.^^ the Emperor ^^

— Rune —

Even though I probably could've finished the fight much sooner than I did, I took the opportunity, as it presented itself, to learn from a superiorly skilled fighter, in a practical setting.

Mèng Dian, while Not as strong as me, was just as fast, -maybe even a tad faster, when my chains were in place,- and his fighting skills filled the gap entirely. It was impressive, and so I didn't let my ego get in the way, instead analyzing the way he moved his body, with an ethereal grace and elegance that belied the power lurking underneath his skin.

When all was said and done, however, my learning from him began to widen the gap between us, and I finished my half before he finished his, but instead of poaching some of his, I let him finish unhindered.

He relaxed, and hummed, looking at me critically, before smiling, and bowing cordially. "Most Impressive, Lord Rune. I must concede my loss."

"It was a good contest, and I learned much from you." I bowed back, and then poured some water on my hands, cleaning myself off, and offering the same to him.

He watched with wide eyes as the blood washed off of my body, and accepted. "Interesting... I like this magic. To maintain ones dignity, even after a bloody battle. Many would kill for such a skill."

"I'm sure they would. Now let's get these sectioned out, so they can be taken to the countries that will punish them... half to the west, half to the north?" I asked, already dragging the bodies onto the ships.

He nodded, and the others began assisting, settling the pirates in the brigs of the ships, held in by some of my Dwarven Runes on the outside of the cells, out of reach. It took a while, because of their numbers, but by Dawn, we were finished.

I sat down in front of the chained-up captains, and poured the cleansing water over them, watching as years of salt-rot washed off their scales in seconds. They woke up slowly, blinking at the sudden bright light of the morning.

"Hello, captains! I am correct in calling you captains, correct? I'd hate to mislabel you, or give you rank you don't deserve." I asked jovially.

They hissed at me wordlessly.

I tsk'ed, and shook my head, igniting a piece of metal until it was white-hot, and slowly digging a scale off of each of them, making them screech in pain. They might be immune to magic, but regular heat was different.

"See, That won't work, Friends! I don't like the silent treatment, you see?" I warned them casually.

"What are you trying to learn from them?" Dian asked slowly.

"I have a pretty good idea why both of your governments sent you to kill them all, so I'm confirming my theories, that's all." I shrugged.

"You will get nothing from us, Human!" One of them hissed in Draconic, the Southern Archipelago common language.

"Really? Nothing? Not even your names? How rude... my name is Lord Rune Faequell, Native of Ulfavir and Noble of Lumeria! I'm also your only hope of surviving, because the moment you arrive in the Northern and Western Archipelago's, you're going to be hung for piracy, I'm sure you understand that, no?" I hummed.

They flinched at my words, and perhaps my questionable mastery of their language, and looked at each other, conflicted.

Dian slowly pulled his sword a few inches out of the sheath. "I could remove one of their heads, and that might galvanize the rest."

They shivered. "Look, that's not necessary, Alright? We're not even pirates! Check the holds of the ships, we haven't taken anything! We were paid to make a ruckus, so that the northerners could increase their naval activity, and then the westerners paid us even more for the same!" One of them spewed, while his fellows glared.

"I figured that was the case... Interesting, though. Well, do you have any proof? And when was this? Which northerners paid you, the Council? I've decided not to kill you, but I need details to have you exiled to Armada, instead of executed. There's a new council, by the way, as of a few months ago." I sat on a barrel, which I realized was full of dried bluefish, which I recognized. It was bought from Armada.

They relaxed, at the mention of their sister city. "Alright, the Council did hire us, beginning of last winter! Our orders were to wait until the Winter Harvest, when everyone's pockets are deeper, then hit a few ships, of each type. Then we were supposed to scatter, until beginning of next Harvest, six months from now. We've been doing this for seven years, now, and they've never sent contracts after us... these new council members must be cleaning house, getting rid of all the old shady shit their predecessors have been doing for two decades and more." The talker nodded casually.

"Sounds about right... Well, if you don't have anything useful, I suppose I have no choice but to give you over to them..." I smirked at their immediate refusals.

"Whoa, Hey! Alright, what about the Western Court? They haven't seen any recent shifts, so they're all still current!" The talker grinned victoriously.

"Ooh? That is juicy... do tell..." I grinned wolfishly.

—

Two hours later, after I had wrung out everything they could possibly know, I settled each of them into one of the brigs, but not their own ship, after making sure to mingle the crews thoroughly, so no rebellions could be planned, through all the squabbling. I settled the talker, as well as all of the more compliant pirates, in the southern Ship, the biggest one, because I planned on keeping it.

"Wonderful! And so two of the ships go with you to your peoples, Mèng Dian, and Two go to yours, Devon, because of your taking down the captains, and this middle one goes to Armada... I think they'll have a bit of work for them, and it's an effective exile, for the less dangerous of the group." I nodded.

Devon hummed. "The council won't like a third of the prisoners going free."

"They're not, they're being exiled. Also, was the contract 'put a halt to the raiding', or 'bring all the pirates in alive'?" I asked dryly.

She smiled. "True, we did go above and beyond our contract... and we were told to make a good impression on the Westerners, as well, so they can't really complain, can they?"

"Oh they can, and they will, but that's fine. Let's get these two ships to Lumeria, the big one to Armada, and I'll take the other two to the Western Capital, along with the Western Group. Sound good?" I asked.

Devon and Duncan nodded, (the elves had already boarded the flyer, which was already gone back to the Sanctuary,) and then Dian and Hikaru nodded. "That Sounds favorable." Dian commented, sealing the deal.

I grinned and opened a mirror to the Sanctuary, where the westerners had claimed a portion for their game table, and found the other two reading books calmly.

Dian snapped his fingers, waving at them. "Come, we have succeeded in the first part of our mission." They quickly gathered their things, and examined the mirror, stepping through cautiously.

The mirrors under the ships were difficult, and nearly impossible, I discovered, due to their massive size, nearly twice that of the Construct, so I decided to push them forward, into a relatively smaller portal, which worked much better.

After moving two, I wasn't able to open the third, to my surprise, and I sat down heavily. "Yeah... Nope. Two is my limit... good to know." I cracked my neck, and opened a human-sized portal. "There's the portal to Lumeria. Go on, I'm about empty of power."

Devon patted my head, and stepped through, leaving Duncan with me. "I'll see you in a few days, Rune! This was fun!" She laughed.

I grinned and nodded, as the mirror faded and shattered into dust. "Wow... Yep. So, I'll call a few Callywomps to take the ship up the coast, and then we'll get some rest, and Duncan will go back and get us a Flyer, which will then take us to your capital, and I'll have rested enough by then to hopefully bring over the last two ships. Sound like a plan?" I asked.

Duncan nodded. "I can do that."

"That is agreeable, yes." Dian inclined his head.

"Wonderful... Duncan, get me to the water." I stood up slowly, my body shivering with cold suddenly.

He nodded and basically carried me over to the water, where I dove in, letting the water revitalize me a bit, then calling for a few Sea People, specifically the residents of Armada.

A few curious water elementals swam around me, and I waved hi tiredly. They hummed, and disappeared as a familiar face appeared. "Rune! You look like death! What's wrong?" Exil asked, swimming around me easily.

"Nothing much! Just fought about 75 Dragonborn Pirates. They're in the hold of that ship, and they're your problem now, but the ship is mine. Can you handle getting it to the coast of Armada?" I asked.

He hummed, and nodded. "This we can do. Are they creatures we would welcome?"

"Just mercenaries, really, they haven't done much damage or hurt to anyone. I gave you the compliant ones. They might make good fishermen, I don't know." I shrugged.

He chuckled. "I see! Consider it handled, then! And you should rest; as I said, you're not looking very good."

I nodded and climbed out of the water, laying down on the pier. "Alright! That's finished... Duncan, go get our Flyer, please?" I opened a mirror to the Sanctuary, and he dove through the half-sized mirror, compared to normal size.

"This Mirror Magic takes a lot out of you, then?" Dian asked.

"Yes... the bigger portals, especially... the smaller ones are easy, even multiple, but those were the biggest I've ever attempted. I don't think I want to do it again soon, but I'll have to, at least twice more." I nodded.

He hummed. "I see... it is impressive magic, though."

"Thank you. I think I'll sleep, now... do try not to let me get eaten, or to let the prisoners riot?" I chuckled.

He smirked. "I wouldn't dream of it."

I closed my eyes, seeing the biggest ship pull away slowly, with Exil pulling it by the fore anchor, swimming with a few of his cousins pushing the back.

—

"Rune? Are you alright? Why are you sleeping on the Pier?" Duncan shook my shoulder.

"It was comfortable." I groaned, and sat up, stretching slowly. "Time to go?" I asked.

"Yes. You can sleep more on the flight." He nodded, and helped me up, walking back towards the flyer, a smaller, sleeker one, whose pilots were clearly westerners themselves.

"Mm, I like the design, very sleek." I complimented them, laying down in the cargo hold.

Hikaru smiled. "I appreciate your compliment. My family built this-... What is the word? Glider?"

"Flyer, close one." I hummed.

"Yes, Flyer. We design and build them, though they all have Elven Engines, because the elves won't share their designs." She frowned.

"Even if they did, you wouldn't be able to replicate it, I'm afraid... they're complex mixtures of ingenious machinery and Elven Magic, not simple mechanics. I created my own, but that's Dwarven magic, so just as useless to you. But it is beautiful, either way." I sighed, and closed my eyes.

She hummed. "Well, thank you... I was not aware."

"Wake me when we can see the Islands, Yeah Duncan? Thanks." I nodded, and let sleep take me.

—

"I wonder if you were being sarcastic or not... the Library Of Somnus is a very well hidden place, and no one has studied there in centuries." Dian stepped into my dream, sitting next to me in the branches of the Lonely Greenwood.

"Yes, and I know the people who hid it. But we're not good enough friends for me to give you access to a Hoard of Information, Mèng Dian. Ask again after we spend more time together. In the meantime, relax and enjoy the summer breeze." I chuckled.

As I said this, a gentle summer breeze whistled through the distant ravines, and the branches shifted a bit with the soft, warm wind. I saw Gethod, on the roof of the temple, whittling something, and Faranza and Ophelia lounging on the riverbank, the Construct speaking to Gethod quietly, (for a 60ft tall automaton,) and smiled.

"This was Your home, once?" Dian asked.

"The place remains... but the people who made it home are dead and buried, Yes." Their graves became clear, and it started raining as they turned to dust, leaving Ophelia alone on the riverbank, and the Construct leaning against the temple, his eyes slowly fading.

"I am sorry... I didn't mean to ruin the dream... I just wanted to know more about you." He sighed.

I looked up at the clouds. "It isn't ruined... just more real."

A younger image of me tracked through the mud, dragging a massive Matron behind me, growling savagely with effort. The Construct blinked, looking at me, muddy and dirty for the first time in a long time, but didn't interfere, as I began skinning the beast, and eating my fill. I had hunted her for two days, before finally attacking, fighting my way through her entire nest. My skin was ripped and cracked, wounds that led to scars I still held today.

I hung the fur on the side of the temple, using heavy rocks to hold it in place, and for the first time in my life, I left the meat to spoil in the rain, as I poured a handful of her blood into gethod's dirt grave, the first incarnation of it.

Dian glanced at me, and hummed. "Why are you showing me this?"

"You wanted to know more about me. This is what made me the man I am." I shrugged.

Before he could respond, the scene shifted, a few years later, and there was Faranza being killed by the Ossifrage, my legs broken and pinned under a rockslide, fifteen feet away. Then it was my first meeting with Exil and Armada, and their subsequent allowing me to trade my tinkering's to them. The gnome village, teaching me basic medicine. Helping BriarFang give birth to her eggs. Events in my life that held meaning, but didn't reveal some of my deepest secrets.

Eventually, we were in the present, then my future hopes and dreams, funnily enough; and I was lounging naked in the top of my tower, holding a glass of wine in one hand, with Devon and Natva on either side of me, clothed in silken robes for their modesty.

He raised an eyebrow. "Well, I've seen much worse dreams, and at least there's only two of them."

I chuckled. "They're close to me... maybe one day they'll both be mine. But as of now, I think we need to wake up." I splashed the wine on my face, and sat up with a heave.

—

I sneezed, confused by the tickling sensation, and looked up into the face of a beautiful tiger with golden earrings, who was casually licking my face. "What-... oh."

"Hmm?" Dian asked.

I sighed, and smiled at the tiger involuntarily. "Well hello. Who might you be? You are a magnificent beast, aren't you? I wish we had some of you in the northern section of Ulfavir, but the Weizenbeasts would eat you alive, unfortunately." I tickled the bottom of its chin, causing it to chuff loudly.

"Are you talking to the air?" Dian asked slowly.

"No, I'm talking to the tiger." I pet the tiger's head, carefully avoiding the golden earrings and collar, and he froze, seeing the ripple of air around my hand. Then he surprised me by immediately kowtowing, and I raised an eyebrow at his formal salute and introduction of himself, then a greeting to the 'Great Sun Emperor'.

A shiver on the back of my neck told me of the arrival of the Emperor, a quiet, but powerful man. He stood about as tall as a normal man, with an ethereal grace as he stepped around me, and sat down in a large golden throne. The tiger purred, stepping away from me and laying at his feet, apparently being a Spirit Beast, not a natural tiger. The earrings should have given it away, honestly.

I hummed. "Greetings, Great Sun Emperor. I am Lord Rune Faequell, Of Ulfavir and newly Lumeria." I decided to kneel, not fully kowtow like Dian, and await his response.

"We were told that you wished to meet us, before you agreed to create things for us. You are here, and we are here... and you have brought us a wondrous gift. We have been long searching for proof of certain nobles' dishonorable involvement in piracy for gain, and to entrench this country in War. Now, with the knowledge you have gleaned from the captains of these mercenary ships, we may finally act without consequence. You have our thanks." He spoke common, and casually, with the calm air of someone who was used to being obeyed and listened to, and had never had to raise his voice, before.

"I merely did as I desired, Emperor. That the two events intertwined was entirely the will of Fate, or Luck, not any conscious intention of my own." I nodded.

He smiled a bit. "Yes, that is true. Men who give themselves to the whims of fate often get things done, we have seen. It is a curious effect. However, a debt is owed, and as such, we will bargain with you as to the nature of your service to the Empire."

I frowned. "I don't mean to be rude, but I believe what the Emperor meant to say was 'the nature of the Trade Agreement between the Empire and the Faequell Patriarch'. After all, I am not a citizen of the Empire, and while I am certainly open to negotiations about Trade between us, I am no one's Servant. The nature of this language is rather convoluted, so I am quite positive the Emperor meant no disrespect, especially to one who has recently done his grace an unsolicited, yet appreciated and important service."

He raised an eyebrow slightly, and Dian flinched.