Draka Chapter 366: Strategic Concerns (Patreon)

As lovely as it was to find that the lady provisioner Vassaram was unlikely to cause any trouble in my relationship with the Council, it didn’t address the reason I’d asked to meet with them. Perhaps it was unrealistic to hope that Karakan could defend the entirety of Mallin from a literal empire, but me and the other dragons couldn’t be the first and last line of defense. If Tekeretek had a standing army of about half of Karakan’s entire population, and probably the means to raise Sorrows only knew how many more in a pinch, then I couldn’t expect Karakan to defend itself on land. Not against a full invasion. Well, fine. Fair’s fair. But the city needed to at least be able to spot any approaching fleets before they landed.

Fortunately, the Council agreed. “We are currently pressing a large number of swift merchant ships and couriers into service as scouts,” the lady admiral told me when I repeated my concerns. “Not a popular move—”

“I should say not,” the lord mercantile Parvion said, with a heavy sigh. “But they’re being well compensated, at least.”

“Just so,” Yakamo said with a quick, irritated look his way. “Our heavier ships remained closer to port and fared much better than our lighter ones, so if we can only spot an invading force we should be able to at least drive it off, if not destroy it. There are also the remains of the Happaran fleet; we’re still in the process of incorporating them into our own command structure. We would have replaced the crews entirely, but we simply don’t have the sailors. Not yet.”

“But we’ve loosened the purse strings to provide enlistment bonuses for new sailors, so with any luck that should change in the coming weeks,” Soandel added. “The lady admiral proposed an increase in salary, but with the finances as they are, we’re in the rather unfortunate situation of having to do more with less. The Happaran reparations can only go so far, and in so many directions.”

“We’re still talking about reparations?” I asked. “You didn’t just annex them?”

“They are a vassal,” the lady justice Sempralia said. It was the first time she’d spoken directly to me since the meeting began. “While we could certainly justify annexation, the administrative burden would be too much, too soon. It simply isn’t practical. Not with Tekeretek still threatening us.”

“Not to mention the Happaran clergy would rebell, and with them, gods only know how much of the population,” the lord hierophant said, for once sounding sincere rather than pissy. “They will never accept being subordinate to the temples of Karakan. Too many generations of theological disagreement there.”

“Jesus Christ, even the priests are fighting?” I muttered. Then I heard myself. I didn’t need the sensation from Conscience of an eyebrow raised so far that it threatened to merge with her hairline to know what a stupid complaint that was. So before anyone could politely explain that yes, of course the priests were fighting, I deftly changed course by asking, “So what you’re telling me is that with the measures you’re taking, you should have a better and better chance of keeping Tekeretek from landing another army uncontested, do I have that right?”

“If they even dare send another force, once the survivors return,” Lord Militant Sarvalian replied. “I understand that you left their ships entirely untouched. Clever. With that many ships, and that many witnesses, it’ll be impossible for the Tekereteki crown to keep news from spreading. In weeks every Tekereteki citizen, and more importantly, every Tekereteki soldier and sailor, will know what happened here. Their appetite for avenging their fallen comrades should be rather blunted when they have men and women on their own ships telling them what it was like on the ground. I imagine their officers will find them hard to motivate.”

“Right,” I agreed. That hadn’t been my intention at all; I’d just wanted them to have somewhere to go except melting into the countryside where they might cause all kinds of trouble. But if Sarvalian wanted to credit me for some kind of long-term strategic ploy, then I was only too happy to be overestimated.

“I would direct a question to the young lady Drakonum,” Sempralia said.

My sister, ever attentive, didn’t miss a beat. “Yes, Lady Justice?”

“It’s well over a month now since we discussed the fruits of your labor in translating texts found in the ruins of Old Mallin. As I’m sure you know, we’ve signed various agreements with the lady Drakonum regarding access to these translations. Exclusive access. I understand that these things take time, but have you found anything that might be of use to the city?”

“Unfortunately not, Lady Justice,” Herald replied, bowing her head for a brief moment before looking up again. “I have, however, greatly improved my own understanding of the language. I have also developed and refined my own primer, in Karakani, on the language and writing of Malyon. I—”

She hesitated, turning a look on Maglan which was half question, half apology. He seemed to understand, and nodded reluctantly.

“I have been using this primer to teach my beloved Maglan, and he is making great progress. Between the two of us, and some others with more limited knowledge of the language, we should be able to start making real progress. The real problem at the moment is that we simply do not have the correct books here, in Karakan.”

Sempralia gave a firm nod. “In that case, Young Lady Drakonum, I would like to request, urgently and on behalf of the Council, that you prioritize locating any books that may be of strategic importance. Military applications, primarily, especially naval ones, but anything that might swell our coffers would also be of great help. And if the good of the city is not enough motivation, you also stand to become fabulously wealthy, Young Lady Drakonum,” she said, with a deliberate glance at me. “We’ve already budgeted for expenses connected to our agreements with your House. Please do not delay for our sake.”

Herald’s breath hitched slightly as she bowed her head and said, “I… will keep that in mind, Lady Justice,” and a wave of amused affection washed through me. That girl loved gold almost as much as I did. That wasn’t to say that she was miserly; she and the rest of our family spent freely, and were all very generous to their employees. They didn’t hoard wealth like I did; they wanted it so that they could spend it — or wear it, in Herald’s case. I was pretty sure that she took the golden dragon off her ear to sleep, but that was about it, and sometimes it felt like I saw some new pretty accessory on her every time we met. But why they wanted money didn’t matter. I’d like to think that Herald was somehow special in every way, not just most ways, but when it came to silver and gold she was entirely common; if you wanted to motivate her to do something, offering her unimaginable wealth was a very good way to go about it.

And with half of whatever went to the House passing on to my hoard, I was feeling all kinds of motivated, too. Something Sempralia had clearly deduced. “Herald,” I said, “Master Rasarian would understand you taking a few days away, don’t you think? For the good of the city.”

“For the good of the city,” Herald agreed, her golden eyes glinting as she smiled up at me.

“And I’m sure that Maglan’s commander wouldn’t mind him coming along to help out,” I added.

“I believe that the young soldier is on indefinite leave,” Sarvalian said. “If he wishes to take a short trip out of the city with his lady friend, that is no one’s business but theirs.”

“In that case,” I said, “shall we finish up here? It looks like we’ve a trip to plan.”

All that remained after that was a few short pleasantries, along with a lot of hilariously dirty looks from Nahasia. But we hadn’t made it down the Palace steps when an aide of some kind came hurrying after us, a simple, folded paper in his hand.

“For the lady dragon,” he said nervously, looking up at me as Maglan accepted the letter. “From the lady provisioner Vassaram.”

It was too dark to read it then and there, but back at the inn Herald had Maglan unfold it and read it for us in the light spilling out from a window. It took him a moment — he wasn’t a very experienced reader — but once he was done he asked, “Do you want the words, or what it says?”

“The gist of it is fine,” I told him.

“Right. The lady provisioner is inviting you and anyone you want to bring with you to her estate. She wants to talk to you about things that aren’t the whole Council’s business. Um… reply to set a time, and all that.”

“Okay. Great. Probably won’t have time for a while, but yeah.” I thought about it for a bit, then looked at Herald. “So, Mak should come, for sure. What about you?”

“I would be willing.”

“And… I know you don’t like her, but what about Zabra? Should I bring her?”

Herald stiffened, her face twisting slightly in a pensive scowl. “I think,” she said reluctantly, “that you should make sure that they have had an opportunity to meet privately first. If they have, then…” She sighed. “If that went well, then yes. Bring her.”

“Thank you,” I said softly. For being pragmatic. For being mature. For not letting her well-earned disgust with the woman rule her. I didn’t say any of those things, but I knew she’d understand. “So, Mag! Learning Malyoni, huh? That’s a pretty exclusive club you’re joining.”

“It was his idea,” Herald said, her scowl vanishing in favor of a proud smile.

“Figured it might help,” Maglan said awkwardly. “Never was a very good reader, even after Herald taught me. Figured, you know, if I was going to get better at it I might as well try to make myself useful at the same time.”

“Good man!” I told him, using my snout to bump him gently in the barn door he called a chest. “And now see! It’s earned you a couple of days of complete privacy with Herald! If you’re up for it, that is.”

“That… yeah. Of course,” he replied. And while the light from the window was too warm to tell, there was no way that his sheepish chuckle wasn’t accompanied by a blush.

“Draka!” Herald sputtered, smacking me gently on the nose.

“I’m just saying. I won’t be inside the library with you, nor will Mother, if she’s willing to keep an eye on you instead.”

“I know, but there is no reason to come right out and say it!” she said, her outrage spoiled slightly by the way she giggled at the end.

Maglan groaned. “Mercies, I’m glad Makanna isn’t here.”

I just laughed. Mak had relaxed a lot since he first got to know her, and I didn’t think that he’d quite accepted that, but I was clearly the cool older sister.

*

Leaving for Malyon wasn’t as simple as grabbing Herald and Maglan and taking off. They needed to pack, for one. Herald needed to talk to Master Rasarian, with whom she had regular tutoring sessions; she refused to tell him by letter, both out of respect for the man she affectionately called “that old goat,” and because there was a very real chance that he’d feel slighted enough to end their arrangement. I needed to let Mak and everyone else know what was going on, and talk to Sandstorm about my plans; I hoped she’d come with me. And I needed to visit the Tespril estate, both to talk to Zabra before I replied to Vassaram, and to fetch Tammy. I was bringing her with me to Malyon.

Busy, busy.

I talked to both Mak and Sandstorm early the next morning. Mak simply accepted what I told her, and promised to go over the knowledge-sharing agreements again so that we could maximize our profit when the time came. Sandstorm was happy to join us going north; with any luck grand-uncle Indomitable would be back by now, or return soon.

That left Tammy and the Tesprils. I tried jumping into Tammy’s head, but couldn’t. No surprise there; both of my headmates were out, so to speak, and Tammy was Instinct’s favorite. But jumping into Zabra showed me Tammy and Kesra having a lazy breakfast, so I knew that they were home. No Samara, thankfully; I had nothing against her, but I would’ve had to watch what I said a little if she was there.

I took a long, slow lap around the city before going to them. I wasn’t in any rush, and there was no sense in interrupting their morning. And my arrival certainly would’ve done that, as shown by how quickly they gathered in the garden once I’d landed. A single guard had lounged in the shade by the back door, nearly falling off her chair in her haste to bow and bid me welcome, and it couldn’t have been more than half a minute after she rushed inside before both ladies of the house and Tammy stood before me.

“You all look well,” I told them. “I see you got your hair cut, Tammy.”

“I did, thank you, Mistress,” Tammy said, grinning wide as she bowed her head. Her hair, which had been below her shoulders and uneven from her hacking off damaged parts with her knife, now stopped at her jaw. “Kira took me to see a beautician after the baths.”

“Well, it suits you. Frames your face very nicely. Now, go get your kit together. We’re going to Malyon, and I don’t know how long you’ll be staying. Make your way to the inn when you’re ready.”

With an excited, “As you say, Mistress!” she turned and strode inside, leaving me with just the two Tesprils. “I wasn’t just being polite,” I told them. “You really do look well. Zabra, I think being in love suits you.”

In almost an echo of Tammy, Zabra smiled wide and bowed her head. “Thank you. I think so, too.”

“And you, Kesra. I don’t know what’s going on with you, but you look less stressed than usual. Good on ya. Now, the reason I’m here, other than to steal Tammy back from you, is one Lady Vassaram.”

Kesra took a long-suffering breath. Zabra’s shoulders slumped for just a moment before she raised her head and straightened her back, facing me with grim anticipation.

“Did you meet with her yet?” I asked. “Not at the auction. I mean a proper, private conversation.”

“We exchanged a few letters,” Zabra said meekly.

“One letter,” Kesra sighed. “You sent one letter. And you never replied to her letter back.”

“So that’s a no,” I said. “I ask because she’s on the Council now, as Lady Provisioner. I’ll be going away for a few days, but afterward I’ll be meeting with her. Zabra, I want you to talk to her in the next few days, if at all possible. Then I want you to decide if it would be helpful for you to join me when I meet with her. Alright?”

“Of course, my lady,” she replied, barely hesitating at all.

“Good. Kesra, if you want to and think it would be helpful, you’re welcome, too.”

Kesra nodded. “I’ll think about it, Lady Draka.”

I returned her nod. “Lady Vassaram knows that we’re acquainted. As far as she knows, the two of you have mentioned her to me in passing, and that’s it. Don’t be surprised if she asks about me. For that matter, don’t hesitate to tell her anything that shouldn’t be kept secret. I trust your judgement on that, both of you. Now, while I’m here, anything I need to know?”

“Revenue from trade is up,” Kesra replied quickly. “That’s despite the navy pressing two of our lighter ships into service, for which we’re getting paid. Not as much as we might make moving goods, but it’s secure income.”

“Excellent. And on your end, Zabra?”

“The city is full of soldiers back from the campaign,” she said with a smile and a shrug. “Dice, drink, and debauchery is what they want, and I provide them all. Business is good.”

“Still within the limits I’ve set, yeah?” I asked. “Everyone can leave whenever they want? No robbing drunks, no trying to lure people into debt, and so on?”

“As you say,” she agreed. “Lord Drakonum and Mister Valmik have personally inspected several of our taverns and gambling halls, and Ardek has been going around to the brothels with Kira, both to inspect conditions and to make sure that the workers are healthy. I don’t hesitate to say that we run the cleanest, most virtuous dens of vice in the League.”

I left shortly after that, after making Zabra promise to send that invitation to Lady Vassaram the same afternoon at the latest. I also made sure to tell them how pleased I was about the state of their still-legal but less savoury businesses. The state of the brothels especially was important to me; I wasn’t going to accept any outright coercion or exploitation. Kira making the rounds was a nice touch, and one that I wished that I’d thought of myself.

Happily, I would see her soon. The last thing I planned to do before leaving was to make sure that Kira was topped up. She was getting better, but she still needed a dose of magic every three or four days, depending on how much she’d been healing.

A quick hop into Mak’s head told me that Kira was on her way back to the inn; she’d gone out that morning on a house call, which she did every so often. I arrived only a few minutes before her; when she walked into the square together with Barro and Ardek, who’d both gone along as escorts, I asked her to follow me into the yard.

“Thank you, but that won’t be necessary,” she told me excitedly after I’d praised her for her work and asked if she needed topping up. “Mak can do it now!”

“Oh?”

“Yes! Ever since she came back. Her Heart needs to be quite full, but when it is she can give me the excess. And since she recovers so much more quickly now, I think you don’t need to worry about me anymore.”

“Great!” I said, forcing myself to sound cheerful. “I’m glad to hear it.” So she didn’t need me anymore. That was… good, I supposed. Objectively.

“It lets me heal more, too,” she continued. “Before, I’ve had to turn patients away, because I’ve needed to save a little in case of emergencies. Now, as long as she’s around, I don’t need to do that.” Then she smiled brightly up at me, and it was almost as though she was mine again. “And it’s all thanks to you, Draka. Thank you.”

And just like that, I didn’t feel so bad anymore. I was so weak sometimes, in the best kind of way.