Chapter 36: Contact
Lord Van Bloot held an old record put in stone. It was the old report in which his next plan was based on. Since his troops were back together after the failed operation, it was time for his next plan. It was the waiting game for now. He found one of the Metalist and asked to speak with their ruler.
He read the report once again. It was one that his ancestors did long ago, "Strange creatures of metal sighted. Identified as another tribe."
The report was short, but with what they collected from spying on the tribes, those Metalist already kidnapped a boy named Peyton. He closed his eyes, "This plan better work. Chaor will fall and my family will take back their rightful place."
The harpy turned around as he watched his second secret base. It was a large and deep cavern where a few houses were carved in. He could see the simple structure, but it was good enough to live. With his situation, he wasn't picky anymore.
He made sure that the Metalist had no idea of this base. His soldiers made contact where the Metalists were found and the rendezvous point, if accepted, was in an isolate cavern.
The creature was ready to put himself at great risk. Isolated and few loyal warriors by his side. Not only that, the tribes were united together and they mostly all hated him. The M'arrillians would use him.
Getting in touch and the support of the Metalist was his best bet. No backstabbing on his part. If asked to come alone, he would. If it cost his life, this was it. His living eye shined. It wouldn't come to this point.
Atrapol came with a scroll. He offered it to his rule, "We got a response from the Metalists. It seems their king Titanium has found time to meet you at the location you asked," he told his master when the time was right.
"Good. Anything about Kaz?" he wondered.
"Nothing yet. It seemed to be distracted by the disappearance of Peyton to really think about his loyalty to Chaor."
Van Bloot grunted at this predicament. The doubt he put into the boy's mind was ineffective, "We will find another way to make him… remember the situation."
"I can find him and bring him to you."
"No. For not, I will talk with their king. Maybe this meeting and a bit of knowledge could bring the boy to us instead. I must go now," he spread his wings, "I will not fail," he jumped and flew away.
Treachery wasn't an option anymore.
Lord Van Bloot reached his destination. It was an isolated cavern of the Underworld. It was a small one that left no space for an ambush. He wouldn't worry about the Metalist king to plan something like that, and the king wouldn't need to worry for himself to do the same. He landed at the entrance. He saw the large footsteps of a creature that went inside. He couldn't see any toes. It sounded like it was one of those creatures. There was only one large pair of feet on the ground. It gave the feeling that the creature was heavy.
He hoped it was the king. He walked inside. He wasn't bothered at how dark the cavern was. The corridor was a bit long, but reached the end of it quickly. He saw a spot of light coming from it. He prayed the Cothica that everything would be smooth and success would come to him.
He reached the chamber of the cavern and saw the large creature gazing at him.
Titanium had his body covered by his red cloak, but he still was a massive creature made of metal.
The Underworlder quickly bowed to him with respect, "I am grateful of your presence."
The king gave the creature a serious gaze. He had no hint of amusement or humor, compared to his interactions with his own tribe and Peyton, "No need to be this polite. I know of your reputation Van Bloot."
The harpy twitched when his title wasn't mentioned. He tried to push it aside, but his ego wouldn't, "It's Lord Van Bloot. Even if I lost my domain, I am still Lord Van Bloot, King Titanium."
"Very well. Losing your tower didn't bring you town," Titanium said as he gave a quick nod, "Enough bowing. You called me for a reason. I had enough time to humor you with my presence. Still, I wonder how you knew of my tribe. From what my spies and watchers commented, little information leaked about us."
His tongue moved in his mouth. He carefully and meticulously picked his next words, "From the old records of my ancestors," as much as he wanted to manipulate the creature, one quick look in the eyes of the metal being told him it was a terrible option. He was in face of a king that might be older than he seemed, "Without any ally and only enemies in Perim, it was only to you I can turn too. Those Elementalists sees me the same as Chaor. I cannot deny the bit of the same they would see in me," he raised his back and observed the other creature. He had to be very careful. He couldn't say too much, in case the meeting went south and might be costly. His intentions had to be clear.
"The Lord of Treachery would try to form an alliance with me? I can see that you are at the end of your rope," the Metalist commented.
The Underworlder growled. He couldn't deny that he was at the end of his rope. He needed a way to turn his fate around. He needed to win Kaz over somehow, "Yes. It is why I wanted to meet you Metalist king."
"Do not take what I said as an insult or a mockery. What is going on in Perim is of little matter to me. The problem you have with Chaor means little to me."
The harpy grunted as it went the wrong way, "Of course, you have to focus on your own tribe desire. I can offer help if you need any in an alliance. There might be little I can offer right now, but with knowledge of what you need, I might help you turn things around. Like the object known as the Jewel of the Cothica," he froze in place when he realised that the creature of metal looked at him straight in the eyes. They shined brightly at him. He felt a bit smaller. He kept his composure, "What is it?"
"Nothing," the eyes turned back to normal as he turned his back on the creature, "What would you benefit from this alliance?"
"A means to defeat Chaor and take back my rightful place on the throne to rule the Underworld. His ancestor Kiru took everything from my family," he clenched his hands. Some thought came back. Everything he thought of the past and his ancestors, it greatly angers him.
Titanium looked in the eyes of the harpy. He frowned for a short moment. He squinted his eyes and carefully observed the creature. He asked one question. A question that the Underworlder never saw coming, "You want to kill Chaor out of revenge, hatred… or out of fear?"
That question twisted the heart of Van Bloot. He hated Chaor with every fiber of his being. He hated his father from the bottom of his very soul. The very fact the question was asked, twisted his heart in ways he couldn't expect. The very question made him fearful of the Metalist a bit. That creature wasn't a king for nothing. He looked the other way and didn't answer.
Titanium couldn't wait forever. He saw that he hit the nail in the coffin, but it seemed that he brought up something the creature rather not consider. Still, he couldn't waste time, "You should start talking. Because I will leave if you are wasting my time."
The Underworlder clenched his hands as he thought back. The last time he saw his father, wasn't when he was alive. He still remembered it. And everything time that came, his breathing was slow, quiet and cold. In the past, it was quick and loud.
The strange box he got from the previous ruler of the Underworld. He wasn't even an adult back then. His father soldiers brought it to him. They didn't open it at the order of the ruler. He remembered the strange stench and the dark red paint on it. He remembered opening the door. He remembered the horror when he saw the corpse of his father. The head separated from the rest of the body. Drenching in dry blood from the many wounds.
The message made by cutting the skin of his father. The warning he got: 'Be a little pet and you might live. Don't and you will never join your father.'
That threat shook him to his core. The very fact that it implied a fate worse than death. The tears at the realisation that he lost the one that was dear to him.
It was the main reason he accepted to join Chaor, before turning on him once it was over. Lord Van Bloot refused to be a pet of the previous king, he wouldn't be for the current one or the next one. When he lost his father, he wanted revenge. He was ready to do anything to kill his father murderer. He did it with Chaor, who also despised his father. That didn't matter to him. Chaor had the same eyes than his father when he showed his anger.
Chaor would turn out like his father. The harpy knew it. It was only a matter of time. He wanted Chaor's dead. It was needed. He wanted him dead because he hated the creature so much. Everything him and his ancestors did. Still, a part of him feared Chaor, from the simple fact he knew he would turn out like his father.
Still, he had to focus on the now, "I rather not think about it," he looked in the eyes of the creature.
"And I rather have a reason to consider the possibility of an alliance. It is a matter of trust and you: Lord of Treachery, doesn't ooze trust by your title. It is one you claim on your own, not one Chaor gave you," Titanium frowned.
Van Bloot clenched his hands harder and a bit of blood came out of the wound he inflicted on himself, "Fine! I hate and fear Chaor because he will turn out like his father!"
The Metalist nodded in comprehension. He saw truth in his words, "I see no treachery in your words. Alright," he sat down, "Time to discuss about this alliance."
The Lord of Treachery observed the creature. He had no idea if the creature simply humored him or was serious about it. Still, he acted as if he was serious. He rather looked like a fool than lost his chance, "Very well."
The began the discussion on how the alliance could work. It was simply a discussion and nothing official came out of it. For Van Bloot, it was a beginning and wouldn't complain about it. He could wait for a while.
"If we reach an accord, I would have no problem to offer some resource to you and your troops. I do not care which of you rule the Underworld," Titanium declared. After all, he planned to bring his people back to the Cothica, where they used to live before. To bring them back home. He crossed his fingers together, "In exchange, I want to know how you even managed to learn the existence of the Jewel of the Cothica."
"Of course, I can answer you that. For the sake of an alliance. Still, why do you want to know about it?" The harpy was well aware that the Metalist considered the alliance after he spoke about the jewel.
"Because the simple mention of this Jewel means that it might revealed itself once more. The Jewel is only a legend. All I know is that very few people can put their grasp on it. You are either worthy or not. If you are not, you know it. The Jewel will make you know it," he rested his chin on his fingers, "The simple mention of it is a prelude for what is to come."
Van Bloot knew this Jewel, if real, was special. Still, the way the Metalist spoke, it was as if this thing had a mind of its own. It was only a legend, but the creature of metal told those things as if they were true. Not only that, but the prelude for something bigger didn't sit well with him, "A Prelude to what?"
"I do not know," came the simple answer of the creature. He crossed his fingers, "If you can find more information on it, then we might have an alliance," he stood up and took a few steps away, "Starting with what you have," the large creature left.
The Underworlder looked at the spot where the large creature was done. He felt like he might have his alliance if he gave what he found. A small smirk appeared on his face, "Looks like this jewel is much important than I thought. Anyway, I cannot afford to fail. I need this alliance," after all, if the legend was true, then the Jewel was the one who chose its owner.
AC: This is the end of this chapter.
Next: Tea Time
Tom grumbled at the body guard Maxxor sent when he met something or someone who invited him for Tea.