บท 44: Diplomatic Games
Atenzi stood at his window, looking far beyond Bloodmire. His sharp eyes could see much, but his mind was turned inward. He thought about the morning's events.
Musashi's leaving created a hole Atenzi couldn't quite explain. The Sword Saint's last lesson echoed in his head: "The biggest fights are inside ourselves."
*But what if I'm fighting myself?* Atenzi wondered. He flexed his hand, amazed at his new strength. *What am I turning into?*
A knock came at the door. Báthory entered, moving smoothly. "The visitors will be here soon, my champion. Are you ready?"
Atenzi turned and studied her face. He could see her breathing quicken slightly, her eyes widen a bit. She was excited, maybe even nervous.
"As ready as I can be," he said, walking to her. "What do you think they want?"
Báthory smiled knowingly. "Power, of course. It's always about power. But how they try to get it... that's where things get interesting."
As they walked to the big meeting room, Atenzi noticed everything around him. He heard whispers, saw shadows move, even felt tiny shakes from footsteps. Everything was crystal clear to him now.
Caesar's man arrived first. He was a big minotaur in shiny Roman armor. When he spoke, his voice sounded old and important.
"Hello, Queen Báthory, Lord Atenzi. I am Lucius Taurus, speaking for the great Julius Caesar." The minotaur looked at Atenzi closely. "My lord Caesar says hello and has an offer."
Atenzi nodded for him to go on. He could hear the minotaur's heart beating steady, but a bit fast.
Lucius unrolled a paper with a fancy seal. "The Emperor wants peace. One hundred years of no fighting between our lands."
People in the room started whispering. Atenzi looked at Báthory, who kept her face blank.
"That's a big offer," Atenzi said, his voice carrying a hint of power. "But what does Caesar want in return?"
Lucius shifted a bit. "We won't attack each other, of course. And... information. Caesar wants to know about big things that happen in Bloodmire or with its friends."
Báthory laughed sharply. "Information? Come on, Lucius. Let's not pretend spying is something nice."
The minotaur's nose flared, but before he could talk back, the doors burst open. A gust of wind blew in, smelling like mountains and storms. It was Alexander's messenger.
Where Caesar's man was all proper, Alexander's was full of energy. The griffin-man flew in, his wings making the torches flicker.
"Hello, Queen of Blood and Shadow!" he shouted happily. "And hello to you, young prince!" He winked at Atenzi, making people giggle.
Atenzi raised an eyebrow at being called "prince" but said nothing. He felt Báthory tense up beside him.
"I am Aether Stormwing, speaking for the great Alexander," the griffin said, spreading his wings wide. "And I bring a grand invitation!"
Lucius Taurus snorted. "Always so showy, Stormwing. Some of us are doing serious work here."
Aether grinned widely. "Serious? Oh my, how boring. No, no, I bring something much more exciting than dusty deals and long truces!"
He pulled out a scroll with a fancy move. It had a flying griffin seal. "The great Alexander invites you both to Aethoria, the best city in Macedonis, for a show like no other!"
Atenzi leaned forward, interested. "What kind of show?"
Aether's eyes shone with fun and excitement. "A big contest, young prince! The best fighters from all over Naaim, battling for fame and riches in our mighty Sky Arena!"
Atenzi imagined swords clashing, crowds cheering, the thrill of fighting. He felt excited, which both thrilled and worried him.
Báthory's hand on his arm brought him back. "That's a nice invite," she said smoothly. "But surely Alexander doesn't think we'd leave our land unguarded in these dangerous times?"
Aether waved his hand. "Don't worry, fair queen! Alexander himself promises you'll be safe, and your lands too, while you're there. It's a time to celebrate and come together, a chance for all the big powers of Naaim to meet in the spirit of noble competition!"
Lucius Taurus stepped forward, looking very disapproving. "This is crazy. You'd risk open war for the sake of a bloody game?"
"Not a bloody game, my cow-like friend," Aether shot back, his voice getting sharp. "A show of skill and bravery, a chance to solve fights through one-on-one combat instead of big, costly wars. Surely even Caesar can see that's good?"
As the two messengers started arguing, Atenzi noticed things happening at the edges of the room. His sharp hearing picked up whispered talks, bits of secret plans that showed things were more complicated than they seemed.
"...Alexander's real plan..."
"...Caesar fears the alliance..."
"...the wildcard, that's what they're calling him..."
Atenzi's eyes narrowed. There was more going on here than just fancy talk. He caught Báthory's eye, and they shared a silent message. She nodded slightly, then stepped forward to talk to the arguing messengers.
"Gentlemen," her voice cut through the fight like a sharp knife. "Your offers are both... interesting. But surely such big things can't be decided quickly. We need time to think."
Lucius Taurus bowed stiffly. "Of course, Your Majesty. Caesar waits for your answer eagerly."
Aether Stormwing kept grinning. "Take all the time you need, my friends! But remember, the Sky Arena waits, and with it, glory beyond measure!"
As the messengers were taken to their rooms, Atenzi and Báthory went to a private room. As soon as the door closed, Báthory's calm face changed.
"This changes everything," she hissed, pacing like a caged cat. "Caesar wants to tie us down with deals, while Alexander tempts us with shows. But what do they really want?"
Atenzi leaned against the wall, thinking hard. "Caesar fears us," he said slowly. "He sees we could be a threat and wants to stop it through fancy talk. But Alexander..." He stopped, frowning.
"Alexander sees a chance," Báthory finished. "But for what?"
Atenzi pushed off from the wall, standing in front of Báthory. "There's only one way to find out. We accept his invitation."
Báthory's eyes widened in surprise. "You can't be serious. To walk into the heart of Macedonis, surrounded by possible enemies?"
"It's risky," Atenzi agreed. "But it could pay off big. We'll see the other powers of Naaim up close, judge their strengths and weaknesses. And if Alexander is really offering a chance to settle fights through combat..."
A slow smile spread across Báthory's face. "Then we show them exactly what you can do, my champion."
Atenzi nodded, grinning a bit. "Exactly. But we'll need to be careful. There's more going on here that we don't fully understand."
As they started planning, Atenzi couldn't shake the feeling he was missing something important. The excitement of possible fights mixed with a deeper worry, a sense that he was being pulled into a game much bigger and more dangerous than he knew.
Later that night, as Atenzi stood on his balcony looking at Naaim's two moons, he heard a noise in the courtyard below. Looking down, he saw a council member of Bloodmire talking quietly with one of Báthory's loyal vampire guards.
His sharp hearing caught bits of what they said:
"...the change is happening..."
"...must not suspect..."
"...Báthory will be pleased..."
Atenzi felt cold. Change? What change? And what did Báthory have to do with it?
Before he could think more, he felt someone behind him. Báthory stepped onto the balcony, her cool hand touching his arm.
"Worried thoughts, my champion?" she asked softly.
Atenzi turned to her, looking at her face closely. For a moment, he thought about asking her what he'd heard. But something stopped him - a feeling from his past lives warning him that now wasn't the time.
"Just excited for the trip ahead," he lied smoothly. "Macedonis waits, and who knows what challenges and chances we'll find there?"
Báthory smiled brightly, but Atenzi thought he saw a hint of relief in her eyes. "Indeed. Sleep well, my dear Atenzi. Tomorrow, we start getting ready for a trip that will change Naaim forever."
As Báthory left, Atenzi turned back to the night sky. His hands gripped the balcony rail, the stone cracking a bit under his new strength.
*What game are you really playing, Báthory?* he wondered. *And more importantly, what am I becoming?*
The moons didn't answer, their quiet light casting long shadows across Bloodmire. But Atenzi knew one thing for sure - the trip to Macedonis would be a turning point. For him, for Bloodmire, and maybe for all of Naaim.
He just hoped he was ready for what waited for him in the Sky Arena.
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