Ruinous Return

Morning arrived and a servant fetched Rashanna. She was led through dark corridors, completely blind in the blackness, until she entered a large, circular chamber that was illuminated by a single, bright brazier in the center of the room, recessed into the floor. The crackling flames cast a sinister glow over the room.

All around the room were cushions that had low tables in front of them. She spotted Chancellor Vehenna, Spymaster Velenna who she was introduced to recently, and several other figures whom she did not know the names of, but instantly committed them to memory. In front of her, however, was the most unique person she had ever seen before.

The wooden throne was covered with furs. Flanking it were twin Duskari – male and female mirrors of one another, with the only difference being their armor. On the throne, dressed in resplendent, black full plate, was a Duskari woman. Unlike the rest of that race present, her eyes were blue, and flickered like flames. She was…beautiful. Gorgeous. Rashanna had never seen someone more striking.

Until she noticed the scales, claws on the hands and feet, and what she thought was a crown – which was actually horns. She felt fear and her heart pounded in her chest. This is the Demonic Dragon…the Destroyer.

Vehenna stood up, "My Lady, I present to you Rashanna of the prestigious Selenya family. She has traveled to us from Vharthos and is here to seek appointment as your chief Diplomat."

Rashanna bowed deeply, "It is a pleasure to be allowed to look upon you, Lady Rivers," she stated as firmly and with as much confidence as she could muster under the withering glare.

The Destroyer stood. The armor receded to reveal a lithe form, and the draconic features vanished. Lyn Rivers walked down the dais and to Rashanna. "Stand up." The voice was deep. Almost otherworldly so. The same voice that every person on Ghomar heard not too long ago.

Rashanna stood, her heart pounding faster and faster. She could feel her ears twitching with her tail – physical indicators of her anxiety. Please don't kill me, was all she could think, pleadingly, hoping this Destroyer heard her.

Lady Rivers circled her before nodding, "Excellent. You are in good health? No maladies or lingering medical issues?"

"None, your grace," Rashanna replied. She knew better than to call this person 'my Lady' – that would only be proper if she had sworn to their service.

Lyn laughed. An enchanting laugh that caught Rashanna off-guard, and the voice was brighter and…cute. "Relax. I'm not going to eat you." She leaned in and whispered just loud enough in Vharthonian to be heard. "Unless you wanted me to."

Rashanna was shocked. Not by the threat of being eaten alive – she had anticipated that – but the fact that Lyn Rivers knew a language that was not taught to non-Vharthons. Where in the abyss did she learn that?

Lyn raised her hand and switched to Arinol, "If we are done with council business for today, all save Chancellor Vehenna, Spymaster Velenna, and my bodyguards are dismissed." The chamber rapidly emptied at her instruction, and she took her throne once more. "Gael, please, bring a cushion closer for our guest."

The male bodyguard in full plate pulled several cushions over and gestured to it. Rashanna bowed once more and sat on the offered seat. "Forgive me, your grace, for the imposition…how do you know my race's language?" She asked in Vharthonian.

The Destroyer giggled once more, responding in kind. "I know every language on Ghomar. But we are not here to discuss that."

Chancellor Vehenna stood up, "My Lady, shall we begin the interview?"

"Yes."

The Chancellor came over to Rashanna and began going through a series of questions regarding her finances, affiliations, relationships with various countries or organizations. This is…odd, Rashanna thought as she went through the questions.

Lyn listened intently to Rashanna's answers. She had come up with interview questions that she imagined someone on Earth would be asked if they were going to sign some sort of legal agreement. And the woman was answering with flawless grace, quickly responding to questions in a full and lucid manner. She had no connections to the world beyond the Valley of the Volcano, save for old business contacts who still held her in high regard, but not her family name. That's fine, Lyn thought. I can just have her utilize a title instead of a last name. Ensure she has a fresh start here.

When the interview concluded Vehenna bowed and backed away, and Spymaster Velenna approached. She grilled the Vharthon woman about any and every secret she held. The woman was…surprisingly forward. Or perhaps, unsurprisingly given that Lyn had intentionally intimidated her to make her afraid, hit on her to throw her off her guard, and implied that she has broad knowledge of events outside of the Valley.

And, just in case, Bolvon was hidden in the shadows. Lyn had no idea what to expect from this woman save for what Chancellor Vehenna had told her. Better safe than sorry.

The final questions concluded, and Lyn stood up. "You have passed this interview with satisfactory answers," she stated. "Now, to what your duties would be. My intent is to rule this whole world with benevolence and grace. A society where no one is sick as medicine is plentiful. A place where no one goes hungry, as they are provided food when needed. Where no person will be abused, and crime is eliminated. Equality amongst the races and social classes…with myself at the top, of course."

Rashanna nodded, "A commendable initiative, your grace. But by nature of your race, all Ari will end up in positions of higher status." She smiled gently, "Especially since you have decided on a meritocracy from what your Chancellor told me."

Lyn shook her head, "I know true equality and egality is impossible. But we can at least try towards those ideals. The Ari may become entrenched due to their prowess, hence why I will institute a mandatory retirement age. But that is for another time." She leaned forward and rested her elbows on her knees. "I am a busy woman. Simply put, I have other goals and tasks to complete. There is a reason I put together a council to assist in managing affairs." She gestured to Vehenna, "You would serve directly under my Chancellor and report to her. Your primary task would be to foster and build connections between my growing empire and the surrounding lands. To facilitate meetings between myself and their representatives. Make no mistake, I will rule this world. These kingdoms will serve my empire, or they will be ruined, and a new structure raised from the ashes." Time for the big finish. Lyn stood up, "Do you accept this position?"

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"I do have two questions, your grace."

"Ask away."

Rashanna smirked, "What am I being paid?"

Lyn chuckled. Merchant's granddaughter. Right. "A salary of ten Gold Eagles per week, with annual bonuses to be paid when milestones are achieved, such as brokering meetings with surrounding duchies, kingdoms, and other organizations that would serve my will. Additionally, any side-businesses that you set up will be subject to the tax that all businesses will have imposed upon them…so feel free to help build the prosperity of my empire whilst enriching yourself – which I'm sure was part of your plan anyways. Second question?"

"Would I be able to form a diplomatic corps under my own offices, to report through me to your Chancellor?"

Oh, and she's making a power play. Interesting. Lyn nodded, "I would allow you to employ other diplomats under your oversight. They will have to go through the same interview process, and ultimately be subject to my Chancellor's approval. They will remain under your oversight, but the Chancellor has final say in all matters of Diplomacy." Now to threaten her a little bit. Make sure she knows who is in charge. "Make no mistake, I will dismiss those who do not serve my empire's interests. That includes present company."

Rashanna bowed deeply, "I find these terms to be quite acceptable, your grace." She looked up, "When will I start?"

"Soon," Lyn said with a smug grin. "Take a few days to recover from your travel. When you are rested, your first destination will be Trisk, alongside an escort of five squads of Duskari troops and a shipment of one-thousand medicinal products as a token of goodwill. You will begin to broker the time and location for a meeting between myself and their king." She held out a hand, and, cautiously, the Vharthon took it and stood up. "We will also have you talk with Finala, our Keeper of Ravens. She will ensure you have the messenger bird bonded so you may rapidly communicate back with the Chancellor here." She turned to Vehenna, "I will expect weekly updates on your progress."

"My thanks, Lady Rivers." Rashanna smiled, "I presume I will be paid my accumulated salary when I return?"

"You would be correct." Lyn smiled gently, turning back to her. "Is there any other business you wish to discuss?"

"Is that earlier invitation to be eaten literal, as in, you desire to eat my flesh?" There was a shaking tremor to her voice.

Shit. She didn't pick up on the innuendo. Lyn forced a chuckle out, "Ah…" she switched to Vharthonian, "It was a sexual proposition. I do not eat people in the cannibalistic sense."

"Oh…Oh." Rashanna shook her head, "Forgive me, My Lady. I did not understand the implication."

Oh well, was worth a try, Lyn thought as she returned to her dais. She had always heard that Vharthons were freaks in the sack, but she figured-

"I would be honored to share your Ladyship's chamber for as long as you'd have me."

Lyn nodded and grinned at the woman, "This evening. I'll send a servant."

Ben finished fixing the roof when Trisha's call pulled him down the ladder and into the house. She looked at him with tired eyes, "Ginavieve kept me up all night. Can you take care of her for a few hours so I can take a nap?"

Ben nodded and took his youngest, "Come here you rascal," he muttered to his daughter before he leaned over and kissed Trisha. "I'll take her for a walk," he said as his wife closed the bedroom door. He went outside and closed his eyes for a moment, trying to focus on hearing his other three children.

The two oldest were playing with Epona in the field. I should really look at getting them another pony so they can ride together. He didn't hear Lawry – as expected – and he walked to their flower garden. The young boy was sitting in front of a flower with a small notebook and several colored charcoal bits. "Hey buddy, whatcha doing here?" he asked.

"Drawing flowers," Lawry said back. His voice sounded bored, but Ben knew that it was his 'I'm busy having fun, don't bother me' voice.

Ben ruffled his hair, "Okay. Maybe make a special one today for mommy? She would love one of the petunias, I bet."

Lawry picked up his supplies and went across the garden, plopping himself down on the dirt and setting to work with a fervor. "Mommy wants petunias, mommy gets petunias."

Ben chuckled and rocked Ginavieve in his arms as he took several laps around their property. An enormous chunk of farmland, their house was built on a hill overlooking a small town in the heartlands of Trisk. Their hospital was not only a place of learning, but also one of the places where injured and sick people came from across the kingdom. It was always practically full.

Couple that with Ben's school which produced some of the best bodyguards and brawlers in all Ghomar thanks to his actual boxing training and natural defensive fighting skills from the Guardian core…they made quite a tidy income. He barely had to work, instead getting to focus on just being a parent. He still did work around the farms and their various buildings because he didn't want to get lazy.

He was on the North side of their property when he spotted two figures riding down one of the trails running through their farms. That wasn't unusual in and of itself – quite common to take shortcuts through the fields instead of the main roads. Ben cast an internal spell upon himself, and a Guardian-only external spell that placed a barrier around Ginavieve – any damage she suffered would instead be directed to him.

But his worries were for naught. "Thomas!" he shouted as the man came into view. The Knowledge hero looked younger. And he had little hair, only a short crop unlike his normal unkempt mop. And he was…scarred, heavily so. There was a red-furred Vharthon with him as well, with several tails. She's a powerful mage in that case.

Thomas rode up and dismounted, "Ben! It's good to see you." He said in English.

Ben's demeanor soured, "I should punch you," he said. "You told us, promised us, you would come and tell us before going to smash that statue."

Thomas' head hung low. "Misty filled you in?"

"Yes. James killing you, your resurrection – how the hell did you pull that off anyways?"

"Long story." His eyes met Ben's, and there was a deep sorrow there. "I don't have my Knowledge core anymore. I'm just…Thomas the bookworm again." He chuckled ruefully, "I was hoping that you needed a tutor. I don't have any money, so I figured I could earn my keep by teaching your kiddos. Eli is more than old enough, and the other two could start learning also."

"Who is this with you?" Ben asked, swapping to Triskol.

"Ah, this is Stellas. She is one of Misty's former students. I'm tutoring her."

The Vharthon woman nodded her head from atop her steed, "It's an honor to meet the Guardian hero who saved us from the Demonic Dragon."

"You're welcome," Ben stated as he met Thomas' eyes. "Well, come up to the house. You'll have to get the go-ahead from Trisha, but I'll take all the help I can get with these tykes."

Thomas grinned from ear to ear, "Oh, that's right! This is the newest addition to the Baxter family. Hello there, little Ginavieve."

Ben's infant daughter didn't stir, just moved slightly in his arms. "She had a rough night. Catching up on the sleep."

"I thought you two used a spell to keep her from fussing and help her stay down?"

Ben chuckled, "These kids man. They're something else. They must've inherited my resistance to external spells."

Thomas shrugged, "Makes sense. I didn't find anything in the history books of two heroes having children." He stood up to his full height, "We could also test their mana cores, see how potent they are."

"Maybe when they're teenagers. I don't want them to be exposed to spells too early."

Thomas nodded, "That's fair. Wait until they understand the huge power at their disposal. Not set the house on fire, etcetera. Still, the earlier we start them on learning Elenthir, the better comprehension they'll have of it. That alone will set them apart in this world."

Ben waved for them to follow, "Come on, let's get you settled into one of the guest houses."

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