"How about trust, how does trust sound to you?", Ali responded to the elder who frowned at the answer.
"Trusting your kind always ends in blood and chains for us, you can trust I know that from experience", another elder said and Liza sighed hearing the elders argue more than attempting to hear Ali out.
"Lord Ali, forgive the elders, they are wary of humans, how about we start over?", Kynari said with a smile, she gave the elders a cold look warning them not to speak unless they have something helpful to say.
'So they listen to her, and those two are more concerned for her than the elders', Ali thought as he analysed the tension in the tent.
"We can do that, I propose a deal between me and your camp, the deal includes interactions between my people and yours, starting off with trade, that includes food, basic materials, weapons, and most importantly knowledge.", Ali said and Kynari maintained her expression not revealing anything compared to the elders whose eyes couldn't hide their shock.
'The human is going to offer us knowledge? Human knowledge?', they couldn't believe it. Any demi-human wouldn't believe it, you see to humans demi-humans were like animals, filthy animals who sided with the demons, sometimes the animals are attractive and they use them for carnal release, sometimes the animals are big and they use them for fighting or hard labour. But most gruesome is many find joy in the suffering of these animals. So yeah, humans are monsters to the demi-humans in every sense.
"Lyria, a table and chairs please", Kynari said to her close friend who nodded and disappeared into the camp in an instant.
"Lord Ali, your proposal is very interesting and we must discuss it in detail before we can come to an agreement", Kynari said as she looked into his eyes and a deep fire lit inside her, she'd never felt this way towards any man before, but Ali had that effect on women.
Ali nodded in response, and everyone waited for Lyria to come back while they kept an eye on Ali, who didn't move from the chair. All he did was look at the Beast skulls all over the tent walls and check out Kynari's white tails floating behind her. He didn't even try to hide his curiosity.
"Are you a special kind of demi-human? I've not seen your type before…", Ali said, and a vein nearly popped on Brak's forehead.
"Maybe I'll tell you if we can agree on a deal", Kynari said with her smile. Even her voice was enticing to Ali.
'Maybe fuck the deal and I just pick myself a harem and kill everyone else', Ali thought as he leaned forward, his black abyssal eyes looking into hers.
"I hope for your sake that we can reach a deal", Ali said in a cold, menacing tone, and Brak lifted his hammer off the ground. He could only take so much disrespect from a human.
'All my life I have killed humans, but you, I'll enjoy killing you more than anything else…', Brak wanted to say that out loud, but he restrained himself, thinking of Kynari.
"Ali", Liza said with her bunny ears perked up. She stepped closer to him, "I'm glad to see you're fine after the war. What happened?", Liza asked with her curious nature taking over. The elders and Kynari paid attention with the mention of war.
'We heard of this war, but we couldn't tell what exactly happened and who came out of it alive', Kynari and the elders thought the same thing. They lacked heavily in information.
"The same thing that happens in every war I'm involved in…", Ali said casually, his ego and pride on display. "I killed them all and walked into their castles where their families and commoners kneeled before me", Ali said with a smirk. A cold dread entered their hearts. He sounded like a bloodthirsty warmonger.
"They must have been weaklings", Zeek said from the entrance of the tent with a smirk.
They all expected Ali to retort, but surprisingly, he said something else, "You're right, they were weaklings. You guys could have killed them all with ease. Of course, then the Viscount would wipe you off the face of the Earth, but that's another matter." Ali replied, and Zeek's smirk faded away; he didn't see that response coming.
"Liza, you're welcome to go to Obidos and check out the town. Just tell them you're my guest." Ali turned to the young bunny girl, whose eyes widened, and one could see stars in her eyes just from the joy of hearing that.
"NO" "NO" "NO"
Brak, Zeek, and one of the elders instantly said no, shutting her down. They knew how much she wanted to leave the camp.
"But—", she wanted to argue, but then Lyria came back with warriors holding a large table and seats. They set down the tables and seats for Kynari and the elders who sat down opposite Ali. Kynari directly opposite him…
"Here is my offer: you accept me as your lord whom you swear loyalty and servitude to—"
BOOOOOM
Brak released his aura, and the entire tent shook. "This is enough. I will kill this human now", Brak shouted.
"Brak, stop! You will do nothing I do not order you to do." Kynari shouted back at him. Ali looked at the scene, and he could see the cracks in leadership already.
"Did you hear what he just said? He expects us to kneel and call him lord. How's that different from slavery!!", Brak shouted back in anger. He knew nothing of slavery since he was born and raised in the camp, but the stories engrained in him since young were enough.
Then something extraordinary happened. Kynari's red eyes glowed, and majestic white energy glowed around her as her tail floated even higher in the air. "Out", she said the word to the angry Brak, whose aura instantly disappeared, and his eyes dulled.
Under everyone's shocked watch, the giant slowly walked out of the tent like he had no control over his body. The guards outside escorted him away from the tent.
'She can control them! Now we know who's responsible for the beast dens all around this part of the forest.
Kynari returned to normal and looked back at Ali with a calm expression, "I apologise you had to see that but please understand, you sneak into our camp and now you demand of us to serve you? That is unacceptable…", Kynari said.
"Beautiful, listen here…", Ali said to Kynari, "I don't think you understand your situation right now, there is no third option, either you become part of my territory, or death.", Ali said and Lyria looked at him dead cold, he had just threatened all of them in their home.
"Remember where you are, human!", an elder shouted at Ali.
"Oh, I know where I am but I don't think you do, it's quite remarkable what you did with the beasts but I do wonder what would happen if one of my pets…", Ali said and they all understood who he was referring to since Liza informed them about the Dragon, "were to kill or kidnap their offspring and lead them right to your home, I wonder if your beautiful priestess can tame so many beasts at once", Ali threatened and the tent went silent. What he proposed was disastrous..
'I definitely can't…', Kynari thought.
'No wonder he was so confident…', Lyria's eyes sharpened.
"Elders please, Kynari can we at least hear what he can offer us? Can we not fight a human for once…", Liza pleaded, she looked more on Ali's side than her own people.
"Liza shut up", Zeek said, warning her not to say anything else, she sounded like a traitor to the camp right now.
Kynari ignored Liza and looked at Ali who rested his chin on his palm and looked like he owned the place seated like that. "We will hear the details before we make a decision", she stated and this time the elders didn't argue as they understood the severity of what he said.
"Good, after you, of course, pledge your loyalty to me as your lord. You will start building a road between your camp and Stork Fortress. The road will be used by both humans and demi-humans in my territory and protected by your warriors. Carriages filled with cargo will use this road to meet at a trading post we will build. There, goods will be exchanged, no human other than me and specific individuals will step foot in your camp or even walk anywhere near it." Ali started, and they digested his words carefully.
"You will not fight in my wars, you will not pay tax if you live in the camp, and most of all, none of you will have to lose their dignity or honour to a human. Slavery is illegal in my land, meaning slavers and their caravans are not allowed to cross into my territory, and any who dare do so will turn into food for my pets." Ali said, his words sounding better and better as he continued.
"At the start, I understood the wariness of your people towards humans, but I will break down that wall through fighting." Ali said, and Kynari's eyebrows shot up.
"What do you mean by fighting?" an elder asked. Lyria and Zeek listened intently to his next words, as they were the strongest fighters after Brak.
"Well, I have started a Knights Academy in Castle Nolan, and I plan to open tournaments where the young trainees can spar for a prize and show their talent. If you accept the offer, then your young warriors can also enter the tournaments in Obidos and compete in friendly spars. Of course, their protection and safety will be guaranteed by city guards and knights. This would be your chance to beat up and humiliate the humans in their own town." Ali winked at Zeek, who smiled excitedly.
"I prefer killing them…", he said, and Liza shook her head.
"How will that help ease relations between us and the humans?" an elder asked.
"Simple, there will be betting on the tournaments and people will start betting on your fighters to win, cheering them on. And with time, you can send families and children to come watch the tournament under our protection, then slowly they will start going to Obidos as a trip or business or even buy a house and live there. Of course, there will be hate towards the demi-humans, which is why I have an executioner in town. Any who abuse a demi-human will be whipped before the entire town, and if they physically harm you, then they will be executed." Ali announced, and they were surprised.
'To kill one of his own for us? Why?', they all thought, except Liza, who knew Ali was different from the start.
"As for basic materials and general trade", Ali snapped his fingers, and paper appeared in the air before floating before the elders and Kynari, who read through them and passed them between each other. What they would receive were things they could never have in the forest, while all they had to do was give certain materials from the forest they could easily gather.
"We agree", they said without negotiating the terms of the trade deals.
"And the knowledge you offered?", Kynari asked this time, as she knew that was the most precious thing Ali offered.
"That comes as tailors, builders, healers, smiths, and many others who will be sent here to teach people of your choosing their craft and even take them with them to gain experience in their workshops. Of course, the safety of the teachers is your responsibility, and if anything happens to them, I will want answers. Oh, and they have to be treated as guests with proper hospitality." Ali said.
"What do you ask of us in return?", the elders expected a heavy price.
"I do want something, or someone…", Ali said, and they all were surprised by what he said. To them, coming from a human, that meant slavery. Then they were more shocked when Ali turned to Liza.
"Me?", she said, pointing at herself.
"In your dreams, you perverted human. Over my dead fucking body", Zeek said, reaching for his swords and his aura flaring. He couldn't believe Ali dared ask for his little sister as part of the deal.
"Wait, Zeek, I…", Liza blushed and lowered her face. "I don't mind…", she said, shocking the elders and Kynari, who covered her face and sighed at the young girl.
"I didn't mean slave, I just need her to help me with something in a week's time, no harm will come to Liza", Ali said.
"So? What's your answer? Bend the knee or…FIGHT?", Ali said as he stood up and held George's axe in his hand.
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