Chapter 335 - Identi-Bee and Intention
After Chief Rohsuak, the fair folk were supposed to introduce themselves…but they did not. Instead, all of the fair folk’s representatives were staring with gaping jaws at the man in front of them. Even Henilett remained speechless and openly displayed her shock. Belissar frowned.
“What’s going on? Is something wrong? Why aren’t any of the Compact’s representatives saying anything?”
He turned to the fair folk around him…and found Nenavann and even Queen Vanieskon had stiffened.
“Belissar…you say the Compact’s representatives are acting strangely? After meeting this man who calls himself General Rippotis of the Dragon Banner Army?”
Belissar raised an eye while nodding.
“Yes, the Compact’s representatives are staring in shock.”
Queen Vanieskon spoke in a quiet voice.
“Even Henilett?”
Belissar nodded. Nenavann and Queen Vanieskon looked at each other and their eyes widened further. Nenavann took a deep breath before turning back to Belissar.
“Belissar…we knew of a General Rippotis. The fair folk have fought with a man by that name in the past…in the time before the Hunger. We did not think it possible that this was the same man…but for his appearance to affect our representatives this strongly…”
Belissar’s eyes widened in realization.
“Ah, yeah, they say he was one of the first Tower Lords, one of the ones who saved humanity from the Hunger when it appeared. I don’t know if it’s true or a lie, though.”
Queen Vanieskon shook her head.
“No, Henilett has seen the original general in person. She would recognize him if he were the same man…and from what you say of her reaction, she has. But how that is possible, I do not know. No human should have been able to live for that long…”
Belissar tilted his head.
“But…don’t the Towers give their masters long life? Or maybe the gods, but I figure from all the Tower powers I’ve gotten that it’s the Towers?”
Both Nenavann and Queen Vanieskon’s eyes widened once more.
“That…could be true. The master is bound to the dungeon and maintained in top condition by its mana…I guess there’s no reason that could not apply to aging as well, for those that experience it. And we never would have noticed, since the fair folk do not age as a rule…”
Queen Vanieskon narrowed her eyes.
“Which means…this could very well be the Butcher of Blackwood himself, still alive after all these years.”
Belissar looked at the two fair folk at the name. Nenavann sighed before elaborating.
“In the time before the Hunger, the fair folk and humans fought many wars. One was between a people called the blood elves of Blackwood and the humans’ Sorcerer Kings. It…ended poorly for the blood elves, the Blackwood was burnt down and their civilization all but destroyed. The one responsible…was General Rippotis of the Dragon Banner Army.”
Nenavann furrowed his brow before continuing.
“That said man is still alive will not be well-received by the Compact. That the humans would send him specifically to negotiate with us is…troubling. It certainly throws into question their motives…”
Belissar now joined the two fair folk in glaring. So, General Rippotis was responsible for massacring an entire civilization of fair folk? That…certainly sounded like the Tower Lords that Belissar knew, making it all the more likely that the general was indeed responsible for their deeds. And may not have been sent here with good intentions after all. Belissar whispered to Niobee, keeping his voice low to try and calm himself.
“Niobee…tell the hive of hives to get ready. Don’t do anything yet but be prepared.”
Niobee buzzed.
“Will. Hive of hives ready to sting as soon as King says.”
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Belissar nodded then settled in to watch General Rippotis’ every move, ready for the first sign of betrayal.
In the meantime, Henilett had finally come to herself and got the attention of the other representatives from the Compact. They finally proceeded to introduce themselves, then the sigmaka after them. Belissar informed Chief Rohsuak of what the fair folk had told him in the meantime. She narrowed her eyes slightly once the introductions were finished…and did not yet invite the general to sit at the table.
“Now then, General Rippotis of the Conclave of Tower Lords, tell us: what is your purpose here?”
If General Rippotis was affected by the drop in Chief Rohsuak’s tone, he did not show it.
“I’ve been sent by the High Council of the Conclave and by the God of Fire to make peace between the Conclave, the Calwaskon Compact, and Tower Keeper Belissar. And before I do that…I must extend an apology to Tower Keeper Belissar.”
Belissar froze.
“Huh?”
Back in the negotiation room, General Rippotis lowered his head.
“I have investigated his case…and found that the Conclave has treated him atrociously, he and his village both, even before he gained possession of the lost Tower. For this and for our attacks on him afterwards, I am sorry. We have done him much wrong.”
Belissar was too confused to relay what had happened to the others around him. Chief Rohsuak, meanwhile, only deepened her glare.
“You admit your fault in this matter? Are you prepared to act upon it, High Councilor of the Conclave of Tower Lords?”
General Rippotis lifted his head and nodded once.
“I am. With your permission, I’d like to present some tokens of our guilt to Tower Keeper Belissar. They cannot account for what we have done, but I hope he can accept it as a symbol of our sincerity.”
Chief Rohsuak glared at him for a moment longer before nodding her head. General Rippotis turned around and motioned to the soldier with the bag, who handed it to the general. He then slowly and calmly opened up the bag and pulled out its contents one by one, placing them on the table ahead of him. A pouch that the General opened to reveal held seeds, a red gem the size of a head that glowed as if it held a flame within, and a bottle full of red liquid.
“The seeds of the true snapdragon flower, a variety that only bloom in the nests of dragonkin, and the core of a fire dragon to create the necessary conditions to raise them. I hope that they will nourish and please the Tower Keeper’s bees. And for the Tower Keeper personally: a bottle of wine, the best in the Conclave.”
Belissar’s mind was still blank due to this turn of events when Chief Rohsuak began to prompt him with Tower messages.
“Tower Keeper, how would you like me to proceed? Will you accept the apology, or do you deem it insufficient?”
Belissar blinked, then shook his head. Ultimately…it didn’t matter if he was confused. It didn’t matter if he didn’t know what to think or feel. His thoughts and feelings on the matter were irrelevant in the first place.
He intended to make peace today, for the sake of the gods that wished it and the bees that would survive for it. So long as General Rippotis was working towards that, Belissar would put aside his feelings on the matter.
“Accept it, for now. Let’s just stop the fighting and be done with it.”
Back in the negotiation room, Chief Rohsuak glared down at General Rippotis in silence for a while…but eventually nodded her head once.
“We will accept this peace offering as sufficient to hear you out, and I will convey your apology to the Tower Keeper. Now then, you say you are here to bring peace?”
Henilett narrowed her eyes and spoke up.
“Indeed. I am most curious as to what sort of peace the Conclave offers by sending the victor of the Blackwood War to negotiate on their behalf.”
General Rippotis made a slight smile, Belissar was unsure what to make of it.
“I suppose that’s a good question. I may not be a normal diplomat, but I can say I do not wish to fight a second Blackwood War. I am certain you do not, either.”
The Compact’s representatives…all began to glare at the general at that answer. He blinked and then sighed.
“The truth is I was assigned this mission by the gods and so the Conclave agreed to leave it to me. Perhaps the gods have a greater purpose in doing so, I simply see their will done as they express it. But if I were to guess at their motives…if our peoples are to make peace, then we must look beyond our past wrongs. If you can make peace with me, then you can make peace with all of us. And as a member of the High Council, I have the authority to end this conflict now.”
The Compact’s representatives glanced at each other. The silver elf representative turned back and scoffed.
“So, that’s the peace you offer, General? We all forget the past, just like that? What about more recent grievances, then? Neither the signatories of the Calwaskon Compact nor Tower Keeper Belissar nor King Ratuatapi of the sigmaka were the ones who began this conflict, unprovoked and with no attempt at diplomacy, I might add. You claim to offer peace, but what restitution do you make for the blood you have already spilt? And what assurances do you make that this peace will last? How do we know that you will not simply leave and then return with an army?”
General Rippotis frowned but kept his voice calm.
“I am fully prepared to make restitution to Tower Keeper Belissar for the damage done to him by the Conclave. I am also prepared to negotiate a wider agreement between our nations…and to swear it both by my authority as a member of the High Council and in the name of my patron, the God of Fire. I will use all means at my disposal to see it done, even if I must put my life on the line.”
The representatives glanced at each other once more, as well as at the sigmaka queens and Chief Rohsuak. One by one, they all began to nod to each other and turned back to General Rippotis. Chief Rohsuak held her hand forward to the table.
“Then please, have a seat, General Rippotis, and tell us the details of this agreement you wish to offer.”
And so, the negotiations between General Rippotis of the Conclave and the alliance of Belissar, the sigmaka, and the fair folk began. Belissar had a feeling that these ones might take a while…