Chapter 64
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The Senate hall was uncomfortably quiet, in light of the fact a few hundred were seated. Many spectators in the stands, all of which appeared to be from wealthy backgrounds, looked on in excitement.
The several hundred pairs of well-dressed eyes suddenly made Val very aware of his attire. He did not have issues with stage-fright growing up, but the nervous feeling caused a wry smile to grow on his face. Val was extraordinarily comfortable with death, yet a congress of politicians and business representatives made him itch in his jerkin.
Hreidarr cleared his throat as he unfastened the scroll, speaking in a deep but gravely. "It is my wish that I could have written to you in more peaceful times. As I pen this letter, the Nine Houses prepare for the war that approaches our shores. We have confirmed the presence of the Draug; they are an ancient enemy once vanquished by your predecessors among the Aesir and Vanir hosts. With every passing day, they encroach further onto our shores.
I have sent to you Alevriasha, the scion of Evenwind, to act in my stead. Under the circumstances of war, and in the interest of expediting preparations, I have authorized her to act on behalf of my fullest capacity.
By the accords established under the rule of High King Ulgarn, I call upon the armies and resources of Kar Lodihr to defend these lands and protect our mutual interests. Without your aid, I fear we will be too late to keep the Draug from growing to the extent we cannot defend. I have sent for the assistance of Aurulia as well, and I request the representation you have offered in the past."
As Hreidarr finished reading and sat down, whispers and murmurs erupted around the hall. Val could pick up on a few of the conversations, and while he had been warned, some of their contents began to anger him. The Council waited for a couple of minutes as the commotion died down.
Hreidarr stood again. "Do you bring proof of this supposed threat?"
Val's eyes flared slightly, and Durnham moved slightly to partially obscure Val's view, holding a hand up behind his back. "Easy, if this angers you, you're going to be mowing down gutless cowards on your way out."
Asha spoke up. "We have personally witnessed and fought the Draug while investigating the recent disappearances. The unnatural mist and missing caravans are due to their appearance... I believe you are all aware of this issue; many of you have lost significant merchandise to these attacks."
One of the senators spoke up. "We have not concluded our investigation into the disappearances."
*Right... You mean you haven't started. This is supposed to be a hearing, why the hell does it feel like we're on trial...*
Val fished out an envelope as a commotion erupted again, and slipped it into Harken's hand, whispering to him. "The proof you requested, they're small, but if you have a magnifying lens, you can easily study them."
Harken fished out the short strip of film, studying it carefully. "Pictures?"
"Photos. Not drawn, complete, and truthful capture of the scene."
"I see. Let Durnham and I handle this." Harken caught Durnham's attention, and the two whispered for a bit before the guard captain nodded and took the film.
"Honorable members of the Council, we are prepared to submit proof of the Draug presence."
Hreidarr looked up curiously. "Approach."
Durnham walked over, placing the film on the table before them. "These are 'photos,' scenes captured on paper with Barren World technology— some form of spycraft implementation. They rescued some of their soldiers and were provided with the evidence."
Hreidarr fished out a sizeable convex hemisphere of glass, placing it on top of the film. A couple of the Council leaned over to inspect the film, a mix of curiosity and confusion appearing on their expressions.
"These are not much to go on. Do we have other examples corroborating these... 'photos?'" Val's anger flared again upon hearing Hreidarr's words. He scanned the other Council members, not liking anything he was seeing or hearing. As Val looked across, he noticed Durimarr returning his gaze, as if to study his every action.
An angry Dwarf bolted up from the Senate seats. "This is a waste of time! It's awfully convenient of the Queen to simply summon us to war based on treaties that were signed before many of us were even born! We stand to gain nothing and lose much. How many troops is the Queen even sending? I can hardly imagine a significant force by the Elves. Does she expect us to bear the losses?"
Asha stood resolute, replying flatly. "The Queen marches to war herself, with a cohort of twenty-thousand."
"Aye, that's what I figured. A paltry sum and I assume she wishes for us to send twice or thrice that number?" The senators erupted into discussions as an overall angered mood settled in the hall.
"Enough!" Hreidarr boomed, quieting everyone immediately. Val's perspective of the regent swung back and forth like a pendulum, witnessing his authority that belied his wizened figure.
"Let us dispense with the childish bickering and assume for the sake of this congress that the Draug threat is as real as described. The fact stands that we will lose much more in this war than the Elves. Honoring the accord and crippling ourselves with the tenuous history of Aurulia next door, are two different matters." The regent added with a grim tone.
"If we do not receive your aid, we may not be able to hold them back, and they will move further inland." Asha all but spoke through her teeth.
"I am curious... What are the intentions of the Aesir?" Durimarr's gaze was still trained on Val, standing with Huginn and Muninn looking like some sort of bird-whisperer. The hall quieted down, only those near the front heard the elder runesmith, and many were whispering for clarification.
Huginn spoke, surprising many senators. "The All-Father is seeking to convene the Aesir host. We also beseech your aid. We do not have the strength or forces we once led, or we would be marching to the shores now instead of participating in this farce." Find authorized novels in Webnovel，faster updates, better experience，Please click www.webnovel.com for visiting.
The raven's words angered many, enough that most hardly managed to process the revelation of the All-Father's return. Durimarr, on the other hand, was looking very smug in his seat, smiling slightly at Val.
"It... Has been millennia... Since the time of the Aesir. It is humbling to meet you." One of the council members spoke slowly, wary of Huginn.
Huginn's leaped down from Val's shoulder as his voice rose to an impossibly loud volume for a creature of his size, as he spoke in a booming voice rivaling Karl's own. "Dispense with the pretense as well. Your forefathers once fought alongside us and prided themselves on loyalty and valor. Where has your great pride and tenacity gone? All I see gathered are spineless wretches who measure by the size of their gut rather than their sword-arm. Tyr and Thor both personally raised and blessed the fiercest of your warriors. To this day, you wear imitations of their mark to honor them. You slew giants and conquered mountains in defiance of the other races ridicule. I would speak to those who still remember what honor means."
Val was stunned, as were many of those seated in the hall. Durnham almost looked taller, and Val spotted Durimarr, almost grinning.
A gray-haired member of the council stammered in rebuke, completely red in the face. "Y-you can't goad us into this madness! There has not been a High King in over a century! The Aesir are gone! Thor has not been seen in this world for over a thousand years, Tyr for even longer, and the All-Father abandoned us to some frivolous journey in the Barren—"
Huginn's form suddenly expanded, growing in size to a massive raven with a wingspan several meters wide, with blue runes occasionally appearing along the surface of his feathers. "You will speak only of what you know, so I suggest, for the sake of your life, you do not speak at all."
Hreidarr raised his hands. "Lord Huginn, please excuse him. He speaks rashly. He does, however, voice a popular opinion."
"Heh, you thought I would be the one mowing them down?" Val whispered to Durnham.
Durnham spoke seriously despite the grin on his face. "As delicious as the scene is, we need the Council to agree on war. I highly doubt we'll get the votes we need from the Senate. Aside from the army, we need Hreidarr's vote to mobilize the Iron Guard, or at least what's left. Without the king, only the High Regent can command us to move."
Durimarr raised his voice. "For the sake of brevity, let us decide the matter of whether we will send troops. The details we can deliberate all day, but I imagine Lady Evenwind is eager to move on to Aurulia."
Hreidarr sighed. "Yes, let us decide that now." The seven council members stood and turned around to face the Senate.
"We now vote on the decision to answer Her Majesty's call for aid. Those in favor?" Durimarr immediately raised his hand. To Val's surprise, Hreidarr and two others of the Council raised their hands as well, bringing their vote alone to four of seven. For the Senate, not even ten raised their hand, most of them refusing to stand at all.
"Ahem. Honorable members of the Council and Senate, if I may? Before you finalize this decision, I have a small case to make." Harken stepped forward and caught everyone's attention, stirring more commotion among the spectators.
Hreidarr paused, eying the deceptively polite mercenary lord. "This case of yours pertains specifically to this decision?"
"I believe it does, yes."
"Proceed."
Harken spoke clearly and politely, despite blatant accusation towards some seated among the Senate. They were almost immediately identified to Val by the way they shifted or suddenly took on a greedy look. "It may interest many of you to know that the Americans— the humans of this land from the Barren World, have an interest in this war. They wield technology that rivals ours, yet is completely devoid of magic. I'm sure many of you have heard reports of a two-wheeled vehicle that rides faster than the best of horses. I happen to know for a fact, many of you among this congress has been scheming to piece apart and learn how these are made. This war presents us an opportunity to forge ties with the Americans and take an early seat in the coming revolution of technology and trade. With or without Kar Lodihr, I, for one, am already taking steps to capitalize on the situation."
All of the Senate now stood, respectfully giving the vote their attention and creating a cacophony of whispers. Hreidarr smirked but nonetheless motioned for the vote to continue after the whispers died down.
"Once again, in favor of sending aid to Her Majesty?" He called. This time almost thirty among the Senate raised their hand in favor. All of the Council, save for the disgruntled Dwarf who had remained silent since being threatened by Huginn, voted in favor.
"It is settled then. Lady Evenwind, Kar Lodihr, will answer the call." Hreidarr announced, sending many among the Senate and the spectators into a flurry of discussion.
"This congress will adjourn until noon. We will continue with the finer details then." Hreidarr returned to his seat with a weary expression. Many of the spectators immediately left in groups, carrying discussions and sending for their people.
Val sighed. "I owe you big time for giving up your competitive edge for us. If you need anything again, let me know."
Harken wore his usual smile. "Giving up? Absolutely not. My men left just yesterday for San Rafael. By the time these greedy fools act, I will be far ahead in the game. News about your people would have spread eventually. I give up maybe a month or two in exchange for far more political clout. As a bonus, I earn myself a favor from my favorite American, and 'Lady Evenwind' is sure to remember this."
Asha glared at him. "Indeed..."
Val stared dumbly. Realizing what had happened only after.
Durnham chuckled. "Heh, young folk. Don't be so quick to offer your word to this sly fox."
Val groaned as Muninn suppressed fits of giggling. Huginn had returned to his usual size and acted as if his entire demonstration never happened. "So, what now?"
Harken motioned for everyone to leave. "Well, now there's far less we can actually do here, so we might as well leave. I imagine the depths below will grow noisy as the Dwarves prepare for war. The Council and the Senate will reconvene and discuss the details of the war. Believe me when I say you do not want to be there to witness it. Now that they have settled the overall decision, it will be nitpicking and scheming to minimize costs and maximize profits."
"Please tell me Kar Lodihr is an exception with this behavior."
Durnham sighed. "Fortunately, yes. I will excuse the implication in light of the pathetic display you witnessed here. In the time of our High King, we aspired to much more than coin and luxury..."
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The Senate hall was uncomfortably quiet, in light of the fact a few hundred were seated. Many spectators in the stands, all of which appeared to be from wealthy backgrounds, looked on in excitement.
The several hundred pairs of well-dressed eyes suddenly made Val very aware of his attire. He did not have issues with stage-fright growing up, but the nervous feeling caused a wry smile to grow on his face. Val was extraordinarily comfortable with death, yet a congress of politicians and business representatives made him itch in his jerkin.
Hreidarr cleared his throat as he unfastened the scroll, speaking in a deep but gravely. "It is my wish that I could have written to you in more peaceful times. As I pen this letter, the Nine Houses prepare for the war that approaches our shores. We have confirmed the presence of the Draug; they are an ancient enemy once vanquished by your predecessors among the Aesir and Vanir hosts. With every passing day, they encroach further onto our shores.
I have sent to you Alevriasha, the scion of Evenwind, to act in my stead. Under the circumstances of war, and in the interest of expediting preparations, I have authorized her to act on behalf of my fullest capacity.
By the accords established under the rule of High King Ulgarn, I call upon the armies and resources of Kar Lodihr to defend these lands and protect our mutual interests. Without your aid, I fear we will be too late to keep the Draug from growing to the extent we cannot defend. I have sent for the assistance of Aurulia as well, and I request the representation you have offered in the past."
As Hreidarr finished reading and sat down, whispers and murmurs erupted around the hall. Val could pick up on a few of the conversations, and while he had been warned, some of their contents began to anger him. The Council waited for a couple of minutes as the commotion died down.
Hreidarr stood again. "Do you bring proof of this supposed threat?"
Val's eyes flared slightly, and Durnham moved slightly to partially obscure Val's view, holding a hand up behind his back. "Easy, if this angers you, you're going to be mowing down gutless cowards on your way out."
Asha spoke up. "We have personally witnessed and fought the Draug while investigating the recent disappearances. The unnatural mist and missing caravans are due to their appearance... I believe you are all aware of this issue; many of you have lost significant merchandise to these attacks."
One of the senators spoke up. "We have not concluded our investigation into the disappearances."
*Right... You mean you haven't started. This is supposed to be a hearing, why the hell does it feel like we're on trial...*
Val fished out an envelope as a commotion erupted again, and slipped it into Harken's hand, whispering to him. "The proof you requested, they're small, but if you have a magnifying lens, you can easily study them."
Harken fished out the short strip of film, studying it carefully. "Pictures?"
"Photos. Not drawn, complete, and truthful capture of the scene."
"I see. Let Durnham and I handle this." Harken caught Durnham's attention, and the two whispered for a bit before the guard captain nodded and took the film.
"Honorable members of the Council, we are prepared to submit proof of the Draug presence."
Hreidarr looked up curiously. "Approach."
Durnham walked over, placing the film on the table before them. "These are 'photos,' scenes captured on paper with Barren World technology— some form of spycraft implementation. They rescued some of their soldiers and were provided with the evidence."
Hreidarr fished out a sizeable convex hemisphere of glass, placing it on top of the film. A couple of the Council leaned over to inspect the film, a mix of curiosity and confusion appearing on their expressions.
"These are not much to go on. Do we have other examples corroborating these... 'photos?'" Val's anger flared again upon hearing Hreidarr's words. He scanned the other Council members, not liking anything he was seeing or hearing. As Val looked across, he noticed Durimarr returning his gaze, as if to study his every action.
An angry Dwarf bolted up from the Senate seats. "This is a waste of time! It's awfully convenient of the Queen to simply summon us to war based on treaties that were signed before many of us were even born! We stand to gain nothing and lose much. How many troops is the Queen even sending? I can hardly imagine a significant force by the Elves. Does she expect us to bear the losses?"
Asha stood resolute, replying flatly. "The Queen marches to war herself, with a cohort of twenty-thousand."
"Aye, that's what I figured. A paltry sum and I assume she wishes for us to send twice or thrice that number?" The senators erupted into discussions as an overall angered mood settled in the hall.
"Enough!" Hreidarr boomed, quieting everyone immediately. Val's perspective of the regent swung back and forth like a pendulum, witnessing his authority that belied his wizened figure.
"Let us dispense with the childish bickering and assume for the sake of this congress that the Draug threat is as real as described. The fact stands that we will lose much more in this war than the Elves. Honoring the accord and crippling ourselves with the tenuous history of Aurulia next door, are two different matters." The regent added with a grim tone.
"If we do not receive your aid, we may not be able to hold them back, and they will move further inland." Asha all but spoke through her teeth.
"I am curious... What are the intentions of the Aesir?" Durimarr's gaze was still trained on Val, standing with Huginn and Muninn looking like some sort of bird-whisperer. The hall quieted down, only those near the front heard the elder runesmith, and many were whispering for clarification.
Huginn spoke, surprising many senators. "The All-Father is seeking to convene the Aesir host. We also beseech your aid. We do not have the strength or forces we once led, or we would be marching to the shores now instead of participating in this farce." Find authorized novels in Webnovel，faster updates, better experience，Please click www.webnovel.com for visiting.
The raven's words angered many, enough that most hardly managed to process the revelation of the All-Father's return. Durimarr, on the other hand, was looking very smug in his seat, smiling slightly at Val.
"It... Has been millennia... Since the time of the Aesir. It is humbling to meet you." One of the council members spoke slowly, wary of Huginn.
Huginn's leaped down from Val's shoulder as his voice rose to an impossibly loud volume for a creature of his size, as he spoke in a booming voice rivaling Karl's own. "Dispense with the pretense as well. Your forefathers once fought alongside us and prided themselves on loyalty and valor. Where has your great pride and tenacity gone? All I see gathered are spineless wretches who measure by the size of their gut rather than their sword-arm. Tyr and Thor both personally raised and blessed the fiercest of your warriors. To this day, you wear imitations of their mark to honor them. You slew giants and conquered mountains in defiance of the other races ridicule. I would speak to those who still remember what honor means."
Val was stunned, as were many of those seated in the hall. Durnham almost looked taller, and Val spotted Durimarr, almost grinning.
A gray-haired member of the council stammered in rebuke, completely red in the face. "Y-you can't goad us into this madness! There has not been a High King in over a century! The Aesir are gone! Thor has not been seen in this world for over a thousand years, Tyr for even longer, and the All-Father abandoned us to some frivolous journey in the Barren—"
Huginn's form suddenly expanded, growing in size to a massive raven with a wingspan several meters wide, with blue runes occasionally appearing along the surface of his feathers. "You will speak only of what you know, so I suggest, for the sake of your life, you do not speak at all."
Hreidarr raised his hands. "Lord Huginn, please excuse him. He speaks rashly. He does, however, voice a popular opinion."
"Heh, you thought I would be the one mowing them down?" Val whispered to Durnham.
Durnham spoke seriously despite the grin on his face. "As delicious as the scene is, we need the Council to agree on war. I highly doubt we'll get the votes we need from the Senate. Aside from the army, we need Hreidarr's vote to mobilize the Iron Guard, or at least what's left. Without the king, only the High Regent can command us to move."
Durimarr raised his voice. "For the sake of brevity, let us decide the matter of whether we will send troops. The details we can deliberate all day, but I imagine Lady Evenwind is eager to move on to Aurulia."
Hreidarr sighed. "Yes, let us decide that now." The seven council members stood and turned around to face the Senate.
"We now vote on the decision to answer Her Majesty's call for aid. Those in favor?" Durimarr immediately raised his hand. To Val's surprise, Hreidarr and two others of the Council raised their hands as well, bringing their vote alone to four of seven. For the Senate, not even ten raised their hand, most of them refusing to stand at all.
"Ahem. Honorable members of the Council and Senate, if I may? Before you finalize this decision, I have a small case to make." Harken stepped forward and caught everyone's attention, stirring more commotion among the spectators.
Hreidarr paused, eying the deceptively polite mercenary lord. "This case of yours pertains specifically to this decision?"
"I believe it does, yes."
"Proceed."
Harken spoke clearly and politely, despite blatant accusation towards some seated among the Senate. They were almost immediately identified to Val by the way they shifted or suddenly took on a greedy look. "It may interest many of you to know that the Americans— the humans of this land from the Barren World, have an interest in this war. They wield technology that rivals ours, yet is completely devoid of magic. I'm sure many of you have heard reports of a two-wheeled vehicle that rides faster than the best of horses. I happen to know for a fact, many of you among this congress has been scheming to piece apart and learn how these are made. This war presents us an opportunity to forge ties with the Americans and take an early seat in the coming revolution of technology and trade. With or without Kar Lodihr, I, for one, am already taking steps to capitalize on the situation."
All of the Senate now stood, respectfully giving the vote their attention and creating a cacophony of whispers. Hreidarr smirked but nonetheless motioned for the vote to continue after the whispers died down.
"Once again, in favor of sending aid to Her Majesty?" He called. This time almost thirty among the Senate raised their hand in favor. All of the Council, save for the disgruntled Dwarf who had remained silent since being threatened by Huginn, voted in favor.
"It is settled then. Lady Evenwind, Kar Lodihr, will answer the call." Hreidarr announced, sending many among the Senate and the spectators into a flurry of discussion.
"This congress will adjourn until noon. We will continue with the finer details then." Hreidarr returned to his seat with a weary expression. Many of the spectators immediately left in groups, carrying discussions and sending for their people.
Val sighed. "I owe you big time for giving up your competitive edge for us. If you need anything again, let me know."
Harken wore his usual smile. "Giving up? Absolutely not. My men left just yesterday for San Rafael. By the time these greedy fools act, I will be far ahead in the game. News about your people would have spread eventually. I give up maybe a month or two in exchange for far more political clout. As a bonus, I earn myself a favor from my favorite American, and 'Lady Evenwind' is sure to remember this."
Asha glared at him. "Indeed..."
Val stared dumbly. Realizing what had happened only after.
Durnham chuckled. "Heh, young folk. Don't be so quick to offer your word to this sly fox."
Val groaned as Muninn suppressed fits of giggling. Huginn had returned to his usual size and acted as if his entire demonstration never happened. "So, what now?"
Harken motioned for everyone to leave. "Well, now there's far less we can actually do here, so we might as well leave. I imagine the depths below will grow noisy as the Dwarves prepare for war. The Council and the Senate will reconvene and discuss the details of the war. Believe me when I say you do not want to be there to witness it. Now that they have settled the overall decision, it will be nitpicking and scheming to minimize costs and maximize profits."
"Please tell me Kar Lodihr is an exception with this behavior."
Durnham sighed. "Fortunately, yes. I will excuse the implication in light of the pathetic display you witnessed here. In the time of our High King, we aspired to much more than coin and luxury..."
The Senate hall was uncomfortably quiet, in light of the fact a few hundred were seated. Many spectators in the stands, all of which appeared to be from wealthy backgrounds, looked on in excitement. The several hundred pairs of well-dressed eyes suddenly made Val very aware of his attire. He did not have issues with stage-fright growing up, but the nervous feeling caused a wry smile to grow on his face. Val was extraordinarily comfortable with death, yet a congress of politicians and business representatives made him itch in his jerkin. Hreidarr cleared his throat as he unfastened the scroll, speaking in a deep but gravely. "It is my wish that Icould have written to you in more peaceful times. As I pen this letter, the Nine Houses prepare for the war that approaches our shores. We have confirmed the presence of the Draug; they are an ancient enemy once vanquished by your predecessors among the Aesir and Vanir hosts. With every passing day, they encroach further onto our shores. Ihave sent to you Alevriasha, the scion of Evenwind, to act in my stead. Under the circumstances of war, and in the interest of expediting preparations, Ihave authorized her to act on behalf of my fullest capacity. By the accords established under the rule of High King Ulgarn, Icall upon the armies and resources of Kar Lodihr to defend these lands and protect our mutual interests. Without your aid, I fear we will be too late to keep the Draug from growing to the extent we cannot defend. Ihave sent for the assistance of Aurulia as well, and Irequest the representation you have offered in the past." As Hreidarr finished reading and sat down, whispers and murmurs erupted around the hall. Val could pick up on a few of the conversations, and while he had been warned, some of their contents began to anger him. The Council waited for a couple of minutes as the commotion died down. Hreidarr stood again. "Do you bring proof of this supposed threat?" Val's eyes flared slightly, and Durnham moved slightly to partially obscure Val's view, holding a hand up behind his back. "Easy, if this angers you, you're going to be mowing down gutless cowards on your way out." Asha spoke up. "We have personally witnessed and fought the Draug while investigating the recent disappearances. The unnatural mist and missing caravans are due to their appearance... Ibelieve you are all aware of this issue; many of you have lost significant merchandise to these attacks." One of the senators spoke up."We have not concluded our investigation into the disappearances." *Right... You mean you haven't started.This is supposed to be a hearing, why the hell does it feel like we're on trial...* Val fished out an envelope as a commotion erupted again,and slipped it intoHarken's hand, whispering to him. "The proof you requested, they're small, but if you have a magnifying lens, you can easily study them." Harken fished out the short strip of film, studying it carefully. "Pictures?" "Photos. Not drawn, complete, and truthfulcapture of the scene." "I see. Let Durnham and I handle this." Harken caught Durnham's attention, and the two whispered for a bit before the guard captain nodded and took the film. "Honorable members of the Council, we are prepared to submit proof of theDraug presence." Hreidarr looked up curiously."Approach." Durnham walked over, placing the film on the table before them. "These are 'photos,' scenes captured on paper with Barren World technology some form of spycraft implementation. They rescued some of their soldiers and were provided with the evidence." Hreidarr fished out a sizeable convex hemisphere of glass, placing it on top of the film. A couple of the Council leaned over to inspect the film, a mix of curiosity and confusion appearing on their expressions. "These are not much to go on. Do we have other examples corroborating these... 'photos?'" Val's anger flared again upon hearing Hreidarr's words. He scanned the other Council members, not liking anything he was seeing or hearing. As Val looked across, he noticed Durimarr returning his gaze, as if to study his every action. An angry Dwarf bolted up from the Senate seats."This is a waste of time! It's awfully convenient of the Queen to simply summon us to war based on treaties that were signed before many of us were even born! We stand to gain nothing and lose much. How many troops is the Queen even sending? I can hardly imagine a significant force by the Elves. Does she expect us to bear the losses?" Asha stood resolute, replying flatly. "The Queen marches to war herself, with a cohort of twenty-thousand." "Aye, that's what Ifigured. A paltry sum and I assume she wishes for us to send twice or thricethat number?"The senators erupted into discussions as an overall angered mood settled in the hall. "Enough!" Hreidarr boomed, quieting everyone immediately. Val's perspective of the regent swung back and forth like a pendulum, witnessing his authority that belied his wizened figure. "Let us dispense with the childish bickering and assume for the sake of this congress that the Draug threat isas real as described. The fact stands that we will lose much more in this war than the Elves. Honoring the accord and crippling ourselves with the tenuous history of Aurulia next door, are two different matters." The regent added with a grim tone. "If we do not receive your aid, we may not be able to hold them back, and they will move further inland." Asha all but spoke through her teeth. "I am curious... What are the intentionsof the Aesir?" Durimarr's gaze was still trained on Val, standing with Huginn and Muninn looking like some sort of bird-whisperer. The hall quieted down, only those near the front heard the elder runesmith, and many were whispering for clarification. Huginn spoke, surprising many senators."The All-Father is seeking to convene the Aesir host. We also beseech your aid. We do not have the strength or forces we once led, or we would be marching to the shores now instead of participating in this farce." Find authorized novels in Webnovelfaster updates, better experiencePlease click www.webnovel.com for visiting. The raven's words angered many, enough that most hardly managed to processthe revelation of the All-Father's return. Durimarr, on the other hand, was looking very smug in his seat, smiling slightly at Val. "It... Has been millennia... Since the time of the Aesir. It is humbling to meet you." One of the council members spoke slowly, wary of Huginn. Huginn's leaped down from Val's shoulder as hisvoice rose to an impossibly loud volume for a creature of his size, as he spoke in a booming voice rivaling Karl's own. "Dispense with the pretense as well. Your forefathers once fought alongside us and prided themselves on loyalty and valor. Where has your great pride and tenacity gone?All Isee gathered are spineless wretches who measure by the size of their gut rather than their sword-arm. Tyr and Thor both personally raised and blessed the fiercest of your warriors. To this day, you wear imitations of their mark to honor them. You slew giants and conquered mountains in defiance of the other races ridicule. Iwould speak to those who still remember what honor means." Val was stunned, as were many of those seated in the hall. Durnham almost looked taller, and Val spotted Durimarr, almost grinning. A gray-haired member of the council stammered in rebuke, completely red in the face."Y-you can't goad us into this madness! There has not been a High King in over a century! The Aesir are gone! Thor has not been seen in this world for over a thousand years, Tyr for even longer, and the All-Father abandoned us to some frivolous journey in the Barren" Huginn's form suddenly expanded, growing in size to a massive raven with a wingspan several meters wide, with blue runes occasionally appearing along the surface of his feathers. "You will speak only of what you know, so Isuggest, for the sake of your life, you do not speak at all." Hreidarr raised his hands."Lord Huginn, please excuse him. He speaks rashly. He does, however, voice a popular opinion." "Heh, you thought Iwould be the one mowing them down?" Val whispered to Durnham. Durnham spoke seriously despite the grin on his face."As delicious as the scene is, we need the Council to agree on war. I highly doubt we'll get the votes we need from the Senate. Aside from the army, we need Hreidarr's vote tomobilize the Iron Guard, or at least what's left. Without the king, only the High Regent can command us to move." Durimarr raised his voice."For the sake of brevity, let us decide the matter of whether we will send troops. The details we can deliberate all day, but Iimagine Lady Evenwind is eager to move on to Aurulia." Hreidarr sighed. "Yes, let us decide that now." The seven council members stood and turned around to face the Senate. "We now vote on the decision to answer Her Majesty's call for aid. Those in favor?" Durimarr immediately raised his hand. To Val's surprise, Hreidarr and two others of the Council raised their hands as well, bringing their vote alone to four of seven. For the Senate, not even ten raised their hand, most of them refusing to stand at all. "Ahem. Honorable members of the Council and Senate, if I may? Before you finalize this decision, Ihave a small case to make." Harken stepped forward and caught everyone's attention, stirring more commotion among the spectators. Hreidarr paused, eying the deceptively polite mercenary lord. "This case of yourspertains specifically to this decision?" "I believe it does, yes." "Proceed." Harken spoke clearly and politely, despite blatant accusation towards some seated among the Senate. They were almost immediately identified to Val by the way they shifted or suddenly took on a greedy look."It may interest many of you to know that the Americans the humans of this land from the Barren World, have an interest in this war. They wield technology that rivals ours, yet is completely devoid of magic. I'm sure many of you have heard reports of a two-wheeled vehicle that rides faster than the best of horses. Ihappen to know for a fact, many of you among this congress has been scheming to piece apart and learn how these are made. This war presents us an opportunity to forge ties with the Americans and take an early seat in the coming revolution of technology and trade. With or without Kar Lodihr, I, for one, am already taking steps to capitalize on the situation." All of the Senate now stood, respectfully giving the vote their attention and creatinga cacophony of whispers. Hreidarr smirked but nonetheless motioned for the vote to continue after the whispers died down. "Once again, in favor of sending aid to Her Majesty?" He called. This time almost thirty among the Senate raised their hand in favor. All of the Council,save for the disgruntled Dwarf who had remained silent since being threatened by Huginn, voted in favor. "It is settled then. Lady Evenwind, Kar Lodihr, will answer the call." Hreidarr announced, sending many among the Senate and the spectators into a flurry of discussion. "This congress will adjourn until noon. We will continue with the finer details then." Hreidarr returned to his seat with a weary expression. Many of the spectators immediately left in groups, carrying discussions and sending for their people. Val sighed."I owe you big time for giving up your competitive edge for us. If you need anything again, let me know." Harken wore his usual smile. "Giving up? Absolutely not. My men left just yesterday for San Rafael. By the time these greedy fools act, I will be far ahead in the game. News about your people would have spread eventually. Igive up maybe a month or two in exchange for far more political clout. As a bonus, Iearn myself afavor from my favorite American, and 'Lady Evenwind'is sure to remember this." Asha glared at him. "Indeed..." Val stared dumbly. Realizing what had happened only after. Durnham chuckled. "Heh, young folk. Don't be so quick to offer your word to this sly fox." Val groaned as Muninn suppressed fits of giggling. Huginn had returned to his usual size and acted as if his entire demonstration never happened. "So, what now?" Harken motioned for everyone to leave."Well, now there's far less we can actually do here, so we might as well leave. Iimagine the depths below will grow noisy as the Dwarves prepare for war.The Council and the Senate will reconvene and discuss the details of the war. Believe me when Isay you do not want to be there to witness it. Now that they have settled the overall decision, it will be nitpicking and scheming to minimize costs and maximize profits." "Please tell me Kar Lodihr is an exception with this behavior." Durnham sighed."Fortunately, yes. Iwill excuse the implication in light of the pathetic display you witnessed here. In the time of our High King, we aspired to much more than coin and luxury..."
