Chapter 27: Mountjoy
Havah returned after a few minutes with a collection of snacks and refreshments. After serving everyone, she sat next to her husband. Xan and the Healer Yahn drank their immortal wine and ate some fruits and nuts to refresh themselves. Later Xan finally began to speak. "I'm on my way to Jambre," he said. "Jambre? Isn't there a lot of killing happening there?" Havah asked. "It's a gathering place of death and opportunity," The Phantom said.
"I have a connection there, I have already been accepted into a group of warriors," Xan said. "What role do you imagine for me?" The Phantom asked. "I'm sure you already had plans to travel to Jambre as an ambassador of the Empire of Korinna. I'll let you know your role when we meet there," Xan said. "My goodness, man! He's an ambassador of Korinna?" Yahn the Healer said deeply shocked and respectful. "If he weren't an immortal he could have openly been the Emperor," Xan said. The Phantom looked at Xan with a slight smile. "You know a lot young man, or are you really that young?" He asked. "Who knows," Xan said.
"You are a royal but serving as an ambassador?" Yahn the Healer asked. "What choice does he have? Installing an immortal as a monarch is stupid. Perhaps, if he's benevolent, he would rule well for a while. The problem is immortals such as him have other priorities. If they are openly given the role of an Emperor it will eventually lead to the destruction of their country," Xan said. The Phantom and Havah's eyes glowed with keen interest. This young man knew far more about their situation than he should.
"I don't understand," Yahn said. "What don't you understand?" Xan asked. "A great many things I'm afraid. You said immortals like them. I was curious from earlier why he's so different from warrior immortals. I am still curious about why he kidnapped so many women. Was he trying to protect them?" Yahn the Healer asked.
"Those are complex questions to answer in a short time. I'll explain it to you later after we've finished our business here. First, I would like to reach an understanding with the Phantom, or should I call you Ambassador Thomas Mountjoy? Making you Lady Havah Jhansi the Immortal of Rani," he said. Havah smiled at Xan, "I've killed people for knowing less than you, but I suppose your endless knowledge and wit is what will make you an excellent ally for us," she said.
"Lord," Xan said. "Lord?" Havah asked with an angry frown. "Master, if we're being blunt," he said. "You know my weakness, but it doesn't mean I'm helpless. I assume you have something more to offer other than threats," The Phantom, Thomas Mountjoy, said. "With what I can offer you, I predict you won't only be happy to serve me but grateful for the opportunity," Xan said. "For example?" Mountjoy asked. "For example, let's start with this," Xan removed a jade tablet from his treasure ring and slid it across the table to Mountjoy and Jhansi.
Both Mountjoy and Jhansi examined the tablet together, very soon, shock and fervor could be seen in their expressions. "This can't be possible! How can you have this?" Mountjoy exclaimed. "I have it, as you can see. This will be part of our agreement," Xan said. "Part? What else do you want to offer?" Jhansi asked. "Well, this depends on how ambitious you are," he said. "I'm very ambitious," Mountjoy responded. "How ambitious?" Xan asked. "I will rule this continent one day," Mountjoy said confidently. "That's all?" Xan asked. Both Mountjoy and Jhansi looked at each other. "How ambitious are you?" Jhansi asked.
"This world is only the beginning of my ambition," Xan said. Everyone at the table was shocked. "You can't be serious," Yahn the Healer said. "You don't think I'm capable enough?" Xan asked. "I don't know, we've been together for only a short time. I know you are capable of great things, but to what I extant I have no idea," Yahn admitted. "Then do you think I'm a silly person, someone who speaks without considering his capabilities?" Xan asked. "No, you are very serious with a brilliant mind," Yahn answered. "Then you should be able to answer your own question. I am very serious. When I say I can conquer this world you should take it as a foregone conclusion. After this world, I will take my people to conquer that little planet all the powerful people on this planet fear," he said confidently.
"You know of Shakti?" Jhansi shouted as she shot to her feet. "I do know of it and I know exactly how much power it will take to conquer it. I am building my own empire. It won't just be an empire of a continent but an Empire of the stars. What I need are people who can match my ambition. I wonder if you and your husband are such people. You both should understand what it would mean for your path of immortality to be able to conquer worlds," he said.
"I do admit you are ambitious, but how do we know you can do what you say?" asked Mountjoy. "I guess you'll just need to spend some time with me to see just how capable I am. If you agree to serve me, then sign this contract. It's a limited contract and only covers my conquest of this continent. Since conquering this continent was already within the realm of things you believed you could do this shouldn't be too much of a risk. If both of you sign the contract, the jade tablet is yours," Xan said.
"Both of us?" Jhansi asked. Xan started laughing in disbelief. "Why would you want me? I'm just a little housewife," she said. "Don't pretend you're just some woman. The immortal of Rani rules everything while her husband is away. A master of politics, scheming, and unbelievably powerful. Why would I let such a talent getaway for me, or allow a hidden knife pointed at my back," Xan asked.
"We will sign the contract, let's see how capable you are. I hope you are at least half as capable as your boasting suggests," Mountjoy said. "Boasting, I'm being very humble right now," Xan said with a smile. Mountjoy and Jhansi signed the contract. A seal exited the contract and entered their bodies. The seal immediately went to their immortal stone cores and surrounded it. "A contract of immortals!" Jhansi said in shock. "Of course, you think I would hand you a powerful weapon like this jade tablet without having a guarantee of your loyalty?" Xan asked.
"Here's the jade tablet you can use it whenever you want. I'm ready to retire, please show us to our quarters," Xan said. Jhansi nodded her head and lead Xan and Yahn to a section of the cavern that was dug out with room for the two of them to share. There was a door securing their privacy.
"We would like some food and drink," he said. "You will want to take this antidote first," Jhansi said as she handed two vials to Xan and Yahn. "Haha, see how effective the contract is?" Xan said. "You poisoned us!" Yahn the Healer said in shock. "Of course, Master Elam knows the secret of my husband's immortal stone core. If he didn't say something amazing it would be prudent to kill both of you rather than let that secret get out and doom us," she said unapologetically.
"I don't need the vial. Although the venom of a Botul is deadly even when it is as diluted as the venom you fed us; it won't do anything to me," Xan said with a smile. "As expected of the young master," Jhansi said respectfully. "You let me get poisoned?!" Yahn the Healer said in shock. "Let you get poisoned? Of course not, I secretly put an anti-toxin in your wine," Then why did you say you wouldn't need it. Didn't this imply that I would need it?" Yahn the Healer asked. "You will need it, just not to detoxify yourself. Your hair restoration technique is lacking something. I think you will find Botul toxin useful in finishing your technique," Xan said. "Amazing, Elam, simply amazing!" Yahn the Healer said excitedly.
"That will be all Lady Jhansi," Xan said. "Then I bid you a good evening Master Elam and Healer Yahn. I will have some food prepared and sent to you soon," she said with her enchanting smile as she withdrew from the room closing the door behind her.
After she was gone, Yahn the Healer approached Xan. "Can you tell me what's so special about these immortals and why they kidnapped all those women?" He asked. "I can, but let's wait until tomorrow on the carriage ride to Jambre, I'm tired and going to bed after I eat. Look, a hot bath! Just what I needed," Xan said. "But..." Yahn the Healer began. "Don't be so impatient, me telling you everything right when you want to know what's going on will only make our adventures less interesting," Xan said with a wink and a smile.
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