CHAPTER 426: Plotting with Friends

Sadly I didn't have enough time after our lesson for a private conversation with Lady Nanami but she assured me we would be able to talk another time. In the evening I met my friends in the mess hall for dinner.

"Lady Nanami is back!" I said, as I sat down next to Helena. Then I shuddered. "You went for the chicken with mushroom sauce…"

"Beats the lentil stew." She replied. "So, what's that about Nanami? Did you hear anything about your past?"

"What's that about your past?" Cassie asked as she arrived with Skadi.

"Nanami is back but she hasn't said anything yet. She is giving necromancy lessons though. There should be a chance to talk to her privately since she is staying in Lupos for a while." I said.

"Who is staying in Lupos? Is there some juicy gossip?" Valeria asked as she took a seat next to Skadi.

"It's about Koyuki's past. Have you heard about Lady Nanami?" Skadi asked.

"Is she the other dark foxkin? There are already rumours…" Valeria said.

"She is from Kitara and is here as a guest lecturer. I am hoping that she knows something about my past. I met her last year and she wanted to look into my circumstances." I explained.

"Considering your power, I assume she wants to recruit you. Actually, adopting you, or claiming you are a relative, would make sense." Valeria said.

"What?" I asked.

"Well, what if she told you you were cousins? Or what if she told you you were a noble and they would offer you a title? Would you move to Kitara?" Valeria asked.

I shook my head. "Of course not. I have friends here and I have Helena. I would never abandon her."

"My father gave me to her for an army. Koyuki wouldn't break such a business deal." Helena teased.

I sighed. "Besides, I am bound to serve in the army anyway. It was a condition for my freedom. Actually, if they claimed I am some foreign noble I have no idea how it would work."

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"You enemies would claim you are compromised and your allies would claim you have no real connection and grew up here so you are a part of Nethena. Actually, if you marry Helena it would strengthen your ties to our nation." Valeria said.

Helena grinned.

"Lady Nanami could tell me the truth, if she even tells me anything." I pointed out.

"Of course she could and I hope she will, but you have to remember that foreign nobles are nobles. They will try to use this to their benefit. Your power is impressive enough that they will want to recruit you, or get rid of you if they consider you a threat. Your actual family ties could make you friends and enemies." Valeria pointed out.

I sighed. "I just want to know who I am, not more politics…"

Helena patted me on the back. "You are Koyuki, an amazing necromancer and the person I love." Then she leaned closer and gave me a brief kiss.

"Eww, mushrooms." I complained.

Helena laughed.

"I wish I had a relationship like you. I can't even gossip about boys with you since you are all into girls!" Valeria said. "Then again, I need to find someone who will benefit my duchy anyway."

"Or you bribe Koyuki with corpses and get yourself an undead army too." Helena suggested. "Then you can marry for love."

"I think I am already working on that." Valeria replied.

"You need to bribe the cats, they are really in charge." Rose said.

"Meow." Nyx agreed.

"Speaking of bribes, perhaps we could encourage Kotara to share some information? Could you talk to him, Garm?" I asked.

"Who is Kotara? Is there another foxkin around?" Valeria asked.

"He is Lady Nanami's guardian beast, a tier three undead." I replied.

"He has accepted the local fashion and is spreading it to a new continent." Garm's left head said. "However, I have no qualms trying to get information out of him. Despite his good manners and great taste he isn't part of the pack. The pack always domes first." The right head added.

"We should also inquire about Kitara in general, not just about Mistress Koyuki." Kaito said. "The more we know about their culture, and their clans, the better."

"Nanami has shown a lot of interest in me being a spellblade." Hatsumi added. "While part of it is a secret we could offer some insights in exchange for more information."

"We should show her your new tier twos! I am sure Andy and the shamans will be of some interest, right? Maybe she also wants to meet Thorn? Do you think she has an undead horse? Do they ride horses in Kitara?" Rose asked.

"I am not sure what they ride but there is limited space on a ship. Actually, she might ride Kotara." I suggested. "He is big enough."

"Actually, why don't you ride Garm? You could easily get a saddle for him." Valeria asked.

"Well, I do have Coffee and we have the carriage. There hasn't been much need for me to ride Garm. Besides, I am not going to charge into melee. Garm would be wasted if he was sitting in the back with me." I replied.

"While true we could train with you on my back, just in case we need it." Garm suggested. "You can hold onto my fur so it should work without a saddle just fine."

"He is very fluffy, which makes it rather comfortable on his back." Rose added.

"Mummiessss." Kyan said, suddenly.

"Mummies?" Valeria asked, while looking confused.

"I am a mummy, or something related to them. Perhapsss that is also a rare species in Kotara? Lady Nanami might be interested in my existence, it would help us get more information from her." Kyan suggested.

"Oh, great idea!" I said.

"I will track down Kotara and tell him about the marvellous undead in our pack. I am sure Nanami will be quick to seek you out after that." Garm suggested.

"Thanks!" I said.

Having friends was great! Together we might be able to get some information about my past! Assuming Lady Nanami would tell the truth. Sadly Valeria had a point, there might be an incentive for her to lie. Hopefully I could convince her that I was too valuable to take the risk.