Chapter 295: Chapter 295
With the victory celebrated and the choices made, the time came for everyone to depart for the night. Belissar turned to Tarwantrad after dismissing the queens back to their hives.
“So…I should inform you about purifications, huh? Both when we start and when we finish?”
Tarwantrad nodded with a serious expression.
“Indeed. If you are willing to have me there, I would even join you for the purifications. I will not let your tower fall.”
Belissar blinked at that for a moment before tilting his head as a question came to his mind.
“What about the daily purifications?”
Tarwantrad stiffened.
“…daily purifications? As in…you face a purification …every day?”
Belissar waved his hands as he shook his head.
Penaseconza frowned, but Berbiya turned to the First Queen instead. The First Queen held her gaze for a moment before motioning for her to continue.
“Our isolation is broken now, whether we like it or not. We cannot afford to remain uninvolved any longer, even if we attempt to hide ourselves the Sacred Den Master knows of our existence. If and when these attackers return for the Sacred Den Master, we will have to make a choice.”
Penaseconza crossed her arms.
“Does it? What does their fight have to do with us?”
Berbiya now gave the third queen her attention.
“Because, even assuming Chief Rohsuak lied about their opinion of beastkin, they are at odds with the Sacred Den Master with whom we have an agreement. Once their hostilities resume and both sides are aware of us, both sides will want us to take a side, will attempt to force us to do so, and will fault us if we do not. Should one side prevail over the other while we remain on the sidelines, they will then turn their attention to us and it will not be favorable. Or worse, what if the attackers attempt to use our territory for their assault? If we did nothing to prevent it, that would break our agreement with the Sacred Den Master, who would thus be free to do as he pleases with us should he survive. Or what if the attackers prevail and take our lack of Discover more novels on NovelHub - your gateway to endless stories. And the earlier we make that choice, the better prepared we can be for the consequences, and opportunities, that may result.”
Penaseconza fell silent. The First Queen furrowed her brow.
“So, if another assault occurs we could be committed to one side or another regardless of our intentions.”
Berbiya nodded. The First Queen rubbed her chin before letting out a sigh.
“Second Queen Berbiya is correct. If we will be committed regardless of what we do or don’t do, then isolating ourselves from a conflict is no longer an option. Our best course of action is to decide whose side we will take, prepare ourselves for that eventuality, and do our utmost to ensure our chosen side’s victory. The question then is…whose side should we take?”
A Tower rose in the middle of the smoldering, charred remains of a forest, surrounded by tents on the ground and flying reptiles in the air. Deep within, in its very core, Lord Starami stood, clad in dragonscale armor. His similarly clad Tower Guard stood at attention, surrounding one very despondent man kneeling on the ground. Lord Starami ignored him as he passed through a newly built shortcut straight to the exit.
He made his way to his tent, pausing for barely an instant at the sight inside. He managed to control his expression as he made his way into the tent, greeting the unexpected guest sitting on his throne.
“High Councilor Stadvolous. I did not expect to see you out here.”
The high councilor scoffed.
“Of course you didn’t, Starami. The movements of the High Council are not yours to know.”
Starami held his expression.
“To what do I owe the pleasure?”
Stadvolous waved his hand as he took another sip of Starami’s dwindling mead supply. His only consolation was that Stadvolous paused after the sip.
“Huh, this is unexpectedly high quality. It even bears the hints of mana. Where did you acquire such a drink?”
Starami’s expression darkened.
“From the village that fool burned.”
Stadvolous shook his head.
“So yet another egregious failure on your part. I will have to make do with what remains, then.”
Stadvolous then sneered as he placed the cup on a side table.
“But I am sure you grow tired of the reminders of your current position. So, rejoice, Starami. Circumstances are such that you have the opportunity to redeem yourself in our sight and bring such things to an end.”
Starami narrowed his eyes but nodded.
Stadvolous steepled his fingers.
“Your failure nearly cost us everything. I’m sure I don’t need to tell you what the sudden inspection of your affairs by the High Council meant for our designs, or the lengths we went to prevent such an outcome? Even now, the High Council’s gaze is fixed upon you.”
Starami frowned and nodded silently. Stadvolous then slowly rose to his feet with a smile.
“But therein lies your opportunity. We have confirmed the High Council’s gaze is fixed entirely upon you at present.”
Starami raised an eyebrow slightly. Internally, however, the dots began to connect in his mind. High Councilor Heigiosa spent all her time chasing the gods above, while High Councilor Rippotis thought of nothing but war. He was now leading a war that the gods themselves had directly intervened in. It was a miracle neither high councilor had insisted on leading the effort themselves.
“I see. So, you wish for me to keep their attention?”
“I am glad you still possess some wit about you. Indeed, you have made good time thus far. It would be suspicious for you to linger now and we need updates for them to hear, so you cannot slow your pace. That does mean, however, that you will reach the edge of the rogue Towers you have scouted before we are ready. You must find a way past the sea of the Hunger by the time you do, so that you can continue to make active reports to the High Council past that point. And if you manage to arrive at your destination after all, you must ensure the situation becomes as complicated and drawn out as possible.”