“No, we’re not building a fortress here,” Henry said. He had to crify before the girls had the wrong idea.

  Out of the four, Rayne was the only one who looked displeased by that answer. Henry didn’t want to imagine why she was disappointed, nor was he thrilled to ask. Given her upbringing, Henry could roughly guess the reason for Rayne’s reaction.

  With that said, the idea of the fortress was for the Lavans. As things stood, the Lavans solely relied on the natural terrains of their territory to deter any would-be invaders. Still, it was no match for a fully amassed army that amounted to tens of thousands of soldiers, and that was not taking their war machines into account.

  The Lavans’ territory had hills but nowhere as massive as the mountains in the north, where the Zevas resided. Of course, a fortress that spanned hundreds of kilometres was impossible to build in just a few months, let alone weeks or even days. Ani and Rayne quickly brought up that issue when Henry made that proposal.

  “We don’t need to cover the entire border. Just around the heart of the territory will do. The kingdom is bringing along their war machines. Scaling the hills is impossible unless they have ways to overcome that problem. They don’t, right?”

  “There are spells that can lighten the weight of objects,” Ani answered. “But there’s a limit to how much an object can be lightened and there’s also the matter of size. The war machines are too big and heavy for any of the known spells.”

  “Known spells?” Yu inquired with an eyebrow raised.

  “There’s always the chance that the kingdom has some secret weapon they have yet to show the world. The Syers are a good example. Ten years ago, no one knew about them and suddenly, they appeared. Many of the kingdom’s enemies fell to this newfound force that seemingly came out of nowhere. It wouldn't be absurd to assume that the longevity of the Yorun Kingdom is due to the Syers.”

  “Do you know who created the Syers?” Henry asked.

  “The royal family attributed the invention to the court mages but they never specify who. There were various rumours about the apparent truth. The most famous one is that a warlock helped in creating the Syers.”

  “Warlock? Those practitioners of dark arts?” Sarynn mused.

  Ani nodded. “Dark arts are forbidden in the Yorun Kingdom but then again, so are drugs and many other things. That won’t stop people from using them.”

  “How likely would they be harbouring such a secret?” Yu asked.

  “Half and half,” Ani answered.

  “Not very likely,” Henry corrected. “If they were, Vishara would have known and she would have told me.”

  “Would she?” Rayne expressed her doubt in just two words. “She’s thrice as cunning as I am.”

  “Thrice as sensible too. This is a war she wants to win at all costs. Withholding such crucial information would only lead to my defeat and inadvertently, dwindling her chances of victory.”

  “Rayne’s doubts are understandable, dear, but this is not the time to be casting suspicions at allies,” said Sarynn. “Our enemy is at our doorstep. We need to secure our defences before anything else.”

  Henry stared, slightly taken aback by Sarynn’s words of wisdom. “Are you familiar with war?”

  “My appearance may suggest otherwise, but I have lived for centuries. I have witnessed countless wars and battles. I have even participated in a few, be it by choice or coerced. Many forces lost the war before the battle even began, simply because they couldn’t trust their allies and they fought among themselves, leaving a way open for the enemy to charge in unchallenged.”

  “Fine,” Rayne said. “But I advise you to not put all of your trust in her. She is my blood and I am hers. We should not leave our backs open.”

  “We will not. I appreciate your concern, Rayne, but believe me when I say that the four of you are my priority should anything happen.”

  Sarynn scoffed flippantly with a titter. “You pamper us too much, my darling. We are not as frail as you believe.”

  “I don’t believe any of you are frail but even diamonds can be shattered with the right amount of force. Don’t overextend. Prioritise your own life.”

  “Of course,” Yu agreed with a blissful nod.

  “It goes without saying,” Rayne mumbled.

  “I will do the same unto you, dear,” Sarynn decred.

  Ani was st but the words did not come to her so easily as they did to the others.

  Henry understood her silence. Unlike the other three, Ani had a slightly altruistic disposition.

  “Forgive me… Henry. I don’t think I can do that…”

  Henry smiled wryly. “I know. I won’t ask you to cast those in need aside but… you have to promise that, at the very least, when push comes to shove, you will not sacrifice yourself for another person.”

  “I-I understand.”

  Henry could only sigh inwardly. He knew Ani would do the exact opposite should push come to shove. He wanted to be angry at her but how could he? She was not the one being selfish. He was. He didn’t feel like he had the grounds to tell her off.

  “Well, we have loitered here long enough,” Yu said, loudly and brightly. “We best get going now.”

  “All of us?” Sarynn asked.

  “Yes,” Henry nodded. “The more hands, the better.”

  “Ah… that might not be true…”

  Henry narrowed his gaze. “What do you mean?”

  “It’s regrettable but I must tell you that I may not be welcomed by the Lavans.”

  “Why is that? Is there some history between you and the Lavans?”

  “Nothing profound. It’s just…”

  “Sarynn.”

  “I may have attacked some of the Lavans in the past. In my defence, they were hunting in my territory…. Well, my territory at that time.”

  “Are the Lavans known to hold grudges?” Henry directed the question at Rayne.

  She shrugged. “I wouldn’t know. I haven't had any fruitful encounters with them before.”

  “They hadn’t tried to hunt me down after I left that area. Therefore, I would assume they don’t hold any grudges.”

  “Just because they didn’t go after you, doesn’t mean they don’t hold grudges,” Ani pointed out.

  Henry sighed. “Only one way to find out.”

  ****

  “The Azure Serpent has returned!!” one of the Lavan guards immediately shouted when they saw Sarynn, even though Sarynn was in her human form. “Alert the guards!”

  Henry had flown all the way to the west of Ulrum, the Lavans’ territory, and nded just before the entrance path into the vilge. A quartet of guards stood at the entrance. They wore rexed expressions when they saw who was rapidly approaching them. One of the guards quickly ran into the vilge, most likely to send word of Henry’s arrival to the priestess. However, the peaceful meeting quickly turned for the worse when they saw Sarynn.

  “At least they remembered her,” Yu remarked dryly.

  Henry, assuming his human form for convenience's sake, turned towards Sarynn. “You have shown this appearance to the Lavans?”

  “Every tribe in Ulrum knows about this appearance of mine. Or at least the high folks definitely know.”

  “What now?” Yu asked. “Do we keep walking or do we wait for… whatever or whoever?”

  Henry held back a sigh. “We’re not here to create more trouble. We shall wait here.”

  Rayne snorted. “You are the overlord of Ulrum. Such unbefitting behaviour.”

  “A title that I did not cim nor ask for.”

  Two guards remained at the entrance. Another one had run into the vilge to sound the arm, presumably.

  “This is such an unnecessary drag,” Rayne muttered as she crossed her arms. “We will be waiting a long time.”

  Henry and his women didn’t need to wait long. Not a few minutes passed, and the priestess herself, Iluna, came out to receive Henry. As usual, she was fnked by guards on all sides with her sister, Iora, standing the closest to her.

  “Greetings, Lord Henry.” Iluna took a deep bow and the others followed. “Your arrival is earlier than we expected. And you have brought… an unusual guest with you.”

  “So I have heard. Will this be a problem?”

  “If Lord Henry vouches for her non-aggression, then I have no qualms about the Azure Serpent’s presence.”

  Henry gnced over his shoulder, back at Sarynn.

  “Don’t worry, dear. Since you have recognised them as friends and allies, then I have no problem with sharing spaces with these people.”

  Yu frowned and so did Ani, unsettled by Sarynn’s choice of words.

  Henry fought down another sigh.

  The rest of the Lavans looked just as apprehensive as Yu and Ani. The guards’ grip on their weapons did not loosen even after Henry’s assurance.

  Sensing the discomforting mood, Iluna stepped forward, making her way closer to Henry and also Sarynn. Her guards tried to follow her but she waved them away. Only Iora remained but even she stood a few feet further than usual. “Granted, it’s inevitable that my people will have some reservations with the Azure Serpent’s change of heart. Her exploits were never forgotten. Immortalised in the form of bedtime stories and campfire tales. But since you are here, Lord Henry, her presence shall be… tolerated, for the ck of a better world.”

  “Thank you,” Henry said.

  Without any further complications, Henry and his group were guided into the vilge, all the while being closely monitored by the guards. More precisely, they were glueing their eyes to Sarynn.

  They passed by different parts of the vilge. When they were walking through a huge residential area, many of the Lavans were eager to get a gnce or peek at Henry and his brides. Henry considered them to be his women but never as brides, though that was the word Henry heard the Lavans use when they gossiped among themselves.

  Many of the Lavans didn’t recognise Sarynn at first but her azure-coloured hair and the faint sembnce of scales on her skin were enough for them to piece the puzzle together eventually. When they did, quite a few of them quickly scuttled back into the safe confines of their homes. However, many of them remained. They recalled the stories they heard about the Azure Serpent. None of those stories depicted her in a good light. Though they had a bad impression of her, seeing Henry by her side set their minds at ease. The Azure Serpent had been tamed by the Dragon, that was the narrative that quickly circuted amongst the Lavans.

  They eventually came to an open hall, surrounded by pilrs that upheld a massive boulder on top that acted as the ceiling. There were no doors or windows since it was an open hall but since the hall was sandwiched between two hills, it gave off a very confined atmosphere.

  The guards stood outside the hall as Henry, his women, and Iluna entered. Iora was the only guard that Iluna brought along into the hall. A pair of individuals of seemingly important positions awaited them at a rge round table in the middle of the hall. One was a tall, bulky, and imposing figure and the other was the opposite. In fact, the tter was no more than a child, or at least he looked like one. If it wasn’t for his garments that exuded hints of importance, Henry would have taken him for some lost child.

  “So this is the great and mighty overlord of Ulrum?” huffed the imposing figure with his arms crossed. “He brought the accursed serpent with him.”

  “Show your respect, Grand Marshall Leon,” Iora shot back.

  “I don’t like this,” the Grand Marshall, Leon, continued. “He may be the overlord but he’s not one of us. He should not be here.”

  “Hush, Leon,” silenced the child-like figure.

  “What was that, Mika?”

  It was almost comical to see such a small figure staring up at a giant, undaunted and unflinching. “Your preference does not matter. The Priestess has given her blessings.”

  “A war is imminent, Mika. I am the Grand Marshall and it is my responsibility to oversee the army. Therefore, my preference does matter.”

  Henry sighed inwardly. “God, I hate politics…”