Those damn griffins were even larger up close than I had imagined.
It wasn't just their size. There was something… dangerous about them. One of them looked at me in a way that made it clear we were the intruders here, not it. Level 102 — for a non-speaking beast, impressive!
We all stood calmly on the packed earth. A strange atmosphere of hostility and suspicion hung in the air. The young elegant man was grinning boldly, and I really wanted to hit him with my tail! Did he come here to flirt or to negotiate!?
The envoy from Gomas did not hurry. He stood among the beasts as if nothing was wrong, muttering something to his companions. After adjusting his gloves, he extended his hand toward Valeria, bowed, and kissed it theatrically. His coat was clean and red, his boots polished, and his level absurdly high for a human — 111!
Young. Elegant. Confident. He got on my nerves with that neatly trimmed beard and his ambiguous expressions. I simply didn't like him. That was it!
"Your Majesty," he bowed slightly, without a trace of fear. "It is an honor to finally see with my own eyes… your achievements."
What a bastard. And that look he gave toward the fences of our modest settlement…
"Few could build a kingdom from… what you had."
Silence thickened instantly, though some of them laughed like fools. Jo'Xa'Jaru stared him down, Argos looked at Valeria, and she only smiled and, as if nothing had happened, thanked him and pointed him toward a chair at the prepared table.
The goblins stood tense. Someone in the back hissed under their breath. Even the air felt heavier, as if something invisible was pressing everyone down.
Seven visitors and an equal number of flying beasts. The weakest human among them was level 23 and seemed to be an ordinary clerk. One looked like a hired killer, three like diplomats and intellectuals, and two like knights. My attention was drawn to the elder among them — with gray mustache and a bored expression. He stood in the back, wearing armor studded with precious stones, a four-leaf clover engraved on his chest — no less impressive than Vay's black armor. The old man was level 123, and the [DEADLY] tag above his head did not encourage me to fight him anytime soon…
One of the goblins announced Queen Valeria Nocturne, and one of the diplomats reciprocated by introducing the leader of the Gomas expedition. I didn't quite understand what was going on, but Vay and Valeria exchanged a look as if they were dealing with someone truly important.
"Your fame precedes you, Filip Straffen. We did not expect the King of Gomas to leave his army in order to personally obtain approval for peaceful negotiations. This is a very courteous gesture, and sending the treasurer of the Grand Council of the Free Cities of the Golden Coast is no small honor for us…"
Well, well… He knows how to sweeten words when needed. Formalities.
"Truly, we live in interesting times. I once heard that it is better not to live in interesting times. For me, it is already too late!" he laughed, though most of them didn't seem to understand. Including me!
"The vampire kingdom attacks our fishermen and threatens a blockade of our ports, orcs walk into our lands as if they own them, and the strongest hobgoblin tribe is losing to a newly formed state that no one has yet recognized… No one except the God of the Sword, who personally acknowledged you. We, as Gomas, wish to establish cooperation with the Kingdom of Valar. We share… hm… interests."
Too much talk about everything and nothing. Why was he speaking so openly? If they did not recognize our kingdom, would Gomas turn the Misty Isles into its enemy? Why no official documents? Why arrive on griffins so suddenly, without ceremony or weeks of preparation? It bothered me.
The rest of the time was spent on strange, meaningless conversations. Both sides flattered each other, yet nothing concrete came out of it. I once read in an autobiography of some famous politician that parliaments debate, but decisions are made by a few who truly hold power…
Was it the same here? Hm…
Night fell over the outskirts. They ordered tents to be set up and meat and grain delivered for the guests and the griffins. Who would have thought those birds ate so much!?
Considering that this group could easily massacre us or severely weaken us (if not for Vay's presence), the strongest guards under Doirak Ironside were stationed around the queen's tent. Lizardmen, Argos, and Vay himself stood guard, while also playing cards and a flute Vay had brought with him. Playing with a claw was difficult for me, so I passed. And honestly, considering how many thousands I lost in my previous life to gambling, no thanks!!!
"You talked with Filip for over two hours alone… What did he want?"
I looked at her, visibly troubled — as if a thousand thoughts were swirling in her head — and it might sound strange, but I wanted to ease her burden if I could…
"Long story short, he started like any good merchant. A military alliance, sending them two thousand goblins to fight the orcs. In return, some goods and guarantees…" She placed her hands on the table where the map lay. She sighed. "I told him to get lost with such offers. I thought he would react worse, but he only threatened attacks, then some repercussions, until he settled on an offer that cannot be refused. We will grant them the right to march troops through Thorn Road, sign a five-year non-aggression pact, and in return we will receive 10 kilos of silver, 1,000 spears and shields, 100 swords, and the same number of bows. Additionally, 200 sacks of grain (25 kg each), 200 sacks of rice, and 150 sacks of potatoes are to be provided monthly for the duration of the pact."
She looked me in the eyes, defeated.
"They did not recognize us as a kingdom. They will treat us as a tribal alliance… They refused to acknowledge us. They did not agree, Artax!"
Poor girl. A king's daughter, a queen, a powerful vampire — and right now she looked like a teenager who had been dumped by her boyfriend…
I understood her pain, but I expected this. Maybe I was just a NEET, a piece of trash and a lazy fool, but I wasn't an idiot. I knew perfectly well that if they recognized our kingdom, the usurper on the Misty Isles would have to respond…
For now, with our scattered forces and weakened strength, we had to accept what we got and use the time given to us. Five years, huh?
"Good job, Valeria. It's really a good deal. The time for glory and recognition will come later. I haven't abandoned our plans… Plans to create a powerful kingdom where we could live peacefully and comfortably!"
She nodded, took a sip of wine, and moved closer to me. Too close! Way too close, woman!!! She hugged my body, and I could feel her firm vampiress-like warmth! Too close, Valeria!
"Thank you…" she whispered.
A dark mist broke that moment. I turned each of my three heads. The second growled, the third shook from side to side and exhaled steam from its nostrils.
"Oh, I see you're celebrating! Sister. Artax," he addressed me, his hand on the hilt of his sword, until Valeria scolded him. "No matter, there are reasons for it…"
Vay no longer looked bored. He smelled of tobacco and cheap wine, though there was no sign of it on him. He stood tall and straight, for the first time since I had seen him — completely serious and focused. He was looking at the map.
"Straffen is quite a capable diplomat. If his words align with his king's vision, then it is no surprise that Eckbert rose from a pirate-raider to a king in thirty years…" he laughed. His aura — dark like mine and Valeria's — danced.
"He is preparing the ground for the subjugation of these lands."
He smiled slightly.
"For a few sacks of food and some trivial goods, he will secure peace on his left flank. And once he deals with the orcs, the entire Thorn Road will become vulnerable. And not necessarily in five years. To them, we are just a forest band. They may betray us at the first opportunity."
He smiled darkly.
"We will likely do the same. Let us use this offer wisely."
"In what sense? What are you thinking about?" I asked.
"That the two young griffins won in a card game are not everything we can gain from them, my dear friend of my sister — and hopefully one day mine. I really hope so!" he said, patting me on the neck. Valeria kicked him in the backside, making him groan.
A moment later, it clicked for me. How could any idiot bet two griffins — even young ones — in a card game?! I looked at Valeria. She winked with her left eye. Both of them laughed, and after a moment, so did I. That's just her! To think she wasn't even afraid to cheat a Gomas diplomat! Vampires. Hah! They love dancing on the edge of a blade.
"As soon as Eckbert's proposal is formally rewritten by Straffen and signed, we should consider moving our forces west and north. Let those damn orcs tremble. Who said only they can threaten and plunder?!"
Valeria stood in thought for a moment. Once again, all three of us looked at the map. From the north, rumors were reaching us about a great unification of the gray tribes west of Thorn Road. Three major tribes, including the one Gromhul came from, were not part of that unification… The conclusions were obvious.
Time was pressing. Our forces were fewer in number, but hardened and experienced. With my third head and the Lizardmen at our side, not to mention the eastern goblins, a cheerful summer of raiding in the north and training our army began to make sense. Perhaps it was time to do what the followers of the God of Darkness and the God of the Sword did best, huh?
Vay of the Misty Isles. The inspired swordsman...
I was starting to feel a little sorry for the grays…