UL1 - Book 11 - Chapter 121

The delegation arrived at dawn.

Rakonath watched them from the ridge above the lake, his silver scales catching the early light as he observed the small group making their way along the trail. Three beings in total. A gnome, a dwarf, and something that looked vaguely reptilian but walked upright on two legs. They moved with the confidence of merchants who had traveled dangerous roads before.

They also barely concealed their greed, seeing opportunity in everything around them.

They're looking at our territory the way a butcher looks at livestock.

Vaelion's voice echoed through the mental link that connected Rakonath to his people. The alpha had been watching the same trail, positioned on a different ridge where he could observe without being seen.

I noticed.

Do you want me to discourage them?

No. Let them come. I want to hear what they have to say.

Rakonath shifted into his humanoid form, the transformation flowing through him like water finding a new shape. His massive frame compressed into something that could walk among the other races without causing panic.

He descended the ridge and made his way toward the meeting grounds, a cleared area near the lake's edge where visitors were permitted to wait. By the time he arrived, the delegation had already set up a small pavilion and was arranging samples of their wares on a folding table.

"Lord Rakonath!" The gnome stepped forward, bowing with practiced grace. His name was Vikkish, and he represented something called the Consortium of Natural Resources. "Thank you for agreeing to meet with us."

"I agreed to hear your proposal," Rakonath corrected. "Meeting implies a conversation between equals. We'll see if this rises to that level."

The gnome's smile flickered for a heartbeat but held. "Of course. We appreciate any time you're willing to give us."

"Then don't waste it. What do you want?"

Vikkish gestured to the table behind him. "The Consortium specializes in acquiring and distributing rare materials. Dragon scales, in particular, are highly sought after throughout the collective. They're used in armor, in magical components, and in decorative items for wealthy patrons. The demand far exceeds the supply."

"I'm aware of how our scales are valued. What I'm asking is what you want from us specifically."

"A partnership." The gnome spread his hands. "Dragons shed scales naturally. Older dragons, especially, produce significant quantities that are typically discarded or left to decay. We're offering to collect these materials and compensate your people fairly for them."

"And what constitutes fair compensation?"

"We're prepared to offer market rates. Currently, that's approximately fifty thousand DP per standard weight of premium scales. For elder-grade material, we could go as high as two hundred thousand."

Rakonath kept his expression neutral. Those rates were lower than what he'd seen in the collective's open markets. Not insultingly low, but low enough to suggest the Consortium expected to profit handsomely from the arrangement.

"You mentioned naturally shed scales. What about other materials? Teeth? Claws? Blood?"

Vikkish's eyes brightened. "Those would certainly be of interest. Blood, especially, has significant alchemical applications. We could discuss separate arrangements for each category."

"And what happens if one of my people dies? In a dungeon, perhaps, or in some accident. Would the Consortium be interested in acquiring the remains?"

The gnome hesitated. "That would be... a delicate matter. We understand that dragons have traditions regarding their dead. We would never wish to violate cultural practices."

"But you would be interested. If we were willing to sell."

"The Consortium deals in rare materials, Lord Rakonath. We don't turn away opportunities."

Rakonath studied the delegation for several seconds. The gnome maintained his merchant's smile, though something behind his eyes suggested he knew he'd revealed too much. The dwarf and the reptilian being remained silent, watching with the patience of bodyguards accustomed to waiting.

"I'll consider your proposal," Rakonath said. "Return to the portal and wait there. If I decide to continue this discussion, someone will come for you."

"How long should we expect to wait?"

"As long as it takes."

Vikkish opened his mouth as if to protest, then thought better of it. He bowed again, signaled to his companions, and began packing up their samples.

Rakonath watched them go, his mind already turning toward the conversation he knew was coming.

***

Vaelion was waiting at the council plateau when Rakonath arrived.

The blue dragon had shifted to his humanoid form as well, his scales a cobalt that seemed to hold the color of a storm-darkened sky. He stood near the edge of the plateau, watching the lake below where young dragons played in the shallows.

"Arvir will be joining us shortly," Vaelion said without turning. "She's been waiting for an opportunity like this."

"I expected as much."

"You could have refused the merchants without consulting anyone. It's within your authority."

"I could have." Rakonath moved to stand beside his alpha. "But refusing without discussion creates different problems. Some of our people already feel that I don't listen to their concerns. Dismissing this proposal without at least appearing to consider it would only add fuel to that fire."

Vaelion's lips twitched. "Arvir's concerns, you mean."

"Arvir speaks for more than just herself. You know that."

"I know that she's been gathering supporters among the younger elders. Dragons who believe we've given too much to the other races and received too little in return." Vaelion turned to face him. "The same complaints we've heard every fifty or seventy years since we arrived in this world."

"And every fifty or seventy years, I remind them why we chose this path." Rakonath sighed. "But I'm not certain how many more times that reminder will be enough."

The sound of wingbeats drew their attention. Arvir descended from the clouds, her green scales gleaming in the morning light. She landed at the far end of the plateau and shifted, her humanoid form tall and sharp-featured, her eyes holding that intensity Rakonath had come to associate with her questions.

"Father," she said, inclining her head. "Alpha."

"Arvir." Rakonath gestured to the stone seats arranged around the plateau's center. "Join us."

They settled into their positions, the arrangement informal but still carrying the weight of hierarchy. Rakonath at the head, Vaelion to his right, Arvir across from them both.

"You met with the collective merchants," Arvir said. It wasn't a question.

"I heard their proposal."

"And?"

"And I wanted to discuss it with you before making any decisions."

Something flickered across Arvir's face. Surprise, perhaps, or suspicion. "That's... unexpected. In the past, you've simply decreed what our relationship with the other races will be."

"In the past, the stakes were different." Rakonath leaned forward slightly. "We're facing challenges that will require all of our strength. Division among our people serves no one."

"Division exists because our people are divided," Arvir replied. "Not all of us share your vision of partnership with the weaker races. Some of us remember what dragons were before we came to this world. Independent. Powerful. Beholden to no one."

"Some of us remember that we were dying out," Vaelion growled. "Hunted by those who wanted what we had. Killing each other over territory and treasure. Is that the independence you wish to return to?"

Arvir's eyes flashed. "I wish to return to being treated as equals, not as beasts of burden. How many of our kind labor to procure materials for the other nations? How many receive less than expected compensation for their efforts? The collective merchants come here offering to buy our shed scales, but what they're really offering is a new way to exploit us."

"They're offering Divine Points," Rakonath said. "Points I need."

"Surely we could earn those ourselves, without selling pieces of our bodies to outsiders."

"How? Through dungeon diving? Through tower climbing?" Rakonath kept his voice measured. "Our people do these things already, and still the gap between what we have and what we need grows wider. Max is considering a fight that could kill him because we don't have enough DP to reach the tiers we need before our protection ends. If selling shed scales can help close that gap, shouldn't we at least consider it?"

Arvir was quiet for several breaths. Her hands were clenched in her lap, her jaw tight with the effort of containing whatever she wanted to say.

"You speak of Max as if his survival is more important than our dignity," she said finally. "But what good is survival if we become servants to those we should rule?"

"We don't rule anyone," Rakonath replied. "That's the point you keep missing. This world isn't about dominion or hierarchy. It's about cooperation. About different peoples working together to build something none of them could build alone."

"A philosophy your human taught you."

"A philosophy that has kept our people alive and thriving for over two centuries." Rakonath met her eyes, holding her gaze until she looked away. "I won't command you to accept this, Arvir. But I will ask you to consider something. The merchants who came today, the Consortium they represent... they see us as resources. You're right about that. They want to profit from what we have. But the way to prevent exploitation isn't to refuse all engagement. It's to engage on our terms, with safeguards in place, with our eyes open to their intentions."

"And what terms would you propose?"

"Shed scales only. Collected from designated areas. Prices negotiated by us, not accepted from them. Any violation ends the arrangement immediately and permanently." Rakonath paused. "I would also want a portion of any other proceeds distributed among all our people, not just those who contribute materials. This benefits everyone, or it benefits no one."

Vaelion nodded slowly. "That's reasonable. It protects our people while still allowing us to take advantage of the opportunity."

Arvir didn't respond immediately. She sat with her hands still clenched, her expression unreadable, her thoughts clearly churning behind those intense green eyes.

"I won't oppose you," she said at last. "Not publicly. But I want it known that I have reservations. And if this arrangement leads where I fear it will, I expect to be the one who ends it."

"If it leads where you fear, you'll have that honor."

Arvir rose from her seat. "Then I have nothing more to say. For now."

She walked to the edge of the plateau, shifted into her dragon form, and launched herself into the sky without a backward glance. Rakonath watched her go, a speck of green against the blue, until she disappeared beyond the distant peaks.

"That went better than expected," Vaelion said.

"Did it?"

"She didn't breathe fire at anyone. That's progress." The alpha's expression sobered. "But she's not wrong about the risks. These collective merchants… They're not here because they want to help us. They're here because they see profit."

"I know."

"And you're going to deal with them anyway."

"I'm going to use them." Rakonath stood, moving to the edge of the plateau where Arvir had departed. "Every DP we earn brings us closer to surviving what's coming. The merchants think they're exploiting us. Let them think that. As long as we're the ones deciding what we sell and for how much, the exploitation flows both ways."

Vaelion was quiet for a time, considering this. "When did you become so calculating?"

"I’ve always been calculating, and you know it. The difference now is that I've realized Max can't be everywhere at once. That we all need to contribute however we can." Rakonath looked out over the lake, watching the young dragons still playing in the shallows. "The protection that shields his world shields us too. But that protection ends in less than a century. When it does, we'll need every advantage we can gather."

"Even advantages that require selling pieces of ourselves."

"Even those."

***

That evening, Rakonath flew to Cordellia's city.

She was waiting for him on the balcony of her chambers, the wind from his landing ruffling her hair. He shifted as he touched down, his dragon form flowing into something that could hold her hand and look into her eyes.

"The Consortium?" she asked.

"Dealt with. For now."

"Arvir?"

"Unhappy. Also for now." He moved to stand beside her, looking out over the elven city. "She's not wrong about the dangers. But she's also not right about the solution."

"The solution being complete isolation?"

"She believes we were safer before Max brought us here. Before we became part of a world with other races and complicated politics." Rakonath sighed. "In some ways, she might be correct. Dragons were simpler when our only concerns were hunting and hoarding. But we were also dying out. Hunted by those who wanted what we had. Killing each other over territory and treasure."

"And now?"

"Now we're thriving. Our numbers have steadily increased since we arrived. Young dragons are growing up alongside elves and dwarves and humans, learning that other races aren't automatically prey or enemies." He turned to face her. "That's worth protecting. Even if it means dealing with merchants who want to buy our shed scales."

Cordellia was quiet for a time, her archer's eyes studying his face. "Something else happened. Beyond the merchants and Arvir."

"Max is going to take the arena's offer."

"You know this for certain?"

"I know Max. He'll study the recordings. He'll analyze every angle. And then he'll accept, because it's the only path that gives us a real chance of survival." Rakonath looked up at the stars beginning to emerge in the darkening sky. "When he does, we need to be ready. All of us. With every resource and advantage we can gather."

"Including Divine Points from sold scales."

"Including that." He took her hand, feeling the warmth of her skin against his. "We're all doing the same thing, Cordellia. Preparing for a fight we can't avoid. Trading pieces of ourselves for the chance to survive what's coming."

"That sounds almost poetic."

"I've been spending too much time in humanoid form. It's affecting my speech patterns."

She laughed, and the sound eased something in his chest that had been stuck all day. Whatever came next, whatever challenges awaited them, at least they would face them together.

That had to count for something… even if it meant selling a few pieces of himself.