Chapter 134: Champion, Chapter 65: Steel Flowing As Water

First, I'm pushing to get Patrons to 10 chapters ahead of public releases. That's over two months at the current release pace*. I'm currently at 5 chapters ahead, so if you're dying to know what happens next, join up!

Second, I'm in the process of writing my second story, Essence of a Hero, which is scheduled to release to the public sometime in July. There are currently two chapters available, and I'm aiming for 30 chapters available to Patrons before I release to the public (this is so I can blitz a bunch of chapters in the first two weeks of release; it won't stay at +30).

Third, I'm doing semi-regular art commissions now. In addition to the art of Brighid I posted last chapter, there's official art of Aoife that I can't post here because it's NSFW (not explicit, but you don't want your boss seeing it), and I've posted WIP shots of the Essence of a Hero cover**.

Fourth, Patrons get to influence my writing. There's a really big event coming up in the story that Patrons decided the outcome of several months back. I can't promise a major poll every month, but I do them whenever I can think of a way to make it work.

Disclaimers:

*: Once I get to 10 chapters ahead, I will probably go back to 2 or more chapters released to the public each week. Patrons will still be 10+ chapters ahead of public, but not 2 months ahead.

**: I post finalized art to my Discord, so please stop by if you want to see Aoife. Patrons get to see and vote on WIP shots. They were the ones who voted on Brighid and Aoife for this round of commissions, and they decided on the pose for Brighid's portrait.

Aidan

The Realms

Firstday, 2nd week of the 11th month, Age of the Chosen 1

Evening

Caellach Macht, Mistvale Highlands

It took several hours before the festivities swung into high gear. By the time the fifth and final Snow-Water Rider vessel tied up alongside the others, unloaded its cargo, and disgorged its crew, the sun was kissing the peaks of the western mountains. The otterfolk worked with a speed and precision borne of frequent practice, however, and before night fell, each of the Captains had a professional-looking storefront set up on the riverbank.

As shadows began to stretch across the countryside and lanterns started lighting up the festival grounds, the five Captains met with Aidan and his advisors in a tent prepared for the purpose. Besides Eldrid, there were three men and another woman representing the Snow-Water Riders, each of them appearing outlandish in their own way.

Captain Laughlin was tall, of a height with Aidan, but slender, showing a near-total lack of muscle definition. He was bald and shirtless, exposing the intricate tattoos covering his head, chest, back, and arms. Although of fantastic quality, the artwork did not seem to Aidan to have a unifying theme. Depictions of bizarre creatures were interspersed among portraits of men and women of various races and more abstract designs. A few places were conspicuously blank, as if awaiting some unknown deed before being filled in. His skin was the color of heavily creamed coffee underneath the ink.

Captain Dyfri was the closest Aidan had seen to a truly obese individual in the Realms, but his was the build of an NFL defensive tackle. Yes, there was fat there, but only as a layer of padding and weight over a core of solid muscle. He wore silk clothes dyed scarlet and black and wore a heavy, curved sword at his belt. His bushy black beard completed the ensemble, making him resemble old, romantic illustrations of pirates, complete with a dark tan.

Beside Dyfri, Captain Valmai seemed tiny, despite being taller than Aoife. She had a gymnast's body, lean and compact but practically vibrating with energy. A pair of glasses sat atop her pert nose, framing copper-colored eyes. Valmai was the only one of the captains to appear in her more bestial form; although a seafoam green sundress covered most of her torso, thick russet fur covered her arms and legs, and a short otter's tail protruded from a slit in the back of her outfit. The furless portions of her body—her face, neck, and upper torso were all that Aidan could see—were a light golden tan.

Captain Price cut a different sort of figure. He was immaculately dressed in a suit of gray wool with shining gold buttons and wore his shoulder-length dark brown hair tied back. The narrowness of his face gave him a severe look, an image only reinforced by his beak-like nose. Yet, despite that, his blue eyes were warm and welcoming, and crow's feet at the corners of his eyes and mouth bore evidence of frequent smiles. He walked with the help of a cane, favoring his left leg for reasons not immediately clear to Aidan.

Then, of course, there was Eldrid herself. She was between Sunnild and Aoife in height, with the top of her head coming just shy of Aidan's chin. A narrow ring of dark eyeliner made her silver irises even more striking, and she wore lipstick of a dark, rich, midnight blue hue. How Eldrid's makeup survived her dive into the river, Aidan had no clue. She wore a tight black leather top that flaunted her generous figure, displaying her pale, voluminous cleavage from top to bottom through a series of straining oval cutouts.

"So when is this meeting going to start? I'm missing out on some quality partying here!" Eldrid complained as she shifted her weight, leaning forward in her chair to place her elbows on the table. The motion caused a glint of metal to catch Aidan's eye, drawing his attention to a pendant dangling down between her breasts. A slim, feminine finger flicked the polished onyx at the end of the silver chain, causing it to sway even more.

With a flush of embarrassment at having been caught, Aidan lifted his eyes to Eldrid's face. One corner of her mouth quirked up in a mischievous smirk, then she licked her lips, the bright pink of her tongue a stark contrast against the darkness of her lips, and winked at him. Far from being upset, she looked pleased at having attracted Aidan's attention.

"We will start in just a few minutes. Please accept our apologies for the delay; your arrival caught us somewhat unprepared. Councilwoman Eilwen is preparing a meal for us to eat while we discuss business." Aidan did his best to reclaim his dignity. The twinkle in Eldrid's eyes as she sat back in her chair indicated that she was willing to play along.

"Ah, you should have said so earlier!" exclaimed Dyfri. "I would wait all night for some of her sweetcakes."

"Well, you do not have to," Eilwen said as she ducked into the tent. Several of her orphans trooped in after her, bearing trays full of steaming food. They deposited their loads around the table, after which Eilwen gave them each a hug and a kiss on the forehead before sending them back out.

"Consider these a gift," the elder Councilwoman added, "with no obligation attached."

"A generous host brings good fortune to their home," intoned Captain Price even as his hand flashed out, beating Eldrid to a tray full of bread rolls.

Eilwen snorted. "Spare me your sermons, Price. I just skipped us past the pointless stage where you each pull out some random trinket that I neither want nor need to repay me for the meal."

"You seemed happy with the silverware I brought you last time, Eilwen. Or did I misjudge?" Valmai arched an eyebrow at the crotchety centaur.

"Now, now," Eldrid cut in before the discussion could devolve further, "let's all just agree that Councillor Eilwen sets a mean table and a meaner bargain and get to the good stuff. I, for one, want to know what's going on here. Starchasers and Mist Stalkers working and living together? I know we're in a new Age and all, but that's a miracle if I've ever seen one."

"Agreed," rumbled Laughlin in a basso voice that seemed odd coming from his slender body. "And to see them ruled over by a human? Please do not take this the wrong way, Lord Aidan, but this has been a surprising afternoon."

"No offense taken. My journey has been interesting and unconventional, to say the least. First, I should ask what Gerwyn told you all in his letter; I don't want to retread old ground."

"Not much," Valmai replied. "He spoke of Ceallach Macht being retaken and resettled. He also implied that there might be both business opportunities and a market for our less mercantile pursuits."

At Aidan's confused look, Price gave Aidan a small smile and explained, "Not all of the Snow-Water Riders stick to selling silks and baubles. The five of us here also act as mercenaries, should the cause and the purse be worthwhile."

Aidan nodded, his mind running at full speed. Gerwyn wouldn't have sent for these specific Captains if he felt they were untrustworthy or not worth the expense. Mercenaries wouldn't have been his first choice, but the more he thought about it, the more he liked the idea.

First, mercenaries would require less convincing. Being paid to fight and potentially die for someone else's problem was the entire job description, after all. No company worth their salt would take a suicidal contract, of course, but Aidan had proof that he'd already beaten Karsarrym once; this wouldn't be suicide, just very dangerous.

Second, having one military force backing him already would make it much easier to convince the other tribes to help. People, speaking in broad terms, were risk-averse. The lower the personal risk they faced, the more likely they were to agree to something. If he could convince enough of the Captains to join ahead of the summit, that would prime the pump, so to speak.

And, finally, he wouldn't feel nearly as bad about leading mercenaries to their deaths. It was a cold calculation, one that showed Ailis's influence on his thoughts, but it was there nonetheless. These people signed up to fight others' wars. They weren't conscripted, weren't fighting to defend their homes and livelihood. Instead, their primary motivation was either money or the thrill of combat.

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Focusing his attention back on his guests, Aidan said, "I see. Yes, I can confirm both of those. Let me give you some background, then."

"Ooh, storytime!" Eldrid leaned forward again, smirking as his eyes twitched downward before returning to her face.

Aidan launched into an abridged retelling of his adventures in the Realms, leaving out sensitive details like his deaths or the number of casualties the Starchasers took. Of course, neither was a secret by this point, but it was better to negotiate from a position of perceived strength. The Captains would find out about both eventually, but for now, it was best to play his hand close to his chest.

The otterfolk were an attentive audience, their focus on Aidan's words clear despite the way they ravaged the food laid out for them. Aidan was grateful for the second pastry the star-struck Starchaser gave him because Eilwen's feast was disappearing fast. Between bites of food and gulps of drink, the Captains traded off asking quick, insightful questions about the Taig, the Labyrinth, and the dragon.

To Aidan's surprise, the Captains took Aidan's description of Karsarrym's attack in stride. "I heard rumors of a dragon sighting in this region," Dyfri admitted; the others nodded in agreement.

"Had a feeling it might be related," added Eldrid. "I assume you're looking to hire some bullies to help with hunting it down?"

"I am," Aidan confirmed. "We're working to fortify the city, but I would rather not fight such a monster where my people live."

"Hmm," Laughlin hummed, "I am not very sanguine about fighting a dragon in its lair. Even if we win, casualties will be high."

"For what it's worth, I do not think Karsarrym has a long-term lair in the area. Given his attitude and remarks, I believe he expected to take over the city and make his home here. After I drove him off, he would have had to settle for temporary accommodations."

Valmai nodded. "That makes sense. It is rare for a dragon to fall to anything but another of its kind. That you managed to inflict such a grievous wound on this one is a strong point in your favor. But, of course, we have only your word for that."

"One of our elite warriors—Ysbail, if any of you know her—managed to cut off the end of Karsarrym's tail, which we preserved. I can show you the tail itself as well as the scales we have extracted from it as proof."

"And I was there," Eilwen added, voice acidic. "I understand not trusting Lord Aidan, but you all know me. Everything he described about that battle is accurate to the best of my recollection."

"Still," Laughlin frowned, "my men and women are used to fighting other people, not monsters, and especially not dragons. I am reluctant to take up such a contract."

"If I may suggest?" Eldrid cut in. "Lord Aidan, I get the feeling that you're looking to get us on board early to make it easier to convince the others. Is that accurate?"

Aidan winced internally at being so transparent, but there was no sense denying it with it out in the open. "Yes, the thought crossed my mind."

The blue-haired woman gave him a sharp-toothed smile. "Then what you need is the appearance as much as the fact. If Captain Laughlin is reluctant to commit to an assault, perhaps he would be happier with garrisoning this city while the rest of us do the dirty work? You can still say you have his troops with you, and there would be no need to split any of the loot with him."

Laughlin shot his fellow Captain an affronted look, then shrugged and nodded at Aidan. "Indeed, although I would still be taking on considerable risk. If the dragon should emerge triumphant, all who back you will pay the price."

"Let us speak of prices, then," Dyfri cut in. "I cannot speak for my fellows, but my aid against such a foe will not come cheap. I am sure you understand."

Congratulations! You have reached level 2 in Haggling.

Congratulations! You have reached level 21 in Persuasion.

Congratulations! You have reached level 4 in Negotiation.

In the end, Aidan paid both more and less than he expected. The Snow-Water Riders all had far more experience at haggling and negotiating than he did, and it showed. At the same time, Eldrid and Price both opted to structure their contracts with backloaded, long-term payments.

All told, Aidan spent most of his ready cash and jewels, as well as a good portion of his stored exotic crafting materials, but secured the assistance of all five Captains and their troops. Valmai and Laughlin declined to participate in any offensive actions against the dragon but were willing to commit to three months of garrison duty. The other three would contribute their marines to the assault.

After agreeing to terms, talk turned to Aidan's plans for Ceallach Macht itself. All five Captains showed support for his goal of creating a cosmopolitan city, although Valmai, Dyfri, and Price expressed varying degrees of skepticism. Eldrid, on the other hand, was expressively enthusiastic about the idea, going so far as to promise her assistance setting up trade deals with other tribes. Aidan was sure she had ulterior motives, but he wasn't going to turn down the help.

It was nearly midnight by the time the discussions ended for the night. Both parties rose and made their farewells one by one until only Aidan and Eldrid remained.

"And it's just you and me, my Lord," Eldrid crooned. "I've been waiting all afternoon to have you all. To. Myself." She punctuated the final three words by prowling up to Aidan, ignoring any concept of personal space.

Aidan blinked at the aggressive flirtation. He stepped back, but Eldrid followed, pursuing him in a slow chase around the tent. Aidan stopped when he felt a chair against his legs, and before he could step to the side, the otterfolk Captain pushed him down into the seat and straddled his lap.

"Do I intimidate you?" she purred. "You didn't have any problem looking at me earlier, Aidan. Don't worry; I enjoy being the center of attention, if you hadn't noticed. Look all you like. Here, you can even touch if you want."

She seized Aidan's hand, bringing it up and slipping it through one of the cutouts in her top. Aidan squeezed by instinct, taking in the yielding softness underneath his fingers before yanking his hand back.

"Mm, you've got a good touch. But, unfortunately, that's not what this is about."

Eldrid leaned forward until her forehead pressed against Aidan's. Her black-rimmed silver eyes bored into his ruby ones, and all playfulness and flirtation vanished as she hissed, "No, I have a different sort of business with you. Tell me, Lord Aidan: how long have you been in the Realms, who is your Patron, and how many times have you died?"

Her questions shocked Aidan, but it was the point of the dagger poking against his belly that sent a thrill of fear down his spine.

Zurai

Aidan's current status screen:

Pronunciation Guide (infinitesimal spoiler warning, names only without any details)

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