AR Chapter 508 (Patreon)

Should be two more this week.

“Greetings to the Zaaktif,” Maksulah bade me welcome as I stepped forward. As she showed her respect, she also tilted her body to expose the entire length of her neck to me. So far as I knew, it was a sign of submission, and going off of the barely contained snarls that the rest of her people responded to her attitude with, that was probably true. At least, a good portion of her people seemed to think her humility was embarrassing. The remainder of her companions were those who had been released from imprisonment at our hands. At least, I was fairly certain that the few Misti Hawar who bowed their heads while flicking nervous glances at each of my comrades were those who we’d held.

I stepped forward, drawing closer to the delegation. The initial greeting had been given from some twenty or thirty feet apart, and as I drew close enough to touch one of the creatures in front of me, the surly, rebellious attitudes faded. As I had continued aging, it was obvious that I hadn’t yet reached my final height, and was now nearly thirteen feet tall. The Misti Hawar, however, were about half my height. Standing tall, they could nearly walk beneath my hands as they hung at my sides.

“Please, forgive the representatives of the other clans for their slow reaction to your presence,” Maksulah begged as I drew closer. Her attention flicked towards the others, urging them to be compliant, and some did as I stared down at them and made liberal and literal use of Absolute Dominance. That, combined with Imperial Bearing, served to make my mere presence enough to bring the reticent into line. The rebellious, though, bristled. The fur along their necks puffed out, and the furtively bared teeth gave way to low rumbling growls.

“This one shames our people, and I can only thank the Great Hunter that she is not one of my clan,” one said, their voice low and throaty like a male’s, though they wore clothing that covered their upper body like a female. The longer time went on, the harder it was for me to tell the genders apart in any people other than my own. Regardless of their gender, though, their accent was better than Maksulah’s and they wore robes made of a material I was completely unfamiliar with. The robe shone in the light under the suns, and was embroidered with various different designs. A rich coward, then?

“She survived the war, which is better than any of the Great Hunter’s spawn can say,” I replied, staring down at the creature that spoke to me as Maksulah tried to subtly get them to shut up. “Given that you’re standing here and needed to hear my title, obviously, you weren’t one of those brave enough to go to war. How shameful to rely on others to fight and then call those able to fight weak.”

“A volunteer who went to war and was then held captive for so long isn’t a soldier,” the Misti Hawar sneered. “At best, they’re a liability.”

I blinked several times, staring down at them as I hoped to frighten them into action. Then, as they started to draw on their magic, I allowed myself a small grin. Shadows flickered under their feet, and I didn’t hesitate for a second. A pulse of sonic magic shattered the shadows, and the Misti Hawar’s eyes widened as I reached out with my right arm. My left still held my spear, and I hoisted the idiot up to look straight into my eyes. They gagged in pain as their tail thrashed and shadow tried to free them. Their feet kicked uselessly as their eyes bugged out.

“Trying to use your magic on me seems to have been a foolish choice,” I laughed as I stared into their eyes. Then, I started drawing more from my sonilphon as I continued to hold the idiot aloft and looked at Maksulah. “Who’s this fool?”

A few of the other people there bristled at my insult, but seeing what I’d done and how the rest of my accompanying pack was drawing forward, they seemed to think better of provoking me further.

“The name of the individual you are holding is esteemed Clan Head Inuksuza. He is the leader of the Liertuk Clan,” Maksulah answered.

“And why does somebody who has no respect for me or you have the opportunity to come and attempt to broker a peace between our countries?” I asked.

“Esteemed Clan Head Inuksuza is the premier leader of the claw faction, Zaaktif. They are one of the three factions currently vying for control. The claws do not believe you were capable of finding victory in war, while the fangs are those who I head. The fangs are those who have brokered this agreement, while the shadows are yet to commit to any course of action,” she answered. Her eyes kept flicking between me and him, and the gurgling noises he couldn’t help but continue to make brought a certain joy to me. “Would you release him, please? I promise I will ensure that you are not disrespected like that again, if that is what is necessary.”

I stared at the pathetic male dangling in front of me, his claws trying and failing to pierce through the armored scales along my forearm. He wasn’t trying to do anything but escape, but with the subtle magic I kept thrumming through my hands, the Destructive Wave destroyed any threads he could conjure to make himself into shadow. For a moment, I considered wringing the life from the fool as an example, but decided against it.

With a thump, he landed on the ground, coughing and gasping, barely conscious. A few of the others came forward to try to minister to him, but after about thirty seconds, he regained enough of his consciousness to push them away and attempt to struggle to his feet. His eyes burned hot as he glared at me, even as he lay on the ground. Even though I now struggled to read the expressions of people, his body language betrayed the fear that now ruled him. He knew that, despite looking down on and hating me and my people, I, at least, was something he couldn’t confront himself.

“I’ll show you grace,” I said, stepping over the so-called Clan Head that remained prostrate on the ground. “I’m glad that you remember your place, Maksulah. We shall ensure that the rest of your country learns it.”

“We shall see about that,” Inuksuza muttered under his breath, obviously not thinking I was capable of hearing it. He struggled to his feet and tried to subtly glare while my attention was towards Maksulah, but I turned and maintained steady eye contact with him. As he shrunk back in fear, I bared my teeth in an open threat.

“Yes, we shall. And if more blood needs to be shed to learn it, then the lessons shall begin forthwith.”