Chapter 66: The World Outside the Treaty

Morning arrived with sunlight, hunger, and the uncomfortable realization that Treez and I had somehow survived the night without the bed filing a formal complaint.

We had breakfast together.

Nothing dramatic.

Nothing suspicious.

Just food.

Which, after everything that had happened, felt almost suspicious by itself.

Treez had returned to something much closer to her usual composed self by then.

Her red hair was neat again. Her clothes were properly arranged. Her posture had recovered its military dignity.

The woman sitting across from me eating breakfast looked so calm that anyone walking past would never have guessed she had spent most of the night making enough noise to test the inn's wall construction.

Every now and then, though, our eyes met.

And she looked away first.

That was new.

Very cute.

I considered teasing her.

Then remembered she was a Legion Magus capable of turning buildings into scenery.

Self-preservation won by a narrow margin.

When we finished eating, we separated.

Treez had her own responsibilities.

I had a castle to return to.

And apparently a diplomatic career to continue pretending I understood.

Fortunately, Agran's capital had become slightly easier to navigate after Remgar and Treez dragged me around the previous evening.

Slightly.

The castle itself was even more manageable.

Agran's corridors had structure.

Logic.

Directions that remained directions.

Compared with Inizio's castle, where turning left twice somehow risked accidentally entering a ballroom, underground archive, princess's bedroom, or ancient political conspiracy, Agran felt merciful.

I made it back to my guest room without asking anyone for help.

Victory.

Small victory.

Still counts.

I entered.

Closed the door.

Then stood there for a moment.

Silence.

Beautiful.

I had spent one night outside the castle and somehow already missed having a private bathroom that didn't require explaining anything to an innkeeper.

I took a bath.

A long one.

Warm water did wonderful things to a body that had recently survived Rel, several days of assassination attempts, repeated travel, and one particularly enthusiastic evening with Treez.

By the time I finished, I felt significantly more alive.

I changed into clean clothes.

Formal enough that if somebody important unexpectedly appeared, I would not look like I'd been kidnapped from laundry duty.

Then I walked toward the bed.

My mattress waited.

Soft.

Inviting.

Loyal.

I looked at it with genuine affection.

“You and me.”

I took one step closer.

Knock.

I froze.

Another knock.

I stared at the door.

“No.”

Knock.

I sighed.

Royal castles apparently had a magical ability to detect when I was about to rest.

Maybe the doors were enchanted.

Maybe there was an employee assigned specifically to ruin naps.

I walked over and opened it.

Two Agranian knights stood outside.

Armor polished.

Posture formal.

Expressions serious.

One bowed.

“Sir Caled.”

I nodded.

“Please tell me the castle is not on fire.”

The knight hesitated.

“No, sir.”

“Excellent start.”

“The queen has summoned you.”

Of course she had.

I looked back toward the bed.

So close.

Yet separated by monarchy.

I sighed.

“Lead the way.”

The knights turned.

I followed.

We moved through the castle corridors.

Servants stepped aside.

Agranian knights bowed when necessary.

I recognized more of the route this time.

One hall.

Then another.

Red carpets.

Dark stone.

Tall windows.

Tiger banners.

Soon the enormous throne-room doors appeared.

The guards stationed there opened them.

I walked inside.

The throne room looked almost exactly as it had during negotiations.

Rows of knights stood along both sides of the crimson carpet.

No crowd of nobles this time.

No diplomatic audience.

Just military presence.

I walked toward the throne.

Queen Firsa sat there.

Black hair falling around her shoulders.

Red gown.

Stern face.

Same expression that said she had already dealt with seven unnecessary problems today and would personally throw the eighth through a window.

Her dark eyes locked onto me as I approached.

Behind and slightly beside the throne stood Rel.

Back in a cute outfit again.

No black martial robe.

No terrifying scythe.

No screaming aura.

Just Supreme General Rel wearing a pleasant expression like she hadn't demolished an arena yesterday.

She smiled casually when she saw me.

I stared at her.

She smiled wider.

No apology.

Naturally.

Then I noticed Leyra.

She stood near one of the tall windows.

Princess dress.

Golden hair arranged elegantly.

One hand held a small rolled piece of paper.

I looked at it.

Red wax seal.

Agran's mark.

Interesting.

I stopped at the foot of the throne.

Bowed.

“Your Majesty.”

Firsa gave a small nod.

Then looked toward Leyra.

“The message is prepared.”

Leyra stepped forward.

Firsa continued.

“Crown Princess Leyra will send word to King Viar informing him that the preliminary terms have been accepted.”

Ah.

So this was the raven.

Finally.

The message that told Inizio's king to stop polishing his war enthusiasm and come sign peace instead.

Leyra rolled the paper tighter.

An attendant entered carrying a raven.

Dark feathers.

Sharp eyes.

The bird looked around the throne room with the judgmental confidence of something that knew people depended on it for international stability.

Leyra carefully secured the message to its leg.

I watched.

“So much political responsibility for one bird.”

Rel looked at me.

“What?”

“If that raven decides to take a vacation, two kingdoms become very confused.”

Leyra smiled.

Firsa ignored me.

Good sign.

The attendant moved toward the window.

Opened it.

Leyra released the raven.

Its wings spread.

One hard flap.

Then another.

The bird shot into the morning sky.

For several seconds, I watched it shrink over the capital.

Toward Inizio.

Toward Viar.

Peace was now being transported by feathers.

Civilization was amazing.

Firsa spoke again.

“But that is not why I summoned you.”

There it was.

Of course.

I turned back.

“Should I be concerned?”

Firsa stood.

Not an answer.

Potentially yes.

She descended from the throne.

Then walked toward a smaller doorway built into the wall behind it.

“Follow me.”

I looked at Rel.

She smiled.

Unhelpful.

Leyra approached from the window.

The four of us entered the passage.

Firsa first.

Rel behind her.

Leyra and I following.

The corridor was narrower than the ceremonial halls.

No red carpet.

Fewer decorations.

This part of the castle felt practical.

Administrative.

The kind of place where decisions happened before somebody dressed them nicely enough for public presentation.

Firsa stopped at another door.

A guard opened it.

We entered.

The room beyond was enormous.

But mostly empty.

No sofas.

No decorative statues.

No meaningless royal furniture placed there so visitors understood the kingdom owned wood.

Instead, a massive square stone table dominated the center.

I approached.

Then realized the surface wasn't merely stone.

It was carved.

Mountain ranges.

Rivers.

Coastlines.

Borders.

Tiny engraved names.

Colored sections.

Markers.

A map.

Not a paper one.

A full stone representation large enough that four people could walk around it without crowding each other.

I stopped beside Leyra.

Rel moved to the opposite side.

Firsa stood at the head.

Everyone looked down.

So did I.

The problem was immediate.

I didn't recognize enough names.

I had learned plenty about Inizio and Agran.

Some neighboring kingdoms.

Azalea.

Kitsun.

But this?

This was an entire continent.

And apparently the world had once again forgotten to provide me with the tutorial manual.

Rel looked at me.

Of course she noticed.

She didn't say anything.

Instead, she extended one finger.

Touched a small point near the center of the map.

Then slowly traced the surrounding borders.

Agran.

Ah.

I followed the geography outward.

Inizio nearby.

Other kingdoms around them.

Coastlines farther away.

The name of the continent was there.

So this was Treyor.

The continent we were standing on.

Rel had just explained the whole thing without embarrassing me in front of Firsa.

Sneaky.

Helpful.

Still sneaky.

I gave her the smallest nod.

Her smile barely changed.

Message received.

Firsa looked at the map.

“I've been informed that you are already aware of the Dragon Conqueror's movements.”

Straight to it.

No warm-up.

Very Firsa.

I nodded.

“Yes.”

“How much?”

“Enough to know I keep hearing his name from people I would rather not hear it from.”

Firsa looked at me.

I continued.

“People warned me.”

Can't exactly mention everything.

“Tanya Darkwood mentioned him.”

“Rel discussed his history.”

I looked down at the map.

“So yes. I've heard about him several times now.”

Firsa's gaze stayed on me for a moment.

Then shifted eastward across the stone.

Her finger moved toward the neighboring continent.

Kierdan.

I studied it.

Different coastline.

Different kingdoms.

More names.

Then I spotted one I recognized.

Eragonia.

The Dragon Conqueror's main kingdom.

So that was where it sat.

Not somewhere vague in history.

There.

Real.

On the map.

Firsa reached for a long pointer resting beside the table.

She lifted it.

Then touched another marked region farther across the neighboring landmass.

Her expression hardened.

“One after another, the kingdoms of Kierdan are falling under his control.”

I stopped smiling.

Firsa moved the pointer.

One kingdom.

Then another.

Then another.

“Some are conquered.”

Tap.

“Some submit.”

Tap.

“Others are absorbed after military defeat.”

Tap.

“Whatever method he uses, the result is the same.”

She dragged the pointer slowly across the region.

“They become part of his domain.”

Colony after colony.

Kingdom after kingdom.

A spreading stain.

I looked toward Eragonia.

Then Kierdan.

“How fast?”

Firsa didn't answer with numbers.

“Fast enough that every ruler paying attention is concerned.”

Fair.

Rel crossed her arms.

Leyra studied the map silently.

Firsa continued.

“When Kierdan is completely under his control, he will no longer need to divide his attention there.”

I looked at her.

“He comes here.”

“Yes.”

Treyor.

Our continent.

Great.

I looked down.

Agran.

Inizio.

Azalea.

All the other kingdoms spread around them.

The world had suddenly become much smaller when viewed from above.

Firsa shifted the pointer across the water separating the lands.

“He will come with the armies he already possesses.”

Then tapped Kierdan.

“And with whatever forces he gains there.”

I breathed slowly.

“So every kingdom he conquers adds more soldiers.”

“Potentially.”

“More resources.”

“Yes.”

“More territory.”

“Yes.”

“More supply.”

“Yes.”

I scratched my chin.

“That is extremely inconsiderate.”

Firsa looked at me.

“Conquerors often are.”

I blinked.

Then smiled.

Okay.

Didn't expect that.

Firsa pointed toward Agran.

Then Inizio.

“It is true that our kingdoms sit near the interior of Treyor.”

She moved the pointer around surrounding territories.

“Some rulers assume distance from the coast gives them safety.”

“Doesn't.”

“No.”

“Because he'd have to cross the kingdoms outside first.”

“Yes.”

I looked at the map.

“And every kingdom he conquers on the way becomes additional strength.”

Firsa's eyes narrowed slightly.

She approved of where I was going.

I continued.

“So by the time he reaches Agran and Inizio…”

“We may not be facing only Eragonia.”

I looked over the stone map.

“We would be fighting the combined military strength of Kierdan and whatever parts of Treyor already fell.”

Firsa nodded.

“That is the danger.”

Not one army.

A snowball.

Except the snowball carried swords and apparently wanted ownership documents.

I looked at Rel.

Her expression had become serious.

No playful smile.

No teasing.

That mattered.

Firsa set the pointer against the table.

“Once King Viar arrives, I intend to discuss this with him.”

I nodded.

“The truce first.”

“The truce first.”

Firsa's mouth tightened.

“One war may be prevented.”

Then her gaze moved back across Treyor.

“But another is approaching.”

Larger.

Much larger.

The kind Mediya had warned me about.

The greatest war Aphrodasia had ever seen.

Wonderful.

Apparently stopping one war only unlocked the premium war.

Firsa continued.

“Several kingdoms in Treyor have already begun preparing.”

“Armies?”

“Yes.”

“Fortifications?”

“Yes.”

“Diplomatic alliances?”

“Some.”

She looked toward Rel.

Rel answered this time.

“Information is moving faster than formal agreements.”

I smiled.

“So everyone knows something terrible is coming, but nobody has finished deciding who sits beside whom at the apocalypse.”

Rel's mouth twitched.

“That is one way to describe it.”

Firsa didn't laugh.

Probably because she was busy considering continental destruction.

Understandable.

I looked down at Agran.

Then Inizio.

Then the other borders.

“What part do you expect me to play?”

Firsa looked at me.

Not immediately answering.

That was unusual for her.

Then she said, “Agran is powerful.”

No false modesty.

Good.

“I know.”

“Inizio is powerful.”

“Yes.”

“But I am not arrogant enough to claim either of us is the strongest force in Treyor.”

That caught my attention.

I waited.

Firsa continued.

“You have already demonstrated competence as a diplomat.”

I raised an eyebrow.

“That's dangerously close to praise.”

“It is an assessment.”

“Safer.”

She ignored me.

“So I want to ask something of you.”

There it was.

Another quest.

My life had become increasingly structured like someone kept placing objectives above important people's heads.

“What?”

Firsa looked toward a different section of the map.

Azalea.

Of course.

“Azalea remains the strongest territory on this continent.”

I said nothing.

Firsa's gaze moved to me.

“You are a Spriggan.”

Officially.

Very officially.

Extremely incorrectly.

I kept my face calm.

Firsa continued.

“Which gives you something most of us lack.”

“Access?”

“Potential access.”

Fair distinction.

“The Fairy Queen will hear a Spriggan differently than she would hear me.”

That was probably true.

Unless said Spriggan arrived and Efelia immediately asked why she'd never seen him in her entire life.

Fun conversation ahead.

Firsa tapped Azalea with the pointer.

“The difficulty is their nature.”

I glanced toward Rel.

She understood where this was going.

Firsa continued.

“Spriggans possess overwhelming magical potential.”

“Yes.”

“Azalea could change the balance of any continental war.”

Also yes.

“But Spriggans rarely choose violence as prevention.”

That matched everything I had heard.

“They retaliate.”

Firsa nodded.

“If attacked.”

“But they don't usually march somewhere because they believe an attack will eventually happen.”

“Exactly.”

That was a problem.

A very large magical problem covered in wings and good intentions.

Rel stepped closer to the map.

“Fifty years ago, Azalea refused to join the war against the Dragon Conqueror.”

I looked at her.

“Because violence wasn't their way.”

“Yes.”

Rel's lips curved faintly.

“The irony is difficult to ignore.”

I already knew where this was going.

“The war was eventually stopped by a Spriggan.”

Rel nodded.

“A Spriggan exceptionally talented at violence.”

Tanya.

The Shadow Fairy.

Outcast from Azalea after solving a continental invasion with enough death to traumatize history books.

I rubbed my forehead.

“That's not irony. That's the universe being sarcastic.”

Rel laughed quietly.

Firsa returned to the important part.

“I do not want history repeating itself.”

She looked directly at me.

“If Azalea waits until the Dragon Conqueror reaches its borders, the rest of Treyor may already be gone.”

Harsh.

But reasonable.

“And you're asking me to change Efelia's mind.”

“Yes.”

I stared at Azalea on the map.

Well.

Zeria had already told me I needed to meet Fairy Queen Efelia eventually.

My growing reputation as some miraculous Azalean Spriggan had made that unavoidable.

Efelia knew every Azalean.

And I was definitely not on the family register.

At least now I had another topic for the meeting besides:

Hello, Your Majesty. Funny story about me pretending to belong to your entire race.

Firsa spoke.

“Can you give me your word that you will attempt to persuade the Fairy Queen to help?”

Important wording.

Attempt.

Not promise success.

Smart.

I looked at her.

“I can promise that I'll speak with her.”

Nothing more.

Firsa waited.

“I won't promise she'll agree.”

“I didn't ask you to.”

“Good.”

I nodded.

“But I will try.”

Firsa gave one small nod.

“That is enough.”

I looked at the map again.

Treyor.

Too many kingdoms.

Too many borders.

Too many people who probably wanted exactly the same thing.

To survive.

Firsa lowered the pointer.

“Every kingdom in Treyor must participate this time.”

Her voice became quieter.

“Otherwise…”

She looked at Kierdan.

Then back toward our continent.

“…we will not have enough strength.”

No dramatic speech.

No heroic declaration.

Just math.

Terrible math.

I looked at her.

“And Viar?”

Firsa raised an eyebrow.

“What about him?”

“You're planning to ask him to prepare for another war immediately after signing a peace treaty.”

“Yes.”

“Think he'll agree?”

Firsa turned toward the door.

Her answer came without hesitation.

“I know Viar.”

I smiled already.

Oh, this was going somewhere predictable.

Firsa began walking.

“Knowing him…”

She glanced toward Leyra.

“…I doubt I will need to persuade him at all.”

Leyra's lips immediately curved.

She bowed politely.

There was absolutely no defense she could offer her father.

Because she knew.

I knew.

Zeria knew.

Milfy definitely knew.

King Viar loved peace.

He genuinely did.

He also reacted to the word war like someone had told him his favorite hobby was now government funded.

Firsa gave Leyra a rare small smile.

Leyra smiled back.

Then Firsa walked out.

The door closed behind her.

I remained beside the stone map.

Rel on one side.

Leyra on the other.

Silence lasted a few seconds.

Then Rel exhaled.

“One problem is nearly solved.”

I looked toward the place where Firsa had been standing.

“Inizio and Agran.”

“Yes.”

“And now we get…”

I pointed toward the entire map.

“…that.”

Rel nodded.

I sighed.

“Fantastic.”

Leyra folded her hands.

I looked down at Treyor.

“One war almost gone.”

“Another approaching.”

“Much bigger.”

“Yes.”

I scratched my cheek.

“That's unfortunate for us.”

Rel stretched.

Both arms above her head.

She leaned slightly backward.

Very casual for someone who had just discussed an unstoppable continental invasion.

Then she looked at me.

“So.”

I immediately distrusted the tone.

“So?”

“How exactly are you going to persuade the Fairy Queen?”

I smiled.

“Excellent question.”

Rel lowered her arms.

“She will recognize you.”

I paused.

Leyra turned toward her.

Rel continued cheerfully.

“Or rather, she'll recognize that she doesn't recognize you.”

There it was.

Leyra's eyebrows pulled together.

Not because the secret itself was new.

She already knew what I was.

What confused her was Rel saying it.

Openly.

Casually.

Like she had been invited into the secret months ago.

Leyra looked at me.

Then Rel.

Then back at me.

I shrugged.

Yeah.

She found out.

Rel smiled.

“You are presenting yourself as an Azalean Spriggan.”

“I noticed.”

“The Fairy Queen knows Azaleans.”

“Yes.”

“All of them.”

“Also yes.”

“And the moment she looks at you…”

Rel pointed at my face.

“…she will know something is wrong.”

I sighed.

“I know.”

Leyra finally spoke.

“You knew?”

Rel looked innocent.

“Knew what?”

Leyra stared.

Rel smiled wider.

Oh, she was enjoying this.

I rubbed my forehead.

“Don't encourage her.”

Leyra looked at me.

“When did she find out?”

“That's complicated.”

Rel answered before I could.

“I suspected.”

I pointed at her.

“See? Technically different.”

Leyra narrowed her eyes.

Rel continued.

“Then the fight was informative.”

Ah.

I had used her own skills almost immediately after seeing them.

Yes.

That probably hadn't helped my disguise.

I sighed.

“At this rate, my secret is going to become a private club with rapidly declining membership requirements.”

Leyra looked at Rel.

“And you told no one?”

Rel smiled.

“No.”

That answer was simple.

More meaningful than her usual teasing.

I looked at her.

She looked back.

Nothing else needed saying.

Then she returned to the original problem.

“Anyway.”

She tapped the map near Azalea.

“How do you intend to convince Efelia?”

I looked at the marking.

Then shrugged.

“I already planned to meet her.”

Zeria had made that clear.

Sooner or later, Fairy Queen Efelia would hear enough stories about a ridiculously strong Azalean Spriggan named Caled Morningwood and ask a very reasonable question:

Who?

Better for me to reach her before rumors did all the talking.

“So I might as well discuss this while I'm there.”

Rel tilted her head.

“You sound very calm.”

“Internally I'm screaming.”

“Good.”

“Thanks.”

Leyra smiled.

I looked back at the map.

“First I explain why I'm pretending to be one of her people.”

“Dangerous.”

“Yes.”

“Then you ask her to involve Azalea in a continental war.”

“Also dangerous.”

Rel nodded approvingly.

“You have an excellent plan.”

“I hate you.”

“No, you don't.”

“Unfortunately.”

Rel suddenly stepped away from the map.

Her entire mood changed.

Just like that.

Continental invasion discussion complete.

Next priority.

She placed a hand against her stomach.

“Do you two want food?”

I stared.

Leyra blinked.

Rel continued.

“I'm starving.”

There she was.

Supreme General of Agran.

Discuss world-ending conquest.

Then lunch.

Balanced lifestyle.

Leyra smiled.

“I would enjoy that.”

Rel looked at me.

I crossed my arms.

“One condition.”

She raised an eyebrow.

“Your treat.”

Rel laughed.

Brightly.

Then placed one hand proudly against her chest.

“Of course.”

She grinned.

“I am the Supreme General.”

A pause.

“I am rich.”