Year 783 Octavus, day 17 of the seventh month of Domorus
Akana stared at the scorch mark on the floor. His eyes going to the only other fire mages in the house. Ceren was happily refilling Cessare’s cup with no care in the world while Cessare avoids Akana’s eyes.
“Do I want to know why there is a scorch mark on the floor?”
“I was guarding the mansion yesterday.”
“And the floor attack you?”
“No, there were two rats fighting. I separated them,” Cessare said casually, glancing at Ceva and Alacer. Ceva had been glaring at Alacer all morning while Alacer just smiled at her like they were courting each other. She was without a doubt going to kill him in his sleep.
“Just don’t damage the floor anymore,” sighed Akana. “I don’t want to pay for it.”
“Understood, dominus,” Cessare saluted.
Akana turned to Sidastir who just walked in with Magnus. Magnus stopped and watch Ceva and Alacer, clearly confused over the strange atmosphere. Not sure if he should hit Alacer or not, he decided to sit down between the two which direct Ceva’s angry glare towards him instead. Akana almost pitied him for his foolishness.
“So is the Trinetournament going to start today?” he asked Sidastir who come over to stand beside him.
“Not really, it's just some official announcement. The participants will receive information about the tournament today.”
Akana frowned in confusion. “Why didn’t they give it during the parade? Wouldn’t that have been more efficient?”
“They are Relevis. Efficiency isn’t in their blood,” Sidastir replied.
“Well, Ceva and I will be with you this time.”
Alacer finally broke eye contact with Ceva. “Her? Why? She isn’t from Eitir and it is a conflict of interest if a…”
“The Balkravs don’t have a participant in the tournament so we have put our support behind our closest neighbor and ally,” Ceva cocked an eyebrow. “Didn’t you know?”
Alacer’s eyes narrowed, though his smile never faded. Akana could just sigh at this clear demonstration of power, “We have received the written approval of the Keiser, so if you have a problem, take it up with him.”
“He seemed rather delighted that the Balkrav finally showed an interest in such large events as choosing the Mayin, so I see no reason why the phoenix princess should do the same,” Sidastir added. Akana could see the distrust radiating from his eyes.
“Either way, we have two goals.”
“Get the Council of the Nine Kingdoms to protect Auone, and get support from Relevium?” asked Magnus.
“No, that is just the front. I don’t think either of those will be possible. The Council has already made up its mind to wait and hope the conflict between Auone and Huzhidi blows over. War will happen, and Relevium is allied with Huzhidi. They won’t take Auone’s side,” said Akana without hesitation, at the last part he glanced at Alacer whose expression didn’t change but his body was rigid. “They are just stalling us by tempting us with an alliance.”
“I agree,” said Ceva grimly. “I don’t think the Relevis will enter a war if it comes to that but they will support Huzhidi with supplies and weapons. They will capitalize on this war.”
“Then what do you want to do?” asked Attilus, who was standing by the wall, watching the conversation quietly.
“My plan is divided into two parts. The Trinetournament and the Curare, Helder Oe.”
“But you said that you didn’t care about the Council,” reminded Cessare, clearly confused.
“I don’t. I want the dwarves and Helder Oe is one of the few pureblooded dwarves left. He knows all the dwarven clans.”
Everyone stared at Akana whose expression hadn’t changed. Sidastir’s eyes suddenly lit up as something seemed to dawn for him. “The forgotten dwarven city. I have seen you study the maps all summer!”
“Yes,” Akana admitted.
“The dwarves will never give you the secrets of their cities,” said Alacer. He leaned back, finally relaxing.
“Who said I wanted their secrets? The Auons have technology equal to the dwarves. No, I want to give back the city to them,” Akana said casually.
“Are you mad?” asked Magnus. “Why would you do that?”
“Why not? It was theirs from the start. It is currently overrun by creatures from under the mountains. I intend to let Sidastir clean it out with the trolls.”
“Why not let the trolls inhabit it?” asked Ceva, seemingly trying to understand Akana’s reasoning, but the answer came from Sidastir.
“Because the trolls live on the mountains, not under them. It was hard even to get them to live in the Icepalace after the elves were gone. There is no way, they would live in an underground city.”
“Besides, the forges are too complex for the trolls. No, we need dwarves to run them,” Akana said.
“So you plan to make them subservient to Eitir. The dwarves would never serve you,” Magnus said, and Akana frowned at him. Such strange reasoning, why would he want the dwarves to serve them.
“I want them to be our allies, not our servants. We give back their city and they can do whatever they want. If they want to become Eitirans, we won’t deny them the possibility, but if they don’t we will let them be independent. I just want their forges to be lit.”
“You want to revitalize Eitir’s economy,” Ceva said, suddenly understanding. “The dwarven cities are filled with ore. If the dwarves move in they will need to trade and since the city lays in Eitir, and the tunnels underneath them must be sealed so there is no more danger to the city from underneath the mountain. Their only option is to trade with Eitir.”
“The trade is one thing, but I also have plans for the heat that is produced by the forges. I need it in order to create a city that all beings can live in,” Akana said but stopped everyone from asking. “Don’t ask what you cannot comprehend. If none of you are a master mechanist, I would suggest just believing me that I know a way. But I need the forges to be lit and for that, I need the dwarves to live in their city.”
“And you need Helder Oe for that,” Sidastir said, “But why are one of your goals the Trine tournament. I assumed that you just wanted me to enter to get connections with the nobles.”
Then his face lit up,” With Helder Oe.”
Akana nodded,” That is one reason. The other I haven’t spoken of because even if I hadn’t told you. I have faith that my husband would do it anyway.”
“Which is?” asked Alacer, watching them quietly.
“To do his best to win.”
Sidastir frowned, “I actually have to do something in the tournament.”
Akana cocked an eyebrow at him. “Like you would just let people walk all over you.”
“… You’re right. I will beat them down.”
“But why is that necessary? I doubt he can win against the Mayin,” Magnus said doubtfully and Sidastir glared at him, apparently not appreciating the lack of confidence.
“I don’t need my husband to be a Mayin,” a small smile crossed Akana’s face and his eyes glowed silver for a second, “I want him to make enough ruckus that it will stop everyone in their track. I want him to show such force that every legend whispered about his victory against the Domorans ring bit more true. I want people to see Eitir as a force to be reckoned with.”
A shiver rushed through everyone in the room. Sidastir looked rather gleeful.
“Why?” asked Alacer, finally being able to utter what they all thought.
“Because when Eitir announces their alliance towards Auone in the war, I want them to be very afraid.”
*****
Sidastir, Akana, and Ceva on the sands of the Colosseum. The crowd was cheering, flangs of the nine kingdoms flew in the wind. Balkrav’s flag stood by Eitir’s, showing their allegiance to each other. Sidastir glanced at his consort, who watched the crowd like he inspected their mansion.
“I don’t mind showing force but I doubt it will do much if we announce our alliance with Auone. The mountains of Donfell stand between the countries and none have trekked them alive.”
“And you have no path to each other,” added Ceva.
“Not yet,” Akana said simply, a slight smile adorning his face.
“You have a way across the mountains,” Ceva said, breathlessly.
Sidastir felt a shiver of excitement rush through his body. The greatest weakness of Eitir and Auone was their inaccessibility, if they could overcome that they Auone and Eitir would have enough power to rival that of the great kingdoms of the south. Eitir with their minerals and Auone with their technology.
“I have. But I need ore and master forgers for my invention. When it is done, my new vehicle will be able to journey across the Gashir mountains.”
“Does the merchant princes of Auone know about this?” asked Sidastir.
“They do, I have sent them the drawings of my invention and they have been so impressed and eager that they have given me advice from their best mechanists along with fundings. But I need the forges of the dwarven city and their ore.”
“Will the dwarves be able to forge what you want? They were once masters, but their mechanics have been neglected for ages.”
“I’m more interested in their ore. I have found other master forgers that can help me.”
Sidastir stared at his consort before disbelief crossed his face like a shadow. “The mountain elves? They have refused to speak with me.”
“But not me. I have contacted them and they were very eager after hearing about my invention. They already said that they are willing to build the invention if we can give them the ore for the invention and sunstones as payment,” Akana peered at Sidastir. “They were quite eager to help me after they found out the new Rial Caraid was a foreigner. Saying something about fresh southern wind is always welcomed.”
Sidastir grimaced. “It a proverb of the elves. The northern wind comes with death and ill omens. The Southern wind comes with hope and new beginnings.”
“Why didn’t you tell us of this before?”
Ceva snorted, “Alacer.”
Akana nodded,” The phoenixprincess takes me for a fool. The man is clearly a spy. I gave him enough information to bait them. Let them fret.”
Akana’s eyes turned to Ceva who smiled. “And when they show their fangs.”
“Rip them out.”
Sidastir shivered, half from excitement. “Have anyone told you that you are far more ruthless than people give you credit for.”
Akana smiled at him and straighten Sidastir’s clothes. “Don’t worry about all this. Just make them shiver.”
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