Eternal Dominion Book 23: Strife, page 6
“It seems that I will need to have Kate widen the net that she has cast, as she looks for any anomalous players that we need to take care of. However, this conversation isn’t why I came here today. I came to simply sit with you and perhaps convince you to accept some furniture from Kate.”
“No, I don’t want to have any comforts until you have figured out what I am to you and are ready to take the next steps.”
“Why?”
“If you must know, I would likely destroy it venting my frustration at being unable to be at your side, when I could solve all the issues that I know face you right now. It is part of the reason I don’t look in on you through Kate as much these days.”
“I don’t know if I should be touched that you care so much, or be worried at the lack of control you claim to have.”
“Lack of a desire to have control. I could do anything if I wished to.”
“Is that right,” stated Xeal, as he stepped through the invisible barrier that separated Levina from the rest of the world. “How about I make a deal with you then.”
“Oh, and that would be?”
“I have Kate come and furnish this area with everything she can think of to make you comfortable and every time I visit in the future, I will relax with you next to me as we talk.”
“Why do you wish to torture me so much? Xeal, I want to feel your embrace and until I do, all that your affection will do is make the wait harder. So, I will make that deal only when you know for sure just what I will be to you if you embrace me and are ready to truly start down that path.”
Xeal simply sighed at Levina’s words as he had no way to refute them, as he knew that he was still dragging his feet and would be for a while longer. Still, he looked Levina in the eye as he searched her for what she was really feeling, and a second later he had shifted to his lightning form and Levina followed suit as they reached out and touched the other. While nowhere near as powerful as when they had crashed into each other, both of them found themselves feeling a bit of what the other was feeling at that moment. For Xeal this made him appreciate just how much Levina was holding herself back for him and he understood that while she was happy that he had visited her, she worried it was out of pity more than anything else. Yet, as their contact continued, he knew that he didn’t need to worry about refuting that, as that feeling faded as she felt what he was feeling for her in the moment. Finally, after around a minute like this they both returned to their human form and Xeal took out a new change of clothes for her as he turned around and spoke.
“We are going to need to work on you destroying your clothing like that.”
“What, are you afraid you will give in to the opportunity one day?”
“You are well aware that I am, just as you know that you should have no fear of me walking away from you at this point.”
“I don’t know what I know, as everything that happens when we do that feels so foreign to me. All that I know for sure is that I enjoy it immensely and it makes me feel as if we are meant to be in a way that I can’t put to words.”
“It creates a situation where we can’t lie to the other and well, neither of us is after any harm to the other from what I can tell. Though, I can tell that I am still hurting you by seeking to take this slow and approach you the only way that I know how.”
“But it is a good pain,” commented Levina before Xeal could say any more. “While your sincerity and caution hurts, it also is what makes me know that if I can endure this for a few more years, I will get at least a century or two with you before-”
“I am beyond your reach,” finished Xeal. “I am working on a possible solution to even that, but it will take decades in this world before I will know if it is even possible.”
“I know. Remember, I get to peek in on Kate at will and I have little else that passes the time here easily.”
As Levina said that, Xeal felt her embracing him from behind and he slowly turned and returned the embrace as they spent the next few hours just talking and being near the other. Once that was over, Xeal returned to Anelqua for a second Thanksgiving gathering in Xeal’s capital mansion, as even Austru and his kids joined them. Following that, Xeal found himself surrounded by the women he loved that night, as he fell asleep and once more thanked whatever powers there were for the joys of this second life he was enjoying.
When day 35 came, Xeal just sighed as he extracted himself from the others and after a quick breakfast, he was on his way to Dhurnrim to speak with King Dorrin. For this trip Xeal was bringing Dafasli and Kate as he would be entering hard negotiations and depending on just how they went, a future war could be set or avoided. While Xeal knew that things were currently stable, the current situation surrounding the monthly shipments of adamantium needed to end. With Salfe secured and working to get through the current list of orders Kate had given her, there was no longer a need to get Master Thataer Duskblade to take a job from Xeal. Plus, with the siege broken, the measures that worked to avoid a rebellion during war would fail to have a positive effect on the overall situation. Even if Xeal intended to push Dafasli to replace her father one day, she needed to not carry all of the baggage that her father’s stubbornness would create for her if possible.
Thus, after a teleportation and once more being escorted by Durirnerlug Oakguard as he avoided speaking to them, Xeal found his group seated across from King Dorrin. They were once more in the room that had served as his war room, only it looked as if the maps had started to be reset, as the latest word was that Caleb and Casmir had secured both sides of the border and Habia was pulling back. The issue with this was that it trapped the majority of the force under them at their current position and the force which had invaded Paidhia was unable to move now. Like that the current situation was a stalemate and Xeal knew that unless the dwarves left their mountains, he would have to pick either Habia or Paidhia to continue invading. He was also sure King Dorrin knew the same thing as he opened the conversation.
“Xeal, it is good tur see ye and thank ye for finally getting those pests off my front porch. Now, what is it that ye would like tur discuss with us before we are able tur finish reestablishing our old defensive positions and transitioning out of a surface war mentality?”
“I don’t know what you mean. That war hasn’t ended just because you are no longer under siege.”
“No, but our role in it has, or would ye have me order my army tur leave the protection of our home?”
“I would have you protect it by securing the area around it as Nium’s forces can’t stay put and secure it for you.”
“We will just ready for a siege once more. Xeal, ye can’t ask us tur fight in a manner that is disadvantageous tur us.”
“Father, ye could merge soldiers with Nium’s force. If we fought alongside-”
“No! We will not send our men tur die while digging beneath city walls for Nium while they learn our defensive positions.”
“We already know them,” commented Kate. “Even if you change them now, it will not matter if you lack any allies to aid you should you find yourself at war with Nium. You can’t proceed as if war with Nium is even possible at this point, because just as it is for the orc, beast-man and elf, it is for the dwarf. Nium will rule as you keep your crown and aid in a harmonious exchange of goods and services. In other words, you need to focus on making Nium dependent on something you can provide and keep from them should they decided to attack you.”
“And once more it comes back tur trade, “grumbled King Dorrin. “I will still stand by that I will not have ye providing anything that we can’t get ourselves easily, or can’t be stockpiled for years.”
“Father, ye haven’t even heard what their offer is!”
“Dur ye mean tur challenge me, daughter?”
“Is that all ye know how tur dur, use yer strength tur force yer will on all?! What happens when our people decide that they would rather be ruled by Nium tur enjoy a piece of fruit over listening tur ye?”
“They are not that weak willed!”
“All seek a better life,” rebutted Kate. “Their strong will is exactly what will lead to them seeking the changes which will see their lives improve. As our kind takes over more and more of the fighting in the subterranean realm, more and more of your people will seek to enjoy life as daily survival will no longer be such an existential crisis. Ten years is what I would say you have before you have a true revolt on your hands as things stand, and we are here to try and avoid that.”
“A revolt that ye all would happily lay the seeds tur.”
“That is enough!” shouted Xeal as he fixed King Dorrin with a hard look. “All you ever look at is the angle of how could this lead to my fall? So how about you take a second to actually hear what our offer is before you back yourself into a corner with that damn ego of yours!”
“Oh, is it ye who wishes to fight me now? That trick ye did with taunting out there won’t work in a one-on-one fight, will it?”
“Fine, you wish to know where I stand against you, I will let you know, just don’t cry once you learn that you are no match for me.”
“Xeal, we didn’t come here for a fight,” commented Kate.
“If he can beat me, without using yer lightning form, I will listen tur yer trade talks.”
“No, ye will agree tur them,” interjected Dafasli. “They have already consulted with me and I know the deal they are offering is fair!”
“Fine, if Durirnerlug agrees with my daughter I will accept them, but if ye lose I stop having tur send ye any adamantium!”
Xeal just shook his head before agreeing and 15 minutes later with a contract signed, he was standing across from King Dorrin who had two axes in his hands and was in an exquisite set of plate armor. Xeal could tell that the joints in particular had been molded perfectly such that any restrictions to movement that such an armor would cause were gone. It was also clear that the entire suit of armor was made out of adamantium and any normal blade would end up destroyed trying to break through its defense. Yet as Xeal drew his blades, he just smiled as King Dorrin realized that they weren’t typical blades and a hint of worry crossed his face. Seeing both sides ready, an apprehensive Durirnerlug Oakguard reluctantly gave the signal for the match to begin.
King Dorrin instantly went to charge as Xeal unleashed his aura and fighting spirit on King Dorrin, taking a defensive stance. While it was only for a moment, Xeal saw King Dorrin rethink his actions before it was too late and he took a dragon’s breath attack right to the face. This was followed by electrically charged double upward and downward slashes as Xeal also let his MP flow freely into the blades as he entered a state of merciless attacking. Between the blades, the electrical elemental blades’ stun effects and Xeal’s dexterity, King Dorrin was unable to even hope to do anything but weather the attack and hope Xeal ran out of SP or MP. However, that was beyond him as Xeal stopped attacking only when Durirnerlug Oakguard ended the match two minutes into it.
King Dorrin looked thoroughly enraged, bleeding profusely while he struggled with his health still dropping as he shook in rage. His health had only dropped by a quarter, but his armor was already below 50% durability if Xeal had to guess and he had been completely helpless for the entire fight. Meanwhile Xeal’s blades had only lost around five percent durability and he could have easily continued for a good while longer. However, Xeal was no fool to think that he was unbeatable as had King Dorrin avoided his first strike, it could have been him who was sent flying. Part of why King Dorrin was having so many issues calming down was due to the fact that he had activated a berserk skill as he tried to escape Xeal’s attacks. Had he done so from the beginning, there was a good chance that Xeal’s dragon’s breath attack wouldn’t have created the opening that was needed. At that point, Xeal knew that he could have been countered and a much harder battle would have followed. It was with these thoughts that Xeal spoke.
“I believe it is for the best if the three of us head back to the meeting room until we are all in the right state of mind to continue our discussions.”
“Ye think that I am done with ye?!”
“No, I expect that you will have much more to say to me and I to you, but not until you have calmed down.”
“I’m calm, it’s ye who is having issues, now let’s get ontur round tur!”
“Our match was only a single round and the judge that you agreed to, ended the match in my favor.”
“All I heard was him call for ye tur stop, not that ye were the victor!”
“The moment he stopped the match, the victor was clear!” shouted Dafasli. “Xeal beat ye and if ye want tur cry foul and go for a round tur, I will tell Xeal tur just kill ye and be done with it! Kate and I are more than a match for Durirnerlug. Now be a man for once and acknowledge when ye been beaten!”
The look on King Dorrin’s face at being called out by his own daughter told Xeal that her outburst had sobered him a bit, but it was still too soon to tell if a calm or rage would follow. So, out of instinct more than anything, Xeal took a position that ensured King Dorrin would need to go through him before getting to her. This finally seemed to make things hit home for King Dorrin as he dropped his axes and sat down on the ground. Durirnerlug looked worried as he motioned for Xeal to leave and so he, Kate and Dafasli did just that as they made their way back to the meeting room and wondered just what was about to happen. Xeal half expected the king’s guard to arrive and either chase them out, or try to imprison them. Still, they just waited in silence as none of them really seemed ready to unpack everything that had happened until they returned from the current meeting.
Finally, an hour after the start of this awkward silence, the door opened once more as King Dorrin entered, followed by Durirnerlug. Both had sour looks on their faces as they took seats across from Xeal and Xeal could feel that King Dorrin’s murderous desires hadn’t completely left him. Still, after taking a deep breath he looked Xeal in the eye as he spoke.
“What just happened doesn’t go beyond the five of us! If ye want me tur agree to anything that is tur be included in the deal.”
“No, I have no intention of shouting it to the heavens or even holding it over your head, but nor will I be able to keep it from my wives or a few others. However, I will agree that it being spread far and wide is not something that would be good for any of us.”
“What dur ye think will happen if word of ye beating me were tur leak tur the public!?”
“The image of the undefeatable leader that you have relied upon would begin to crack and it wouldn’t be long before your people would seek my leadership over yours. Especially since you have been spreading that it is likely that Dafasli and I will marry.”
“Ye would like that wouldn’t ye.”
“No, I hate ruling anything. Even now I am just reviewing the reports on what is happening in my own territory as a few of my vassals handle things for me during this war. Oh, how I am dreading returning to my role as governor there once this war comes to an end. Though at the same time I look forward to handing the rule of the orcs back to them and telling all of those clamoring for me to be given more territory to shove off. You and I are opposites in this regard. You wish for others to see your power as a reason to follow you. I just want others to leave me and my wives be. Now can we get to talking about this deal, or are you going to keep worrying about your pride until it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy?”
“Fine, just tell me what you have in mind.”
“That is simple, take and reduce the amount of adamantium that you are sending me every month to one quarter of what it was last month and allow FAE to trade freely among your lands. By that I mean, you collect no more taxes than you would from any dwarven-owned business and you don’t single out any products that we bring in as unacceptable.”
“Could I still ban all fruit?”
“No, you can ban all swords or any other smithed product that you feel is undercutting your own smiths’ prices, but I have no intention to sell anything that would cause your economy any real issues. At least in the long run, there will be industries that the few of your people who are currently focused on them, simply can’t compete with what I will offer. For them I am open to finding solutions that don’t see them lose everything, but I also can’t operate as a charity would.”
“Those who can’t find a use, will be set aside as they always have been,” retorted King Dorrin. “Holding their hands will only cripple them and their offspring’s ability tur adapt tur change.”
“It’s not about holding their hands, it’s about giving them a chance to discover a new way to earn their way,” replied Kate. “Also, retraining those whose profession has been rendered obsolete isn’t what we are talking about as the success rates of that are dismal. What we are expecting from you is that you will take a short hit and replace part of their income for six months or so. You can even give them slightly less each month, or something to impress on them that they will not be able to live like that forever.”
“Why should I be the one tur dur such a thing and not ye, who is causing their displacement?”
“Because you want us to be the villain,” stated Xeal. “If we do it while you just stand by and watch, it will create a situation where you are seen as an uncaring ruler. They will wonder why they sacrificed so much to help hold the lines and keep you in power, when they may have been better off under Habia’s or Paidhia’s rule. Such thoughts would also lead some of them to seek my rule once more, which I say again, is the last thing either of us want.”
“Then give me the funds tur pay for it.”
“What do you think the cutting of the adamantium you will be sending me is?”
Xeal could see King Dorrin thinking for a long moment as he considered everything before responding.
