Chapter 31 - Deals

Chapter 31

Starborn Mountains, Starfire Valley

Settlement of Astralis

Sapphiria noted, with some interest, that the council room was...well, not warm, but not cold to threatening levels to unaugmented humans. And so far as her sensors could tell, there was no active heat source. Well, besides the squishies themselves.

Concrete wasn't supposed to be this good of an insulator. Anomalous, maybe?

"So." Kalia took a seat, as Sapphiria did the same, opposite the table, as the others sat down flanking the mage-magistrate. "As you've seen, temperatures have dropped. It's probably only going to be for a few days, at least at first, but make no mistake, winter is coming."

Sapphiria blinked. Didn't her mom used to quote that? Something about twenty first century fiction. And wolves. Big ones.

"So, I assume some things became more urgent."

Kalia sighed.

"Yes. Very much so." She met Sapphiria's eyes, probably to emphasize her point, but it simply distracted the AI as she tried to avoid losing herself in their sunset hues. Again. "The main issue is heating. We're on track to finish up building some rudimentary housing so our people don't die of exposure, but that means using wood we should have stockpiled for fuel. It's gotten a bit better thanks to you, repurposing our foraging expeditions to chop down wood for the nutrigel vats was a net positive in both food and wood production, but the math still doesn't work out." Her gaze darkened. "We could have used magic to mitigate that, but...I used almost half of our reserves defending myself from the legionnaire attack."

Gregor shifted, clearly about to protest, but the mage-magistrate's gaze pinned him to his chair.

Sapphiria cleared her throat, and Kalia looked back towards her.

"That is indeed problematic. I do, fortunately, have some solutions. However, putting any of them into action will delay my military plans."

Kalia smiled mirthlessly.

"Our people can't fight the Bane if they'd dying of hypothermia."

I'd rather you don't have to fight at all, thought Sapphiria. But the mage-magistrate was right. No matter how uncomfortable it was for her, better they be alive, but be forced to fight for themselves, than dead.

"That is a fair point. Very well. Could you please tell me what you needs are?"

"We have around three hundred people. Our fuel might cover a hundred for the duration of winter, and that's with more logging expeditions during the frost."

"I see." That...wasn't good. Two hundred to warm up, in makeshift buildings whose heat insulation would be effectively nonexistent? "I will see what I can do. One thing however, I was preparing to manufacture some concrete for my own needs. I could have some shipped up to the surface, to aid in your building efforts and save you more fuel."

The mage-magistrate seemed to relax somewhat.

"That would be wonderful. May I ask what you would like in exchange?"

Well, she had built the metaconcrete plant to gift them what was, effectively, her industrial surplus. Waste, really, given how little use she'd otherwise have for some of the materials. Had she more complicated industry she could make some interesting stuff out of it, like worksuits, but that would be out of her reach for a while yet.

She didn't want to extort the squishies, but at the same time they were still unlikely to believe a gift with no strings attached from her. Also...well, her mom had made a megacorp before she eventually founded the Federation. She had been taught to try and extract some value when she could.

"For the concrete? I'd like a copy of your scouts' reports, if at all possible."

"Of course. And for the...fuel?"

It wasn't going to be fuel, but...actually she wasn't sure what her solution was going to be. She was running some estimates, from scans of the huts she'd passed by, and the results weren't good.

She really wasn't sure what she should quote as a price though. It was tempting to ask for something later, after she'd found a precise solution, but that was just kicking the can down the road. She didn't want something that would hurt the squishies, but she also needed to ensure she didn't need to constantly fight with them over stuff she needed later on.

Actually...she had idea.

"The minerals within the mountain and the mines. Mining rights, so to speak."

Malry looked outraged, but Kalia was thoughtful, and Sapphiria crossed her fingers.

Technically she'd already claimed the underground as her domain, but this would also give her a sizeable amount of resources. Resources she was already holding with her turrets and mining with her bots, the latter of which she hadn't told the squishies, but they had to have guessed given that she was able to make new stuff. The raw materials had to come from somewhere at least.

That was, effectively, ratifying a fait accompli. But also more or less handing her the entire mountain and everything within it.

In absolute numbers, that was a terrible deal. But in practice, what were they going to do with it? Mine it? Their ancestors had run the hell away after trying. And she was already down there, dug in like a tick. From their point of view it was pure benefits, but at the same understandable why she would want it.

"I believe that is acceptable." Said the mage-magistrate. Malry looked like she was going to explode, but she held her peace. There was probably going to be a serious amount of arguing once she left. Probably a fair amount of yelling at Kalia too. For some reason that upset her a lot more than it should have. Squishies be squishies and that meant a lot of arm waving and arguing about logical outcomes, but still. "Thank you."

"It's my pleasure. Hopefully it will give your people some peace of mind."

"Hopefully."

Sapphiria cleared her throat.

"Since we were talking about scouts....anything specific from them?"

"Yes. The Bane have swept the Mytran. Multiple times, actually. First was for the tools, the rest for the weapons." Sapphiria blinked. Tools first huh? Interesting. "Which I found indicative all on its own. It seems you were correct about your assumption that the mines are their primary objective."

Sapphiria nodded, and smiled.

"It seems I have competition trying to jump my claim."

The mage-magistrate chuckled.

"I suppose you do." She shook her head. "Nevertheless, they have not attempted to retake Myrtran yet. We've also spotted numerous patrols in that area. More than we had expected."

"They're trying to see if I return there." Though why, she had no idea. Maybe they expected Astralis to exacavate a new vehicle entrance to exploit the mines? "I won't, but it does mean their other flank will probably be exposed."

"If they haven't increased patrols across the board." Cautionned Gregor. "Imperial doctrine would demand that, as well as simple caution."

"An excellent point." Even if they were laser focused on the mines, anyone with some amount of intelligence on the other side would realize the eventual target would be the pass, which meant screening its approaches. "Nevertheless, probably still a better option than walking into the tiger's maw."

"You mean pulling your stunt again." Sapphiria looked at Kalia, and smiled sheepishly.

"I'd like to argue that it was an accident, and point out that I won."

"Uh huh. Do you intend to head back out soon?"

Sapphiria shook her head.

"No, no. I'll work on the heating issue first thing." Saving squishies was her priority after all.

"Thank you. I appreciate that."

"No problem." Sapphiria stole an unobtrusive glance at Malry, who seemed to be growing more and more impatient. It was kind of looking at a reactor going critical, in a morbidly curious of what'll happen when it exploded kind of way. Better she get out of the blast radius though, even if she'd like to stand by Kalia, it would probably only make things worse. "Unless there is something else that we should discuss, I should probably be on my way."

"Of course, of course! I'll ac-" Kalia moved to get up, but stopped as Malry twitched. "...I mean, I'm sure you need no one to accompany you out, but do ask one of my men if you need."

"I don't believe it will be necessary." Said the AI, before leaving with almost indecent haste.

Time to get out dodge.

*****

"What the FUCK were you thinking?!?" Yelled out Malry, a few seconds after the door closed behind the Hero.

"I was thinking I could enshrine the continued support of the only person keeping us alive while costing us nothing!" Shouted back Kalia, and Malry recoiled, before rallying.

"Did you? You don't have the authority to just...give her an entire mountain!"

"The resources within that mountain."

"What the fuck else are we going to use it for, agriculture?"

The mage-magistrate slowly got up, before stepping forward, towering over the diviner.

"You are overstepping your bounds, advisor."

Malry got up as well, though she wasn't even close in terms of sheer presence and height.

"No. I am doing exactly what I am here to do. Advising you, and telling you when you are overstepping your own power." She grimaced. "Damn it Kali! Can't you see it? Their majesties will never accept this! This isn't your damned domain and you have no right to just...gift it away!"

If the diviner had been hoping for the use of the mage-magistrate's nickname -though it was only a letter shorter than her actual name- to have an effect, she was sorely disappointed.

"This domain belongs to the Magistracy of Trunevald, and it will do with it as it pleases, Malry Solaph. Your kingdom is our liege, not our gods. And we will do with our land as we wish, as we always have."

Energy seemed to crackle in the air as Malry opened her mouth, only to gasp as she was unceremoniously pushed back, similar to the mage-magistrate.

Both looked in astonishment as Ramina forcefully separated them, before planting herself between them.

"Enough! You two are acting like idiots! Who gives a shit about land, lords and whatever? They're not here now. We are. If there's a problem with what we had to do to survive, then we can worry about them later, as at least we'll still be alive to have them!" She turned towards Malry. "You. Stop this crap. I know it's your job, and you're worried about us, but right now is not the time. If nothing else, even if it does create issues later, Sapphiria has always been open to talking and negotiating. I'm sure there can be further discussions then." The 'and they can take up their grievances with the terrifying high elder who would have kicked the Bane's ass' was unspoken, but heard loud and clear nonetheless. She turned towards Kalia. "And Kali, Malry is only doing this because she likes us, and she's afraid for us. Cut her some slack. Consult her on this. The Magistracy is gone. Trunevald...Trunevald is gone. Our home is gone. The Kingdom was the only chance we had. We had a miracle, Sapphiria, come to rescue us, one we had no right to. But that doesn't mean that we have to antagonize Turlor or its representative. Okay?"

She looked at the both of them, in turn, and they slowly nodded.

"Good." The artificer stepped back. "This meeting is dismissed, over, whatever the fuck you want to call it. both of you go take a break, some food, and take the day to cool off. Throw snowballs or something, I don't care. But take some time for yourselves. We all need to relieve the pressure. Objections?" They both shook their heads. "Good. Then shoo."

Kalia was the first to move, out of the door. Malry opened her mouth to speak to the artificer, but she held up her hand.

"No, don't say anything. I know your reasons. Go. Let cooler heads prevail."

The diviner swallowed, but she nodded, and left.

Ramina watched her go, and turned towards Gregor, who was putting the sword he had halfway drawn back into its scabbard.

"Well done." Said the skeleton. "It was touch and go there."

"It was." Agreed the artificer. "And I appreciate your loyalty to Kalia."

"I am a creature of duty."

"I'm not." How a skeleton could looks surprised was beyond the artificer, but Gregor clearly conveyed that. "I don't give a single crap about the Magistracy. But I care about Kalia. And I care about Malry. next time, if something needs to be done, restrain her. If you draw your sword on her and kill her, no one will ever find what's left of you. Am I understood?"

There was a short silence.

"You are a harder woman than I gave you credit for."

"I didn't get a mage hunter sent after me for forging paperwork."

The artificer left, and the old legionnaire stared as she walked out.

Some days, he wondered how they'd even made it this far.