| "Sister," smiles Astra 3. "I for one am a bit interested in anything
that could settle this fandango once and for all!" Murmurs of agreement
go along with that from around the table.
"I propose killing two pikeman with one arrow," Astra says, drawing
from an old Amazon motto, which brings a little chuckle from those of Amazon
descent….and even a smile from those NOT of Amazon descent. "Now, the city
of Walants has always been a thorn in my nations side, but now that the
nation of Malbacton is pretty much a sad memory….and the city of Walants
is just BEGGING for somebody to set it right……" Astra smiles, eyes gleaming,
then she continues.
"I propose that Fred 1, Fred 2, Astra 2 and Duke Dredrick head up a
small garison and help bring order to that sad little town." Astra smiles
as her counterpart's eyes light up at the last part, loyalty to her nation
was always the mark of an Amazon….apparently true for where ever they originally
came from. "And help get the city back on it's feet by…..offering it your
vast experience at leadership."
"The Crown….Me….can probably provide you with a modest salary and compensation
for expense in the line of duty," Astra says. "Which…..considering the
lack of funds that some of the….. uhm…. D'Honaires have….while others have
a pretty nestegg from salvage from their Minestus' Lair. Wouldn't it be
nice to have something to fall back upon?"
"Basically," Duke Dredrick murmurs. "You want us to be hired sword so
you can pacify Walants so your nation can claim it as her own, Princess?"
"Look at it this way, your Grace," Astra smiles, slightly cold. "Your
lands are far and away on another world….that you can't even think about
getting back to until the Phage is cured. The nearest lands, besides the
city of Panaras….which isn't exactly going to turn it's democratic self
over for aristocratic rule….is in the ruins of this worlds Allaria…..a
land of glass and fused rock."
"Plus," Willian pipes in, smiling a winning smile. "The job also comes
with automatic land and Title of Duke or Duchess in Aqualaria….something
my love and I see as much more substantial than a…..mere title from a world
far away?"
"Swearing allegiance to the King, you, and the Queen Astra?" Fred 1
smiles.
"That is only wise," Astra smiles back.
"It…..does have it's……er….perks," Dredrick says….grudgingly conceeding
the point (beyond a small bag of gold and his equipment he had when he
landed in a tree in Atlantis…..he was pretty much without much recourse).
Also, it wasn't actually….without honor (actually it was pretty honorable
in the Dredricks book….bringing order to chaos). "I accept, your Majesty
and my Lady."
Fred 1, Fred 2, and Astra 2 follow suite, and the manimals clap and
cheer as Astra official grants them the titles of Dukes and Duchess of
Aqualaria in various locales in that proud nation.
"It'll be a hard sell for my fellow country woman and men for Duke Dredrick….unless….."
Astra gives a meaningful look at Manbear Synizn.
"Make him look a bit different…..like a cousin or brother rather than
the evil Duke Drederigo?" the bear mage asks, getting the picture. "Doable,
but to be totally sure that nobody with a grudge could undo the alteration
during a critical meeting or such….a Crystallic adjust is needed. And could
be used again to undo it before you went back home.…when and if that happened!"
The mage assures the Dredrick when he looks like he wants to protest. He
still looks uncomfortable with the idea….but it COULD just save him needless
headaches……
Demi-fox Synizn, Fred 3, and Astra 3 have objections.
"Hold it!" protests the demi-fox. "You can't seriously be thinking about
actually letting Crystallics the stay around? I mean, I and my friends
were on our way to destroy OUR Crystallic because of the danger it posed
in the wrong hands! I……."
Malachi, clears her throat (disturbingly loud….even through the magical
mirror she's using to "sit in" on wthis meeting with).
"Demi-fox Synizn," she chides. "Before we decide out of hand what must
be done, let's actually get a grasp on the worlds status before we go and
smash magic items, okay? We haven't decided and it's just a THOUGHT."
That taken care of, Malachi smiles and moves to the next order of business.
The smile isn't totally warm (even the least experience manimal can tell
that from her reptillian face), for…..the situation report on the world
is coming from…..Probe. With the Circle's informant network smashed….along
with most every other local system with the coming of the Phage…..the Golems
were the only game in town.
"Probe," Malachi calls. The AI walks in, carring some type of strange flat panel. The Golem plugs in a small chord attached to the panel into something on his right wrist, and the adventurer blink as an incredibly accurate looking globe…..a globe of Terra…..appears above the panel. "Thank you for inviting me," the AI says with a small smile.
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