94

94

I lie on the fur bed, using Wolfe as my pillow while also inspecting him as I wait for Zhao Ming. To my bewilderment, Wolfe has no new mutations even after he changed so significantly after being bestowed power by Ulric. This is different from when Khorne changed him as it leaves the mutations behind. This means that either the power Ulric bestows only amplifies what is already there or that he can entirely take back the power he had bestowed. What a cheapskate. But I guess only the Chaos Gods deal in mutations and that the other Gods did not do the same. Pity though, as I can’t replicate this with the others, I was hoping whatever I find can help stabilize the beastmen’s genes. But that is to be expected.

“Boof.” Wolfe softly barked. Notifying me and Valeria that Zhao Ming has arrived. He entered along with two others. I sensed a connection between the three so the two others must be his dragon-blooded children or something. But to my surprise, he did not bring along anyone else. Is he still confident that the three of them can run away in case I did something or is it a sign of trust?

“Welcome. Forgive me to not prepare anything. My arrival here is abrupt.” I greet them without sitting up. Then a few of my shamans entered and put down some pillows that were used by the ogres based on its size and cleanliness. Zhao Ming sat on the pillow without a second thought, already having dealt with ogres before while his children followed soon after.

“Before we begin, I would like to apologize for my daughter’s reaction. She mistook your proposal for something much more... severe and permanent.” I started and paid his trust back first.

“Ahahaha! Do not worry about that.” He cupped his hand together. “As my children have put it, apparently it was not exactly the appropriate way to propose such a thing.” He answered cordially.

“But the aim to make an alliance here is true, yes?” He continues

“Of course. I have heard that you are considering it before you make your proposal.”

“Indeed. But now that you are here personally, would you mind enlightening me as to why ally with Cathay specifically? Why not the Kingdoms of Ind southwest. I heard there are other beastmen there.”

“The most important thing is of course stability. I haven’t heard much of Ind, but they don't exactly seem like a united nation. My herd’s arrival there can shake things up, especially if one of their kings, Raja as what they are called, accepts my herd. The others will see it as a threat or a power play.” I bullshit through. They are never depicted officially as far as I remember and they are only a footnote during End Times so I don’t know anything about them.

“I am grateful for your compliment.” He accepts without a sign whether what I say is true or not.

“The other thing is land. The Warpstone Desert is vast and uninhabited.” I decided to add some truth to it so he didn’t call me out on my bullshit. To this, he is visibly surprised.

“You plan to settle the desert?” He repeats to confirm

“Permanently and if necessary. Unless of course, our alliance stands and you can provide a better place.” I add and he frowns as he thinks. I let him think in silence. Seeing his two children, both are equally bewildered by my words. Technically it won’t matter even if I settle in the Warpstone Desert. I think it is possible to transform the desert similarly like in Drakwald with my divinity. It will take significantly longer and it won’t be a lush forest, but livable.

“What drove you to such lengths?” He finally asks

“Yes, finally.”

“All that speaking is so convoluted, must we do that from now on?” Valeria asks, clearly having the same opinion as me on just fighting.

“Unfortunately, yes. You have been observing in silence so far, what do you think?”

“It's tedious.” I chuckle at her response. “But I guess we have not much choice against a larger enemy.”

“We don’t. Well at least not yet. And I think this is much better this way, the beastmen have formed an alliance of huge warherd like this. Think of it that way but with other races instead.”

“Then we must also give what the other needs or wants.”

“Yes, but also be careful. When negotiating, the other party might be just buying time like Zhao Ming did. While he did accept the alliance for some reason in the end, he also buys time for the ogres to arrive.” She nods at my teaching

“I don’t like him.” She finally concludes her opinion of him

“Hmmm. But if his interest in you still stands, I think you can learn much from him. Now go and prepare the herd.” She finally left and now it's time for me to build the gate.

—

The same evening, off the north coast of Nordland. A secluded bay directly south of the small archipelago with jagged reefs named Manaan’s Teeth.

“LAAAAAND!” Manaan shouts joyously on top of the Black Ark. “I can’t believe I am this excited to see LAAAAAAND!” He runs to the edge of the deck to look at the land, the river that meets the sea and the ancient forest of Laurelorn. Trailing behind him are a few dark elven servants, utterly terrified but forced to follow him nonetheless.

“Would you believe I almost want to cover the entire world below the sea?” He asks the dark elves with a grin. Not one dark elf answers. They quickly learned that there’s no good answer when Manaan starts asking. They just hope his attention leaves as quickly as mortal sailors would hope the storm passes.

“That was petty of me. I’m glad my parents locked me up.” He turned back to look at the land then to the sea below the deck. There should be at least fifty meter drop from the deck.

“Anyway, thank you for the lift. Oh, and don’t leave until the day after tomorrow. There’s some surprise for you tomorrow.” He said before jumping from the deck to the sea below. The sea catches him in their embrace and Manaan quickly stands atop of the water. Running joyously on the water to the land following the river upwards. Leaving the dark elves in chaos. With the dread captain dead, some of his surviving lieutenants want to just immediately leave the coast but many already left too terrified to even act against the God of the Sea’s will. Not after what happened below the deck.