Chapter One Hundred and Twenty-Five - Bad Implications

Chapter One Hundred and Twenty-Five - Bad Implications

Chapter One Hundred and Twenty-Five - Bad Implications

Amaryllis was in a talkative mood. I knew this because she was talking a whole lot while walking out ahead of us.

I would usually just gloss over this situation, Amaryllis said. But obviously you know nothing so its up to me to fill in the blanks. Honestly I... might have been a little lax in doing my part to educate you, Broccoli. Im sorry.

Its okay? I said as I almost jogged to keep up. Awen, whose legs were a bit shorter, was in that awkward position where she wasnt quite walking fast, nor was she jogging outright.

It isnt! Amaryllis declared. But its an issue I can correct right away.

Okay?

Amaryllis nodded, head bobbing up and down like one of those little plastic bird things. Ill start at the start, she said. There are five nations on the continent that matter. She looked to Awen. Six, if you decide to be generous and count Mattergrove.

That sounded a little rude, but alright. Mattergrove was pretty small on the map Id seen.

The Snowlands, who are mostly uninvolved in geopolitics. The Nesting Kingdom, which is more of a clan-based elective republic with a token monarchy, but thats unimportant. The kingdom of Sylphfree. The United Republic of the Trenten Flats, which is neither united nor a republic. The Kingdom of Deepmarsh, and the Kingdom of Mattergrove.

I nodded along. What about the Ostri people?

Amaryllis waved her wings in a dismissive way. I was really getting good at harpy body language. They dont have kings, mayors, elected officials, or clan leaders. They literally have no governmental apparatus, which coupled with their abnormally high average level has kept them safe from most political conflicts.

Cool, I said.

They dont matter. I want you to understand the current conflict even if it means pecking the information into that thick skull of yours. Amaryllis straightened. The Nesting Kingdom has grown to have the most powerful airforce, but we are still, for the most part, stuck on a small number of mountaintops near the centre of the continent.

Okay, I said.

The Sylphfree and the Nesting Kingdom have been at each other's throats for centuries. We both claimed the same mountaintop. The Golden Peak. And when we both discovered that the name was rather literal a war broke out. Then another, then another. Its almost a formality that well go to war once every few decades over control over the mountain. Weve even become rather civil about it. Even if we hate each other.

Cant you just split the territory in half? I asked.

Who would get the bigger half? Or the half with the more mines? She shook her head. Its a lot of arguing and politicking with very little action. The mountain is basically untouched though, on account of both sides destroying any settlements or camps on it.

That's awful, I said. I found Orange walking next to me and picked her up for the purpose of hugging the awful away.

It is what it is. She went on. Other than that, the Sylphfree are nearly untouchable. They have excellent banking systems and are doubtlessly the richest nation on the continent. Coupled with their advanced healers and heavily-militarized government, no one has really succeeded in making them budge.

We reached the exit of the Scumways and walked right past a cabal of guards without so much as slowing down. Maybe that thing about walking with confidence was true, because none of them tried to stop us.

Then you have the Trenten Flats. Huge, expansionist, aggressive. Theyre backwards and barbaric at the best of times, but theyre large, numerous, and have a lot of resources to throw at any problem.

I nodded along, even if I found her description to be a bit... rude.

And finally Deepmarsh. Its relatively small, not too populous, but fairly advanced. They actually have very decent mages here. Theyre not terribly keen on moving outside of their little deltas though.

And Mattergrove? I asked with a glance towards Awen.

Awa, we, were very small, Awen said. And, um, we dont really matter all that much.

I... dont exactly agree, Amaryllis said. Mattergrove matters if only because theyre on the far westernside of the continent and they do have something of a standing army. Its small and pathetic, but it exists. If things go sideways then having an unaligned nation at the Nesting Kingdom or Deepmarshs back could be dangerous.

Cant your bank ring send letters to people? I asked.

It can send letters to my account, where a clerk will then take it and place it in my familys vault. Or that of a family member. But sending letters like that only works if the person to whom youre sending the letter has an account with that bank. Otherwise the Messenger Guild interferes. They dont appreciate the competition already.

Amaryllis actually stopped talking for a little bit because the climb was rather steep and that made breathing hard. She even flapped her wings a few times to skip ahead.

When we got to the Exploration Guild and pushed past the familiar double doors at the front, it was to find a decent-sized group within, one that I recognized almost right away.

Five grenoil, all of them in leathers, all of them with bandoleers over their chests. At their head was the handsome Emeric, with his two swords hanging by his hips, and I saw Pierre leaning against a far wall.

Arianne was in her almost-mage garb, with a serious-faced Valerie next to her. And standing a bit behind Emeric was a nervous Donat, the grenoil having changed out of the kinda-crappy armour Id seen him in all those weeks ago.

The group were all standing back to the door, their attention on the squat figure of director Mathilde.

I know these people, I told my friends.

Awa, are they friends?

I nodded. They kind of are, I said. I couldnt help the grin that slipped on. It was always super cool to meet old friends again. And these were friends that I hadnt seen since... since Id left Threewells. Was that only two weeks ago? A bit more? Hello! I called out while raising a hand to wave.

I had forgotten how scary the director looked when she wasnt in a good mood, and I had never seen her in a good mood.

There was suddenly a lot of attention directed my way, but out of all the grenoil looking my way, Arianne was the first to react. Broccoli? she asked.

Thats me, I said.

Emeric grinned my way. Well well, you actually made it to civilization alive. Ze world isnt so terrible a place after all.

I did, I said. And I joined the guild too. I poked a thumb at the pin on my bandoleer. And I even have a party now!

I can see zat, he said. We will have to go for drinks later, and you can tell us about your adventure. We just arrived, we need to debrief. His smile turned a little wry.

Ah, thats okay, I said.

Actually, its not, Amaryllis interjected. Director, we have some news. Its urgent.

I can imagine, the director said. She sounded about as amused as she looked. Is that young lady next to you the missing-and-presumed-kidnapped Awen Bristlecone? she asked.

Awa, no, no thats not me, Awen said. Then she wilted as the directors gaze turned onto her.

Its not kidnapping if you have permission, I said.

The director turned her glare onto me. I would love to see you arguing that in court, young lady.

I swallowed, but I wasnt going to let some rude old lady ruin my mood with threats of imprisonment. We just came here to report some things, I said. Its important.

Our news is important too, Emeric said. And wiz ze dragons in ze city... it seems like today is an exciting day.

Oh, no, the dragons are with us, I said. Theyre not the problem.

You know, for a moment I zought zat maybe I missed ze little brat, Pierre said. Now Im quite sure zat I dont.

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