Chapter: 681 – The End of a Long Day

Tala took a moment, while watching the Head of the House of the Frost Lance get situated, to manifest some of her iron strategically around the room where it couldn’t be visually seen.

Through that, she solidified her hold on the area with her authority and aura. The manner in which she did it didn’t disrupt the auras or authoritative scope of anyone present, partially because that was her desire and partially because she claimed the space as the Eskau of War of the House of Blood.

As such, those of the House of Blood were already under her authority, and therefore, experienced no change. For the two of the Frost Lance? They were already within the central hold of the House of Blood and they weren’t trying to subvert it. So, the House of Blood’s authority around them strengthening wasn’t a noticeable change.

Still, it made Tala feel more comfortable in the presence of a Head of House whose members had already attacked herself, her daughter, and her husband.

-Well… to be fair, you attacked them too.-

Details. Tala mentally waved her off.

-I mean… no? Those ‘details’ you dismiss are precisely what makes a thing self-defense instead of aggression.-

Eh, they were being difficult. My attack was self-defense.

-…You don’t even believe that… but fine.-

The white hue-folk woman rested her elbows on her self created throne, her Eskau flanking her to the left, mirroring Head Corinis’s own Eskau. “Now, our Houses seem to be on the edge of… true difficulties.”

Head Corinis huffed a laugh. “Yes, that is one way to put it. You were explicitly invited into Platoiri to be an opposition to my House there.”

She nodded, not denying it. “And you tore down those I’d sent to establish that branch and confiscated the hold…” She gave a mirthful smile. “Forgive me, ‘dispersed’. You dispersed the hold as a service to the city after we’d relinquished claim to it.”

Tala gave a nod. “True on all counts. I must confess, I do not know the various Houses well enough to know your name. Mine is Tala.”

The woman’s smile grew. “I am Head Kori. Though, in your case, I believe Kori will be sufficient. How should I address the Eskau of War?”

Tala nodded, following the underlying question. “Very well, Kori. You may address me as Tala for the moment.”

“Generous of you.” The woman’s smirk grew.

Tala shrugged. “My position does not require you to use the title. I already… How did you put it? …That’s right. I already tore down those you sent to Platoiri.”

“That you did, including my nephew.” Her smile had faded a bit moving closer to a sneer of anger, though that faded back toward congeniality soon enough.

Tala considered. “The Pillar? The armored one?”

“Yes.”

“He fought well. His Eskau tried to ambush my Child daughter, but your nephew seemed to have more honor to him.”

Kori grunted at that. “I am glad you found him… honorable.”

“I did. He fought quite well for his advancement. I asked him to leave, to let me pass as I was there on business for the Revered City Lord, but he refused.”

Kori shook her head. “I saw the record.” She huffed. “You provided the record to my people. The House of Blood sent a runner with a magical storage device to catch my people before they could all enter the Doman-Imithe.”

Tala held her face stoic. We did what now?

-No idea. One moment… Huh. It seems that Pillar Sanguis decided to add to our plan a bit.-

Reasonable if so. After a moment’s consideration, she nodded to herself. I’m actually glad he just handled that rather than telling us, or checking with us, or anything.

-Yeah, it’s nice to have people working with us who know what they’re doing.- Alat also sent across a mental image of Lyn.

Yeah, yeah. I’ll get allowance for the Irondalians to come out and get some trading done.

-I do think they’d appreciate that, but I was more saying that you shouldn’t forget your friend.-

.. Fair.

Tala had only taken the equivalent of a long breath to consider before returning her attention to the potentially hostile Head of House before her. She then smiled. “I am glad that it reached you. I did not know he was your family. Though, I won’t insult you by saying I’d have acted differently.”

Kori huffed. “Indeed.” She then let out a long sigh. “The family is large, and while I liked him, I didn’t like him enough to condemn more of my family to a fruitless feud. He acted as he should have, and you acted better than you needed to.” She took another moment, clearly steeling herself for what she was about to say. “I thank you for the lives of my people. You took a hold with violence, against strong opposition, and yet you slew the absolutely bare minimum required to do so. That could be seen as weakness save for the manner of your victory.” She shook her head. “I am sworn to the protection and benefit of my people, and you helped me uphold that oath for that branch.”

Tala shrugged. “We did not need nor want a new feud between Houses. We are preparing for a war the likes of which hasn’t been seen in hundreds of years, if not longer.”

“Yes, I’ve been hearing about this more and more. The Black Legion?”

Tala nodded. Head Corinis took the moment to interject, if briefly. “Indeed. The misbegotten creations of the past are returning, and we need to deal with them once and for all. It will require a new outlook, a new path forward, and Eskau Tala is the person we feel will be best able to bridge the old and new.”

“Yes… the northern gated.” Kori was nodding slowly.

“Exactly.” Head Corinis nodded. “We are somewhat stronger as a people than when last we faced the Legion, but that won’t be enough, even if they haven’t grown at all. The gated? They have exploded in both number and power. We of the House of Blood believe it is time to step forward as partners on the continent rather than continuing as hostile neighbors.”

Kori’s smile returned, and she bobbed her head toward Tala. “So I can see.”

“Indeed.” He smiled in turn, leaning back and obviously surrendering the discussion back to Tala.

Tala leaned to one side, making a show of propping herself up on an arm, elbow on the opposite armrest from her helmet. “So, I think that brings us to the core question. What do you want here?”

Kori’s smile shifted to a half-smirk. “You mean, why did I come here, personally?”

“That too. Your House could have called Platoiri a loss and avoided the House of Blood going forward. We don’t have that many overlapping branches, and in the cities we have in common, we have very little interaction.”

“That is how it is at the moment, yes.”

Tala nodded, then waited. The question had been asked, the context given. Kori would speak when she was ready.

The silence grew long before Kori finally sighed. “Opposition between our Houses would end poorly for my House, even if I were able to keep our Eskau from encountering you once more. Moreover, with the rising situation, avoiding your House would lose us too much influence and opportunity. I am not convinced the Black Legion are coming back.”

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

Tala straightened in irritation, ready to correct the woman, but before she could speak, Kori held up a hand to forestall her.

“One moment please, Tala.”

Tala grudgingly nodded, leaning back to one side.

“As I was saying, I am not convinced that the Black Legion is returning. The issue is, I don’t actually think it matters in the near-term. Whether they come back or not, the winds of opinion make preparing for a return a requirement. If they return, we’ll be as ready as we can be. If they don’t we’ll be better prepared to act and seize new ground for the House or for our peoples as a whole. There is much land—both claimed and not—ripe and ready for the taking. A build-up of resources and a honing of personnel can only benefit us going forward.”

Tala found herself nodding along with the logic.

“So, to actually answer your question? We want in. I want my House in on the war effort. You requested it of our Platoiri branch, and they refused. I have come here in person to agree on behalf of our entire House. Tala, Eskau of War, I formally request that the House of the Frozen Lance be counted as being among the first to join your banner.”

Alat began to cackle with Tala’s head.

What?

-I’m just imagining them with white steel armaments. We’re going to need to find a snow-storm for them to fight within. They’ll be invisible!-

Tala held back an internal laugh. That’s… That’s pretty funny to consider.

-I know, right?-

Even as she was chatting with her alternate interface, Tala rose to her feet, addressing Kori. “Are you certain? This is a matter of authority, and once confirmed, it will not be easily retracted.”