Chapter 597

Council chamber Republic

“I think it's obvious now that we have to ask for help.” Goldmouth said as he tried to push his Legendary Skill to help start the conversation. He knew nobody wanted to really talk about it but they needed to. 

“Even if we did ask, I doubt they would accept to send help without asking for a lot in return.” Deepforge grunted. “Even if it isn’t a direct price and only for access to our dungeons it would cost us all an arm and a leg to just keep up with them after.” 

“I don’t think we have any choices at the moment.” Whisker ‘Shadow’ Blackclaw let out a sigh. “I can handle their best but I am an assassin, they know this so they keep their champions in pairs.” 

Everyone in the chamber grimaced at his words. “Why did they have to go to war now?” In a few decades this might not have even been such a problem.” The words rang out in the council chamber, it was something they were all thinking but they all also knew this was the better outcome. Recent events had forced the beastkin to act or they would have happily waited for longer and that could have been disastrous. 

Shadow looked at the copies of the report he had brought back that were in front of each councilor. After the beastkin had started their border formations he had personally gone to spy and gather information on what was happening and he was not happy with what he had found out. 

The beastkin had always been two nations, based around the herbivorous animals and the carnivores but because of their desert region they acted more like a single nation. Unlike the dwarves, elves or humans the variety in beastkin shapes and sizes meant that racism was less of an issue for them so they didn’t have a divide in philosophy like the other three races had where kingdoms formed around one view or the other. 

Finding out that there had been a revolt that brought both kingdoms together under one banner was a surprise, finding out it had happened more than half a century ago was alarming. This was clearly planned before their peace treaty had been signed since they made a lot of concessions to ensure all the spies in their territory left as part of the treaty.

The amount of dungeons the two nations had in total was just seven but from his search he had learnt that they had found not one but two more dungeons in the Wild Lands. For the past fifty years the beastkin had been training their entire army through nine dungeons. Their whole plan was focused on their armies winning the battle while their champions kept the other champions occupied. 

With nine dungeons at their disposal they had more champions even if most of them were on the weaker side due to being younger. They had initially wanted to wait another century or so before declaring war enough time to build their champions and army to the point where they could take over the Republic and hold it while growing their army stronger with their four dungeons added on. 

Their plans all went out the window with Ajax however. Him spreading the way to not spend free points until the age of fifteen instead of ten wasn’t that big of a change for them and would only make their large army stronger over time but his revolution of kingdoms sharing their dungeon to build up champions would foil all their plans. What did it matter if their regular soldiers were stronger if their champions could no longer compete. This pushed them to act now. 

“What if we threaten to surrender?” Everyone turned towards Darkclaw. After his trip to Sylvanthal and Deepwood he was being groomed as a champion, that was why he was brought in to observe. “The beastkin would be happy to accept a surrender here. Tell the other kingdoms to help or we surrender, I doubt much would change for a lot of our people besides increased dungeon queues and higher food tax. But we already were implementing solutions for that.” 

The idea was pollitical suicide, but all of the councilors had to agree that it would be a good last resort to have in case their discussion with the other kingdoms were looking to break down. It wouldn’t be their opening move but now they had a way to draw the line.

“The biggest problem will be Deepwood Highmountain and the Empire.” Goldenmouth took advantage of the silence that fell as the council was digesting Darkclaw’s naive idea. “Gryndor, Sylvanthal and Brightstone all need a way to get the others to agree to a non-aggression pact while they help us.” 

Capital of Lioness

“The last of our forces are on their way back from the dungeons, my friend.” A massive bear beastkin said as he gave a short bow. “How’s the border?” 

“Everything is prepared, and going as well as can be expected considering we had to move up our plans so much.” The tiger beastkin felt an ich over the scar on his right eye. “We lost almost all of our people in Gryndor in an attempt to take out that infuriating kid. I have a feeling we need to tell the other to take action in the other kingdoms or retreat. What about our other problem?”

“He got away, my king.” the rat beastkin shivered a little as he bowed, afraid of how his news would be received. “Though they said he was wounded when he fled.” 

“Seven champions and they couldn’t catch one single assassin." The tiger beastkin slammed his fist in the armrest of his throne causing some cracks to form. That he had gotten away wasn’t the real reason for his anger however, it was that Shadow had been within forty feet of him when he was discovered. Any closer and he might be dead right now.

Capital of Sylvanthal

“How are they taking it?” the king asked his friend as he entered the room. 

“With a lot of complaints and an eye on concessions.” Aranor answered with a smile. “But they are all going along. I am guessing the rumors are more effective than we had thought.” 

King Sylvanthal had to admit the Republic had made a genius strategic move in spreading the rumors that if they weren’t going to be receiving help in defending against the beastkin kingdoms they would just surrender. 

It wasn’t like they had come out and said it but it was clear they were spreading the rumor, at least to him. At the same time the council had reached out with requests for aid, the reports they had been sent were said to be collected by Whisker Shadow Blackclaw himself which explained why they were so detailed. 

“Their decision to pay us back by not scrutinising any of the young people we sent to their dungeon was also a smart move.” Aranor admitted. The Republic was essentially giving Sylvanthal, Gryndor and Brightstone a way to pay their neighbors in delves to the Republic, far more than they would normally be able to sneak in. 

Capital of Gryndor

“Does this have to happen now father?” the king’s eldest asked. 

“It does.” King Gryndor nodded. “I am still strong enough to act as a deterrent staying home while your brother can be the king leading his forces under your protection.” 

“It doesn’t hurt that by stepping down now you managed to push all your requests of the nobility through without much argument.” Crown prince Xandor kept a stoic face but on the inside he very much wanted to side with his brother, he understood all the reasons why his father’s plan was best but emotionally he didn’t want to take his father’s place like this.

“What’s done is done.” The king said. “Did we hear back from House Hearthbound yet?” 

The king didn’t know if it was a coincidence or something else. Before leaving Ajax had personally requested that they allow him to build his lakeside city. The threat of putting up a trade blockade to the Empire was something the royal family was now using in their negotiations with the Empire. According to House Hearthbound, forming that blockade was never their intention but the Empire didn’t know that and now Gryndor was able to trade away the threat in exchange for some real concessions. The friction between House Hearthbound and the Empire only made the threat feel more real and gave them a stronger hand to play.

“We did but they couldn’t give the go ahead.” The crown prince frowned. “They said they have no intention of forming a trade blockade but the head of their House isn’t here to give his word so they aren’t committing. Perhaps it's time to call Ajax back.” 

“No need.” The king shook his head. “He already gave me his word on that from his point of view, if you have the agreement from the rest of his House we can move forward.” 

The Sidhe Village

“An Ascended human, are you sure?” Elduin nodded at his mother’s question. “Tell me everything.” 

Elduin proceeded to relay everything to his parents. From how he spotted the human when he was out visiting the awakened races, to how he followed it and finally his plan to make contact. 

“Verya was trying to use our deal to get back at me, all because she accepted a bad deal.” Elduin finished with a huff of annoyance.

“Thank you for telling me.” His mother nodded with a gentle smile. “Now you still have to finish your chores as you agreed with me.

Once Elduin was gone his parents looked at each other. “This will be a good lesson for him.” Elduin’s mother said. “Verya was actually going to help him, his deal was good. She just made it look like she was tricking him to get him to break the contract. It’s at the limit of what’s acceptable to do in a deal with kids.” 

“Verya is also quite young.” Elduin’s father shook his head. “She played the game well. Now it's our turn. Let's go see this interesting human for ourselves and see what we can get out of it.”