ALL NOVEL Chapter 73: Game of Drones
I have never really understood dreams.
The dreams, at least as far as I remembered, were supposed to help with regulating human emotions, to rehash the situations and challenges encountered during the day, to remember real-world problems, or something along those lines. At least that was some scientific theory I remembered from my past life.
I didn’t know what rules applied to mine.
Despite the nightmares during a brief nap back in the grove, the rest of the night’s sleep upon returning to our room within the castle had proven to be quite relaxing instead.
It was still filled with shifting visions of the familiar places visited by my furry menagerie, but there was a certain level of peace in it, almost as my mind was floating within the collective of the host, sharing their experiences, and even their own little dreams as they rested within the shadows of the otherworldly trees bent by our magic.
Dozing ‘Purifiers’ dreamt of fire, of all-consuming flames that swept away the old world to make a space for new. The ‘Corruptors’ imagined the twisted plants they were going to make, while ‘Mutators’ had greater ambitions yet.
I don’t know who had fantasised about me sleeping in Narita’s arms, but I even saw myself just like that among the shifting images that haunted, or blessed, my rest.
Miwah had glanced at the ones that peered at us from the shadow, unperturbed, just as if she inspected whether they maintained their post. Then she returned, caressing my hair.
She did not mind Tama pushing herself close. They appeared happy with having me tucked within their warm, fluffy embrace.
I didn’t sense the gentle touch, but saw it through someone else's eyes.
A fleeting moment before the vision has changed once more, wandering to someone else's hopes and dreams, flying above the camps where the ‘Eviscerators’ snoozed next to ‘Displacers’ and ‘Ravagers’. There was peace, without discord, without enmity or jealousy, where we were one.
When I woke up in the morning of the next day, roused by the random noise in the background, I lazily turned without even opening my eyes, and traded one body to hug for another. One was fluffy. The other one was scaly, yet silky soft, and still warm to the touch.
I had to ponder briefly when it all changed, when I stopped to see the girls as monsters, when they became my girls, my people.
It has not been long since I was thrust into this new world. The transformation did not take long at all, in retrospect. Less than I would have expected, even accounting for the mental influences forced upon me.
After all, we were closing off our week within this strange and aggressively belligerent world, and I already developed an unparalleled sense of belonging within our furry and scaly horde.
The world, however, remained as hostile as it ever was, insistent to show us we did not belong here. I couldn’t come to terms with this world, planet, whatever it was. My companions, however, felt familiar; we were extensions of each other, a thousand minds unified in purpose in a single network.
I could already discern the querying whispers at the back of my head, a lingering assurance that the host paid attention, and was concerned about me and my well-being, asking whether I slept well.
A subconscious awareness of the thousand minds engaged in the early constant conversation with each other was slowly becoming less an alien concept, and a more ever-present, calming hum that provided support and assurance. There were many, we were many, and it was good.
A strange notion, when I thought about it.
Nevertheless, I felt it wasn’t a good time to meditate on the meaning of life.
I opened my eyes and looked at Mai’s reptilian face. She was gorgeous in her own way, just as the rest of my girls were, and there wasn’t a reason I shouldn’t feel attracted to them. Except my memories, human memories, which all rudely insisted I once was a part of an entirely different species, one currently inherently hostile to us.
But, I was losing familiarity - Mai was a beautiful exemplar of my species female - as were Miwah, or Tama, or Narita, or Ekaterina - and the sharp contrast between opposing sensibilities still haunted my mind.
As a manner of certain irony, I recalled the argument with Tama claiming we were the same species, and I had claimed I was a human.
Now it felt like Tama was right all along. Was I going mad?
I wasn’t ready to confront the looming identity crisis right now. Maybe it was some primal urge that brought me even closer to them. Perhaps it was that isolation, that insurmountable divide between us and the native humans, but there doesn’t seem to be any real reason to distance myself from my girls.
After all, Mai was one of my mates, and I loved all of them.
I kissed her, and only then inspected the source of the noise that woke me up.
The girls were trying to set up a bath. The large wooden tub had occupied most of the spare space of the room, and was certainly quite heavy, requiring Ekaterina’s considerable strength to be set in place. It probably wasn’t as difficult for ‘Ravagers’ considering they packed quite appreciable muscle, but I appreciated an effort just the same.
Whether the wooden tub was originally intended for bathing, or for washing a large amount of clothes, was questionable - it certainly didn’t look like much - but I supposed it was rather a moot point, considering the circumstances.
Our current home, taken from humans, was originally a fortress, not a palace or a villa, and would logically have a very little in terms of luxury even where the world’s technological level had allowed it, as it was more military structure, rather than a personal home of the local lord.
I saw a palace in the nearby city, so it made sense that very few people stayed within the castle walls unless and until there was a crisis - a war, one we accidentally interfered in.
Even the room we slept in, with its enormous bed filled with the tangled heap of Narita, Mai, Miwah, and my bodies, was likely the best and largest in the entire building, and it was a tight fit to house us all, but considering I unreasonably enjoyed to stay very close to my girls, it wasn’t an issue at all.
It has windows to let the fresh air in, with shutters that would be closed during the night or bad weather, opening onto the balcony. One which would allow the commander to look down upon the troops mustering down on the first and second courtyards. I never had actually experienced the view - the vertigo I experienced from heights was a reason.
Currently, one of the ‘Fleshspeakers’ perched on the railing, unbothered by the drop to the main keep, to oversee the organised chaos within the fortress, or maybe just enjoy the view. There was buzzing outside, atop of the already noisy background.
I didn’t speak to the bat girl, even if I was aware she was just lurking on the balcony. Arke and her kin were already burdened by enough tasks. It became abundantly clear that my chiropteran girls would become crucial in countering the increasingly exotic abilities found among the human ‘elites’ through their customised creations.
The sound of splashing water interrupted my thoughts as the ‘Purifiers’ filled the tub under Tama’s supervision.
Strangely enough, I wasn’t bothered by the loss of some privacy, since showing any degree of intimacy, or affection, to my girls was unanimously accepted, welcomed, or even encouraged.
Their attitude was infectious - they considered me precious, and I returned their feelings in full.
I crawled out of the bed, giving some peck and smooch to Miwah and Narita too, to which Tama had reacted with a teasing, vulpine grin. She did lean in, posing a little for me as well - after all, she was a very gorgeous fox-girl.
“Master. Would you like a bath, a breakfast, or me?” she teased, a very typical behaviour for my silvery vixen. She hushed her little sisters away. They giggled, as if they always intended to watch, but they didn’t seem too bothered with leaving.
I kissed her too - her rough tongue didn’t surprise me anymore. She was my foxy, after all.
“I would start with…” I said, my words uncompleted, as something buzzed in front of the window, along with the shadow that was briefly cast over the room. It didn’t startle anyone, it was one of ours.
“I suppose, doing my job.” I sighed.
Whether it was a ‘Mutator’ enjoying her morning flight, or the ‘Fleshspeakers’ succeeded in giving their ‘roach hounds’ ability to fly, it didn’t matter that much, as it successfully reminded me I had other duties than enjoying quality time with my beautiful companions.
“We have to deal with humans, don’t we?” I sighed. “There is a little time for us to de-stress and focus on ourselves until we sort out that mess with the human city, and this entire valley.”
“Helmy suggests setting them on fire if they don’t behave, Master.” Tama answered, pushing herself closer, “In the meantime we can relax and…”
“It’s not that easy.” I said, not entertaining the thought about Helmy’s idea. I assigned one of my bat-girls, multiple, even, for each village, to facilitate communication, didn't I?
Did Angela return to her post in the south?
“My Master. Stupid humans could at least figure out they shouldn’t bother us since we started nesting here.” Mai added, sounding somewhat annoyed.
“They wouldn’t. Such was the promise.” I assured her, even though I had no way of predicting how humans would react. They were more consistent with being belligerent, rather than the other way around, but they should, if nothing else, still be able to keep outside our lands sandwiched between mountains and rivers.
“You are already making our lands defensible, Mai. I saw the creep barriers along the riverbank, and your sisters prowling on tree branches along access routes with bows and arrows.” I said, summarising their effort as I recalled it.
“It may not be enough to keep the young safe, my Master.” She said, her clawed hand tracing the soft snow-white scales on her underbelly, as if in consideration of the unborn within.
My vixen nudged me with her foxy muzzle. Tama was alluring, and I liked Mai equally, but I resisted, reminding myself I was supposed to talk with the Viceroy and negotiate an agreement with him, finally solidifying some kind of treaty with - at least - this valley. If I wanted to establish any formal relations with humans, this would be the way to start.
Not to mention, we have been asked to interfere.
“I’ll talk with their local leader later today if I can.” I decided, however, I had a notion that the promise of protection wouldn’t be enough for them to buy in for a deal, but I had an idea which would help long-term cohabitation, which now seemed next to impossible.
“Mai, could you ask your sisters to prepare some fruits we can trade with the humans?” I said and reminded her of the obvious: “Please make sure they aren’t toxic to humans.”
I was afraid there was very little we could do about the general attitude the natives had, considering we could provide very little aside from acting as the enforcers and military, while demanding the protection money, but I supposed sharing some produce would help.
We could grow crops, any crops, faster than humans, possibly outstripping the capabilities for their priesthood to bless the crops, then exchange that for cloth or more ore.
Mai considered it silently, blinked, and I could sense her thinking.
“Vegetables and other grains would work too.” I added, “As long as it is not poisonous or toxic. I want to convince the locals to follow our lead without Arke’s girls mind-controlling everyone.”
Mai’s gaze shifted outside for a brief moment, her eyes fixated on the unseen horizon as she communicated with her sisters. It was apparent they were engaged in a short, but intense, exchange, my companion’s reptilian face could betray as much, not to mention I could sense the host ripe with activity.
“Yes, I have an idea, my Master. Lily can prepare the fruits we also eat.” The reptilian girl agreed and slid off the bed, checking the water in the bath with her scaly hand.
“You should take the bath first, Master?” Tama suggested, and I did enter it, sitting quite awkwardly in the tub while my vixen crawled in too. There was just enough space for us. Her fur kept the scent of burnt aromatic wood, even if wet.
Then my thoughts had escaped to the different - considerably less pleasurable - things. I had a job to do.
The water was warm, and the company was pleasurable, but I resisted the temptation of our passions enough for the moment. I had my moments during the night.
Now, I had duties now - entertainment later- I was supposed to be a leader of my people, wasn’t I?
“Did the Viceroy finally recover?” I asked, looking at Miwah and Narita. As attractive as they were, they were also more mindful of duties.
“Yes, Master.” Narita said, sitting on the bed, “He seemed to be shocked, but otherwise we managed to restore his health. He already realised that Arke is controlling some of his former assailants and tried to recall his retinue. He met with the priest, and we let Hyun-Ki enter and talk with him, too.”
I blinked.
“Hyun-Ki?” I asked, confused. Was I supposed to know who it was? I was, so far, unable to memorise the local names, aside from Ari's, and for all the plans and goals I made for the sake of peaceful coexistence, I was yet to memorise the names of important people.
I didn’t even remember the Viceroy’s name, only the title.
“His advisor.” Narita answered helpfully, refreshing my memories. “He is the scribe that dealt with us. I think the human title is sage.”
“Yes, him.” I said and then asked: “Do we understand their language now?”
It wasn't exactly a smart question - what I meant was whether we were still restricted to communicating through zombified villagers - but the girls seemed to catch my meaning without issue, likely owing to our shared telepathic link rather than my ability to put my ideas into words.
“We don’t, Master.” Miwah admitted, “Unless Arke has the drone close, we don’t catch everything, but we figure out the most through having them look up the words. Angela suggested we integrate the translator into our outfits…”
I paused.
Then, I finally understood what she meant - the ‘Fleshspeakers’ were able to fashion themselves a living outfit made of tissue, skin and bone, a living dress that made their power a terrifying prospect to behold. I never asked where the material for their project came from.
It answered the query, still; we were reliant on either sending out enthralled humans or having Ari to translate.
I nodded, trying to ignore Tama still teasing me. She was doing the very best to distract me. but an unsettling notion with all what the bat-girls could do to humans, and all living creatures, on a whim, successfully prevented me from being … too excited.
“Ah, I see.” I said, “Do we know what they spoke about?”
“We think so, Master,” Miwah said
“So they plotted against us?” I asked. It wouldn’t be surprising if they do, after all, the Viceroy himself already faced a mutiny twice, “Or did they discuss the terms at which they were going to deal with us?”
“No, Master. Hyun-Ki is eager to help us in the search for the scrolls, Master.” Miwah said, bobbing her head as she sat on the bed. Lovely as always.
“We can ask him to write the treaty to justify our stay.” I offered, and I considered my options. I looked away, breaking my gaze to the shifting shadows at the corner of the room, submerged in thoughts, only realising my behaviour started to be very close to the tendency the ‘Alphas’ also had.
“We would offer…” I said, pausing, thinking, then continued: “...we could establish our protectorate over the valley, taking all duties associated with their military and guards, delegating the nominal civilian rule to the Viceroy. We can strike a bargain about how tax is paid as we are in no need of money. We need more iron and cloth.”
“He could be instructed to do so.” Miwah agreed, “Yes, Master.”
I had to wonder how strange it would be for him to receive a communiqué through the zombified peasant, though I assumed it could be done in relative privacy considering our capabilities to teleport. Then I realised there are others things to worry about
“And the others?”
“The priest won’t do anything, Master.” She continued, “We don’t understand him very well, but he seems to be powerless without a direct blessing from the dragon. The Viceroy dismisses the meeting afterwards without saying anything more.”
It said nothing about the Viceroy’s willingness to sign any form of agreement, or hand us some concessions in the form of the iron mines output, if there weren’t any in the hills on the opposing side of the valley. I have yet to see Sora’s report on that.
At least, the dragoness was out of our metaphorical hair at the moment. I was half-expecting her to pester us even at this very moment, but she went silent, either pre-occupied with other matters, or simply conserving her energy.
As distrustful I was towards the ‘Lady’ it seemed she was upholding her part of the bargain for now through either taking away her priests’ ability to ‘seal’ us, or sabotaging the wards they made. Whether it would hold forever, or even for any meaningful period, it remained a question.
Her presence, though heavily subdued, did remain more of the residue of the land than a voice in the host. I decided it would be for the best not to invoke the devil’s name now.
I wondered where ‘Lady’ went, and whether I had any means to prevent some rogue priest from putting the city under the same kind of barrier that repelled my ‘Displacers’ during the siege, or whether I was able to do the same through Kirke.
Her ‘arcane’ element was, as far I understood, the same force that made the rare enchanted items, and possibly the very same power the dragons’ priestesses were blessed with.
Perhaps, the anthropomorphic moths could, indeed, bless the human fields. I didn’t have the time to test that.
I was very reluctant to involve myself in religious affairs, or to create the cult the ‘Lady’ desired, and hushed my thoughts on the matter not to invoke the dragoness' name, or otherwise attract her attention. I didn’t even know what to do with her clergy stuck with us.
“Master?” Tama whispered in my ear, bringing me back from my consideration. My vixen may be perfectly fine with me lazing through the day, and enjoying the quality time with her, or my other mates. However, I was more mindful of my duties, as I perceived them.
“Find me a towel, and clothes, and arrange for the meeting with the Viceroy.” I decided, getting out of the bath.
While Tama looked a little disappointed, she did not protest. Almost as if on demand, a bunch of ‘Purifiers’ burst into the room, giggling, providing clothes, and even bringing breakfast.
“Yes, Master.”
I tried to dry myself with the presented piece of cotton cloth, a more clean piece of fabric rather than a towel, but was soon helped by my girls, more than willing to groom me themselves.
After a short internal conflict about whether I should let them - they spoiled me by a great deal - I still opted for letting them do whatever they wished, and focused on the more important matters at hand. Their fur against my bare skin was a distractful delight, but I would go with a towel, or rather piece of cloth, for now. Duty before pleasure.
The ‘Purifiers’ didn’t seem to mind acting as Tama’s handmaidens, and considering their attitude, they were acting more like the girls on pillow night rather than actual servants, and even Miwah and Narita had their own assistants.
Although I felt comfortable with a lot of them swarming around, even if that was rather strange, I wasn’t keen on abusing them for everything. It was still somewhat awkward sometimes to be an object of such affection, even if I indulged sometimes.
Still, I was adamant in rejecting the clothes they may have pilfered from the castle’s rooms too, some of which may have once belonged to the man I was going to meet, and would likely make a terrible impression despite the apparent cloth’s quality.
The presented alternative was even worse. An armour, fashioned by the ‘Fleshspeakers’ especially for me, was, I assumed, designed to strike fear into the heart of any human that saw it, and would be considerably worse for making a good first impression. It was all chitin, and tissue, and bone, and skin, and I wasn’t quite sure how to even put that on without their help.
I was going to deal with my bat monster-girls’ creativity later.
The merchant garb wasn’t that bad after all. It may not be an upper class outfit, but it served my purposes just well enough, and as far I was aware, didn’t offend anyone either.
While my girls weren’t quite indecisive about what they were going to wear, it would take a moment before we would look like some form of delegation, even if they opted to wear the armour. The red and gold one, which stayed with Miwah from the very start, wasn’t probably a terrible choice even for the official meetings, even though I decided to not wear that thing again.
I used the moment to inspect the long overlooked ‘overview’ screen.
It was still rather strange that my power had manifested itself through this very sterile, monochromatic, yet considerably game-like interface, one that was entirely unique to this world for some incomprehensible reasons, and even ‘Lady’ - the self professed goddess - wasn’t aware of it.
Albeit notoriously unhelpful, I couldn’t deny the mystery of it motivated me to seek the ‘Scrolls’ as they were likely the true power behind me, my abilities, my girls, and the madness of the war the natives waged.
I doubted it could create magically binding agreements anyway, even if doing so would help greatly.
If only I could pry some answer from the monochromatic screen.
“Overview.” I whispered, filled with expectations that would likely never be met.
The screen was as boring, and uninformative, as I expected it. Even though it differed from my first ever encounter with it, I was apparently not eligible for further upgrades in the interface since it started to calculate the maximum population.
The nebulous ‘resource’ was there too. Explanation of where it came from was not. I poked the translucent floating window in the appropriate section, but it had no effect. I didn’t have any idea why there was the ‘divinity’ level either.
Still, being aware of the numbers - several thousands of ‘Eviscerators’ and ‘Purifiers’ and ‘Defilers’ - made me feel the burden of responsibility weighing me down. Despite all the rebirth mechanics, I was still responsible for my horde’s well being.
Scanning the numbers, I realised they were changing - especially the auxiliary section. Eighty-four acolytes? Nearly two hundred flesh drones? What were those?
I knew that the drone was, in fact, a zombified human. However, whether it counted the horses puppeteer'd by my mind-controlling bats, or the overgrown roaches, was a mystery.
Poking the screen provided no answer, and the growing number made me consider the option of giving the glowing, arcane fruits to the ‘Fleshspeakers’ instead. The shrieks they produced were, in fact, a perfect non-lethal takedown, excellent for policing the population, however their tendency to follow up with the enthralling zombification made him hesitate.
There, however, was a category that, as far I knew, wasn’t an enthralled flesh puppet.
Acolytes were - who exactly? The priests the ‘Lady’ pushed on me? Why was Ari the only one named?
If only I knew what made Ari special, though the easiest explanation was, that ‘Serpent’ did. It seems that she, along with her unconscious passenger, was an integral part of the host.
She was the ‘Herald of the Serpent’ after all.
“Master. The Viceroy had agreed to see you.” Miwah words interrupted my thoughts, and I waved away the interface. It wasn’t helpful, anyway.
I looked up and asked:
“Which one of you wants to attend then?”
Mai, even though she was currently beautifying herself with a couple of flowers, didn’t seem interested in socialising with slimy humans, as she would put it, so my sight landed on Miwah, Tama and Narita. Ekaterina wasn’t here.
Tama seems to be in for it. Not only did her fluff dry sufficiently fast, it seems she stole the red-pink embroidered dress for the occasion, a courtesy of the latest village acquisition.
Miwah, on the other hand, was outfitted with the best lamellar armour fit for the local warrior, also red and golden, now polished.
Narita, as pretty as my anthropomorphic rat was, had opted for the ‘Fleshspeaker’ creation - a chitin, and flesh, and sinew - and would not strike the best impression. Still, I didn’t have the heart to tell her she wouldn’t be on my side - she was one of mine, and would always be precious to me.
All of them would be willing to go.
“My ladies, and my knights.” I said, “Mai, you don’t have to go if you don’t want to.”
“My Master.” The reptilian breathed a sigh of relief she won’t have to deal with the slimy natives, as she would certainly put it. Her revulsion of humans was quite peculiar in itself.
“I would certainly welcome the rest.” I decided, and I was met with the surprising answer in-unison across the different breeds.
“We will always protect you.”
“It’s Tama, Miwah, Narita and me then.” I decided, “However, ask Arke to arrive first, with the translator…. And of course, I would love to have Ekaterina if it won’t turn too crowded.
“Yes. Master.” They answered, and I nodded in response, wondering about our trip to the palace, and the circumstances in which we would meet the Viceroy. One of the smaller ‘Displacer’ - one which was very difficult to convince to leave me alone even with Miwah and Tama present - snuck into the room, but getting the more used to the way they operate, I stopped her before she dragged me through the rift somewhere.
While I could trust her, it would be undignified, being carried around in even the hallways of your own home - as long as this castle could be considered home since we weren’t around for that long.
“I suppose Sora would have to open the portal in the courtyard instead.” I said, “She will have to sit through this, I am afraid.”
I didn’t want her to wander away from this event like a curious child.
“Yes, Master.”
After a brief glance at my companions and their affirming expression, I decided to head out. The crowd of smaller monster girls still loitering around parted like the wave as I stormed out the corridors of the fortress.
I soon found out I needed their help to actually orient myself within the bowels of the keep, even though they, sensing the confusion, were always willing to help.
In the end, it was the small ‘Displacer’ who had been so insistent on keeping close that led me through the darkened hallways filled with the countless monster girls that made this place their home, and wandered across their business while the oversized insects chittered in the corners as though they were some kind of trained hounds.
The ‘Fleshspeakers’ were fully intent on following my request, and aimed to weaponise their power through the pests they could reshape and control.
The swirling mass of eldritch energies awaited me just in front of the central keep main entrance, the controller of which stood nearby, holding the passage open. There was a certain ominous feeling to it, especially if Sora opted for the same organic outfit Narita and many ‘Fleshspeakers’ also used, giving a somewhat menacing outline to the panther-shaped feline.
She nodded in respect.
Ekaterina, fully equipped in her plated armour, also waited, ready to act as my personal guard, even if they became more than just my protector over the last few days.
I sometimes have to wonder how literal the system was with the whole ‘bride’ thing, but this was not the time or place to ponder about that.
“What’s the situation in the city?” I asked, as the last confirmation.
“The humans must be aware we are around, Master.” Miwah said, “Some are trying to leave the city as we speak, others are gathering in the streets.”
“And is the priest doing something?”
I suspected this was an excellent time to spring some form of trap.
“He is in the garden. He tries to talk to one of my sisters.” Miwah answered.The white werewolf made a confused expression when she added: “I think he is proposing to her.”
I grimaced, though I attributed the bizarre information to the translation error, and immediately assumed that the threat of a city rioting during the meeting was of the more significant importance.
“Very well. Have him watched. I don’t want any magical surprises.” I said - even though the news was anything but good - and decided: “Call the Fleshspeakers. They could stun the townsfolk, or break the crowd with their roach puppets, one we are in the clear.”
My excitement for the negotiation, if there ever was any in the first place, quickly waned away.
Nevertheless, there was no going back.
I took a deep breath and stepped through the portal.
Unlike the rifts opened by the smaller ‘Displacer’, it provided nearly instantaneous travel to the desired location, the disorienting nature of the void between where the concept of distance and dimension didn’t exist condensed to the single blink of the eye. It, however, didn’t lack intensity, a violent shift between the two contradicting states of the world brought to heel by the ‘Displacer’ magic.
I closed my eyes for the moment, and when I opened them, I stood in the throne room of the palace. Though not very large, owing to the fact this was the seat for the provincial governor, not the actual monarch, the decorations were still lavish, if not excessive, covering the windows that let the light in. The colours, albeit muted because of the expense of paints and dyes, did share the theme with the armour Miwah wore.
The Viceroy, dressed in the expensive-looking official attire covered with the excessive embroidery, wearing a rather strange looking hat, sat on the bench in the prominent position of the room while my retinue spread around. Arke, shadowed by the hulking chitinous abomination, was also there, waiting to translate.
What I found somewhat strange was the absence of any other humans - there were neither advisors, nor the priest, nor the captain of guard to stand at the Viceroy side, almost as they all abandoned him to face us there.
Largely ignorant of the local customs, I was certain that there were supposed to be more people.
Though there were two more benches, likely intended for these advisors or the other officials, they remained empty.
He looked rather alone here, yet maintained a stoic expression watching as I approached.
“Lord Viceroy.” I said with a nod, “I come to bargain.”