With a question for my goddess and a [System] message to check, I spent the rest of the meeting deferring to the comments and questions of the rest of my people in the meeting. Sybil drilled down on the specifics of how food would be brought to us while Took and Percral learned the general patrolling patterns of our enemy. Brutus wondered about the specific ambushing tactics they displayed, and Joral asked if there were any beasts that the Misti Hawar could be expected to be using.
I listened to it all, learning whatever I could about our enemies while also evaluating Cupun. I supposed I'd consider him to be truthful, though I'd never feel comfortable trusting him implicitly. There was too much history of him being willing to deceive me, of doing so directly to my face when I was calling him on it, to have me be willing to consider him someone whose words I could ever trust.
Even so, the speed with which he answered each question posed to him, about leviathan meat being provided, or how they'd bring it through the rivers, or the rest of the in-depth answers he gave to the rest of my elites, I supposed there was no reason to distrust the words he was saying right now. In the end, once every question to ask the rat had run dry, I nodded at him as I looked at the rest of my people.
"I think that's all that we need from you at this time." I dismissed him. "We appreciate the help. If there's anyone who needs to speak with a representative of the Union before he makes his way back to wherever he will go next, then do so outside of the war room. I will tell you that my people will not slaughter yours wholesale, but my people are constantly killing creatures for snacks and for their own enjoyment. If one of yours is looking to approach, I suggest they announce themselves, as any talking animals will be treated as one of you. Any others will be possible prey."
"Understood." The man nodded as he bowed. There was an undeniable surge of pride as I watched someone so proud have to humble themselves before me. Beyond that, some of the Words echoed in my mind—I am the throne to which the wise submit. Nievtala's approval rushed through me as Cupun took his dismissal for what it was.
Nobody left the space as Cupun turned. He seemed to shrug as he walked out. As he moved, he fell to his hands and knees as he transformed back into a rat to better escape the city. Once he was gone, my people all looked at me, wondering what I would say. I flared my frills and they remained totally silent.
"We've heard enough to adjust our plans moving forward. I trust that you have gained enough enlightenment to be able to dictate what you will do moving forward, but you will consult with me as you do so. If you have to coordinate with another branch of the government, then do so. Let us prove to the Misti Hawar that we are not prey to pursue, but predators to fear. Victory! Victory by fang and blood!"
"Victory by fang and blood!" Echoed my people, and they filed out. Once everyone but Brutus and Sybil had left, I turned my attention to my Zaaktifi.
"What is it?" I asked simply.
"He is warded against influence." Sybil's tail flicked almost imperceptibly. "I do not know if it is his species or his mind or something else entirely, but my magic slipped off his psyche like water off our scales."
"Is that a concern at this point?" I asked. "Ideally, we'd be able to subordinate them, but if we can only hope for a cooperative relationship, I don't think that this is the worst possible outcome."
"It… is frustrating." Sybil replied. "A failsafe for good relationships has fallen through. Diplomacy is slow and can easily fail. I had hoped to create a more intertwined emotional feedback loop for him."
Something inside of me whispered about how emotional manipulation was far from the best option available to create good, lasting relationships, but the rest of me laughed that innocent standpoint off. Dependence could be exploited. We could create any number of circumstances that would much better serve the Empire than mere "good relationships". The Union was not a friend, but a foreign country. I wouldn't deal with them in any other way.
"I suppose so." I offered. "But I also suspect that, regardless of the strength and influence of your magic and the possibilities available to us because of it, very little foreign policy will be decided because of it moving forward."
Sybil, to my surprise, actually growled under her breath at that. While my and Brutus's heads cocked in amazement, she sighed, letting her tail thrash in distaste.
"Tell me what's going on." I demanded more than asked. With a force of effort, I pulled myself out of that mindset of the Zaaktif and instead interacted with her as her mate, Ashlani.
"Is there something the matter? Did you see something that I didn't? Or is there something that I missed?"
Sybil clacked her teeth in denial. Instead she looked back and forth, looking for anyone who might be overhearing or eavesdropping. More concerned than ever, I leaned in to listen to her whispered explanation.
"I need our eggs to be safe. They are so close to hatching. I can not let anything unsure happen, anything that will threaten them. I will make sure that the Misti Hawar can never find them, that the Beastkin can't threaten them, and then, when they are grown, I will watch our children rise to conquer the continent. I will guide them, and I will—"
I didn't cut off her ramblings, but I did wrap her in my arms as she continued to worry about the unborn children. So different from every Kha and Khatif mother. For the first time since Foire, I was witnessing a true parent among my people, and I stopped holding back those same feelings within myself.
"We will, Sybil. We'll overcome the world, and prepare it for our children to stride safely and victoriously over it."
While I said it, I ignored the [System's] acknowledgement that I'd declared my nation's existence to another qualified representative, I ignored the question of why Nievtala's people could use so many types of magic when, apparently, we should only be able to use Her magic, and I ignored the sound of my people preparing for the coming war in the background. Instead, I stood with my mate, and listened to her worries about the future.
And three weeks later, the beginning screeches of war were punctuated with the sound of eggshells cracking.