“I hope you don’t mind if Jonathan joins us. It is one of his days away from schooling, and he was insistent he meet his big sister’s new girlfriend,” Kremdol said, hoisting the young Alfhindur on his lap.

Jonathan, Kat’s younger brother, looked up at Ann with a face of wonder. Ann wouldn’t dare guessing his age, since Alfhindur aged slowly, but she put him as young as elementary school age. Maybe around second grade? He had curly brown hair and dark brown eyes with hints of blue, like gemstones scattered throughout. He was thin, and a little unbalanced, as most children his age would be. Dressed in a crisp white shirt with golden embroidery of the royal family’s crest and decoration, he cut a silly figure sitting on his father’s lap.

“Miss, you look weird,” Jonathan said.

“Manners, Jonathan,” Kremdol chided him gently.

Ann gave the boy a sharp toothed grin. “Believe me, I’m weirder.”

“Woaaaah,” Jonathan gasped. “Teacher said Vulhardrin only have two animal parts. You have so many!”

“Well, that’s because I’m a special one. No one else is like me,” Ann explained. “Not in the whole wide world.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

“I would refrain from saying why, Annita,” Kremdol cut in. “You know children and their penchant for saying the most sensitive things at the worst times.”

“Oh, yeah, totally,” Ann nodded quickly. “But yeah. I’ve got the teeth, ears, my tail and paws, and these,” Ann said, holding out her hands and extending her claws. “Even have some fur going down my back.”

“That’s so cool!” Jonathan exclaimed, bouncing happily on his dad’s lap. “Could I touch them?”

“Jonathan!” Kremdol said sternly.

“It’s fine. Make you a deal, kiddo. You keep quiet while your dad and I talk about some stuff, and I’ll let you touch it all you want while we talk. Not the teeth, and careful with my ears. They’re ticklish.” Thɪs chapter is updated by NoveI[F]ire.net

“Deal!” Jonathan agreed instantly, then hopped off Kremdol’s lap as Ann moved to sit on the floor.

“You are good with children,” Kremdol said, a smile spreading over his face as Jonathan gently reached out and started petting Ann’s tail.

“Doesn’t take much,” Ann shrugged. “Best I figure, you treat them like real people and they’ll respect that. Sure, you can be goofy with them too, but don’t belittle them. How old is he, by the way?”

“Twenty two,” Jonathan said as he picked through her furry bushel.

“Shit, almost as old as I am,” Ann chuckled.

“How old are you, Miss Annita?”

“Twenty three, but also a lot older. Don’t worry about it. Remember our deal now, alright?”

“Ok,” Jonathan said and got back to investigating her fluffiness.

Kremdol was watching them intently, but his body language relaxed as Jonathan was distracted. “Yes. The reason you do not see Jonathan more at breakfasts or the occasional dinners you attend is because of his schooling. He attends a boarding school in Indelholm with other children of nobility and the upper ranks of society.”

“Not my place to comment, really, but don’t you think that’s a little restricted?”

“You and Orlana share that concern. We have plenty of plans to foster understanding of the less fortunate. This conversation, however, is not about his schooling. As distractible as my daughter, no wonder you two get along. Today our discussion will centre around current events, histories, and things your peers may speak about during the ball Junia has organised.”

“I’ve been working with Ilana on the household politic stuff,” Ann nodded. “Figured I’d be the centre of attention here, so I better know my shit.”

“Indeed, but your story of being from the far north will excuse some ignorance. Just because you have an excuse doesn’t mean, however, that you should be ignorant in totality. Now, let’s get started on the world. This continent is really what will be relevant. How much do you already know?”

“Well, we’re where Canada used to be, just east of where the Rockies were. There should be significant amounts of land to the east of us and a good amount to the west. From what I’ve heard, there are tribes and other stuff to the south, and trade comes from every direction but the west. West is where the giant Seed Belt is, and past that the… uh…”

“Bortislav Empire, yes. A vague summary, but there is plenty to work with here. Please interrupt me at any time with questions. I want this to be as informative as possible.”

“Gotcha,” Ann nodded as Jonathan started messing with one of her ears. The sensitive thing flicked out of his hand and he laughed, trying to catch it. Thankfully, he was gentle as he did.

“Well, let us get the worst portion of this discussion out of the way. The Bortislav Empire,” Kremdol sighed.

“They’re the human supremacist country, right?” Ann asked.

“Yes. I guess Katlyn filled you in on their traditions?”

“A bit. Cropping and mutilating any race that isn’t human. Hate Alfhindur more than the rest because they’re almost human. Sound like real assholes.”

“For the most part, yes. Their leadership and aristocracy are rife with old traditions that speak to the superiority of humans over all others. I want to make it clear that it is not unanimous. There are parties involved that are sympathetic to the other races, but the supremacists hold unflinching power over the empire. Without those kind voices, the Alfhindur would not be a part of Korvas, and remain slaves to this day.”

“Yeah, Kat explained as much,” Ann nodded. “They got you all through the Belt, and the Bultrong here took you in.”

“Correct. Well, there have been rumblings on that front lately. The Empire is always making threats, but there has been increasing sabre rattling as of late. We had a skirmish with their forces a few weeks back. A minor one, all things considered, but they are making moves. Intelligence says they are working on something, but have not been able to determine what.”

“Question!” Ann interrupted. “What’s their whole place like? I mean, where we are, it’s a form of feudalism, and the architecture and weaponry aside from the guns is pretty familiar to me, but what about Bortislav? Do they have the same style?”

“No. This is honestly a better discussion to have with my wife, but I will do my best. Their magic is focused on machinery. Advancements in the field of enchanting far outstrip ours, to an embarrassing degree. We have grand works that do much to protect us on the large scale, but Bortislav has walking machines that fire lightning which any soldier can pilot with training. Massive machines that fire arcane projectiles and other equipment elevate their standard forces.”

“Kinda weird that you all are so outstripped by them,” Ann said, thinking. “Their security’s that good?”

“That, coupled with the fact it is hard to get information back through the Belt, and all of their equipment is designed to self destruct should the user die. The Empire is fiercely protective of the advantage this technology provides them. This is not to say that their individuals are weak. They have the same Paths and Skills any other denizen of this world can possess. It is just amplified by their tools.”

“Gotcha. Magitech stuff is interesting. We had stories and books that had similar stuff. Giant machines powered by magic engines. Sounds like they’re on their way to making something like that.”

“A concerning prospect, but not one we cannot handle. While they rely on their machines, our soldiers are better trained individually. Should we come to serious blows, I would like to think that Korvas would be the victor. Orlana would have a better perspective on this. If you would like to know more, ask her. Now, they have intelligence the same as ours. The Inquisition is our knife in the dark to keep them at bay. Spies focused on counterintelligence formed from some of the best in the kingdom. They are a controversial group, but I assure you they operate with strict oversight, no matter the rumours you may hear. Rumours such as a shadow organisation disappearing random citizens, them taking out political dissidents, the list goes on.”

“Turning the frogs gay,” Ann laughed under her breath. “Yeah, no, that makes sense. If some organisation has to work in secrecy, people are going to be suspicious. That’s just how it goes. The nation next to us had a pretty famous one in my time. All sorts of conspiracies, and the crazy part of it was, a good amount of them were true. So, yeah, I’m pretty familiar with the concept and the rep that goes with it.”

“Wonderful, that eliminates the need to go further into that. Frankly, you do not have the qualifications to know more.” 

“Yeah, I’m just Kat’s girlfriend,” Ann shrugged. “Don’t expect to know everything.”

“A good attitude,” Kremdol nodded. “Since Ilana is handling your education regarding internal politics and houses, let us keep our focus on international topics.

“We can start to the south with the Plains of Eritas. They are a loose nation, mostly consisting of a few central tribes, and several satellite nomadic societies that occupy the region. They gather every two decades to decide on a new leader, their Chief, and share industry, trade, and anything else.”

“Interesting. Guess that’s what’s become of the US,” Ann mumbled. “How far south on the map does the Bortislav Empire go?”

“As far south as it can until the Seed Belt meets the sea. It is a long, narrow nation. Eritas is much wider and spacious. As a nation of travellers, their attitudes toward foreigners are welcoming unless they are in a time of civil war. This happens more often than one might think, but rarely causes major damage to the structure of the nation. One tribe will take offence to something another tribe does, they go to war, and the Chief either steps in or lets them resolve it on their own. They have several large settlements, but their capital is located to the far south and east of Korvas.  Travel there would take about a month or longer, depending on interference or events along the way. I’ve had the privilege of visiting a few times in my life. It is a sprawling bazaar gathered around a massive plateau. Bright tents and canvas strips stream from the sides of the plateau, covering the city in a fanciful shifting mirage of colour. I highly recommend visiting.”

“Sounds really different from here,” Ann said. “Everything I’ve seen here is so fortified, or can be fortified if you need it.”

“By design. Remember, we are a nation with an unusual amount of Seeds in high density. When the Swarm arrives, it hits us harder than most, so our nation is designed to withstand these trials. From the mountain cave of Korvas, with the Great Doors, to the graven walls of Graven Keep, and the floating districts of Indelholm, we prepare for these hard times. Thalten is, sadly, one of our least fortified areas. Something Orlana and I have been seeking to remedy. Unfortunately, the populace is resistant to large walled cities, but we believe a compromise has been found.”

“Wait, so they don’t want to be safer during a flood of Warped?”

“They do, but the farmers and hunters value their freedom as well. The proposal of this solution is actually what Junia was working on while she was in the area.”

“So, you gonna tease me with what this solution is?” Ann asked.

“Hardly,” Kremdol chuckled as Jonathan got bored with Ann’s ears and tail and started messing with her paws. “We have proposed, and agreed to, a series of underground caverns and tunnels set up beneath Thalten proper, and radiating out to several of the larger settlements. It will be a titanic work, but one we hope will save countless lives in case the defences in place fail.”

“How likely are the defences to fall?” Ann asked.

“That would depend on the intensity of the Swarm. We have had records of instances where the influx of Warped is minor, but also records that described a Swarm so unending that the fields were blackened, and you couldn’t touch stone without digging through Warped corruption.”

“That sounds like hell,” Ann shuddered.

“A Hell on our own world,” Kremdol nodded. “Anyway, we got sidetracked. Eritas has been a long standing friend to Korvas, and both our peoples have benefited from the relationship. Trade, however, is slowing as of late. All nations brace for the coming Swarm, and they are no different. I would expect in the next year for our contact to be cut off for however long the Swarm lasts.”

“How long can one last?” Ann asked, flexing her toes to show Jonathan her claws.

“Months to years,” Kremdol said darkly. “We never know. The longest recorded was over a decade. That was a dark time. Our kingdom and anyone else we know of were set back decades by that Swarm. Recovery was extended.”

“I can’t even imagine.”

“This is a serious time, but we must keep friends close. If we happen to have a lighter Swarm, we regularly send troops to help Eritas when requested. Now, to the east. There is an expanse we call the Eastern Reaches. Not a very creative name, I am aware. They are a tundra that is largely uninhabited aside from Warped and other creatures. Most of it is unmapped, and any pockets of life are hardier than most. If I were to concoct your backstory to cover for your anachronistic origins, I would have chosen the Reaches as your birthplace. While the land is hostile, in the summers it is startlingly beautiful. The snow and ice melt away into mountains and steppes covered in wildflowers and dense forests. It is not suitable for farming, sadly, otherwise we would have claimed it long ago. Something happened in the Great Wars of the Return that ruined the land, and any attempts to cultivate it are violently rebuffed. Scholars say it is a curse, while others believe it a warding on the land to keep it free. No one knows for sure.”

“By creatures, would dragons be out there, by any chance?” Ann asked.

“We have received reports of a few, yes. They tend to be solitary creatures and keep wide territories. If you should wish to visit one, that would be the place.”

“Gotcha,” Ann said, making a mental note to propose a trip to Kat. “So, does that go all the way to the ocean?”

“No, not quite. Further east along the coast is territory controlled by the Vultian Consortium. Fascinating people. Their country is run more like a business than a nation. Their Executive is the singular leader, backed up by a ring of delegates titled The Board. Everything in this nation is run by the Contract, and the Contract is king. If you sign a contract with a Vultian, honour it to the full extent. Fail to do so, and they will come to collect with interest. Not just those you owe, but the rest of the nation is authorised to collect on their behalf. Strict is the word I would use to best describe their culture. Not to say that they are unfriendly. Sure, they are less open than Eritas, but they are a hub of trade and money flows through them constantly. I am told, by the way, that the names of their leaders’ positions is something passed down from your time. Is that correct?”

“Yeah,” Ann confirmed. “On a scale of saint to scumbag, how would you rate them as people?”

Kremdol took a moment, thinking the question over. “A mixed bag. The executive is generally well liked, but not exactly the sharpest man. The Board can be all over the place, but the one thing that unifies them is money.”

“Sounds about right for their titles, then,” Ann nodded. “I was not a fan of how my versions of those titles ran things. It was always more money for less giving a shit about the people working for them. Can’t believe they made a nation out of it. Well, no, I totally can, just hate it.”

Kremdol nodded, though Ann saw a silent question in his eyes.

“Basically, nations got all messed up, and companies became mini royalty and nobility. It was a massive mess, and they could overshadow actual governments if they wanted.”

“Ah, money is always relevant in politics. That is the way of things unless you take money out of everyone’s hands. I am afraid I’ve considered the possibility as a hypothetical, but have never found a real way forward.”

“Yeah. Well, anything else you wanted to talk to me about?”

“One last thing, yes. Katlyn,” Kremdol said, his voice growing stern. “You are not pushing her to do things she does not want to, correct?”

Ann felt the blush hit her cheeks. How much did he know? Better to keep things private. “Um, no? We kinda talk everything over before things happen. If we’re doing something, it’s because we both want to.”

Kremdol glared at her, eyes probing her expression for hints of a lie. Ann tried to remain still, but started to fidget under the intensity.

“Good,” Kremdol nodded after a minute. “I love my daughters, and would not see any of them hurt, especially by someone who they hold close. Sometimes I worry about Katlyn. She has such a good heart that I fear she gets into situations beyond her capabilities. Do not abandon her when she needs you. And she will need you. Maybe not soon, but there will come a time. That is the way of life.”

“I promise,” Ann nodded. She grabbed Jonathan, who’d gotten squirrelly, and pulled him into her lap, extending her claws for him to inspect.

“So, what are your plans for the future? Not necessarily revolving around Katlyn, but I would be put out not to hear those plans as well.”

“There’s a lot, and so little at the same time,” Ann sighed. “Big picture? I want to figure out this whole Warping thing. I have absolutely no clue what I’m doing on that front, but Orenous seems to think I’m going in the right direction, clearing Seeds. Right now, I’ll do that until she says otherwise. For Kat? Well, we’re still really early in this relationship, but I hope it goes well. I hope to Orenous herself that someday I can more officially call her mine. I’m scared that I won’t see that day. Kinda freaks me out when I think about it.”

“Good. That means you love her,” Kremdol nodded. “Is it the same about Rosalyn?”

“Yeah. Definitely. Sorry to drag Kat into this whole weird relationship.”

“It’s been an interesting topic, for certain, but you three have handled it well enough. I see no issues as long as all of you are happy. To be truthful, the fear you feel reassures me more than your words.”

The king stood, walking over, then pulled Jonathan away, holding him easily in his arms. “Did you have fun with your sister’s girlfriend?”

“I did!” Jonathan giggled. “Her ears are funny.”

“Hey, they heard that,” Ann teased, flattening her ears as she stood.

“Sorry!” the boy squeaked.

“It’s a joke,” Ann laughed, tousling his hair. “Was that all, sir?”

“Yes, that is all for now. I will have more documentation sent along for you to study. We can’t have the princess consort be uneducated for her first ball.”

“No, we can’t,” Ann muttered under her breath as Kremdol swept away into another room with a wave.