Chapter 50 – Invitation
After yesterday's troubled day, Kaelen had to focus at night to speed up the work and not leave the bite marks evident. However, the real problem came next: every following day, Valéria came to train with him and Akra.
The official pretext was to accompany her fiancé, but the harsh reality was to keep her eyes on him to prevent him from looking at any other female — a childish behavior, but potentially dangerous to his health and the integrity of his skin.
Ten days passed until Valéria appeared with the news that he needed to go to the castle, as her father wanted to talk. This time, she didn't come in the morning to stay until late afternoon; she came to pick him up and take him directly to her father's castle.
It wasn't exactly a grandiose castle, looking more like a fortified manor with two guard towers and a large troop training area, which was the exact impression Kaelen had as he approached. This time he didn't bring anyone from his retinue, going only him and Valéria.
Upon arriving, the tiger-type heteromorphic guards immediately greeted Valéria, but gave Kaelen a dirty look with a deep air of distrust and nonconformity. It didn't take them long to enter, with Valéria pulling him by the hand. Her father was in his office when she knocked on the door and the two entered.
— Good morning, Lord Varian — greeted Kaelen.
Varian replied with a curt nod: — Good morning, boy.
The two sat on what looked like a very rustic sofa, made entirely of heavy wood and adorned with long pillows. Valéria immediately made a point of sitting right next to him.
— What do you need from me for this hasty summons? — asked Kaelen, raising an eyebrow.
— Listen well, boy — Varian began, opening a detailed leather map on the room's table and pinning a bronze marker on top of the Tigers' mark. — Generating gold on the farm is excellent, but our House's name needs to overflow with usefulness throughout the kingdom if we want to face the crown of Eudoria and catch the attention of the heteromorph royalty, the dragonoids. Therefore, you will take your retinue and make a diplomatic journey along the borders. I have three crucial missions for you to solve.
Varian dragged the marker to the west, entering the deep shadows of the mountain range:
First Stop: House Serpentis (The Lamias — 18 days to the west)
The Problem: Their underground alchemical laboratories and deep greenhouses are on the verge of a catastrophic collapse. The main pressure alembic suffered severe chemical contamination, and worst of all: the underground heat and pressure have skyrocketed to insane levels, threatening to bury their entire clan in an explosion of rock and fire.
Your mission: Go there, use your relief valves, and readjust the heat circulation of that underground furnace before everything explodes. But there is a curious detail... the real cause of this instability is not a natural flaw in the mountain, but a colossal fire turtle that chose the exact spot to make its nest and hatch its eggs.
Varian moved the marker to the northwest, pointing to the vast expanses of tall grass:
Second Stop: House Hippos (The Centaurs — 13 days northwest of Tigers / right after the lamias)
The Problem: You will go straight up to the centaur prairies. Their challenge is not underground, but on the surface. They have excessively torrential rivers and pastures that sometimes flood during high water and sometimes dry up during droughts, besides needing a much more durable system for tanning heavy leathers and saddlery for the mobile cavalry.
Your mission: Design floodgates and water catchment channels on the banks of the prairie rivers. Show those proud centaurs that you are not just brains.
Finally, Varian dragged the marker to the farthest point on the map, crossing the inhospitable northern swamps:
Third Stop: House Citalam (The Lizardmen / Scaly Ones — 16 days to the northwest, at the edge of the swamp)
The Problem: Lastly, and quite far from here, lies the Basalt City of the scaly ones. That place is an inferno of toxic vapors, hot swamps, and thermal waters that destroy any common metal, making the cultivation of food in the hot waters enormously difficult.
Your mission: Viscount Ssiz Citalam is charging absurd taxes on our routes because the city is lacking food. You will enter that suffocating swamp to help with their food production problem; thus, Citalam will be forced to cut taxes and sign our perpetual commercial truce.
Varian leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms with a satisfied smile and an astute gleam in his eyes: — Do this, bring the signed agreements, and if everything goes correctly, we might have an audience with the heteromorph royalty, this being the first step for you to be able to return.
Kaelen faced his father-in-law, crossing his arms with firmness and discontent: — I will have two problems then. Why would the heteromorph royalty pay attention to me? What do I gain from this? Are you going to leave me in the dark just like my father? I will charge more for this trip then! And, by the way, I can even design some things to help them... but who is going to build it? Have you thought about that?
Varian let out a deep laugh and gestured, amused by the audacity: — Alright, boy. You spoke of creating things, but not of building; don't worry about that. When you arrive in each city, talk to the leaders there: our agreement obliges them to provide all the necessary material and manpower to help you. Now, as for the cost, don't be stingy. After all, you have to show the dowry for your bride, right? What you are doing is exactly that; for this reason, Valéria will go with you.
Kaelen pondered for a moment, taking a deep breath before giving in: — Ok, you got me... Alright, I'll do it, but I want to make it very clear: any maintenance on their part will have to consult my specialists here in the city, and all the income from what I create will be counted as the dowry. Do we have a deal?
Varian laughed again, extending his calloused hand to seal the deal: — Deal... But answering your first question about the royalty... You are from a non-heteromorphic race and you need their approval to marry one, especially because we are the leaders of this city. If they don't give the go-ahead for the Coming of Age Trial that all males take, you won't be able to marry, and we will have absolutely no support to go against the crown.
Valéria immediately intervened, with a pleading tone: — Please, Kaelen, it's very important!
— No problem, Valéria. I'll play along. So prepare at least the food, the clothes, and whatever else you need for yourself; I will take care of the rest.
At that exact moment, Valéria gave a leap of pure joy and hugged Kaelen very tightly, pressing her body against his with so much force that it knocked the wind out of him.
Varian widened his eyes, startled: — Daughter, like that you're going to kill the boy before he reaches adulthood!
Kaelen tried to struggle and catch his breath, completely suffocated: — Valéria, please... Puff... Let me go... You're going to suffocate me... It's soft, but this is potentially dangerous... Poof... Puff!
Valéria suddenly let him go, her face completely flushed with embarrassment: — I'll go pack my things right now! We leave tomorrow, get ready!
She ran out of the room, overflowing with happiness. Kaelen let out a long sigh and looked at the lord: — Wouldn't it be good for you to help your daughter buy some kind of armor or protective clothing, as well as a magic bag? I think she's going to need it on the road.
Varian gave a muffled and nostalgic laugh: — You are very careful with her... Don't worry, she has been training a lot in recent years just to keep up with you, you know... She won't let you go so easily, and it reminds me of her mother when she was young.
— Did her mother bite too?
— Oh, no. She didn't just bite... Sometimes she was very energetic, enough to almost break my spine or my arm... That's why, boy, I warn you: don't make them nervous.
— Noted, I will try not to make her nervous. After all, my neck and arm still throb just remembering it. Now I'm going back, I need to arrange a few things for the trip.
— Good luck, boy.
Then, Kaelen left Varian's room and met Natreia right in the middle of the corridor: — Good morning, my lady.
— Good morning — Natreia replied, continuing to walk calmly until she reached the door of Varian's room. She opened it and said: — Good morning, husband. I met Kaelen leaving... Did you tell him about his father's message?
— No. I told him to go ahead and advance our daughter's dowry. For now, it's best he doesn't know how Eudoria is catching fire because of his inventions. Especially due to the spies from other houses and kingdoms: there is already news that they know of the existence of the new ship, although they have no idea how it will be built. Even so, this has generated a wave of fear and gigantic expectation about who will master this technology.
Natreia crossed her arms, showing deep concern: — You know that princess has a high chance of coming here after him, don't you?
— Yes, I know. But, if I'm right, by the time he returns, she should already be gone. Let us just pray to the great dragon god that their paths do not cross.
— I hope so, I hope so... But, if that girl really comes after him, maybe we'll have to ask the royalty for help, and that will be costly.
— That is why I am sending him, with the excuse of the coming-of-age test. The royal capital has been experiencing some health and sanitation problems; depending on what this boy does, we might even earn a title for our House.
Natreia looked at him with slight disdain: — At the end of the day, you are also taking advantage of him... You bad tiger.
Varian shrugged, laughing: — Am I a merchant or not?
— When the boy finds out, he's going to want to skin you alive.
— By the time everything is settled, Valéria will calm him down.
Natreia sighed deeply, looking out the window at the courtyard where she had met Kaelen moments before: — I really feel sorry for the boy...
Right after leaving the castle, Kaelen walked back to the commercial part of the city. It took about twenty minutes to arrive, as he already had an entire route in mind: he needed to speak with all the specialists and blacksmiths, since he would be away for at least sixty to ninety days minimum. The whole journey under the sun made him miss lunch, arriving home only at three in the afternoon, starving. Thys promptly brought him the plate that she had kept properly warmed.
Gathering everyone in the living room of the house, Kaelen announced the news: — I want to let everyone know that we will be going on a long trip. The big problem is that we will need someone trustworthy here to take care of the vegetable garden and the house. I want to know from you guys... Who wants to come with me? Although I would like to take everyone, someone needs to stay to watch over everything. I'll explain the stops and what we'll face on the road.
Akra was the first to step forward, firm and resolute: — I'm going with the master wherever he goes!
Miri adjusted the papers she carried with her: — Sir, although I would like to stay in comfort, I see that you will need someone to draft and organize the agreements in the cities.
— Yes, Miri. If you go, I will be much more at ease to negotiate with the leaders of each clan.
— Then leave it to me, sir, I'll go pack my things right now.
Kaelen looked to the other side of the room: — And you, Eradan? I know you are afraid of long roads, but we will go to different places to solve serious food problems in the cities; if you go, you will help the retinue a lot.
Eradan swallowed hard, fidgeting with his hands nervously: — Sir, I would really like to stay, I was even thinking about it... But, seeing everyone talking about going, I don't think it's right on my part to stay, although I am still very afraid — he murmured this last part very softly, almost inaudibly.
— We are all agreed and decided then. Thys, I ask you to take care of the house with affection. I've already spoken to the neighboring farmer, he will come here to tend the garden while I'm away, and might even send a helper. I will leave fifty gold coins with you, and don't forget: if you need an extra helper or money for emergencies, just go to the merchant guild, they will help you or give you money from my share. As a last resort, hire a trustworthy adventurer to watch the farm.
Thys smiled with utter tranquility: — Don't worry, young master, everything will be in perfect order when you return.
— Thank you, Thys...
And so the small retinue began to pack their bags, equipment, and tools, preparing to leave right at dawn the next day for the great journey into the borders.
