The Chronicles of a Scalebound Sage

WM [6] Reunion

The Fort Palace was a massive single structure in the middle of Lavi. The wall around the Fort Palace was the most magically and materially impressive of the defensive structures. Bjorn was sure he would not be able to melt through those defenses as he had done with the gatehouse to the inner city. He was also sure he couldn’t have destroyed one of the inner city gatehouses fully closed and had its enchantments active.

In the courtyard were two armed forces standing at the ready. They wore identical armor with slight variations in color and coat of arms. On the right side were the armed forces of the First Prince Arnar, and on the left were those of the First Princess Sigrun. As the carriage stopped at the front door, it became evident that there were more apparent differences between Arnar’s and Sigrun’s armies. First, despite having a similar design, Sigrun’s forces’ armor was of lesser quality. She also had far fewer soldiers and the disparity between the forces was being made for with knights from a noble faction Bjorn did not know.

Far more impressive were the two massive three-headed zmei dragons that stood behind their master’s armies. The one that Bjorn assumed was Arnar’s was sky blue and easily over three stories tall. The second was a deep jewel-like onyx of similar size. Creatures watched the carriage with intelligence and intensity as if to dare whoever was inside to disrespect their masters’ authority.

The carriage inside was large and spacious, with enough room for ten people and a servant to serve them. Bjorn sat on the oddly comfortable floor. At the same time, everyone else sat leisurely on the plush seats. An elf servant had served them all drinks for the ride.

“Looks like we are finally here and on time,” Signe said.

“Hand Signe, I mean no disrespect, but I have to inform you that the First Prince and Princess familiars may react negatively to Bjorn,” Tanisha stated.

Signe visibly tensed at those words, though Bjorn didn’t know why.

“Are you implying that Their Majesty lacks the bond necessary to command thier familiars with unwavering authority?” Signe stated with a light edge to her words, a far cry from the otherwise professional woman. 

Tanisha shook her head. “No, I am not saying that at all.”

“Bjorn’s presence affects draconic and serpentine creatures.” Joha cut in. “There was an incident with Bjorn’s previous master failing to inform the Hand of Ingrid of this effect. She mistook it for a mental attack on her familiar. To avoid causing a similar situation, Sif just wanted to inform you of this possibility.”

Signe turned to Bjorn and looked at the familiar with assessing eyes. “Is it something you can control, Bjorn?” When Bjorn shook his head, she continued. “Very well. I will inform their majesty.”

A metal disk about the size of a makeup compact appeared in Signe’s right hand, presumably from a storage device. There was a magic circle on both sides of the mirrored surface. Bjorn could taste a small amount of magic being pushed into the odd object. Signe went rigid for a second as something happened to her.

“What was that?” Tyr asked.

“A Communication Disk prototype,” Signe stated. “They work like message divination stones without the need for line of sight or Starlight mages.”

“That is incredible,” Tanisha said.

“Thank you. Development felt like a work in futility for a while.” Signe said. “Soon, all of her majesty’s nobles will have one. Communication is the bottleneck for military and civilian expansion. Imagine a world where all wendigo with magic can instantly communicate nationwide. This is part of the future that only her majesty can bring. Innovation, trade, cooperation, and knowledge.”

“Wait, you made that?” Tanisha asked.

Signe said with pride. “It was a joint effort between the Dwarven Kingdom of Isopike and me. We have…”  The metal disk flashed dimly, and Signe again became rigid for a second. The disk vanished from her hand, and she stood up. “It would appear that The First Princess and Prince have accepted your explanation. We may exit.”

The elven servant quickly opened the door to the carriage, and Signe led the group out of the vehicle and into the courtyard where the soldiers had been waiting dutifully. Bjorn was the last to exit; his three heads looked around, especially at the giant zmie dragons. There was no visible reaction to him, and Bjorn assumed that what the Royal Hand said about them being well-trained held.

Then Sir Haralds familiar also didn’t flee when it saw me either. Maybe it is a level difference?

Identify

Name: Dagny Qar
Species: Zmei
Level: ??
Vocation: Royal Mount

Identify

Name: Valdemar Qar
Species: Zmei
Level: ??
Vocation: Royal Mount

The group followed Signe to the front door of the palace. Then she stopped when both zmei growled menacingly. All six of their heads focused intensely on Bjorn as he tried to look anywhere else but at the three-story tall and now angry dragons. They tensed up and looked like they would strike at any moment.

“This one challenges us!” Dagny spoke in outrage, though her voice sounded like someone crushing boulders. “This one is wrong!”

“This one is the enemy!” Valdemar said just as gutturally as fire spilled from his mouth with each word. “This one dares challenge us!”

The zmei looked to become angrier and angrier, and then, without warning, the fury left their forms, and they became docile. They even looked away from Bjorn as if he were insignificant. Signe took the opportunity to quickly rush everyone inside before the zmei were riled up again. As soon as the doors were closed, she spun around and looked Tanisha and Bjorn over again as if to say, what was that? 

“Hail, First Princess Sigrun Al Velidein Qar!” Thorfinn yelled.

Thorfinn’s voice instantly drew everyone’s attention to the stairs.

“Well, that was unexpected. Sorry for the scare.” Sigrun’s voice filled the space. “My brother and I were curious about what would happen if we let them see the chimera without our influence.” 

Everyone but Joha, Tanisha, and Bjorn dropped to one knee. The First Princess, flanked by Thorfinn, descended a grand staircase from the palace’s upper floor. Unlike yesterday, the princess was not in her armor but instead a grand robe. Power pulsed from her regal form, the source of which originated from her chest and spread out around her body into the clothing, which glowed with the energy as it dispersed into the air. 

“Please, everyone, stand and follow me,” Sigrun stated as she turned down one of the many corridors. “There is something you must see before we have our discussion.”

The fort palace was a massive space of decadence. The structure may have once been a fortification in form and function; however, now it is all luxury.  It was all foreign design more akin to a human dwelling; it had delicate artwork and even highly impractical-looking furnishing that utilized ambient mana not to fall apart. It was expensive and flashy but not the typical Bjorn had come to recognize from most wendigo. From the outside, it still looked like a fort, but from the inside, it was indeed the palace of the most successful trade city in Yuhia.

Signe took her proper place to the right of the Sigrun. The group followed the First Princess in complete silence as they walked around the massive building. It looked to Bjorn like the entire inside had been thoroughly renovated. The sound of many people talking and the smell of food filled the halls as they traveled. The conversations became louder, and the smell of roasted meats more prominent until they reached a large double door.

Sigrun and her Hands stepped aside, and she motioned to the door.

“Patriarch of the Isi, I will give you the honors,” Sigrun stated.

Tyr stepped forward without hesitation, reached out his hand to the door, and tried to pull it open. It didn’t budge, so he tried the other.

“It is a push door, Patriarch Isi,” Thorfinn said with a cough.

“Ri-right,” Tyr said with some chagrin.

He turned the fancy golden doorknob again and pushed the door open. As one door opened, the other did so as well. The inside was a banquet hall packed to bursting with people. Most of whom even Bjorn recognized from training around the Isi estate. They were all people associated with the Isi and a surprising number of children. 

Tyr didn’t say a word as his eyes locked onto a little girl sitting amongst the children. He walked into the room, and people noticed him, and their conversations died down. A path opened for him as he ran, sprinted, and finally used Flash Step. The little girl turned around just in time to see her big brother pick her up in his arms, and the two collapsed into tears.

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