Within the Kolakinta Mountain Fortress every living and unliving soul stand within their own areas watching the announcement from the elven monarch stream across the sky, all of them look more and more hopeful as the words continue to come from the ancient monarchs lips all save for the unliving souls unwillingly tied to the two necromancers whom have started to get demoralised if they were not already. Yorun turns from the top of the wall he was on and looks back over everyone.

  "Alright back to your duties, with this the Emperor is sure to react to something, I want you all keeping an eye out and keeping the magic of the fortress steadily supplied in case he tries coming here" Yorun said

  Every living person save for Yoruns closest allies disperse while the bound souls disappear yet as they were going to talk, Oarsteri and Holaire walk to them noticeably still nervous.

  "So you actually allied with Woorail?" Oarsteri asked

  "Indeed" Yorun said

  "We are not handing you over to them traitor, I've no doubt they'll know of your presence with us yet they will not care thanks to your lover" Sunhale said getting a sigh of relief from Oarsteri in response

  "Thank the gods" Oarsteri said

  "We've nothing to gain from handing you over other than some accolades, you and Holaire will be better for us and Woorail in the capital when the war is done. Your crimes will not be erased in the Wooralian empire but you will have no reason to return there either" Yorun said

  "Thank you" Holaire said with his weakened voice before the two walked away

  "Not surprising they were worried of such a thing" Yorun said

  "Indeed, it was handled adequately however. Lets see how things will shake out with the alliance in place hm?" Golanier said

  It's at that moment they all feel something, several magic users appearing at the base of the mountain range just outside the barriers that stop teleportation and activate the defences. Yorun starts to look through the eyes of several undead birds made from Ghairlakriars flesh that dot the mountains and what he sees at the base surprises him. At the base of the mountain range stand several people, a giant, Djelir, dwarf and a race he does not recognise.

  "Anyone know a people that well have two sets white feathery wings, about six arms and I think no legs but also have three eyes and blue skin?" Yorun asked as his sight returned to his own eyes

  "Ghozi are here?" Sunhale asked

  "Not just Ghozi a couple others from the look of it" Golanier said as he looked through the birds eyes as well

  "I'm going to talk to them, first from behind the barriers but just in case I will go as an undead" Yorun said

  Yorun called upon Dralocran and once the undead was in view he took over the undead Kai Tamars body, he then summoned the scythe to his hand before flying down the mountain range, the people at the base see him coming. Yorun stops before just before the end of the barriers and floats down enough to still be flying around the giants stomach and as such they can all talk freely.

  "Who are you people?" Yoruns asked with a serious yet cautious tone

  "We have come to speak to the necromancer on behalf of our respective nations" The Djelir said

  "Is that so?" Yorun asked

  Yoruns gaze sifts over them but he notices the person he now knows as a Ghozi is using the lower set of wings as legs to essentially just stand but that isn't what intrigues Yorun, he notices the Ghozi looking at the scythe, the Ghozi notices their gaze has been caught and bow.

  "We seem to already be in the presence of the necromancer, this humble Ghozi bows before the chosen of a god" The Ghozi said much to the others confusion except the giant who seems unsurprised

  "Seems Joolak and the stories from before my time of necromancers being able to take over the dead speak true" The giant said

  Yorun looks at the giant.

  "You able to shrink? The fortress isn't exactly giant sized" Yorun asked

  "Yes as an emissary for the giants collective I mastered that magic decades ago" The giant said before shrinking down to still be taller most humans but manageable

  "I shall let you past the defences but know that you will be watched, try anything and you will be down before you know what happened" Yorun said before returning to his own body

  Yorun orders some of the people to allow those emissary's access but only limited and easily revoked and once that was done Dralocran motioned for the emissaries to come in, the Ghozi moved first then followed by the others when they saw the Ghozi was fine. Dralocran leads the emissaries up through the mountain range trail, they soon enough stand outside it's gates and Yorun stands one atop the gates towers looking down at them, the Ghozi's eyes practically glow after seeing Yorun with the Cloak of Raeknar, even more so as Yorun makes the scythe appear in his hands. The Ghozi bows once more but lower this time.

  "Don't try anything foolish" Yorun said as the scythe is set alight with black flames

  The gates open and they all walk past the gate and are led into the throne room of the fortress' main building, Yorun had teleported there ahead of them with Sunhale and Golanier, the emmisaries look at Yorun standing next to the throne.

  "Your throne?" The dwarf asked

  "This is my fortress so technically yes but I want nothing in terms of ruling but for matters like this it does seem more official" Yorun said before seating himself on the throne as Sunhale and Golanier stand to his sides

  "I believe names and what business you have here are a good place to start" Golanier said with a slight smirk not having played these games in years though he notices the Ghozi float forward first

  Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

  "I am Peaceful Winds, Ghozi get new names based on what they do within our nation upon adulthood. I am an emissary to other nations and sometimes to places within our nation and as such Peaceful Winds as I only want peace as swiftly as the winds carry me. I have been sent to foster good relations" Peaceful winds said before the giant stepped forward next

  "I am Ruukam, I have been sent by the Giants collective to get the measure of you and your intentions, our people are keenly aware of what the one before you did" Ruukam said before looking to Golanier

  "Careful Giant, forget not that your people killed mine first. I just returned the favour" Golanier said in the giants tongue, the emissaries and Sunhale understood the words as well though not Yorun yet he could likely guess

  "I assure you, I'm not like him. Next" Yorun said as the Djelir and Dwarf both stepped forward together

  "I am Yanikast sent by the Djelir government to at the very least keep channels open but we are cooperating with the dwarves in this matter" Yanikast said

  "Aye thats that's true, I'm Dyre, sent for the same reasons but for the dwarves, our nation and the Djelir are closely tied so we are doing this together and as such any agreements will be between both our nations and you or not at all" Dyre said

  "Understood. A logical place to start would be what'll happen after the war is won" Yorun said

  "If you win" Yanikast said

  "Yes, If I win but would you have been sent here if your governments didn't think I had a chance of winning? Especially with the elves at my side?" Yorun asked but none of them spoke knowing he was right

  "My government would have, simply because you are a chosen, we try to foster good relations with chosen of gods but some in particular who are better for the world as a whole. In this instance you are chosen of a god of death and justice, as such very good for the world" Peaceful Winds said

  "No surprise there, you Ghozi are very pious to say the least" Sunhale said receiving a nod from Peaceful Winds

  "Anyway back to business, once this war is won someone new will be placed on Durinkals throne, I've someone in mind but suffice to say I am not divulging that information. We also have a member of the Pertaki family, disgraced he may be he will take over there. My army will keep the peace and help the empire regain stability for a time but the Gantoral region as well as this fortress will cede from the empire and not be under the control of any nation. The people out here have suffered enough under such rule" Yorun said and something caught the attention of them all

  "You're keeping this fortress? You're keeping the corpse of Ghairlakriar?" Yanikast asked with a tinge of worry

  "Would you rather the other empires have it? Or the chosen of a god of death and justice?" Yorun asked as he looked them over gauging their thoughts from their faces

  "A person with the power to overturn long standing empires and the corpse of the most powerful dragon is hardly an easy sell either" Dyre said

  "Mhm and yet you do not disagree either" Yorun said

  "You'd be easier to make deals with than anyone else, us dwarves and the Djelir too have long been wanting to experiment with some dragon materials but our nations are under the surface of the earth and there is rarely dragons that deep and it costs several fortunes to buy anything like that from elsewhere" Dyre said

  "And we have a surplus, we use it for our own means too but using some of it to strengthen relations? I do not see why not, the small nation this area would be a part of after the war will need some allies, the elves will be helpful and the Fiernian empire as well under its new ruler but still others would be appreciated and it'd make it overall safer" Yorun said

  "Something to discuss more later" Yanikast said

  "For now, you are free to stay within extra rooms in the fortress since I imagine you'll be here a while so you can do your jobs. There are places restricted for you however, Sunhale if you wouldn't mind telling them where they cannot go and if any of you are caught snooping around I will send your undead self back to your home" Yorun said with a cold tone of voice

  "if you'll accompany me" Sunhale said before leaving the room with the emissaries then Golanier turns to Yorun

  "Get ready for the politics of it all, chances are in between battles they may ask you to visit their homes, good easy way to gain some allies and solidify things afterall" Golanier said

  "And how often did you do that?" Yorun asked

  "Never, just conquered, doesn't mean others didn't try to treat with me" Golanier said

  At that moment the doors to the room are thrown open and a guard from Deranel runs in but he quickly salutes.

  "Sir, Helimiral Ghohalan is in Deranel, he's asking for you" The guard said

  "How long?" Yorun asked

  "It's been a little while, I had to make my way here past the barriers and such and was told to wait since you were meeting some people" The guard said

  "You did good work, I'll go meet with him immediately" Yorun said before standing up and teleporting to just outside Deranel

  The guards see him and within moments Wonakri appears at his side before teleporting with Yorun to his office where the clone of Helimiral stands.

  "Your soul, you aren't really here huh?" Yorun asked

  "Correct, clone. I can't be here myself obviously but especially now, my father is switching focus. The empires armies are focussed on you now and my brother is leading them, he won't be underestimating you like Honaril did" Helimiral said

  "Seems your family aren't entirely idiots, don't worry I'll get rid of Prince Hykalin all the same" Yorun said

  "About that, if you can I'd prefer you didn't" Helimiral said

  "Come again?" Yorun said slightly confused

  "Hykalin isn't a bad person but neither is he good. He's just indifferent, he cares about the empire as an entity, cares not who rules, how they rule or why they rule he just wants to fight for the empire and protect it. If you face him and win then imprison him, when the end of the war comes he will follow me when I'm on the throne and he'll seek no revenge" Helimiral said causing Yorun to give a small annoyed scoff

  "If he doesn't die in combat then I'll imprison him but I make no promises, his indifference cost people their lives and freedoms while he 'protected' the empire" Yorun said

  "That is all I ask, regardless I don't know where he is going to set up but he has taken the bulk of our forces that aren't already facing threats elsewhere and is coming to fight you, he'll prepare first somewhere and then fight. Hes been made stronger by father and is meant to have me as back up once I finish my task in the capital, I did that so it'd be easier for me to stay there when the time comes for you to siege the place" Helimiral said

  "If you can keep doing this clone thing to give us information it'd be helpful even if we have more access to the elven spies now" Yorun said

  "I'll try, the sooner this is over, the better" Helimiral said

  "What is it you are doing for your father anyway?" Yorun asked

  "My suggestion of getting the defences and training of the soldiers of the capital up to snuff. It lets me stay there rather than be in the field and helps me figure out the weak points of our defences for you to exploit" Helimiral said

  "Try not train them too well" Yorun said

  "Oh please I've full confidence in you and your forces ability plus I am also to get more from the war vaults, I'll choose sparingly what to use" Helimiral said

  "I'll ask Golanier about the things that may be in the ones relating to the war against him and if there are any legitimate threats there. For now thank you for the information Helimiral" Yorun said

  "Another time then Raeknar" Helimiral said

  Yorun watches as the clone of Helimiral standing before him fades from existence as the magical connection is cut off, Yorun thinks on Helimirals request Wonakri looks at him.

  "I am still sorry about the arm, you lost it saving my life" Wonakri said

  "Don't mention it, I'd likely do it again though I guess that means less now given I can fashion myself a new one" Yorun said

  "I get the meaning all the same. You're a good man" Wonakri said

  Yorun isn't entirely sure of that anymore but nods before teleporting back to the fortress as Yorun retreats to his room and as the day of the announcements events wind down, he can feel the emissaries in the fortress and he moves more undead to the area they're in so they are kept under constant watch by many eyes but he will have to speak to them more the next day particularly the Ghozi named Peaceful-Winds...