Chapter 163: The Lion Tribe

Tanaka expected the throne room of the Wolf King to be opulent. It wasn’t. Not really. The hall was certainly spacious, but most of the decoration served a purpose; towering stone pillars stretched towards the ceiling, the walls bore banners belonging to various clans and a long blue carpet led to an elevated dais where a single carved throne stood beneath the sigil of the Wolf Crown.

King Aldren Greymane sat on it. His hair had long since turned silver, as had the fur of his ears and the thick tail lying across the arm of the throne. Age had creased his face but had failed to dull the aura surrounding him. Tanaka understood the warning in Maeryn’s message immediately. Aldren was old. But he was far from weak.

Raizen walked beside Tanaka as Maeryn and Garric trailed a few paces behind him. Royal guards flanked the hall while representatives of the nine major wolf clans occupied seats on either side of the room. Whispers followed them. Most of the nobles fixing their gazes on Tanaka. A few fixing it on Raizen. Tanaka stopped before the throne.

"King Aldren," Tanaka said. Aldren regarded him silently. Tanaka had worn his human form for the meeting but made no attempt to conceal it. There was no need to at this point; enough people in Varghelm knew what he looked like for it to be pointless. Aldren’s gaze flicked to Raizen.

"So," Aldren said. His voice rumbled throughout the hall. "The rumors weren’t exaggerated." Tanaka allowed himself a small smile. "Depends which one you heard," he replied. A few of the wolf nobles frowned. Aldren didn’t. Instead the old king simply lounged back.

"I heard that a slime emerged from the Great Verdant Forest, created a monster nation, defeated a Monster King and somehow convinced a Star Wolf King to walk beside him," Aldren said. Raizen’s ears went flat. Tanaka turned his head to look at him. "Convince isn’t quite the word I’d have used," Tanaka said. Aldren’s mouth twitched. Not quite a smile.

"Perhaps I’ll ask him then," Aldren said. He turned his gaze on Raizen. "You call yourself a Star Wolf King?" he asked. "I am one," Raizen answered. There was a murmur in the room. A few of the clan representatives leaning towards their neighbors in curiosity. Aldren raised a hand. Silence fell.

"What does that title mean among your kind?" Aldren asked. Raizen gave a straightforward answer. "It means I stand at the peak of my lineage," he said. Several of the wolves stiffened. Tanaka almost sighed. Raizen hadn’t said it arrogantly. That somehow made it worse. Aldren’s eyes narrowed.

"Then you claim kingship over wolves?" Aldren asked. "No," Raizen replied. That got a different reaction. A few of the wolves visibly relaxing. Raizen continued, "I rule my pack. Nothing more." Aldren studied him. Then nodded. "Good," he said.

The tension in the room dissipated. Tanaka realized that it hadn’t really been about Raizen’s strength after all. It had been about territory and recognition. Exactly what Maeryn had warned him about yesterday. Aldren turned his attention back to him. "You understand why I summoned you," Aldren said.

"You wanted to know why we’re here," Tanaka said. "Partly," Aldren replied. Aldren set one arm against the back of the throne. "I also wanted to see what kind of ruler crosses another nation’s border without knowing the nation exists," he said. Tanaka coughed. "That sounds worse when you say it like that," he said.

Garric lowered his head and Tanaka almost laughed. Aldren continued, "Chief Maeryn’s report says that you crossed peacefully, submitted to local inspection, obeyed our laws and made no attempt to claim authority over Wolf territory." "Because it’s not mine," Tanaka said. Aldren gave a small nod. "Simple answers are often the best ones," he said.

They moved on to Tanaka’s reasons for visiting Varghelm. He explained about Eldoris. Not in great depth. Just enough for Aldren to understand the gist of things. The Great Verdant Forest, the expansion of the Dominion, Varkesh joining them, the establishment of trade routes and the construction of the road had all been given at a basic level. Aldren listened. Asking questions when he thought it necessary.

"You allow humans to live in Eldoris?" Aldren asked. "Yes," Tanaka said. "You govern Varkesh but permit Tharven to oversee its day-to-day affairs?" Aldren asked. "Yes," Tanaka replied. "You abolished slavery there?" Aldren asked. "Immediately," Tanaka said. That got a mixed reaction. Some approving. Some decidedly not. Aldren noted it all. Tanaka noted his reaction.

The old wolf king was exactly the same as Maeryn had described. Cautious. When conversation turned to Bravelm, Aldren provided little information that Tanaka didn’t already know. The Beastfolk Lands were a collection of loosely held agreements between rulers and the Wolf Crown existed to ensure those agreements held even when pride of place was overcome by pride of self.

It was only when the conversation turned to the Lion Tribe that the talk started to change. Aldren eased back. "You’ll meet them soon," he said. Tanaka noted the phrasing. "That sounded like a warning," Tanaka said. "It was information," Aldren replied. "Those aren’t often different," Tanaka said. This time Aldren allowed himself a genuine smile.

"You’re learning," Aldren said. One of the representatives spoke. "The lions don’t enjoy having the Wolf Crown above them," he said. Aldren glanced at him. "They enjoy saying they don’t," Aldren replied. A few of the wolves chuckled. Tanaka became interested. "So why accept it?" Tanaka asked. Aldren looked up at the mural behind the throne.

"Because they remember what happened before it existed," Aldren said. That was all he said. The audience ended soon afterwards. Aldren granting Tanaka formal recognition as a visiting ruler, allowing him to stay within Varghelm until the general meeting of the beastfolk rulers. It was apparently already set to take place before Tanaka’s arrival. His presence had simply made it more interesting. Tanaka wasn’t sure if that was fortunate or otherwise.

---

Tanaka learned more about the Lion Tribe before lunch. Not from a lecture. The way people reacted whenever the name came up. Lions were one of the oldest major powers in Bravelm and their territories stretched out across the warm central grasslands to the south of the Wolf Lands. Their society was deeply rooted in family pride, martial prowess and the belief that a ruler should instill fear in his enemies before ever needing to fight them.

Their magic reflected that. Fire. Body enhancement. Aura generation. While the wolf spellcasting tradition focused on movement and cooperation, lions favored raw might. A lion warrior didn’t chase prey. He forced it to stop. Their rulers were known for combining physical enhancement with mana pressure so dense that weaker opponents sometimes simply surrendered before the first blow was landed.

Tanaka found that interesting. Then Garric found him. "Someone wants to meet you," Garric said. Tanaka looked up from the enchanted spear he had been examining in a weapon shop. "Who?" he asked. Garric’s face was a mixed bag of emotions. " The Lion King," Garric said.

Tanaka slowly replaced the spear. "That was quick," he said. "He requested a private meeting," Garric said. Raizen, who stood nearby, frowned. "Private?" he asked. Garric nodded. "Tanaka alone," he said. That made it suspiciously more so. Tanaka smiled. "Where?" he asked.

---

The meeting place was an old courtyard attached to one of the diplomatic residences near the royal district. Tanaka arrived on his own. The courtyard was walled off by stone on all sides but the centre was left open to the sky. Several trees grew against the walls, their branches throwing broken shadows across the ground. One man waited beneath them.

Tanaka stopped. The Lion King was massive. Standing well over two meters, with broad shoulders draped in a dark red cloak and golden armor covering his chest. Thick bronze-gold hair framed his face like a mane while tawny fur hung from his ears. His eyes were amber. Sharp. Predatory. Tanaka could sense the power beneath his skin before he even moved. Monster King level. At least.

The lion smiled. "Tanaka Eldoris," he said. "That’s me," Tanaka replied. The man stepped forward. Then his aura erupted. The courtyard shook. Dust from the ground, leaves from the trees were sent tumbling into the air. A crushing presence bore down on Tanaka from all directions, so strong it cracked the stone where he had been standing. An ordinary monster, breathing would have been difficult. A weaker one would have been unable to stand.

Tanaka didn’t move. He simply looked at the lion. The pressure continued. Hot. Violent. Proud. Not just mana. Intent. The unconscious warning of a predator telling everything around him to know its place. Tanaka had felt stronger. Much stronger. Malachiel’s presence had once rendered entire armies meaningless. Nethaliel could alter the atmosphere simply by becoming angry. Rhazek, after becoming a Demon Lord, had possessed enough strength to threaten everyone around him.

This was impressive. But not enough. Tanaka scratched his cheek. "Are you done?" he asked. The aura ceased. Silence filled the courtyard. Then the Lion King laughed. Not angrily. Loudly. He tossed his head and laughed until the sound echoed off the far walls. Tanaka stared at him. "Was that necessary?" Tanaka asked. "Absolutely," the lion replied.

"I needed to know," he said. "Know what?" Tanaka asked. "Whether the stories were inflated," the lion said. His grin widened. "They weren’t," he added. Tanaka folded his arms. "Usually people introduce themselves before trying to crush me with their aura," he said. "Fair," the lion said. The lion placed one fist against his chest.

"I am King Garrath Goldmane," he said. The name suited him. "Ruler of the Golden Pride and sovereign of the Lion Territories," he introduced himself. Tanaka nodded. "Tanaka Eldoris," he said. "I know," Garrath said. "Then we’re even," Tanaka replied. Garrath laughed again. There was something different about him compared to Aldren. The Wolf King watched, measured, considered. Garrath tested, immediately. Directly.

"You’re stronger than I expected," Garrath said. "You’re not bad either," Tanaka replied. The lion’s eyes narrowed with amusement. "Not bad?" he repeated. Tanaka smiled. "Would you prefer impressive?" he asked. "Much better," Garrath said. The tension evaporated almost as quickly as it had come. Garrath walked towards the courtyard entrance, passing Tanaka.

"I won’t keep you," Garrath said. Tanaka turned. "That was it?" he asked. "That was enough," Garrath replied. Garrath stopped beside him. For the first time his voice lost some of its humor. "The wolves like to understand something before deciding whether it threatens them," he said. His amber eyes met Tanaka’s. "Lions prefer knowing whether we can break it," he said.

Tanaka didn’t react. Garrath smiled. "And now?" Tanaka asked. "You tell me," Garrath said. The Lion King’s grin sharpened. "Now I’m interested," he said. He continued towards the gate. "I can’t wait to see you at the general meeting, Tanaka Eldoris," he said. Tanaka watched him go.

Aldren Greymane had welcomed him carefully. Garrath Goldmane had greeted him with enough aura to make most monsters collapse. And these were only two of Bravelm’s rulers. Tanaka looked towards the royal district beyond the courtyard walls. The general meeting suddenly sounded much more interesting.