Chapter 106: Varkesh Envoys

The eastern gate of Eldoris was a lively place that morning.

Groups of adventurers were leaving the capital, merchants were delivering goods from the nearby warehouses and several Moonhares were inspecting a wagon full of herbs from the nearby woods. The guards, however, were not paying any attention to the usual commotion. A group of monsters had appeared on the horizon.

And these were no ordinary monsters.

Tall dark grey wolfkin with a black cloak led the procession, with two ogres, a lizardman, a goblin plus three wolfkin warriors following behind. All of the warriors wore dark sets of amour with a single marking on their chest plates. A black wolf gripping a red crystal. The guards instinctively tightened their grip on their weapons.

"Hold!"

The monsters halted. The wolfkin in the lead raised a single hand. "We come in peace."

"State your business."

"I am an envoy from the Kingdom of Varkesh."

The guards exchanged surprised looks.

Varkesh...

The name was not unknown in Eldoris, as recent visitors from the north had reported its existence before. A harsh land of monsters, ruled over by a single A-rank monster king. And now, the Kingdom of Varkesh had decided to make contact. One of the guards sent a mana bird flying towards the capital. Within moments, Tanaka, Sora and Raishin had arrived at the gate. Tanaka studied the group before him.

"So you’re from Varkesh?" The wolfkin stepped forward and bowed. "Yes." "What is your business here?"

"My name is Karesh, and I am an envoy for the King of Varkesh."

Tanaka studied the man for a moment. "An envoy?"

"Yes, your Majesty."

Sora leaned over towards Tanaka. "That’s the first one we’ve seen from another monster kingdom." Tanaka nodded. He had dealt with humans, dwarves, dark elves and adventurers before, but this was a different matter entirely. Another kingdom of monsters had arrived at Eldoris’s doorstep. Tanaka turned back to Karesh. "Walk in."

Karesh bowed once more. "Thank you." The gates opened and the Varkesh delegation was invited inside. Karesh’s eyes swept over the capital, taking in the sight of goblins carrying metal tools between buildings, kobolds working alongside the goblins, dwarves unloading cargo near one of the craft districts, moonhares wandering between homes and the healing home, and orcs carrying large sacks of butchered meat towards the food district.

The warriors from Varkesh were taking careful note of everything. One of the wolfkin muttered, "They really live together." Karesh heard the remark. "So it would seem." Tanaka was watching him closely. "You have something to say?" The warrior stood to attention. "No." Tanaka turned away. "Then look and learn." Karesh followed the man’s lead, but held his tongue.

It was this behaviour that stood out to Tanaka.

Few visitors were this composed when viewing Eldoris for the first time, but Karesh seemed to be studying the city rather than marveling at it. The envoy took in the walls, the road, the number of guards, the position of larger buildings, and the entrances to the various districts. Raishin was the only one who seemed to notice. His eyes narrowed slightly, but he said nothing.

Within moments, the group reached the diplomatic building. The Varkesh delegation was ushered into the main chamber, where Tanaka took his usual seat at the head of the table flanked by Raishin and with Sora stood nearby. Eldrin, Sylva, Raveana, Ryuken, Torga, Raizen and Razer arrived shortly afterwards, and Karesh was seated across from Tanaka with his warriors standing behind him.

Tanaka placed his arms on the table. "So, what did the King of Varkesh want with us?"

Karesh reached into his cloak and produced a sealed letter. "Our King seeks to establish communication with Eldoris." Tanaka took the letter and broke the seal. The message was simple. Varkesh was an independent kingdom of monsters, and Eldoris was an independent kingdom of monsters, and the King of Varkesh sought to establish communication between their two nations.

Tanaka looked up. "That’s it?" Karesh nodded. "That is the beginning." Raveana leaned back in her chair. "What does he want?" Karesh looked up. "Understanding."

"Of what?"

Raveana asked. "Of your kingdom."

Karesh replied. Raveana’s eyes narrowed. "Why?" "Because another kingdom of monsters has appeared in the Great Verdant Forest." Tanaka placed the letter on the table. "Varkesh is also in the Great Verdant Forest." "That is true."

Karesh responded. Tanaka nodded. "Then you would know the terrain." "We know our territory." Tanaka studied him. Karesh continued. "But Eldoris has changed the balance of the forest."

A heavy silence fell over the room. Raishin spoke. "How so?" "Your kingdom has established contact with three human and demi-human powers." Karesh glanced around the room. "You have humans visiting your kingdom, trading with you, diplomats from your kingdom are visiting them, and adventurers freely roaming your streets." Tanaka allowed a small smile. "We have." "In Varkesh, such things would be considered reckless." "That is because Varkesh is different."

Raishin said tersely.

Karesh inclined his head.

"Yes."

There was no hostility in his words, which made Tanaka even more wary. Karesh continued. "King Rhazek is not asking to change Eldoris." "Then what is he asking for?" "For now... nothing." Tanaka blinked.

"For now?" Karesh allowed himself a small smile. "He wishes for the relationship between our kingdoms to be established not on the basis of conflict."

Raveana crossed her arms. "That’s actually a pretty sound speech for Varkesh." One of Karesh’s warriors shot her a dark look. Karesh raised a hand to silence him before he could speak. "Our king does not seek unnecessary conflict." Tanaka studied him.

"But he believes survival is dependant upon strength."

"Yes."

"And he has no interest in humans."

"Correct."

Tanaka reclined in his chair. "So what does he think of Eldoris?" Karesh hesitated. "He has not decided." Tanaka frowned. Karesh continued. "He wishes to know more about the type of kingdom you have built before he decides if Eldoris is a threat, an opportunity, or just another kingdom to watch." Raishin’s expression remained neutral. "That’s actually quite a truthful statement for a diplomat." Karesh glanced at him. "Our kingdom has little patience for words."

Sora chuckled. "I like him." Tanaka glanced at Sora. "Why?" "He says what he means."

Tanaka returned his attention to Karesh.

"Maybe." The discussion continued for some time, with Karesh inquiring about the borders of Eldoris, how far the kingdom had spread, how often adventurers visited the dungeon, and if the dungeon was currently under Eldoris’s control. The last question caused Raishin to pause, a fact that was not lost on Tanaka. "The dungeon?" Karesh nodded. "We have heard of a dungeon existing within Eldoris Dominion." "There is." Tanaka replied. "Does Eldoris control it?"

Tanaka shook his head. "Yes." Karesh’s expression did not change. "I see but it existed before Eldoris." "The dungeon is owned by no one but maintained by Eldoris."

Raishin growled. Karesh leaned back in his chair. "I see." Raishin spoke. "Why are you asking about it?"

Karesh looked at him and smiled. "Just know we have nothing to do to it." Raishin offered no comment, and Tanaka tapped his fingers against the table. It was not the questions that concerned him, but rather the fact that Karesh had asked them at all. The envoy was too composed, too careful. Tanaka decided to test him. "How many soldiers does Varkesh have?" Karesh smiled. "Enough." "How many warriors?"

Tanaka asked again. "Enough." Tanaka chuckled.

"You’re good at avoiding questions." "Our king hopes we will be cautious in our advances."

"Understandable." Tanaka leaned forward.

"I’ll be blunt as well. Eldoris is willing to talk with Varkesh. We are not seeking another war with a monster kingdom." Karesh nodded. "Our king will be pleased to hear that." "But we will not allow anyone to dictate terms to us." Karesh’s eyes narrowed. "I understand." Tanaka nodded.

"Good." The discussion continued for several minutes more before Karesh stood.

"We would like to stay in Eldoris for several days."

Tanaka looked at the envoy. "That’s fine."

"Thank you."bAs the Varkesh delegation left with their warriors, Sora turned to Tanaka.

"They were weird." Tanaka nodded. "Very."

Raishin folded his arms. "They were studying us." "I noticed."b"They asked too many questions about the dungeon." Tanaka turned his gaze towards the door.

"Maybe that’s all they want." Raishin shook his head.

"Maybe."

Nothing unusual was seen that day, neither by Tanaka nor by the people of Eldoris. Far to the north, however, a group of Varkesh soldiers silently travelled through the depths of the Great Verdant Forest. Fifty warriors accompanied a young wolfkin commander, and behind them walked the enslaved human mages, their wrists and ankles still bound.

They had been travelling since dawn, and the commander paused to speak with one of the mages. "How much further?" The mage looked up. "Two days." "Two?" The commander frowned. "You said the core was close." "We said it was close ," the mage replied, "but we don’t know exactly where the core is." The commander grabbed the mage by the collar. "You have been searching for months and now we delay by two days." The mage gasped for breath. "We have searched everywhere we were ordered to."

The commander shoved the man aside. "Then search harder." The mages moved on, the deeper they travelled the more strange the forest became. The trees were malformed, the ground was stained with patches of corruption, and even the wildlife had abandoned the area. Even the birds were silent. One of the warriors muttered, "There’s something wrong with this place."

Another shrugged. "We were warned." The commander continued on ignoring it, these soldiers weren’t briefed, it was better if few knew Varkesh was responsible for the corruption of the forest. One of the mages in the middle of the group suddenly stopped. "Wait." Everyone turned to look at him.

The mage indicated the ground. A pulse of energy was moving beneath the surface of the earth. The mage’s eyes widened. "The core." The commander moved closer. "You’re certain?" "It’s close." The warriors immediately fanned out, and the commander turned to face the dense forest ahead.

"Find it."

The mages knelt and prepared another ritual. Meanwhile, back in Eldoris, Tanaka was still discussing Karesh with Raishin.

Neither was aware that the Varkesh warriors were already inside the Great Verdant Forest, and that the distance between Eldoris and the corruption was closing with every passing hour.