Draycos777
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Articis was, to put it mildly, less than pleased. The Pass was one place that he had hoped never to see again, but barely a day into his trip home, if that, he was stopped by a windwalker with an order from the royal council to return to Gripclaw as a bridge between Je and Alquen, and his unit was the closest and already knew the land.
“Ta 'ell with the Royal Council! Those fat lauds aren't the Emperor. How dare they try to give out orders like they are! They only reason I'm here is because they were smart enough to get his signature of approval on here.” Articis waved the opened letter in his hands around in mild annoyance. However, above all of that, the real reason he was upset were the seven fools next to him.
When he had received the letter, he had planned on going back alone. However, two members of his unit made it very clear that that wasn't going to happen. No matter what he said, nothing got through. Though, the voices of his other soldiers also raising objections about him going alone didn't help either. He certainly couldn't bring them home himself, that would take too much time, and Ytha's master was too old to handle both of those two at the same time. After a while, Articis decided to bring along his two troublemakers and five members of Ytha's unit who were a part of the scouting mission, and Hyden lead the rest of the contingent back home.
With the goodbyes out of the way, the small group turned around and went back the way they had come.
Leading the group through the mountain pathway was Ytha. Other than the sound of wildlife and nature, the path was eerily quiet. It seemed as though the final hours of Gripclaw's standoff were coming to a close. Finally, as the dawn began to creep over the sky, they stood before a large wooden wall, and an equally imposing gate. Ordering everyone else back, Articis stood in front of it. While folding his hands, he called out in a loud voice.
“My name is Articis Fon! I've come here from Je to speak with Domrius on behalf of my people!”
A quintet of sentries peered over the wall at the approaching representatives of Je. One of them called down to someone behind the wall, and then four of the watchers withdrew, leaving a lone sentry behind. Adjusting his helmet, the man settled his crossbow on the rim of the wall and called down to the Je waiting below. “Your message will be conveyed to the watch centurion. Wait, but know that if you threaten us reprisal will be swift.”
At the guard’s reply, Articis bowed slightly and spoke. “As you wish, we shall wait then!”
Turning around, he joined with the rest of the group. Whatever came next, there was no going back. As much as he disliked it, Articis had to place his fate in the hands of the enemy he had just fought. Though, for the sake of his family and his people, cutting his pride was a small thing.
“Is this really the right thing to do? Doesn’t going through with this mean that we’ll be serving the Empire?” Rayna’s voice cut through the silence of the morning air.
Still facing the gate in case any signals were given out by the sentry, Articis answered her. “Indeed, however, it is honestly the only option we have right now. Our land is the closest to the pass. Once Domrius comes through it, who do you think will have to bear the full strength of the Empire? For now, we’ve no choice but to bow our heads and, as always, do what we must to survive. That includes waiting for whatever Domrius gives us right now.”
“The waiting is what always bothered me during talks before. Hopefully the wait this time isn’t too long. But are we waiting to be killed off is what bothers me the most this time.”
The sun moved slowly across the sky as minutes turned into hours. Something must be happening within the Alquen fortification, but the Je party was unable to hear anything happening within from the other side of the wooden palisade. The tedium of the wait was relieved, momentarily, when a second figure appeared upon the rampart. The Alquen sentry and the newcomer had a short conference, and then the newcomer vanished again.
What followed was another bout of waiting, before another new figure was sighted upon the rampart, perhaps the centurion that had been referenced earlier. This man’s helm bore a bristling trim of horsehair in a dividing line down the back of the protective headpiece, and he stared at the group for a moment before calling down gruffly. “The gate will open. Three of you may enter. Come in or go away, no difference to me.”
Having apparently said his piece, the man vanished. The sentry stood as he had throughout, watching the representatives of Je silently, joined a moment later by his four companions. Below, the gates set into the wall creaked, and then opened slightly, just enough to admit a single person through at a time.
Articis could do little more than nod at the guard, who clearly spoke in the manner of an officer rather than just some wall sentry, before two of the three spots were taken. Dashing through the hole in the wall, Rayna and Ytha looked back at him.
“W-what are you doing? Heading straight into an enemy’s camp without thinking?”
“What are you talking about?” Ytha was the first to respond; “Did you forget papa? I’ve already been here before.”
Her reply was quickly finished off by her sister. “Besides, we aren’t going to have you send us back now. We’ve come too far. We’ll see it to the end.”
Defeated, Articis turned around to the rest of his men, whispering under his breath. “That’s not the point you two...”
Addressing each of his men and seeing them off, He followed after his two troublemakers. Once he passed the gate he almost froze. Of course he had heard the full report from Ytha, but still, the sight of hundreds, if not thousands, of red tents was a sight not many could look upon without stopping so stare. Truly a show of the Empire’s vast power,
“Ha, and we really thought that we could hope to slow this down, even for a few days? Unbelievable. If only the other commanders could see this. Surely, if Domrius wanted to take the pass he’d need only show them this, then most would be making the same choice as I, would they not?”
A slight tug on his right arm snapped him out of the red-topped trance.
“Come on, now’s not the time to be impressed papa!”
Articis smiled, returning to normal. Although as a parent, he was worried beyond end about these two being with him, a part of him was glad as well. Though he would never admit it to them. “You’re right, Ytha. Shall we see the end of this battle together?”
The three of them waited for whatever would come next.
Rapheel was waiting inside the fortress, backed up by two files of swordsmen. The soldier’s helm was tucked under his arm, and his hand rested lightly on the hilt of his sword. “If you would come with me, sir, Domrius is waiting. The files of swordsmen pivoted, moving smoothly into a square about the Je representatives. The troopers were either an escort or a security detail. Rapheel seemed unlikely to give any explanation in either event, marching off through the camp without another word.
The group wound their way through the avenues and lanes of tents, drawing stares from a number of Alquen soldiers, though really the camp seemed rather empty in comparison to the number of tents it held, as if the main body of Alquen’s force was located elsewhere.
Perhaps surprisingly, the Alquen soldier did not lead Articis and his daughters to the bailey looming over the encampment. Instead, he made his way to a tent much like any of the others and ducked inside. The Alquen soldiers stopped, those before the visitors from Je forming a barrier to entrance. Within the tent some discussion took place, and then Rapheel emerged, looking over the representatives and addressing Articis. “He asks you enter alone. I am instructed to keep your daughters company.” The soldier seemed displeased by the notion, but motioned a pair of troopers aside so Articis could enter.
Within, the tent was well illuminated by a pair of lanterns. The light offered a great deal of visibility for the clutter that dominated the space. A worktable was set up in the middle of the tent, covered with a map of the immediate locale of the pass, as well as copious sheaves of paper, rolled scrolls, and inscrutable notes. Seated on a camp stool behind the table was Domrius, bent over a thin strip of parchment upon which he was making tiny, precise markings.
Quill scratched across parchment in the silence, and the Alquen commander let his guest wait as he made his cryptic markings. After a few moments Domrius set the quill into an inkwell, straightening up and settling his mismatched gaze upon his guest. “Lord Articis Fon of Je. How nice to meet you.”
Before entering the tent Articis handed over the wrapped Kuroyasha on his back to the soldier that spoke, stating that he would not need it anymore. As he stood in the room, Articis took the time to study the large number of scrolls around the space, however, as he was not from the same land, understanding the symbols on the parchments and studying them where two different things. Needless to say, he didn’t understand any of them. Before long, the man sitting at the worktable placed his quill back to its place proper, and slowly stood up.
“Lord Articis Fon of Je. How nice to meet you.”
Articis shook his head in response and smiled. “Please, whether it be by one of my people, an enemy, or a former enemy, I’d rather just be called by my name. Articis Fon, or just Articis, Whichever you prefer. Titles sound, weird. It is well met to see you as well,” Articis laughed slightly. “Though, if truth be told, have we not met four days ago? Though, it was on much different terms than this.”
Articis stopped to take a much better look at the man than the chance he had had when he was a commander of the Alliance. Much could be said about first impressions, no matter what one would like you to believe. Having seen the large amount of papers, and even larger amount near the table, Articis asked a simple question he was pondering.
“If you don’t mind me asking, but, are those battle reports, or,” he hesitated for a brief moment, wondering if it was alright to ask this of one that was once his foe, “are they letters? They come with every battle, however, each one is never easy to write. Forgive me, such talk was not the reason I’ve come here, as I’m sure you are well aware of.”
Domrius sprinkled sand from a small bag at his elbow over the thin scrap of parchment, lifting the strip and shaking it a moment later to clear the excess sand away. Now dried, he rolled the parchment into a tight tube and slid it into a small metal canister whose top he screwed on. The Alquen commander considered Articis silently before answering.
“Both. I wrote six hundred and seventy-two letters yesterday. I estimate that I will not have time to finish all of them before the next battle.” He paused for a moment, and then added quietly, “time is an enemy that has yet to be defeated.” Domrius made a vague motion with one hand, as though pushing the matter aside for another time. “I know why you are here, just as I know who you are, but perhaps you would humor me and tell me anyways? I prefer to hear these things firsthand.”
Articis listened with interest as Domrius spoke. He could only shake his head inwardly at the sheer number of parchments that must have been used for such a feat. “Indeed,” he responded as Domrius finished speaking, “allow me say for myself why I am here.”
Articis took out a sealed letter from one of his pockets and placed it down upon the cluttered table. Upon the red seal adorning the letter was the symbol of Je’s Emperor.
“I had planned on giving this to you,” Articis smiled and looked around, “however, seeing all of the papers here and those to come, I’m sure you can do without it. So I shall speak with my own words and not with theirs. I’d like’d to say the the Emperor wishes to surrender and join forces with Alquen, but, that is not the case. It is not just the Emperor, but myself, and my people, whether they are able to understand our Emperor’s words in their hearts or not, we all wish this.”
Articis turned his head towards what would have been rows of red tents, much like the one they were in, had there not been a wall in the line of his sight. “I’m know you’re aware of Ytha’s visit to your camp a few days ago. I heard the report, but still, I was put to awe at the sheer numbers I’ve seen here. It would have been enough to run through the pass ten times over. Yet, hardly anyone is here. They are not out taking the pass, otherwise, our way here would have been much harder. I can only come up with two reason for that: Either you have already taken the pass and you sent them back down to regroup with a main force, or you sent them away as something much more powerful is coming to sweep through.”
Articis laughed slightly. It was a laugh of disbelief more than anything else. “It is quite funny, to be perfectly honest. For hundreds of years my people have been pushed by wild animals and invaders who’ve attacked us just because of the way we looked. Each and every time we’ve survived and grown stronger. Coming to this pass, I believed the same would happen again. We saw Alquen just the same as the others, and thought our strength and trust in ourselves would pull us through to the other side again. Not once did I think one kingdom could own so much strength. Yet, another part of me was happy. I had fought an enemy that I could fight to my heart’s content. However, with you, no matter how much I fought, it wouldn’t change the fact that we would lose, and my men, then my family and people, would die in the end. No matter how much I enjoy battle, if giving that up would help them to survive, than I would gladly do so.”
Articis sighed and looked back at the man before him. “Hundreds of years of watching out for ourselves and our kin have made us a proud people, but if bowing our heads means protecting our families, then so be it. We shall do so without pause.”
“So I say to you,” Articis folded his hand and bowed to the man, “we wish to surrender and join Alquen.”
Straightening up, Articis returned to his usual smile. “I also have my own personal reason as well. Honestly, I want to help you create a stable era of peace here. Those two outside,” Articis pointed towards the tent’s door behind him with his thumb, “as much as it worries me and fills me with pride, have grown into fine warriors, but as a parent I want them to live in a time without fighting. Since they’ve been born, war has been a daily part of their life. I want them to know what peace feels like at least once before I leave them, because I’ll never know when that day will be.”
Domrius listened in silence, one hand resting on the table next to the map of the pass, a finger tapping lightly against the parchment. After Articis finished his speech the Alquen commander was quiet for several long moments, his mismatched eyes considering the Je leader until finally he spoke. “Let me tell you something about what I believe, Articis.”
The Alquen commander walked across the tent, copying Articis’ action of staring at the fabric walls without seeing them. “I believe in peace. I believe in a world that is not bound by the dogmas of emperors and monarchs. I believe that the world is precisely what we make it, and that the best world emerges from the consensus of the masses.”
He turned, looking at Articis and offering the man a smile and a shrug. “What does that mean? Nothing, I suppose,” Domrius smiled, “or everything.” The Alquen commander walked back to the table, looking down at the map, one finger delicately tracing the line of the pass. “I don’t want you to surrender to Alquen, Articis Fon. Surrendering to Alquen is surrendering to the Emperor. I want you to surrender to me.”
Domrius looked up at Articis, all mirth gone from his expression. “I intend to change the world, and I want your help to do it.”
At first Articis was taken aback at the Alquen commander’s words. Soon he cast his head downward in wonderment.
“To surrender to one man?” A soft voice finally broke the silence of the tent; “An era where the people rule themselves?”
Silence once again ruled the small space, until the sounds of laughter quickly replaced it.
“Ahhahaha!” The room shook with the Je commander’s joyful howling. “Ahaha! You indeed walk a dangerous path, in more ways than one! By surrendering to you, my people are considered as serving the Empire, while you can send us to fulfill your own objectives; I see. Interesting,”
Articis gave the mismatched-eyed commander a small bow. “I wish to see just how far that ambition of yours will carry you, as well as see such a world come to fruition. This Wandering Dragon shall heed your orders.”
Articis straightened himself, but before letting the other party reply he had one last question: “Just out of curiosity, most of the people on this side are subject to some kind of leadership. Once you free them of said dogmas, what shall you do when they wish to return to such leadership? After all, people will naturally drift to that which they are familiar with.”
Domrius waited patiently, allowing himself just a hint of a smile as the Je commander enjoyed himself. Looking down at the map as Articis asked his question, the Alquen commander was quiet for several moments. “Honestly, I don’t know.” He shrugged, looking back up at the other man. “It will be hard enough to bring about what I wish. I will focus upon the doing, and leave such future concerns for the time when it becomes necessary to address them.”
Tapping a finger against the map upon the table, Domrius smiled fractionally again. “I accept your surrender. The first thing I will require of you is a quantity of this blasting powder of yours…”
“Bomb huh?”
Articis smiled then gave a light shrug.
“That might not even be necessary. It seems you’re pretty well informed. Either you did your research quite well, or we had a spy in the alliance, which isn’t surprising. However,the only ones that knew how to get to your camp unnoticed by us would be my daughter and another girl by the name of Ishia.”
Articis put is right hand up to his chin as though he was pondering something.
“Interestingly enough we never did ask for the bombs we gave her back. If she really was the one that told you about them, I'm sure she wouldn't mind handing them over.” Articis instantly put his hand down and gave a small bow.
“No matter, I sure you’ll need more than those for whatever you have planned. I’ll have some prepared as soon as possible. Excuse me.”
With that Articis left the tent
Je in the next coming months would serve under Domrius, and in doing so, Alquen in turn. Although some of the Royal Council disagreed, with the Emperor's faction having won the civil war, before the events of Gripclaw, they had no way to oppose the Emperor, who agreed with Domrius’ terms. It would be deemed that Articis, Ytha and Rayna would stay with Domrius, as guest officers under him, to serve as a bridge between the two nations. A extension of alliance was also given to Zara as well, once it was learned that they too also served the Empire. Though, this was mostly done by a short silver-haired girl with a fancy hat.
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