Sybil had requested that I not engage in the initial negotiations while requesting that I remain nearby. I figured she had a good enough reason, and when she explained her thought process, I couldn't find myself disagreeing with her rationale.
"For every royal and High Speaker that comes to speak with you, there will be dozens more plebians. For every ordinary individual that comes begging for an audience, they can not automatically deserve to meet with you directly. Your position as the absolute ruler of the Empire is one that demands scarcity, even if you are available. You do not give commands to every soldier, you do not name every child, and you do not speak with every messenger of every nation that wishes to gain your ear. You are an emperor, and more than that, the Zaaktif, not some common messenger. Even having myself be their point of contact is giving the beasts greater sovereign influence than they deserve, but I consider it to be necessary at this time to ensure my influence is felt among them all."
That established, I remained the far and away most powerful individual in the country. Though there were now well over 100 Keel, there wasn't a single individual that could compare themself to me. As such, in the event that overwhelming force was necessary, myself, along with [Spear of the Many], were what would ensure that my people's rights and lives were preserved. With my control over the waves in the air, I could bring the sounds of the discussion directly to my ears while they occurred, even if I was outside and several dozen feet away. Sybil was doing her best to keep the Misti Hawar on the back foot and confused, and she was doing a remarkable job. There were little hesitances in the shifting of their feet and occasional spikes in their heartbeats that betrayed the furred beasts' real thoughts.
That female prisoner, the obedient one… what was her name? I didn't really care, but she'd been brought to speak and was giving an honest enough assessment of how she'd been treated, though perhaps with a slightly more generous light than I would say we deserved. I didn't care, but I was confused as to why she would give us the grace that she was. After all, if there was any exchange of prisoners, then she'd be free to tell the truth later, and we wouldn't expect her to do anything different.
Regardless, I listened as the conversation died down, and eventually, the prisoner was taken away. At that, discussions regarding continuing negotiations could begin in earnest, and they did.
"How can we free our four companions from their imprisonment here?" The representative asked bluntly, and I hadn't heard her name, though I didn't particularly need to know it right this moment. The other Misti Hawar nearby stilled at her question, obviously anxious to accomplish the goal that they've been sent to do.
"What do you have to offer? You're here in our seat of power, you've come after having unilaterally declared war on us. What is your offer?"
"We offer a working relationship of peace and harmony." The representative said.
Sybil didn't speak, but her laugh was answer enough. After several seconds, she gathered herself. "Why would we ever believe that? Every word I have heard from one of your kind, even one exiled and in the barren wastes far to the west, has told me how your people consider us to be a blight and your long fated foes. As such, your offer bears no credibility."
The lack of response from the Misti Hawar was deafening. Several seconds passed and I couldn't help but feel that these negotiators were, at best, inexperienced and unskilled. More realistically, there was something else underneath, a separate goal that I had no idea what it was. The creatures had a truer assignment in coming here, and it wasn't just to possibly help their comrades be released. Sure, this representative wasn't saying outrightly combative things, but she had no idea what she was doing. What was their real goal, then? Scouting?
As the prisoner was taken back to the dungeon, I watched as a thread of shadow extended further than it should have, keeping her shadow in contact with that of the building. With a thought, I sent a wave of magic from my sonilphon to disrupt the magic. There was a brief squeak from the prisoner and the head negotiator together, and I laughed quietly as I disrupted their communication, whatever it was about.
Brilliant as always, Sybil picked up on interference, though I couldn't say she knew exactly what had happened. The creatures were scaleless fangless cowards, but they were sneaky.
"Regardless of what you say, I know that you cannot give what you're offering. If that is the only offer you have, leave. We will then meet you on the fields of battle, and there, whatever screams you make will be truthful to reflect the real suffering you experience."
"Why the aggression?" The representative spoke, her voice so grating that I nearly walked away. Her attitude didn't make any sense, and the strange juxtaposition had my teeth and scales on edge.
"Because you are my enemy. You always will be, and it will not end until you or I are dead. Your species considers mine to be something to be hunted, and I consider you to be a destroyer of eggs. You have done nothing but attempt to deceive me with your every action and word, and have thus only further cemented my need to see you and your entire people destroyed. Perhaps, if you were able to engage with us in honesty, then there could be a less hostile relationship between enemies, but as you have proved yourself and your people to be duplicitous and honorless, you have made words meaningless."
At the accusation of being honorless, the female bristled, and I could feel the moment she finally stood upright and revealed her true emotions, her fuzzy tail flipping agitatedly behind her. Her heartbeat thrummed strong enough to feel it in the pads of her feet on the ground.
"Mere beasts such as you cannot dare to call the proud hunters without honor! Do not dare to impugn what we are!"
Around her, the rest of her people similarly bristled, and Sybil chuckled as she relaxed.
"Finally, I can see some of what you are. Do you have a real offer for me and my people? Or shall I throw you out on your deceitful ear, to ready ourselves to engage with your armies, as they will speak honestly of their desire to slaughter me and mine?"
"One year. No hostilities." She spoke through gritted teeth, and I could feel Sybil's tail flicking through the air as she listened.
"And this for what?" She asked.
"For the safe return of my people! You daft lizard!"
"You will insult me? In my home while I give you the opportunity to beg for mercy?" Sybil asked, a laugh in her voice. "You truly are a fool. And in response to your offer? I would trust your word no more than I would trust it to hold my weight. It is worth nothing, and you will receive no prisoners for lies and weightless promises. Get out of my city."
I considered that to be my welcome, and I strode towards the door as the representative shook with barely constrained rage. The door was thrown open before me by two of my Alqat guards, and I ducked into the room, where I towered over the assembled group of enemies.
"You are leaving now? What a shame. I'd hoped to introduce myself."
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