The integration of the nomads—now called the "Newcomers"—into the rhythm of Avalon was a fragile, ongoing process. Under Kaelen's relentless direction and Elara's compassionate care, the initial suspicion began to thaw into a wary, then earnest, cooperation. The cleared fields were now tilled and planted with winter-hardy crops from Rex's seed bank. The stable block quarantine was lifted, and the Newcomers were assigned to repair the less-critical village dwellings.
It was during this period of fragile growth that the outside world intruded once more. Not with a show of force, but with a quiet, unsettling delegation.
A single man walked up the road to the main gate. He was neither furtive nor aggressive. He was of average height, with a lean, wiry build and a calm, observant face. He carried no visible weapon. He stopped at a respectful distance and called out, his voice clear and steady.
"I am Marius. I come from the farmstead to the north. I seek an audience with the Lord of this castle."
Rex observed him from the wall. This was not one of the Brutes. This was the "dagger" Liana had identified—the organized, military group. Sending a single, unarmed man was a message in itself: intelligence, not brute force.
Rex descended and had the main gate opened just enough to admit the man. He met him in the courtyard, Kaelen and Jean flanking him. The contrast was stark: the visitor in his worn but functional clothes, standing calmly amidst the industry of the fortress.
"Marius," Rex acknowledged. "You have your audience."
Marius's eyes took in everything—the repaired walls, the busy forge, the newly planted fields, the faces of the people. His gaze lingered on Kaelen's soot-stained apron and the hammer in her belt, then on Jean's stone-calloused hands. He gave a slight, respectful nod.
"You have been busy," Marius said. "We have watched. You are… efficient. You took in the river rats when others would have driven them off or killed them. That was an interesting decision."
"What do you want?" Rex asked, cutting to the chase.
"To propose an arrangement," Marius replied smoothly. "The world has shrunk. Resources are finite. There are those, like the Brutes in the lumber yard, who only know how to take. And then there are those who can see the value in… stability."
He paused, letting the implication hang in the air. "We control the northern road and the old quarry. You are clearly building. You need stone. We have it. We also have scouts who monitor the movements of the Brutes and other, less savory elements."
"And in return?" Rex's voice was flat.
"A tithe," Marius said. "A small, regular portion of your food stores. Medical supplies, if you have them to spare. Not a demand. A trade. Stone and information for sustenance. It is a better deal than the Brutes will offer you."
It was a classic protection racket, dressed in the language of mutual benefit. Rex felt Kaelen tense beside him. He could feel the eyes of the entire settlement on him. The Newcomers, especially, watched with naked fear. This was the kind of power that had hounded them.
Rex took a step closer to Marius, his presence suddenly dominating the space. "You mistake what this place is," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "This is not a town paying for protection. This is a sovereign nation. We do not pay tithes. We do not acknowledge your authority over any road or quarry."
Marius's calm facade flickered. "That is a… bold position. You may find the world outside your walls less accommodating."
"The world outside my walls is your problem," Rex countered. "Not mine. My only concern is what happens inside them. Here is my counter-proposal: You leave us in peace. You keep your stone and your information. And in return, I will not consider your group a threat that needs to be eliminated."
The air went cold. Rex had not just refused; he had issued a threat of his own. He had drawn a line, not just of defense, but of dominance.
Marius studied him for a long moment, reassessing the young lord before him. He saw not a reckless boy, but a man with the resources and the will to back his words. He gave another curt nod.
"I will deliver your… proposal… to my commander," he said. "I suggest you look to your defenses. The Brutes are not as patient as we are."
With that, he turned and walked out, the main gate closing behind him with a definitive thud.
Kaelen let out a breath she seemed to have been holding. "You just declared war on both of them."
"No," Rex said, his eyes still on the closed gate. "I just defined our borders. A nation that pays tribute is not a nation for long. We either stand on our own, or we fall. Now they know where we stand."
He had rejected the lesser evil, choosing to face the chaos on his own terms. The price of their sovereignty would not be paid in grain or medicine, but in vigilance, steel, and blood. The message was sent. Avalon would bow to no one.