After breakfast we all took care of our work around the village, then gathered to discuss the situation in the Beastland Kingdom and what we were going to do about it. Aside from me, in attendance we had Alna, Aymer, Mont, Grandma Maya, Hubert, Marf, Narvant, Ellie, and Goldia.
Ordinarily we also would have had Uncle Ben, Fendia, the other dogkin tribe leaders, and Sahhi with us, but they had all elected to stay out of things for various reasons. The dogkin leaders and Sahhi just weren’t interested and had said that they would go along with whatever was ultimately decided.
As for Uncle Ben and Fendia, they simply didn’t think it was right for people of the cloth to take part in a discussion that might lead to war with a foreign nation. They explained that the temple shouldn’t get involved in political decisions. This was how it had been way back when Saint Dia had put some distance between himself and the founding king. Uncle Ben had said he was happy to hear my thoughts on the matter, but that was as far as he would go.
I’d also reached out to Klaus in case he wanted to be a part of the discussion, but he had all the goings-on of the eastern border station to manage, so he had declined. As for Ellie and Goldia, I’d actually thought that just one of them turning up would have been fine, but because the discussion involved trade, both wanted to take part.
“So that’s where we stand,” I said after laying it all out for everyone. “Now it comes down to how we respond. I don’t think we should cross the border. I don’t want it to look like we’re invading, because if rumors like that spread we’ll be in all sorts of trouble. That said, I don’t want people starving either, so I’m on board with the idea of selling fish and provisions in Beastland... It’s just that with winter coming up, we’ll have to be careful about how much we sell.”
We all sat on a big circular rug that Alna and her friends had woven, around a big round table of cavekin make. Aymer and Grandma Maya nodded in agreement, and I actually thought we’d pretty much settled on what to do when, to my surprise, Alna spoke up.
“Here’s where I stand,” she said. “I don’t care all that much about the beastkin nation. But the Peijins have been good to all of us on the plains for many years now. I’d like to help them as much as we’re able. I also understand that something like this can potentially impact your reputation and standing, but if I’m hearing you right, then we can take action... We just have to keep it secret. As long as nobody finds out, we’re fine.”
I was stunned. Alna could see it on my face, so she explained what she meant.
“Don’t say it—I can read you like a book. What I’m saying is that as long as we go over the border under the cover of concealment magic, that shouldn’t pose a problem, right? The onikin expeditionary parties already do something similar, so I suggest discussing this matter with Zorg too. He’s led onikin expeditions into Beastland a number of times already, and he’ll be an excellent guide.”
Alna’s revelation was a double whammy, and I wasn’t alone this time. Aymer and Hubert had their mouths agape, and for a time there was only silence in the assembly hall.
“The idea of using concealment magic is, on its own, a wonderful suggestion,” said Hubert, breaking the silence. “However, the problems arise from the ‘as long as nobody finds out’ part of the equation. We all know that when it comes down to it, Dias is the worst liar ever born. He’s practically incapable of it. If at any point he is questioned about an incursion into Beastland territory, the truth will come to light. Even if we hid ourselves completely and didn’t leave a trace, all somebody would have to ask is ‘Did you do it?’ It’s far too risky.”
His reasoning hit home with Alna, who nodded reluctantly.
“It’s still not a bad idea though,” said Mont. “If the unrest in the Beastland Kingdom reaches Peijin & Co., that spells big losses for us. And if it continues, I think it’s safe to say we’ll have refugees to deal with too.”
But Mont had a plan too.
“So here’s what we do: We meddle with the idiots causing the uprising just enough to stop them from achieving their goals. The Peijins’ll owe us a favor, and that’ll put them in our pocket. Just because Dias can’t go doesn’t mean the rest of us can’t.”
Mont proposed that we disrupt and sabotage the military forces attempting their coup. We’d steal provisions, cut off supply lines—that kind of thing—and do it all under the cover of the onikin’s magic.
“Naturally we’ll want to provide aid to the beastkin in need of support too, but I reckon you can leave that with the lostblood brothers,” Mont stated.
He then looked over at Ellie and Goldia, both of whom nodded. The glint in their eyes said they were very much on board with Mont’s idea and had been thinking along similar lines.
“The lostblood brothers already have a link with a Beastland Kingdom councillor, so we make them the face of our aid operations,” explained Mont. “Behind the scenes, however, me and mine will be sowing seeds of havoc and confusion. As for Dias being questioned, there’s ways around that.”
Opportunities to even ask me anything would be limited, and we’d have aides speaking on my behalf, among other things. In the worst case, I’d deflect with a “no comment” strategy.
“Even our blockhead duke is plenty capable of doing that,” he added. “But I reckon we set it up so it looks like he’s in charge of the lostblood brothers’ assistance. We’ll send him over to the border station and have him look like he’s in charge—won’t be easy for our neighbors to accuse him of underhanded tricks then.”
But Mont still wasn’t done, and he launched straight into talking about who to put on what team. It was like he just assumed his suggestion was accepted.
He put himself in command, and he wanted Zorg and the most experienced members of the onikin expeditionary parties helping out. He also wanted Joe and Lorca as part of his forces, with Ryan keeping watch over the border station to ensure it was still guarded.
Sahhi would carry messages between us, and three or four masti dogkin would come along in a guard dog capacity. Mont decided against bringing horses, however, thinking it best to procure them on-site should they become necessary.
“That just leaves the question of where to cross the border,” mused Mont, “but I reckon the Peijins’ll help us out there. Still, if we want to hide our operations from them too, then we can always ask the goblins to get us there via the sea. We still don’t know exactly where the insurgent armies are located, but I reckon the sea is faster and stealthier than marching in on foot.”
“That still leaves some uncertainty regarding the matter of magical reserves,” commented Grandma Maya. “It won’t be easy for the onikin to keep their spells cast for the entirety of your time across the border. They are incredibly adept at storing their magical energy, but even then it will be difficult to maintain spells over a period of days or weeks.”
Grandma Maya was usually pretty quiet during these meetings, but today she was surprisingly involved.
And come to think of it, she must be pretty good at magic herself if she’s been teaching Alna and her friends some new tricks. I guess that’s why she’s making comments like this one.
“We’ve got some options when it comes to magical reserves,” said Narvant. “We can provide the onikin with magical stones from which to draw the magic they need... Magical power and miasma are two sides of the same coin, and the onikin are experts when it comes to converting miasma into magic. If we provide some of our stone stock, they’ll have enough to last them about a month.”
Oh yeah, I think I remember Barnite mentioning a surplus of magical stones when I visited the mines.
“I don’t think there’s much the guild can do to support you with this,” said Goldia. “Buying up stockpiles of food in the middle of winter is expensive, and pushing it is only going to lower our standing. What we can do is support Seki and his brothers in their efforts. Let me handle the provisions for the, uh...what’d you call it again, the expeditionary party? We can do that without having to make any big moves, right?”
Goldia’s last question was directed at Ellie, who nodded.
It was beginning to look more and more like Mont’s plan was a done deal, but as for me...well, I wasn’t exactly against it. I just had mixed feelings. I mean, I didn’t want the Beastland Kingdom to erupt into chaos, and I wanted their domestic uprising quelled sooner rather than later if at all possible. I also wanted to put our efforts towards helping people too.
So maybe it’s okay to just let Mont do his thing?
I looked out at all the faces gathered around the table. Alna was clearly on board, Grandma Maya showed no signs of wanting to stop things, and Hubert and Goldia were both already planning their parts to play in it all. Marf actually looked pretty excited about seeing Beastland territory firsthand, and even Narvant seemed to be okay with it all. But then a light caught my eye from Aymer’s glasses, and when I looked over at her I could see she had some thoughts of her own. She pushed her glasses up her nose and spoke up.
“I understand where you’re all coming from,” she said, “and while I can’t say I’m entirely in agreement, I’m willing to go along with what has been suggested. However, if you want my vote towards this plan, I have one condition—I have no issue with Mont commanding our military forces over the border, but I ask that you allow me the position of commanding officer of our expeditionary party. In other words, I will direct how we move and when we fight.”
Aymer could see, from one look at me, that I wasn’t entirely on board with Mont’s idea. She knew that I hated war just as much as I hated looting, ransacking, and the stuff that came with it.