Reia and Fayde held each other in silence for a while. Neither of them wanted to disturb the brief peace they had found in each other's arms. They both knew their time together would soon be interrupted.
Allein had returned some time ago and now stood quietly at the entrance of the tent, watching them without making her presence known.
It seems events have slipped beyond my grasp. I anticipated their bond, yet some part of me still resisted its inevitability. No matter. This is not the world I once knew. The customs here are coarse, but workable. When he becomes Khan, polygamy will be expected. I can adjust. This is only… a minor divergence.
She stared at them, lost in thought. Her reasoning was sound, but emotion wasn't so easily restrained. A sliver of anger stirred in her chest, along with a faint trace of jealousy. She didn't understand why it affected her so much and couldn't bring herself to admit it even to herself.
Impossible. There's no way.
She tried to shake the thought. Even though she had claimed Fayde as hers, she had never meant to develop real feelings for him. She was a princess, the daughter of the former Lordof all Beastkin. That history might seem distant to others, but to her, it was still vivid. It felt like only yesterday that she had last spoken to her father.
He had entrusted her with a mission. There was no room for emotion. And yet, no matter how she tried, her gaze kept drifting back to him.
To a Human.
She felt disgusted. And yet, her heart fluttered.
All she could do was bear it in silence.
________________________________________________________
"So… I see the two of you have come to an understanding?" Reia's father stepped into the tent, his gaze falling on his daughter wrapped in Fayde's arms.
For most fathers, such a sight might stir discomfort, but not for him. He felt only a quiet joy. Reia had always drifted between worlds, never quite at home in any of them. Seeing her find someone, someone who could anchor her, brought him a rare sense of peace.
The two pulled apart quickly, clearly flustered. He chuckled and sat cross-legged across from them.
"Then am I to assume the two of you are engaged now?"
They exchanged a brief glance, hesitation flickering between them.
"Father," Reia said softly, "do we have your blessing?"
He laughed again, deep and genuine. "Of course! Fayde is Human, yes, but that never mattered to me. We'll worry about those details later."
Relief softened Reia's face, and her smile was all the answer he needed. The Chief shook his head with wonder. He had never imagined seeing his daughter smile like that.
"Reia, my daughter. Now that the two of you are officially engaged, I can finally step down. It's your turn to lead."
Both she and Fayde looked stunned. He had expected as much. But this had always been the plan.
"I'm old. My strength is gone. I can't lead our warriors anymore. But as long as you remained unwed, I couldn't step aside."
"But Father, what do you mean?" Reia asked.
"I mean exactly what I said," he replied, his tone firm but gentle. "It's time. You and Fayde will guide our people. This is how it should be."
You've always been my strength, Reia. Now it's time you become theirs.
He lifted his hands slightly, as if to say the matter was already settled.
"Chief… or should I say, Father-in-law?" Fayde stumbled over the words, then scratched the back of his neck. "Are you sure about this? I mean, will the tribe really follow a Human?"
It was a fair question. But the Chief only smiled.
"Our tribe is different. They followed me into exile, left everything behind. They stayed not for politics or pride, but for loyalty to me and to each other. They'll follow you too. I have no doubt."
The Chief was tired, and in truth, he was happy to hand the mantle over to his daughter, even if only for a short while. If they were to return to the Plains of Sorrow and challenge his brother for leadership of all Foxkin, then Fayde would eventually become Khan. That would mean the Chief would once again have to assume a leadership role, at least until his younger daughter married. His kind lived long lives, so that wasn't too much of a concern.
"I… well." Fayde looked over at Reia as he spoke, and she nodded with quiet determination.
"Okay, I'll make sure the Foxkin make it out of this situation alive."
The Chief smiled. He liked the fire he saw in Fayde's eyes. He couldn't have asked for a better partner for his daughter.
"Then… what will be our plan?"
Reia's father was old and it had been a long time since he had seen real combat. A battle against Humans wasn't something he was anticipating.
"I don't know how much time we have," Fayde said, "but I doubt they'll send a large force. They know there aren't many Foxkin warriors in this forest. They'll probably only send enough troops to fully subjugate the tribe. The forest is dense, though, which makes it the perfect environment for us. I've seen the Foxkin fight here a few times now, and they're incredibly effective. If we had to fight out on the open plain, it might be a different matter, but here… I think we can beat them."
Fayde laid out his ideas with growing enthusiasm, and the Chief listened, pleasantly surprised. He had heard a bit about Fayde from Reia, and while she had spoken of his leadership qualities, seeing them firsthand was something else entirely.
"Reia told me about the various magical affinities within the tribe. I think we should lay a trap here in the village. We'll dig pits, lure them in with illusions, and then burn the village down around them. Meanwhile, we can launch ambushes and hit-and-run attacks from the treetops. Since many of the Foxkin warriors can cast elemental magic and move freely through the forest canopy, I don't think we'll suffer many casualties, if any. With the low visibility in the forest and the Foxkin's heightened senses, we can strike from anywhere without giving them a chance to respond. They probably won't bring many mages, so we should focus on eliminating their magic users first. If we can split their forces, things will go even better…"
Their strategy session continued for a while as they refined their plan. Once it was finalized, they wasted no time in putting it into motion.
________________________________________________
Several hundred soldiers stood in formation outside the Serandal Forest, waiting for orders. It was a mixed force, made up of royal army soldiers and troops belonging to the local lord.
At the front stood fifty heavy infantry. They were clad in a breastplate reinforced with a padded gambeson beneath it and each held a Black Iron Shield to guard against magic. Supporting them were fifty cavalrymen, a hundred archers, and a few hundred light infantry from the local lord who were no better than slightly trained peasants.
The man leading them was a minor noble who served under the lord of Enrain. Beside him rode Shar, a minister of the kingdom.
"Lord Marball, won't you reconsider? At least let me speak with them first. Bringing a force of this size will only lead to bloodshed." Shar's voice was calm but insistent. Deep down, he knew reason no longer had a place in this kingdom.
Lord Marball lifted his chin. "What are you worried about, Shar? These beasts only understand force. This will be over quickly."
He seemed confident, but Shar felt uneasy. Things would not go the way the lord believed.
"Even so, let me try. I'll go alone, so there's no risk to your men."
Marball paused. The idea had merit. If the talks went well, he could claim the credit. If they failed, he could blame Shar. And if the Foxkin killed him, even better.
This might be the perfect opportunity to discredit him. Shar was well-liked by the people, and even the king couldn't remove him easily without cause.
"Fine. I'll allow it. But remember, this is not a negotiation. They are to serve the kingdom, as we all do. That is the king's command. Understood?"
Shar nodded. He understood all too well. He had little hope of success, but he had to try. Anything to avoid bloodshed.
He dismounted, knowing a horse would be useless in the forest, and began walking into the trees.
The Foxkin had almost certainly already noticed the army. Shar could feel eyes on him, though no one appeared. He walked for nearly thirty minutes before someone finally emerged, but to his surprise, it wasn't a Foxkin.
"You seem to be lost. Need help getting out of the forest?" the man said casually, as if nothing were out of the ordinary.
Shar blinked. The stranger looked like an adventurer. He wore leather armor and had a sword at his waist. One hand rested lightly on the hilt as he watched Shar with quiet interest.
"Ah... I wasn't expecting to meet another human here. I appreciate the offer, but I'm fine. I'll be on my way."
He gave a polite nod and started forward, but the man stepped into his path.
"That's not a good idea. The Foxkin have this place surrounded. If you move from here, they'll kill you."
Shar stiffened. The warning was serious, but it was the man's calm demeanor that struck him more. He showed no fear, even knowing the woods were filled with warriors. Was his life not in danger as well?
Shar glanced around, up into the trees. He saw nothing, but he believed the man.
Raising his voice, he called out, "My name is Shar. I'm a minister of the Kingdom of La'gun. I've come to speak with your Chief. I don't wish to fight. I only want to talk."
No one responded to his call. He remained alone with the adventurer.
"Well then, speak." It was the human who addressed him again, calm as ever.
Shar blinked. Was something off about this man?
"Sorry, friend, but I'm here to speak with the Chief of the Foxkin tribe."
"You already did. You just informed the forest. And as it happens, you're speaking to him now."
"What?" Shar blurted the word louder than he intended, caught completely off guard.
"Did I hear you right?"
The man didn't flinch at his reaction. In fact, it seemed like he had been expecting it.
"You heard me right, Shar. I am the acting Chief of the Foxkin tribe. And yes, I know who you are. I've heard many good things about you from the people of the kingdom. My name is Fayde. Fayde of the Void Walkers."
Shar stood in stunned silence. This was not at all what he had anticipated. Still, he composed himself.
"Can you prove this? I hope you'll forgive my caution, but this is difficult to believe."
Fayde smiled and brought two fingers to his lips, then let out a sharp whistle.
From behind a nearby tree, a Foxkin woman stepped into view. She must have been waiting for the signal. Her quiet presence had gone completely unnoticed until now.
Shar studied her closely. She looked familiar. Then it struck him, she resembled the Foxkin adventurer he had heard about in Enrain. He had tried to find her during his visit, but she had been away on a Guild mission at the time. Now here she was.
"I see," Shar said quietly.
He no longer doubted Fayde's identity, but it still left him reeling. Nothing about this situation had gone the way he expected.
"I am Reia of the Foxkin tribe, daughter of the former Chief. And this man is my fiancé."
Shar nodded, slowly putting the pieces together. A marriage like this… it almost felt like a political union. He thought once the pieces came together.
Among the nobility, marriages of convenience were common. But a union between a Human and a Demihuman? That was unheard of. The idea alone invited a hard life. Such couples were rarely accepted by either race and often forced to live on the fringes of society, always on the move, never safe. But a Human marrying the daughter of a Chief? That was something Shar had never seen in his lifetime.
"Then allow me to officially extend my greetings as an emissary of the Kingdom of La'gun." Shar bowed, offering the formal respect due when meeting a representative of another power.
Of course, that wasn't technically the case, but Shar wished to show them respect in hopes they might be more willing to hear his plea.
"There is no need for formalities here, Shar. We are not nobles from your kingdom. Please, raise your head."
That surprised him. It was true they weren't nobles, but by status and authority, they would be considered equivalent. Shar had always been one to follow protocol exactly. Deviating from it felt awkward, but he complied. In a strange way, it was refreshing. What the man said next, however, truly caught him off guard.
"Instead, let me bow my head to you. I've heard of your contributions to the kingdom. It seems they do not value you properly. To send someone of your standing into the forest without protection... do they value your life at all?"
Shar tensed. He wasn't used to praise. And the man sounded sincere. It wasn't flattery—it was conviction. That unsettled him more than hostility would have. He had grown accustomed to indifference and contempt.
"Your words are kind, but I am a humble man. I'm not deserving of such praise. Also, it was my decision to come alone."
He brushed at his sleeve, as if clearing away dust, though it was more a nervous habit than anything else. He didn't believe he was in immediate danger, but being surrounded still left him uneasy.
"You underestimate yourself, clearly. If they truly valued you, they would not have allowed it. But I won't argue about that. Please, tell me why you've come."
Shar drew a slow breath and composed his thoughts. He was known for his speaking ability, and he intended to use every skill he had.
"As you may already know, the Kingdom of La'gun is preparing for war with the Kingdom of Jaspel. The king himself requested that I come to ask for the aid of the Foxkin tribe, renowned for their magical strength. We—"
"Shar, enough."
Fayde raised a hand and cut him off. Shar blinked, caught off guard.
"I already know why you're here. And the answer is no. We will not fight for the kingdom. The Foxkin have already abandoned this village. Everyone who cannot fight is already heading to the Plains of Sorrow. Only warriors remain, and we are not interested in negotiations. If your soldiers enter this forest, they will find only battle."
Shar stared at him, stunned. So there was no room for discussion. He shook his head slowly, frustration building.
"You can't possibly defeat the kingdom with a handful of warriors. Even with powerful magic, it would be suicide. Why would you throw your lives away?"
"I understand your concern. But by the time your kingdom realizes what's happened, the others will be far beyond their reach. You won't be able to stop them."
Shar didn't think the man truly understood what was at stake. Without their warriors, the tribe would be vulnerable in the Plains of Sorrow. If they died here, there would be no one left to protect the future.
"There is a formidable army of soldiers waiting at the forest's edge. They are ready to use force, even if it means killing all of you. I came here to prevent that. I don't want to see the Foxkin or our soldiers die. Please, reconsider."
Fayde smiled. But it was not a warm smile. It was quiet and cold, and something about it unsettled Shar deeply.
"Shar, you're misunderstanding something. You won't be returning to your men. And if those soldiers enter this forest, they won't be returning either."
That same smile remained, and Shar felt a chill settle deep in his bones. For the first time, he believed the man might be telling the truth.
Shar had come expecting to mediate. Now, he wasn't even sure he'd leave alive.