. Neias interest with the dwarfs evolved into a history lesson, with Gongrimm sometimes chiming in. The servants just rushed orders back and forth and organized themselves, though rumors already spread about her appearance.
"But that was something to be expected." she reigned herself in.
Ainz meanwhile was bombarded by Calca Bessarez, to his and her own annoyance. Though she couldn't accuse her of anything in that regard. She herself would, if she were in the same situation, do the same thing.
"But why is this paladin glaring at Monga? And why is the sorceress staring towards me and then back to him. It is annoying." Arachama thought when she noticed her daughter Arachne being pushed towards her.
"I hope your holiday was great?" Arachama asked as she checked her daughter over.
"Of course old-mother." Arachne answered and shifted annoyed when Arachama observed her. To the outside though it looked like normal talk.
"I heard something interesting, though I am sure it will work out?" she began.
"If it is what I think it is, old-mother, then yes." Arachne smiled.
"Are you sure you want this?" Arachama asked to make sure.
"Despite me practically programming you to do this?" she squirmed in her mind.
"Of course. It will be fantastic. Despite that, if it goes wrong I will immediately call you. It will also be a bit of time before the wedding, old-mother." Arachne promised, receiving an inquisitive glare by Arachama.
"If you say so, then you have my blessing. But if anything happens…" Arachama deadpanned and saw sweat appear on Arachne's head and a shiver crawling over Jircnivs back.
"I will be alright, old-mother. Despite that, how are the rest doing? I haven't seen them in the last bit of time." Arachne changed the topic.
"Clever." Arachama glared and sighed.
"You won that one. They are doing great. Though Enti is annoyed that Ure and Kuude managed to launder sweets. You should watch out, as they are also working closely with Yuri and the company. I don't want to think what they could do with money if they pull that off with sweets." Arachama retold and Arachne giggled.
"That sounds like them." Arachne squeezed out.
The smalltalk continued between them for a long time, until the night kicked in. During that time the dwarfs, Jircniv, the queen Calca and Monga had done their political talk and were writing treaties. Arachama herself decided to use this time with the rest, mostly by talking with Ironspine, Gondo and Neia.
In the late night the rulers were finished and Monga waved towards her. She thus went to him in the most quiet corner there is to have some privacy.
"So how did it go?" she inquired.
"It seems that I will be traveling with the delegation of Roble. Meanwhile I want you to be on standby, just in case. Mare will be staying by the dwarfs as well, as he seems to be integrating well. By the way, here are the reports from Demiurge." he told her and handed her a folder.
"'Happy Farm' sounds like a nice place." she smiled and read through the report.
"As far as I am concerned it seems like that. Did you know he is animal friendly?" Monga asked.
"He is? Quite something for a devil." she mused as she continued.
"Indeed. It would also be advantageous if you could coordinate with Bubonica in regards to one of your goals. The one where you work with Albedo. It would thus have more impact. At least the skaven think that the casualties in the meantime are nothing to worry about." he summarized.
"Ok." she responded, not sure what to think about that.
"Could you bring the dwarfs back to Karak-Ar-Araz?" he inquired.
"Of course. Does Albedo already know?" she responded. A green light shone after she shuddered.
"Yes, yes she does…" he answered forebodingly.
"Then I have only one thing left to do." Arachama told him and gave Monga a final hug.
The search for Jircniv was quite easy, as he and the dwarfs were drinking dwarven ale.
"Ahh. Lady Arachama." Ironspine smiled and shook her hand.
"Hi Ironspine. Are they ok?" she asked as Gondo fell backwards.
"Yeah. Though the manling is a bit tipsy. Otherwise we were thinking about leaving." he answered.
"That fits well. I only have to give him an answer and then we can go." she nodded along.
"Then I will gather Gondo from the ground." he laughed.
While Gondo was picked up, Arachama got jircniv a bit more reclusive.
"I have an answer for you. I give my blessing for this wedding, but if you hurt any hair on my descendent nothing will be able to hide you from me. All of Nazarick will march onto you until I get you between my clutches." she smiled while a murderous aura visibly terrified Jircniv.
"I will treat her like the empress she is." Jircniv responded.
"Then welcome to the family, I guess." Arachama smiled at the same moment the aura dissipated.
Not long after the dwarfs were back at Karak-Ar-Araz and Arachama cuddled her oldest in her bed.
AN: Thank you again for reading. I hope you enjoyed the chapter. If you did feel free to comment/review. Till next time.