Bab 31: Chapter 31: The Elven Envoy's Audacity
The day was waning when the elven envoy entered the gates of Ebonwood, their robes a cascade of silk and their eyes alight with an air of superiority. They came to the village chief, King Simha, with offers of trade, but their terms reeked of exploitation and disdain.
**The Proposal of Disparity**
The elves spoke in honeyed tones, but their words were laced with venom. "We seek to enrich both our kingdoms through trade," they claimed, yet their proposal told a different tale. They demanded additional taxes on beast kingdom products sold in the elven realm, while their own goods would flow freely, untaxed, through Ebonwood.
**Simha's Ire**
King Simha's fur bristled with anger at the audacious demands. His claws itched to send the envoys away, to reject their one-sided terms outright. But as he opened his mouth to unleash his fury, a subtle gesture from his army chief stilled his tongue.
**A Secret Warning**
The chief leaned in, his voice a whisper meant only for Simha's ears. "My king, these are no mere merchants. They serve the seventh prince—the very one to whom your sister is bound."
Simha's heart clenched at the mention of his sister, a gentle soul caught in the web of the elven court's machinations. The chief continued, "If we spurn these envoys, the prince may take his displeasure out upon her."
**The Burden of the Crown**
The weight of the crown had never felt heavier upon Simha's brow. He knew the games of power and the delicate dance of diplomacy. With a measured breath, he composed himself and addressed the envoys with a calm he did not feel.
**The Negotiation**
"Your terms are steep, and fairness is the pillar of Ebonwood's trade," Simha began, his gaze steady. "Let us find a middle ground that honors both our peoples."
The negotiations that followed were a test of wills, a balancing act between protecting Ebonwood's interests and ensuring the safety of his sister in the elven realm.
**The Compromise**
Hours passed, and a compromise was forged. The additional tax was reduced, and in return, Ebonwood would receive elven expertise in forestry and agriculture—a trade of knowledge for equity.
**A King's Sacrifice**
As the envoys departed, satisfied with the agreement, Simha retreated to the solitude of his chambers. There, away from the eyes of his subjects, he allowed himself a moment of vulnerability. For the safety of his sister, he had swallowed his pride, but the taste of injustice lingered.
In the quiet of the night, King Simha vowed to strengthen Ebonwood, to one day free his sister from the chains of her betrothal, and to ensure that no beast would ever again bow to the whims of the elves.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone