"I'm not going to complain about you giving us more food than Cupun promised us," I said as I settled into a crouch. Sybil stayed inside the room beside me, listening for now, "but I've just gotten confirmation that you'll lie to me at any opportunity."
She opened her mouth and I raised my hand dismissively. "I know, I asked if you could explain yourself in my tongue and you said no, you couldn't. Probably means that you can't speak the language but you can understand it? Something like that?"
"Well. Yes. My throat can't make the sounds. So I could not do as you requested." Mitelli didn't have the decency to seem even a little abashed.
"And you took the opportunity to deceive me by omission." I finished.
"How was I supposed to know what plan number 6 was?" Mitelli demanded.
"You weren't. According to you, you didn't understand the language. If you had told me you could, then you could have asked me."
"Well, what's plan number 6?"
"You don't deserve my trust now." I answered. "Why would I explain plans to you that were spoken with the understanding that you couldn't have understood what was being said?"
"Because you said I could ask you!"
"Yes, you can ask me. I will answer you, but not with everything you want to hear. It's been made abundantly clear to me that the Beastkin will only give me as much information as they wish to, and that which comes to us will be laced with half truths and full lies. Additionally, you don't get an answer just because you asked for something. I've asked you questions that were answered with, 'that's a secret'. My plans are a secret." It was also a secret how there was no "plan number six".
"We… well, I… very well." The Beastkin eventually just sagged where she stood. "We will continue to provide the supplies for the term previously decided up with Cupun. We will provide the same amount that we have this time, and any additional supplies you would like to request can be negotiated."
Sybil took the opportunity to raise her voice, "That is where I will enter the conversation. As the Zaaktifi, it is my responsibility to do so. If you have any questions, moving forward, they should be directed to me. As it has been shown that you will only waste the Zaaktif's time, you can no longer deal with him directly."
"But I am a representative of the Union!"
"And I am the second in command of the New Empire. Consider yourself lucky that I am considering lowering myself to speak with a person thrice proven deceitful."
"It was only twice!"
The two began arguing in earnest and I left the room, though I didn't pay them any further attention. Sybil and I had communicated in subtle movements that I wanted her to take the lead as a negotiating tactic. She would do better in a situation like this that I would have, and I didn't mind reserving my focus for parts of my Empire's maintenance that weren't related to this minutiae.
There wasn't much for me to do there, so instead, I spoke to Brutus.
"Take care of Sybil. Make sure she's safe. You've got people with the children, right?"
"Of course. Sakkit and Hala are there to support Trai as well."
"Good." I flared my frills as I assigned him to go to ensure my mate's safety. For my part, I walked to the walls, to watch for the coming of Mitelli's people. Supposedly there'd be thousands upon thousands of pounds of food that they were bringing, and I wanted to see it coming. Mitelli hadn't explained what kind of food it was specifically, just that it was, so I wondered what it would be. Certainly something that could feed this many Saharliard, given that they knew us well enough to speak our language.
At the walls, I could look up the mountain to where our food was, supposedly, coming from. My people stood on the walls all around me, their eyes looking up as I looked as well. The glimmering minute shards of ice in the air fell, and as I watched, I slowly got a view up the mountain. Dozens of dark spots moved down the slopes, dragging things behind them as they approached.
"Keep an eye on them." I commanded to those who stood nearby. "I'm going to speak with the Alpha and the rest from Tala, so I want to be sure that they don't need any assistance from me at this time."
"Yes, Zaaktif!" The reply came from half a dozen throats. They bowed as I strode away. There was so much I needed to do and take care of that I simply wasn't sure what I needed to prioritize. In the end, I'd simply decided to deal with what I felt like I could immediately address, so I went to our newest residents. Before long, I followed the sounds of voices, commands, and complaints to one of the larger, mostly repaired buildings that existed in the city. Inside I found hundreds of Kha and Khatif working together to get the worst of the chill from settling into their bones.
The voice of the Alpha carried over their people, their worries and frustrations bleeding away as their leaders commanded, counseled, and comforted. Then, as soon as I walked into the building, the male voice of the Alpha spoke.
"To the Zaaktif we give the humblest of thanks."
"We thank thee for thy patience and thy generosity with these thy servants."
With the echo of his other half, the male ceased his speaking, though he approached to stand beside me and bow his head.
"Glad you're all here. Was the journey too troubling?"
"There are many stories which would, no doubt, come as no surprise to thee, Zaaktif." The female appeared beside the male.
"Yes, there is much that hast occurred, but very little that couldst be considered aught more than commonplace."
"All right." I said. "Now, why are you here?"
"We were summoned, were we not?" The Alpha answered with both voices.
"Chjell." I chuckled. "He didn't attempt to force you to come here, did he?"
"Force?" The male said, alternating with the female.
"No."
"But there may remain many reasons for our continued presence."
"Yes."
"We shall investigate."
"And help protect."
"Sounds good." I said, raising a hand. "Now, let's see what we can get working on immediately."