“It is good to see all of you again, and in fine health too.” Councillor Winters’ usual glow was absent since she was relying on the scrying sphere instead of projecting her astral form. Gerald, though, could not help but notice the massive, spiky lizard dozing behind her. He opened his mouth to warn her, but all she did was smile. “Yes, Gerald, I know there is a giant, spiky lizard sleeping behind me. No, he is not a threat.”
“What… what is that?”
“That’s Spike,” Timmy answered. “She found him when we were still attending the academy. She thought he was cute, so she basically beat him up and brought him back with us. Normally, he lives at a zoo, but he usually stays with her for at least a week a year while the zoo performs maintenance on his enclosure.” He shrugged. “Yes, it seems crazy, but that’s because it is.”
The councillor smiled and waved one hand dismissively. “Oh, don’t let his appearance fool you. Spike is a friendly fellow with a wonderful personality.” Gerald would have to take her word for it because he was not going anywhere near Spike unless he was ordered to. “So… how did your mission go? I know you succeeded, but we haven’t had time for a fuller debrief. Given your circumstances, now seems as good a time as any.”
“As you already know, we were successful in retrieving the princess and copious amounts of evidence to show the Eternal Empire’s involvement. That aside, we also recovered documentation relating to Lord Tarrick’s criminal organisation, which you may find useful.” Amanda glanced at Gerald. “Gerald has been making copies of the most important things, so we can forward those to you later. If you have any questions you’d like us to ask Lord Tarrick, I suggest you think of them quickly. He is valuable alive, but King Erasmus is not happy. I daresay any deal with him will be contingent on us handing over Lord Tarrick. Once that happens, I’d give it a week at the most before Lord Tarrick’s head is on a pike at the docks.”
“I can’t blame him.” The councillor pursed her lips. “See if you can persuade the king to let us have him for a few months. Tell him we’re going to torture him horribly or something. Let him know he can have him once we’re done.” She frowned. “You might want to tell him it’ll help us in the war too. He’s a navy man. He’ll understand if he has to put his vengeance off for a few months to help win the war.”
“Are we actually going to torture him?” Gerald asked. He wasn’t a big fan of torture even when it was aimed at his enemies. It made him queasy just thinking about it. Hopefully, he never got captured. There were people who could resist months of gruelling, agonising torture. He did not want to find out if he was one of them.
“Probably not,” Councillor Winters replied. The way she replied so blithely was a tad worrying, but the Supreme Cleric had always been gifted in the calculus of war. If torturing a crime lord was necessary to save Everton, she would do it. “We have magic that can compel answers or actions from him without torture, and that’s not including what Amanda could do if we let her use her full power.” Her gaze shifted to each of them in turn. “But how are you? You never did tell me if you got injured during the mission, and appearances can be deceiving.”
Timmy shrugged. “I don’t think anyone suffered anything too bad, Vicky. Avraniel set stuff on fire, Spot ate people, Old Man sliced and diced, Amanda did whatever it is ancient vampires do, Gerald apparently melted some people with hydra acid, Katie stole some books, and I burst my eardrums. They had a sound mage, but a healing potion fixed me up. Oh, and the princess tried to hit Spot with a potted plant.
“Did she manage to hit him?” Timmy shook his head, and the councillor laughed. “I imagine he didn’t take that well. If anything, he was probably insulted. Still, I’m glad to know you emerged relatively unscathed although I might have to look at your ears the next time we meet. Healing potions aren’t perfect.” Her gaze snapped to Gerald, and she grinned. “What’s this I hear about you melting people with hydra acid? I don’t remember you mentioning this when we spoke briefly after you retrieved the princess.”
Before Gerald could speak, Timmy cut in. “Supposedly, he was overcome with rage at the ill treatment of some bureaucrats. According to the ninja rats, his enemies pleaded for mercy, but he replied that the only mercy he would grant them was a swift death before pouring hydra acid on them one by one, so they could realise the error of their ways. He saved the leader for last, and they all died screaming.”
“…” Gerald gaped at Timmy. “That is not what happened!” He looked desperately at the Supreme Cleric. “It was an accident! I swear it was! I didn’t mean to hit them with hydra acid!”
“That’s not what the rats say,” Timmy replied. “They told me you were so terrifying even they were worried. They had to convince you not to make your enemies drink the hydra acid.”
“But… but… but…” Gerald covered his face with his hands. “You have to believe me,” he pleaded. “It really was an accident.”
Councillor Winters laughed. “Relax, Gerald. I believe you.” She paused. “Besides, if you wanted to kill someone, you could always drop a boulder on them. It’s less horrific since the boulder covers up the mess.” Gerald wailed, and she chuckled. “But seriously, how many brushes with death did you have this time?”
“I stopped counting after twelve,” Gerald replied. He had stopped keeping track of how many times he almost died because it had started to get rather depressing. “But there was maybe only one where I wasn’t sure somebody would be able to save me.” He gestured vaguely. “There was a giant tree trying to kill me. One of the enemy mages made it.”
“Ah, yes, you did mention that before. I hope you go into detail in your report. It sounds fascinating.”
Gerald felt a familiar swell of happiness. Paperwork! He could handle paperwork, and the familiarity of it all put his mind at ease. He understood paperwork, and paperwork played by the rules and didn’t try to murder him. Sure, paper cuts could be nasty, but it was better than almost being stabbed to death by a magically enhanced tree.
“Amanda,” the councillor asked. “How amenable do you think the king will be to granting some of the terms we’re hoping for?”
The vampire bit her lip. It was sometimes easy to forget that she could basically read people’s minds and emotions. Even without trying, she could glimpse into the surface thoughts and emotions of those around her. “He’s spoiling for a fight. If anything, once he sees the evidence, we’ll have to convince him not to send his fleets out immediately.”
“Attacking now would be unwise,” Timmy said. “There are at least two imperial naval bases close enough to matter. The king’s fleets should be able to fend the empire off in the familiar waters of the Shimmering Isles with support behind them, but if they get caught out in open water and surrounded…”
“Which is why we’ve already dispatched some of our forces,” the councillor said. “If the empire decides to abandon caution and go on the offensive, they will strike at the Shimmering Isles directly and try to overwhelm them before they can organise a proper defence. However, our forces should make it there before any imperial fleet. I am hoping you will have negotiated terms by then. Otherwise, it will be very awkward for us.”
“I can imagine.” Amanda folded her arms together, and Gerald was once again struck by the inhuman grace she possessed. “I will push for a full alliance, at least for the duration of the war, and I think he will accept. That should leave us ideally positioned to fight the naval portion of the war.”
“Agreed. The Council is giving you full discretion in this matter. Your skills as a diplomat and negotiator are well known, and we can hardly ask for a better opportunity. Ideally, we wouldn’t be relying on the empire making mistakes to form alliances, but we’ll take what we can get. You should also see if there are any other island nations that might be willing to ally with us. The Shimmering Isles may be the largest and most powerful of the island kingdoms, but it is not the only one.”
“I’ll look into it.” Amanda closed her eyes briefly. When s
he opened them, there were faint tinges of crimson amidst the usual piercing blue. “We need to be careful. Some of those island nations may see this as a chance to settle old grudges. We do not want to get dragged into any extra conflicts.”
“Of course.” Councillor Winters looked at him. “Gerald.”
“Yes, councillor?” He all but snapped to attention.
“You’ve been doing excellent work as always. I know I can rely on you to keep good records and proper documentation, which puts my mind at ease.” She smiled at him, and the warmth of it could be felt through the scrying sphere. “However, I think you will enjoy the task I am about to give you more than the mission you recently completed. Wars are based on logistics. I want you to report on how prepared the Shimmering Isles is for the coming conflict from the point of view of logistics. Ask Timmy and Amanda if you need help.”
Gerald relaxed. A report? He could do that. “Yes, councillor. It will be done.”
The negotiations went as smoothly as predicted. The king might have been a navy man, but the kidnapping of his daughter had turned him into an angry father. He had to be dissuaded for personally leading his fleets against the empire after reviewing the evidence they’d obtained.
“Those honourless bastards!” the king raged. He clenched one fist and slammed it into the table. There was a brief flare of magic as the runes and seals on the table flared to protect it from what had been a very impressive blow. “How dare they! It’s bad enough that I have to constantly stop their proxies from fishing in my waters, but to organise the kidnapping of my daughter? I had my suspicions when they offered to ‘ensure her safety’, but to see it spelled out so plainly. Well, they wanted a fight! They’ll get one, just not the one they wanted.” He turned to one of the royal guards. “Summon the admirals.”
“Your Majesty,” Amanda interjected. “Allow me a moment of your time, please.”
The king’s amber eyes blazed, but beneath Amanda’s calm scrutiny, his wrath cooled enough for him to regain his composure. “Very well. Speak.”
“As you say, the Eternal Empire needs to be punished for their role in your daughter’s kidnapping, yet now is not the time. They are likely ready and waiting, knowing that vengeance will be on your mind. Your fleets would be sailing into a trap against numerically superior foes. We have forces en route to bolster the Shimmering Isles. Why not wait until you are on a proper war footing and let the enemy come to you? Face them in familiar waters with close support at hand rather than journey into their territory and face them where they are strongest. Time is on your side here, not theirs. Every day that passes only strengthens your defences. At some point, they will have to take the offensive.”
King Erasmus bristled before settling back into his chair. The heat in his gaze had lessened somewhat, but it had not vanished. Instead, it had crystallised into cold fury. “It pains me to admit it, but you have the right of it. For all of their foolishness in this matter, the empire has capable captains, admirals, and sailors. I know that better than anyone. Ship for ship, man for man, we are their betters, but they have more ships and more men. Numbers matter, especially if we are to attack rather than defend.” His lips curled. “You were so confident of an alliance that you deployed your forces? How bold.”
“War is rarely won through cowardice,” Amanda replied smoothly. “Foolishness is seldom successful, but calculated risks are often necessary.”
“Indeed.” The king turned to the second matter that rankled him. “And you say you need Lord Tarrick alive? That scum’s head should be adorning a pike at the docks.”
“We believe he will be useful in the coming conflict. He was one of the most powerful crime lords in the Combine. He has ample resources and contacts, both of which we can utilise ourselves if we keep him alive.”
“I don’t like it.” King Erasmus growled. “But again, I understand the necessity of it. Give me an hour with him before you take him. He will not die, but he must suffer before I hand him over.” His nostrils flared. “And I expect him back alive once all of this is over. An example must be made. Nobody lays a hand on my daughter and lives.”
“Of course. I would suggest having a healer with you when you visit him.” Amanda’s smile was colder than the dead of winter. “I know firsthand that having one available allows you to be more… thorough.”
“Ah.” The king smirked. “You’re right. I’ll make sure to have one around.”
The negotiations concluded a few days later. Despite how smoothly they’d gone, there were still many details to be worked out, and Gerald took great pride in recording all of it and even quoting the relevant legislation. Such finalisations would take further time and a member of the Council, if only for appearances, so one was doubtless already on the way with the forces Councillor Winters had deployed. Still, all of the major details had been agreed upon, and it was more a matter of properly formalising the agreements than anything else.
Afterward, Gerald found himself with some free time, so he decided to do something relaxing. He went for a walk. Of course, he wasn’t stupid. He didn’t go for a walk on his own. There were pickpockets in every country, and there was no telling what trouble he might run into on unfamiliar shores. Instead, he asked Katie if she wanted to come along, and he soon found himself wandering through a bustling marketplace with the young necromancer and a small cadre of ninja rats. It was, he thought, a sign of how much his life had changed that this little trip was the most normal thing he’d done all week.
“How are you, Gerald?” Katie asked. She was surprisingly astute for a child sometimes. Then again, Rembrandt was with her, and few could read people the way the eye-patch-wearing rat could. It was one of the reasons he was such a good bodyguard. He could sense malice, aggression, or hostile intent from a mile away.
“Much better now that nobody is trying to kill me. Taking notes during the negotiations has been wonderfully relaxing.”
They made their way toward a bookstore, and Gerald eagerly entered and began to peruse the shelves. Much like Katie, he could appreciate a good book, and there were bound to be a few here that he’d never read before. He might even pick up some stationery as well since they had different types here, and their paper was made using different methods and materials. In fact, paper from the Shimmering Isles was renowned for both its smooth texture and its whiteness.
“What do you think of this one?” Katie asked.
Gerald looked at the book warily. He’d seen Katie’s bookshelves at the castle. At least a third of the books would have driven him insane within minutes if he’d tried to read them. Hopefully, this wasn’t one of those books. He rather liked being sane. “A treatise on the development of the merchant navy of the Shimmering Isles? Not a bad choice.” Gerald rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “The majority of the wealth of the Shimmering Isles does come from the sea, whether in the form of seafood or other sea products or through bountiful trade thanks to their advantageous position.” He looked closer. “Ah. I know the author. He is an excellent scholar. He wrote a similar book about some of the other island nations. It was very good. I think you would do well to purchase it.”
“Yes.” Katie flipped through the book. “Having a formalised system for the development of a proper merchant navy has done wonders for their trading power. It is an idea more countries should investigate.” She cackled, which sent a shiver down his spine despite how adorable the sound was. “I’ve also been thinking about it a lot. My master and I already have several ships sailing under our banner. It might be nice to have more. After all, there are benefits to running a larger operation.”
“I’ll take your word for it.” Gerald turned as one of the rats squeaked to catch his attention. He moved to where the rodent had pointed and gasped. There was a book there – a wonderful book. “The Life and Times of Salton Brantley, Bureaucrat and Clerk… no.” Gerald shook his head. “It can’t be.” This was the biography of the legendary bureaucrat who had personally established many of the conventions fir
st used by the Eternal Empire and later by bureaucrats all over the world. Gerald gingerly eased the book off the shelf and nearly swooned. It was a tad battered – nothing the right magic couldn’t fix – but it was a fifth edition. Impossible. Even a fifth edition would be centuries old. It should be locked in some collector’s vault not on the shelf of a normal bookstore. He really, really wanted it, but the price would surely be… he looked at the price and almost fainted. It was in his price range.
“Is that something you’re interested in?” Katie asked. She grinned. “You looked like you were about to have a stroke.” She nodded at one of the rats. “He was getting ready to use his healing magic on you.” One of the little rodent’s paws was indeed wreathed in magic.
“Oh, yes.” Gerald brightened. “This book alone makes this whole trip worth it. I’ll definitely be buying it.”
Gerald anxiously brought the book to the counter, terrified that the price on it was incorrect. However, the proprietor barely even looked at the book before he took Gerald’s money and handed it to him without so much as a second glance. Gerald immediately used his magic to store it. He wasn’t going to risk damaging it while reading it until he could have Timmy or Amanda properly protect it from wear and tear. As they continued through the marketplace, there was a visible spring in his step. He wasn’t even bothered when someone tried to pick his pockets. The rats dealt with the lout easily enough, and the authorities arrived soon after to haul him off – but not before the rats had emptied the would-be thief’s pockets in retaliation. It was so nice to see law and order being enforced after spending time in the unruliness of the Combine. Unfortunately, his footsteps had inadvertently carried him into an area that specialised in services of a more… adult variety.
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