Eastern Expansion

by Randi Darren

  Leila was hunched over it, her hands moving back and forth as she hummed and sang inaudibly.

  Vince could only watch. He truly had no aptitude for spellcasting, he was a battery at best, and an explosion at worst.

  Then the only piece of jewelry Leila wore exploded. Her most recent conduit had failed.

  “Send it!” shouted Leila, making a swiping motion with her hand even as the ring fell to bits in the grass.

  The Elf next to her made the same gesture, and the ball of lightning zipped up and over the mad press of bodies and violence.

  It arced through the air, spitting, hissing, crackling.

  Amazingly, everyone paused to watch the ball of electrical death sail through the air.

  Spinning crazily, it shifted as it went, at one moment looking like it would go over the wall, and the next into the dirt.

  As it passed over the wall it dropped right on top of the central gate.

  Bright white intense light blinded everyone.

  The boom of the explosion could be felt even from this distance.

  Throwing an arm across his eyes, Vince closed them tight against that flash of death.

  Waiting a handful of seconds, Vince opened his eyes again to see the damage.

  The gate was simply gone. The two fortified columns that flanked it were torn asunder. Half of the stones that they were made up of fractured, and the other half… somewhere else.

  Bits of stone and rubble began raining down from above.

  Looking to his people, he found Leila was collapsed on the ground. The Elves were all wavering drunkenly, as if they’d been on all night benders.

  With pre-existing orders, Frit’s people began scooping up the Elves and carrying them off back to the siege lines.

  Vince darted forward and grabbed up Leila. Spinning on his heel, he pressed her tight to his chest and made a straight sprint back towards the siege camp. His goal was her tent, and giving her time to recover.

  She’d told him in the past that when a conduit breaks, it would almost always create some backlash as the spell is severed.

  Looking over his shoulder, he was shocked to find that the entire force that Verix had launched was retreating back to their broken walls.

  Whatever price was paid on both sides was probably unpleasant, but they managed to hit the wall again.

  Let’s hope their pride doesn’t go before the fall, and they send someone over to talk.

  The next day, no one came.

  Nothing changed.

  Vince waited where the road from the main gate led into the siege camp.

  He’d even gone so far as to bring out a table with chairs for two. There would be no mistaking that this was a clear invitation to come and speak.

  His people whispered about it, that their King was giving them more respect than they deserved. That to keep him waiting like this was an insult given what they’d done to the walls of Verix.

  And no one came down from Verix.

  Sitting in his chair, Vince waited until even the faint light of sunset was gone. Then he ordered torches lit and he remained. He was determined to give them the entire day, to do all that he could to end this without making it a slaughter. To cut the butcher’s bill short.

  To give them a way out.

  And still, no one came.

  Vince did not leave his seat until the moon set, and the torches went out. Then, and only then, did the King of Yosemite retreat to his tent.

  The muttering was audible as he lay down. His people were mad that the people of Verix had kept him waiting for the better part of eighteen hours, and sent no one to speak with him.

  Closing his eyes, Vince dropped off sooner than he thought possible given the circumstances.

  Almost as quickly as he fell asleep, he was already being woken up.

  Glaring up at whoever it was, Vince caught the barest hint of light through the open flap of his tent.

  “What?” Vince grouched, staring at the shadowed form hovering over him.

  “Ratkin scouts coming,” Ramona said softly. “Thought you should be awake to receive them. There was some commotion last night in the city, just before the dawn.”

  “Mmm. Alright,” Vince said. Sliding out of his bedroll Vince stood up and rubbed at his face.

  “Give it two minutes and they’ll be here. Quick buggers,” Ramona said before leaving the tent.

  “Yeah. Thanks, Ramona. Appreciate it,” Vince said.

  Sighing, Vince set to getting into his armor.

  Another day of siege, or rushing into the teeth of the enemy.

  Roughly two minutes later, Vince made it out of his tent and was immediately intercepted by the aforementioned Ratkin.

  “King! King! We have news!” crowed the closest Ratkin.

  “Good. Let’s meet up with the general so she can hear it as you tell the story. That way you don’t repeat yourself,” Vince said.

  “General, good! We know where she is. Follow,” a different Ratkin said.

  Vince nodded his head and allowed them to lead on. The Ratkin scampered off, moving through the tents, various tables, and soldiers with ease.

  No sooner was Petra in sight than the Ratkin scampered ahead. With a practiced salute, they fell to attention. They stood stock still, waiting patiently for her attention.

  Petra was decorated in her armor, looking every bit the warrior general she was. She was currently in the middle of speaking with an officer.

  Felicity glanced at the Ratkin, then returned to her duties at Petra’s side, taking notes in her ledger.

  Petra finished with whatever order she was giving and turned to the Ratkin.

  “Report,” she commanded.

  The Ratkin looked over as one to make sure Vince was nearby, then one stepped forward.

  “A revolt! The citizens attacked and killed the entire chancellery,” said the Ratkin.

  They did what? And how did they succeed at that? The military would have crushed them.

  “The soldiers didn’t intervene?” Petra asked. Her tone of voice was curious. Vince could only imagine she had the same thoughts he did.

  “They left!” said a different Ratkin before the first could respond. “They left during the middle of a late night meeting and… they just left!”

  “They allowed it then. What does that mean exactly though. Are they now ruled by the army?” Petra mused, her head turning to look to the city.

  “A King!” said the first Ratkin. “A King leads them now.”

  “Huh?” Vince said articulately. “I didn’t even know they had a ruling family.”

  “Yes. They said they’re of the Elven royal bloodline from the old world,” said the second Ratkin.

  Petra and Vince both turned to look at Felicity.

  The Dark Elf seemed confused at the conversation, then turned her attention to Vince. “The Elves once were one people. More similar to how we are in Yosemite. We did indeed have a ruling family. All the family members died in a civil war. There were rumors a single survivor of a branch family lived, but we all believed they were rumors,” said Felicity.

  “It seems they weren’t rumors. Unless this person is simply claiming this heritage without being able to back it up,” Vince said, looking towards Verix.

  “Supposedly… supposedly all members of the family were very distinct. A number of royal heirlooms are unaccounted for as well. I… I’m sorry. I don’t know very much. Stories from the old world never interested me so I didn’t pay them much attention,” Felicity apologized.

  “No. No, no. Not something to be apologetic for. There was no way you could have suspected something like this. Well, I suppose all we c—” Vince paused midsentence as several people began clambering over the shattered gates of Verix.

  Two were men, and one was a young woman.

  “I need a table and four chairs, as well as breakfast suitable for important guests,” Vince said. Not waiting a second longer, he turned and jogged back to his tent to change into something mor
e welcoming.

  Maybe we can end this after all.

  Only five minutes later and Vince had changed his clothes. He’d made it to stand beside his table with plenty of time before his guests arrived.

  Vince truly hoped they were representatives of this new royal family. With any luck they might be willing to surrender and let this slaughter end.

  Support staff laid out a meal that looked rather extravagant for a siege camp, and had places for four.

  As they got closer, Vince found himself inspect the trio intently. Even going so far as seeing if he could glean anything from their minds.

  Unfortunately their thoughts were guarded, and locked up tight.

  Either news of his ability had spread, or they were simply paranoid about the possibility. Especially since it seemed Dragons could do the same.

  The two men were dissimilar. One was in his elder years, and the other middle age. They were both dressed in rich clothes and carried themselves with a dignified air, but not an arrogant one.

  Taking the lead was the middle-aged man who seemed as if stamped from the generic Elven template. There was nothing unique about him.

  On the other hand, the older man one step behind was handsome despite his age. He radiated a charm and leadership that people had to practice to attain. He didn’t look like a normal Elf either. His skin tone was more that of a Wood Elf, and the coloring of his eyes and hair were that of a High Elf.

  Behind those two was the woman. She didn’t look older than twenty. She was captivating and had the Elven build that they all seemed predisposed to.

  That was where her similarities to Elves ended though. She was pretty in a way he’d never seen in an Elf. Her features were delicate and warm, while clearly a blend of all three races. She seemed to toe the line as a true Elven hybrid.

  Her hair was a dark blonde with red streaks and her eyes a bright blue. She was dressed in a dress that reached her ankles, though her feet were intelligently in traveling boots.

  Fighting back a smirk at the thought of the woman crawling over the broken rubble of the wall, Vince waited.

  Soon they were standing before him, weaponless and clearly unsure of how to proceed.

  So he’d do it for them.

  “I’m Vince. King of Yosemite,” he said, not beating around the bush. “I’m here because Verix attacked my caravans while not in a state of war. I’ve come to put paid the price of that, and to make sure it never happens again. Who might you three be?”

  The middle-aged man took two step forwards and bowed at the waist. “Your highness, may I present King Falaein and his daughter, Princess Yaris,” said the man, bowing low.

  Vince quirked his eyebrow at that, but then bowed respectfully to King Falaein, and then to his daughter.

  “To what do I owe the pleasure?” Vince asked. There was no reason to draw this out. Either they were here to surrender or not.

  He couldn’t afford to leave an enemy at his back. Not with the Empire and the Tri-lliance on his doorstep in two directions.

  Gesturing to the table, Vince took his seat and began eating from his tray.

  “Please, eat,” he said, indicating the food.

  Adjusting his clothes, Falaein took a seat and immediately began filling his plate.

  “I appreciate the hospitality… may I call you Vince?” Falaein asked, looking up from under bushy white eyebrows.

  “I’d prefer it. I may be a king now, but I was only a Ranger until recently.”

  Falaein nodded his head at that. “Falaein will do for myself.

  “Vince, thank you for the hospitality,” continued Falaein. Beside him, the unnamed man and the princess both sat down in seats.

  “Of course,” Vince said.

  “As I’m sure your spies have told you, there’s been a change in leadership within Verix. The council is dead, and I now rule in their stead,” Falaein admitted.

  “Ok,” Vince said simply. There wasn’t much he could say or do with that.

  “I want to discuss how we can come to an equitable peace, so that we can both let this situation lie,” Falaein said. Carefully carving out a section of smoked ham, the king ate politely, his eyes fastened on Vince.

  “I’ll be honest with you, that’s not something I can agree to. Any type of peace that leaves Verix in a position where it can become an enemy again in the future isn’t something that can be allowed. You’ll forgive me, but it just… isn’t prudent after what happened previously.

  “And while I understand that wasn’t your government, there is no guarantee it wouldn’t return after I left. My understanding is that the army allowed your coup. They could just as easily decide tomorrow you’re not needed,” Vince said bluntly.

  The middle-aged man’s face turned red, taking Vince’s words as an insult. Princess Yaris’ lips pressed together into a thin line but she managed her response much more professionally.

  King Falaein looked unfazed at his response.

  If anything, he looked as if he were expecting it.

  “I suppose that’s where we come to an impasse then. I can’t surrender Verix to you, and you can’t let it remain. It seems we’re going to be forced down an inexorable path of death,” King Falaein said as he maneuvered a strawberry into his mouth.

  I suppose that’s the reality of it. They want their independence, and I want them squished. It’ll have to go down to the final death throes for them to truly surrender.

  Their pride will truly go before the fall.

  Resigning himself to it, Vince checked a sigh and began mentally making plans to tear down the entire outer wall.

  If he was going to be forced to take a city of the dead, he might as well make it as easy as possible for his troops.

  He could rebuild the walls later. Citizens would be the hard part.

  “I wonder,” said the princess in a soft voice.

  Both kings and the unnamed man turned to stare at the young woman.

  “I wonder if we might be able to achieve both goals,” she said.

  “I’m more than willing to listen to any idea you may have,” Vince said and sincerely meant it. He’d rather not slaughter a city, but he’d be damned if he left them as they were.

  “You say that now… but… do you have vassals beneath you?” she asked.

  “I do. I currently have several dukes. Though they in turn have vassals beneath them,” Vince said. Curious, he wondered where she was going with this line of questioning.

  “What if my father were to pass on his titles to me, serve as a Ducal lord to you, and you were to marry me, allowing me to become your queen,” said the princess.

  Vince said nothing, shocked.

  The Princess took his silence as interested and leaned towards him.

  “This would create a combined kingdom. We could simply call it Yosemite for simplicity’s sake. Though Verix would be a Ducal capital and also receive a some dowry benefits for being the home of your queen.

  “Through our children, both our royal titles would pass on. The next for the throne becoming both prince or princess to the united kingdom of Yosemite, and the Queendom of the Elves,” explained the princess.

  The king’s face had gone an ashen white at the suggestion. It was the only indicator at all that he hadn’t heard this plan before they’d come out here.

  Vince opened his mouth and closed it again.

  His mind span and swum with what she’d offered up. Which was herself, really.

  Herself as a royal hostage so that Verix could be independent, and yet not at the same time.

  It nearly alleviated all of the sticking points both men had with the situation.

  But it didn’t solve them either.

  Verix would remain able to break free again.

  Yet it also would no longer be a kingdom or independent.

  Neither man was getting what they wanted, but it allowed for a compromise.

  Vince slowly shook his head with a frown.

  “I confess, I already ha
ve a number of women who share my bed. Quite a few in fact. I already have children with a number of them,” Vince admitted. There was no point in belaboring this.

  “Yet none are your queen, are they,” said the princess with a wolf-like grin.

  “Ah… no. None of them have been crowned, I suppose,” Vince agreed.

  “Then there we are. I shall be your queen. I’ll not disallow you to have your concubines. So long as you visit our bedchamber and work to give me a child. I would agree to that, and foreswear having any lovers other than you.”

  And like that, she brushed away his concerns as if they never existed.

  Vince couldn’t shake the feeling that this was all an elaborate set up by someone, but he couldn’t figure out who.

  Would Fes and the others care? Would they tell me to reject this deal? Probably not.

  Fes would tell me she’s unique, powerful, and gives us leverage. To claim her and make her mine for the sake of bolstering the strength of the kingdom.

  The rest would follow her lead… but is it worth it?

  It’d spare so many lives on both sides. We’d have to commit to helping them rebuild and reassert control, build a garrison, set up infrastructure, give them a codex, get roads planned out.

  Yet it was all worth it if he could spare the lives of his soldiers.

  “I agree,” Falaein said after a moment. “So long as no other has a higher rank than I, other than you, Vince, then I agree.”

  Sam appeared out of nowhere and sat on his shoulder. She leaned in close and pressed her face into his ear.

  “Your general and Fes want you to accept the deal,” Sam whispered. “They believe it to be the best option available so far.”

  Nodding his head, Vince reached up and gave the Fae a careful pat.

  “I …accept,” Vince said with tired acceptance.

  “Then it’s done. We’ll have the wedding ceremony today, and reconstruction can start tomorrow,” the princess said, a smile curving her lips. “After that, we can return to your capital, and I can begin learning of our lands.”

  Without another word, she happily filled her plate and began to visibly enjoy her breakfast as if nothing had just happened at all.

  Vince and Falaein stared at each for a long moment, before the older man shrugged his shoulders.