The fortress that housed the teleportation gate located above a small hill surrounded by a moat. Guardians clad in white armor stood in front of the castle gates, which were inlaid with protective runes that glowed faintly.
Kael stood before the gate, the archway that led into the castle. Sylvaine strode ahead and showed her identification crystal.
"Routine visit to the tower?" Questioned gate warden, a stern-faced mage with an amethyst sigil sewn into his robes.
"Yes, this time I'm bringing along an aide with me. I hope you'll let us have an easy time." She passed some spellskins to him.
Spellskins acts as a magical medium for drawing magic circles. Spellskins are easy to carry and requires very little mana to activate after they have had magic circles drawn on them.
This is the precise reason that many low level mages, acolytes, adventures, mercenaries, merchants, and even some knights carry spellskins. As the spells carved on these will carry their full power.
"Miss Sylvaine, you needn't ask. Please, this way."
⛩️⛩️⛩️
Kael and Sylvaine reached Suntide, capital of alliance, after Sylvaine finished her business in city of Orthank, which is the city that surrounds the world's foremost magic tower, Orthank.
Kael bought some entry level spellskins as he wanted to see if he can learn how to draw magic circles and use them subsequently.
Suntide was built on the sheer cliff that plunged into the roaring sea. Its red stone walls shone in the high afternoon sun. On top of it nine flags were fluttering majestically in the strong wind. Envoys, attendants, and soldiers bustled through it's vast halls.
Kael straightened his cloaks and stepped into their midst.
A man with silver hair combed immaculately back greeted him first, his silken robe embroidered with fields of white lilies. "Welcome, Prince of Greythorne. I had doubted Greythorne would send... anyone at all. Your presence is very welcome. I am Duke Alaric de Val, at your service."
"Let's talk inside a chamber. You do not wish for prying eyes and ears to see and hear everything, I presume?"
"Your highness is indeed correct." Duke Alaric led them into the chamber. Kael entered along with Sylvaine.
At the head of the table a woman of striking poise sat,Queen Serenya Veyra of Arvelon. Her silver circlet glinted above her midnight black hair, her gown of pale silver blue color accentuated her features.
Behind her, a scarred giant of man snorted. His armour bore a crest of a single tentacle of kraken bifurcating a ship at sea.
"Lord Commander Taran Harthone, Queen Serenya," Alaric introduced them. "These esteemed persons are the one you shall meet today."
🏳️🏳️🏳️
"I have come in response to the letter sent by the Alliance of Nine Banners. I want to discuss in detail - what is the purpose of the alliance? What roles do each party play? What would be the role of our kingdom? And what responsibilities and rewards would be available to our kingdom? Pardon my ignorance." Kael started the negotiation, but in all regards negotiations were already started when the alliance sent the letter.
"We are merely an economic alliance." Duje Alaric interjected. "Each of our kingdoms can help others with their area of strength and in return will be helped by others."
Alliance of Nine Banners couldn't be such a benign alliance, so Kael asked once again. "If that were the case it would be preferable to let merchants discuss it, no need for any heads of state to get involved, who have more pressing and important matters to attend-daily."
The faint smile on the Duke Alaric grew wider. "Indeed, it is not only about economics. Our plans are much varied but those can be only shared with the members of the alliance, wouldn't you agree? Prince Kael."
"That makes sense, I guess, from a certain point of view. Lord Alaric let me inform you of my point of view. If a potential ally refuses to divulge why they want to ally with you, it shows a serious lack of trust? How can an alliance started with mutual distrust may last?
If you allow me to speculate, I would posit that the alliance is worried the empire will conquer the alliance of northern principalities and leave only northwestern duchies as a potential buffer. But you cannot trust two faced ******** of duchies, who as long as they are promised autonomy would happily open their territory to the armies of the empire. Is this correct?"
Up untill now both queen Serenya and commander Taran were not listening intently, now no longer dared to do so. Alaric still was the only one who conversed with Kael and it continued.
"You can assume some of it is true, but not all of it. Whether you agree or not, currently it is largely an economic alliance. The individual kingdoms may have more cooperation with consent. That will not be imposed by the alliance. If ever in the future we need to form a military coalition against the empire, we will not force anyone to join it, even the members of the alliance."
While this sounded perfect in theory, it reeked of a plot. If Greythorne kingdom was to be economically deeply enmeshed with the Alliance of Nine Banners, it would have to support the alliance lest it didn't want to be ruined economically. But in the meantime, the rewards were too enticing to leave it at the table.
"I suppose you have a way to trade with northern principalities through and without northwestern duchies?" Kael asked.
Alaric nodded. "Welcome to the alliance, Prince."
Kael sternly gazed at Alaric. "Lord Alaric, I think you've misunderstood my intentions. Greythorne will not be entering the alliance formally. As you know, even if I wanted to, I still have to convince the lords in my kingdom. It would delay our cooperation further. Why don't we start with something small. Say, I will form a consortium of several merchants who answer to me. Since, after all, this alliance is an economic one, there is no need to rush to formally declare it, is there?"
"Prince, If we wanted we could have contacted the princess. I believe you're making the mistake." Lord Commander Taran hissed.
"Pardon my insolence, esteemed persons. If you were confident that my sister would agree to join you, you would've never sent the letter to me. Whatever you think of me, I can use the position of the Crown Prince to fulfill what I promised to you. If you ask any more, I, regrettably inform you that I won't be able to do it? The ball is in your court, Gentlemen."
The three representatives of the alliance discussed among themselves, after a while, Duke Alaric de Val announced the decision.
"We place our trust in you, Prince. I hope you won't betray it."
"I will do my best to meet your expectations, your excellencies." Kael respectfully nodded and exchanged few parting pleasantries.