Valkyrie's Shadow

Chapter 2

A general sense of satisfaction could be felt from Ilyshn’ish as she winged north to Norford with Ludmila. The Frost Dragon had negotiated a five per cent share of the spoils obtained from The Blister – including the Viridian Dragon Lord’s hoard – to be delivered in platinum and/or diamonds. Blue topaz, sapphires, opal and moonstone and other precious items reminiscent of ice and snow were also acceptable. Ilyshn’ish also expressed a keen interest in any books, maps and historical documents that they uncovered, but Ludmila doubted that any would have survived in the hot and humid conditions of the jungle.

It would take months or even years to locate all of the lairs and stashes scattered around The Blister, but, overall, her companion seemed pleased with life in general. She had gained substantial wealth, achieved things that an Adult Frost Dragon would never have dreamed of doing and had learned many things. Flying around with Ludmila made her feel safe and happy and now she was on her way to show off her new minions.

The River Islein grew broad as it approached the ocean, with the harbour city of Norford occupying its eastern bank. Much of it had expanded beyond the boundaries of the city wall – a testament to the security provided by the efforts of the Second Legion. Ludmila frowned as they crossed over the modest walls and towers manned by Imperial Knights who appeared entirely unaware of the Frost Dragon’s passage.

『Out of curiosity, how have you been landing in these cities? Do you use the garrison aviaries?』

『Oh, no – I just drop in.』

『…drop in?』

『Yes. I conceal myself and land somewhere inconspicuous.』

『Just to be certain, you’re not evading taxes by bypassing customs, are you?』

An awkward silence passed between them as the evening streets went by below. Ludmila’s fingers drummed rhythmically against the back of her companion’s neck.

『That’s called smuggling, Dame Verilyn.』

『M-M-Miss Gran didn’t say anything about it! She works for the highway patrol. Or she used to.』

『I’m happy you’ve found people that you trust enough to rely on, but you are still ultimately responsible for your conduct and that of your vassals.』

『Doesn’t that mean that it’s your responsibility, as well?』

『Yes, and that’s why I’m bringing up the issue with you. We’ll see what Miss Gran has to say about this.』

A sense of nervous uncertainty emanated from Ilyshn’ish as she circled over the city several times in her silent descent. They crossed over Norford’s central plaza twice before the Frost Dragon lined up her flight path over a long alley.

『We’re setting down here…hmm, how are you going to land?』

Ludmila dismounted, dropping to the alley thirty metres below. On a whim, she decided to land without activating her hairpin. Her boots struck the mud and her knees bent slightly. After a moment of trying to determine whether she had taken any damage, she decided that the fall hadn’t harmed her. It wasn’t a sure thing, but it certainly seemed that she had the same ability as the Dragoons of the Imperial Air Service. Her damage reduction might have had something to do with it as well, so she would need to test things more thoroughly when the opportunity arose.

Ilyshn’ish – as her Human self – dropped into the alley about ten metres away. Ludmila furrowed her brow at the sight of her companion landing in a puddle without creating so much as a single ripple or sound. Without even a pause to recover from the impact, Ilyshn’ish walked over to the alley entrance and cautiously looked out from the shadows.

『Is there really anything for you to be so watchful of here?』

『It’s just instinct. Also, I’ve noticed all sorts of things in these imperial cities that one doesn’t see in E-Rantel.』

『…such as?』

『I believe they’re broadly categorised as ‘shady dealings’. Miss Gran says that one won’t know whether these shady dealings are dangerous or not unless one puts themselves in danger to find out, so it seems wise to avoid them entirely.』

She couldn’t think of anything that might endanger Ilyshn’ish in the cities of the Empire. Knowing the way her companion’s mind worked, Ilyshn’ish had probably associated the word ‘danger’ with the few entities that she knew of that could harm her. It made little sense to expect a Frost Giant or whatever other ridiculous thing lurking in an alley, but the experience of proving or disproving something appeared to be a long process for Frost Dragons.

Ludmila took Ilyshn’ish’s hand in hers before stepping out into the city street. The Frost Dragon did not offer any resistance, instead drawing closer to her as they strolled along. Norford’s evening markets were in full swing and the sights unique to the Empire’s northwestern culture made Ludmila realise that she hadn’t spent much time at all looking around Enz.

As a city on the Golden Strand, she expected Norford to carry goods with a more ‘maritime’ flavour. Instead, it seemed that the shops and markets were filled with products from the interior.

“I thought there would be foreign goods and seafood in the offering,” Ludmila said, “but the local Merchant inventories appear similar to what we saw in Arwintar.”

“Ah, that’s because the oceans are too rough to navigate and fish in during the winter. In the spring, goods start flowing south. The flow reverses in the winter…or so I’ve been told.”

“Does that mean we won’t see any goods from Argland, Re-Estize or Karnassus here?”

“Merchant inventories don’t last long, or they get shipped inland. From what I’ve seen, the warehouses are in the process of stocking up exports for the spring. Goods from abroad were few and far between by the time we arrived in this part of the Empire.”

Gunnar mentioned something about having ships being able to withstand rough seas, so she wondered if the Frost Giants might be able to facilitate winter trade. Even if they didn’t have any Merchants, an arrangement similar to the one that Captain Iškur enjoyed in the Sorcerous Kingdom was a distinct possibility.

“What about other races?” Ludmila asked, “You mentioned something about nations in the northern seas, yes?”

“I did,” Ilyshn’ish nodded. “It appears that the only relations with aquatic Demihumans that the Empire has are hostile, however. Coastal settlements are raided much like they experience raids from terrestrial tribes. With how the Empire is, I don’t think matters will improve – most of the Adventurer commissions around here are to kill this or that.”

“I suppose that shouldn’t be a surprise how the Second Legion conducted their operations. Given the history of Human relations with other races in this region, cultural change will take time.”

“You believe that it can change?”

Ludmila glanced at Ilyshn’ish.

“Why wouldn’t it?”

“Because as far as I have seen,” Ilyshn’ish said, “there is no desire to change. If anything, the citizens here want more of the same. More development, more wealth–”

“Who was it that bragged about how much they were making again?”

“That’s different. I’m not sure if this is the right way to put it, but my feeling is that these people wish for wealth so they can do something with it. I just sleep on it. Does that make any sense?”

They stopped to watch a Bard perform a lively piece that felt distinct from anything she had heard in E-Rantel, Engelfurt or Arwintar. A song about a sailor who pined to ply the waves again so they could visit his lovers in ports abroad. Ludmila was enjoying it until she realised what it was about and hastily pulled Ilyshn’ish away. With her companion intending to travel the world, the absolutely improper song was bad for her education.

“It’s normal to turn assets to productive use, is it not?” Ludmila asked, “To most Humans, gathering wealth simply for the sake of gathering wealth – or worse, squandering it – is considered decadent and wasteful. Sleeping on it would be uncomfortable.”

“The ‘productive’ part is the problem,” Ilyshn’ish answered. “Human ideas of ‘productivity’ often involve destructive courses. Forests are felled and turned into fields and pastures. Those who do not ‘fit’ are disposed of without remorse. The Adventurer Guild receptionists smile and everyone cheers when difficult-to-remove ‘obstacles’ are dealt with through their commissions. Wealth is put to ‘productive use’ in anticipation that more wealth will be generated to be put to even more productive use. Pristine environments and entire populations aren’t obliterated when I take a nap on my ‘assets’.”

“That part should at least be limited,” Ludmila said. “While the Empire may now have Death-series servitors at their disposal, they can only expand into areas that do not belong to officially recognised states.”

Ilyshn’ish rolled her turquoise eyes.

“Oh yes, I can see it now: ambassadors from the world ‘round clamouring for ‘official recognition’ by the Sorcerous Kingdom so they don’t get stomped flat by their neighbours’ security rentals. Your woes over the lack of leases and open diplomatic channels will vanish.”

“Don’t think you’re the only one that has thought of this,” Ludmila frowned. “Lady Wagner proposed that we should do just that a few months ago.”

“She didn’t submit her proposal?”

“Lady Gagnier nearly strangled her, so no. For that sort of threat to work, people have to see that it can and will happen to them. Our foreign policy is directed towards developing good relations with other countries, not scaring them into line just because we can.”

“That seems convoluted to me. So much time and effort is being invested into achieving the very same ends.”

“The ‘ends’ that you are referring to are only one part of the equation,” Ludmila told her. “Every law, policy and action creates a premise that influences a myriad of other things. A leader must consider what their decisions give rise to or all manner of undesirable results may manifest.”

They made another turn in the busy market plaza and Ludmila spotted what must have been Zu Chiru’s merchant stand. She doubted that there were any other Quagoa Merchants in the city, at any rate. They stood at a distance, observing the lively throng gathered around it.

“Wasn’t this stand supposed to be a single table?”

“A single table quickly became insufficient for Zu Chiru’s business,” Ilyshn’ish said. “He purchased the pavilion in Oestestadt. As you can see, his operation has become wildly successful.”

The pavilion was roughly twice as large as Ludmila’s tent. It was open on one side and the interior was brightly lit. Tables were lined up within, manned by the Quagoa. The customers were attended to by three young women adorned in vibrant spring fashions who Ludmila assumed were Ilyshn’ish’s new ‘minions’. A fourth young woman in the uniform of an Imperial Air Service officer appeared to be keeping an eye on the crowd.

Makeshift lamp posts had also been arranged along the streets near the pavilion, which other stands were taking advantage of. It created a somewhat strange imbalance in the plaza where the area with the superior lighting – with Zu Chiru’s stand near the centre – seemed to draw the largest crowd…which she supposed was the point.

『Aren’t those women cold? Also, where did you get all this magical lighting from?』

『The heat and light are provided by magic items from Warden’s Vale. I went back one night while we were stuck in one of the towns between the cities. This was something I understood to be effective back when I was helping Zu Chiru out in E-Rantel, but I wasn’t aware how much more effective it would be when employed to a greater degree.』

『It’s something that Frost Dragons wouldn’t instinctively understand: you have exceptional vision and immunity to cold. Light represents much to Humans. Their night vision is poor and fire is a crucial tool. Shelter; warmth; food; other Humans – light is something one is naturally drawn to. If those associations turn out to be true, the perception is reinforced and other activities can be promoted.』

Judging from the variety of stands that had been set up nearby, the other Merchants understood this too. Several offered food and drink, entertainers came to work the crowds and a wide selection of goods were on display. Men, women and children dined, shopped or socialised in the lively setting.

『That’s an answer a Merchant or Bard would give – I never expected it from you.』

『It’s not difficult to understand as a Human…or a former Human. Races that are highly social and have similar needs should have similar behaviour. From what I’ve heard, Quagoa are even more social than Humans so Zu Chiru must be applying his understanding of things to great effect.』

『An avenue of exploitation that Humans find irresistible, hmm…I suppose you’re actually well versed in this. You wreak havoc with your opponents by leveraging your understanding of these nuances of nature.』

『Putting it that way is not technically wrong and it is a way to efficiently wage war, but I would rather we use this sort of understanding to build something rather than exploit or defeat others.』

Establishing a greater culture for the Sorcerous Kingdom was a puzzle that Ludmila and her friends constantly worked to piece together. Once, integration meant finding a place where all of the different races ‘fit’ into the primarily Human society of E-Rantel. As the reality of the Sorcerous Kingdom sunk in, however, it had become a monumentally complex effort.

The nature of each race; what that nature meant for perception, behaviour and understanding; what it meant for each race’s social dynamics, culture and measures of value – a new societal framework had to be established before they could take the first steps on the path to achieving His Majesty’s vision for the Sorcerous Kingdom. That something like it had once existed in the Katze Plains only served to remind them that the ‘backwater’ nature of their region of the world was not merely defined by technological or magical development but in the very essence of thought and culture.

A pronounced shift in perspective had occurred for Ludmila since becoming a Noble of the Sorcerous Kingdom and it was even more drastic for her friends who had been firmly entrenched in the civilian norms of Re-Estize. Flaws and cracks stemming from all of the fallacies that their society had been built upon became glaringly apparent. Not a year ago, visiting the Empire would have left Ludmila in awe of its development and progress. Now, it had simply become something like a case study to analyse in their quest for a truly harmonious nation.

Not everything about the Empire was bad, of course. Fundamentally, the national institutions of the Baharuth Empire were second only to those of the Slane Theocracy. The way that many of those institutions were employed and the culture that they promoted, however, could only lead to tragic outcomes in the far future. But as she had asserted to Ilyshn’ish, the influence of the Sorcerous Kingdom would gradually bring about positive change.

A beacon of prosperity and harmony for all the world to see.

His Majesty’s Will for the Sorcerous Kingdom was far beyond her simplistic understanding when she had first heard it declared in the dark alleys of E-Rantel. Ludmila couldn’t imagine that she had done much more than touch upon the surface of the Sorcerer King’s divine wisdom, but even that much placed her on the path to establishing the new order that would serve as the foundation of that ‘beacon’.

People had a tendency to desire what they believed was ‘better’. Once the Empire overcame their fear, superstition and reservations over the Sorcerous Kingdom, she was certain that this tendency would come into play. What the subjects of the Sorcerous Kingdom created would serve as a guiding light for the great hegemony that would surely form around it. It was their duty to ensure that that light led them in the right direction.

After they shared a snack from one of the nearby food stalls, Ilyshn’ish went to see her vassals and help Zu Chiru put away their stand for the evening. Ludmila wandered over to the Silver Shoals, a merchant inn one block away from the central plaza. Officer Roberbad was already there, looking slightly dishevelled.

“That was quick,” Ludmila said.

“Surprisingly so, my lady,” Officer Roberbad said. “Sergeant Harlow said that the Soul Eater was fast, but I thought his claim that it was faster than a Hippogriff was an exaggeration. I hope you don’t mind that I left it outside of the southern gatehouse – the citizens probably wouldn’t have appreciated me riding into Norford with it.”

“That will be fine,” Ludmila replied. “We should prepare a private room – Dame Verilyn should be arriving with her associates shortly.”

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