Chapter 455
With a smile, or at least, whatever my reptile lips could make in an approximation of it, I flared [Absolute Dominance] while speaking with [Disastrous Discourse] and [Conqueror’s Rebuke]. My sudden appearance combined with the deliberately and magically imposing aura I brought served to make every one of the Misti Hawar step back at least one pace each. I thought that the deep purple of my robe looked striking over my bright silver scales, but the terrified looks on the weak minded Misti Hawar gave me no true answer as to what their thoughts might be regarding my appearance. Other than that of a terrifying tyrant. They stayed silent for long enough to allow Sybil to bow deeply. The rest of the Saharliard in the room followed suit, each one speaking in unison, “Hail the Zaaktif.”
I flared my frills in acceptance of their acknowledgment, then turned my attention entirely back to the feline looking creatures in front of me. Their spokesperson initially looked to be terrified, but she seemed to gather strength from somewhere, then looked up into my face. I towered over her, more monster than person when looked at side by side.
“Are you the one who I should be negotiating with? You’re the leader of the country, I believe. You must know, this one you’ve trusted to speak with me? She is a disappointment to your kind.”
“I had known that your people would be my enemies from the time your leader appeared in a nursery and slaughtered infants and unborn children. It would appear that I shouldn’t worry too much about having you as enemies, though. After all, having a fool as an enemy is the best kind of enemy someone can hope for.” I shook my head in disbelief, deliberately putting on the mannerisms of humans as I was forced to scoff at the fool’s idiocy. I couldn’t know if the Misti Hawar even knew the ways that humans carried themselves, much less used those same mannerisms themselves, but it was worth the effort either way.
“A country run by a vulgar leader, such as yourself cannot hope to prosper!” She retorted, incensed by my insult.
“And what would you call the leader of a nation that allows an enemy nation's so-called ‘diplomat’ to insult his chosen representative without calling them the fools that they are? Surely, given your response and vehemence, you would expect your prestigious Nyust’taa to genuflect and beg for forgiveness from a foreign would-be dignitary and then exchange with them for less favorable terms. Surely.”
She opened her mouth, closed it, opened it again, and was finally able to gather her composure. Behind her, strangely enough, most of the other representatives seemed just as taken aback by her foolishness as I was. I was struck by the realization that she was up to something, something hidden from her fellows, and it wasn’t a poor faith possibility for exchanging prisoners. If they had any hope of getting their people from us, they would be at least a little more eager to engage in conversation, even if they had to briefly take a position as if they were in the weaker position. So what was it?
“I apologize. Please call me Wuarmi, I am the representative of the Principality of the Misti Hawar. I come on behalf of the Nyust’taa to look for any possibility for exchanging your prisoners with anything that may be of value to you.”
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