Steel and Mana-Chapter 402 – Avalon’s Envoy

Jolted out of the shock that the arrival of the airship caused, Bakhi followed Lancelot, his steps careful as they approached the landing spot beneath the descending Stormbringer. The air around the vessel felt heavy, but Bakhi couldn't tell if it was only his imagination playing with him or if it was actually the case. He watched as the lowered cables snapped taut as ground crews moved quickly, securing the ship to the reinforced towers built into the city's repaired outer wall.

The massive craft hovered just above the ground, getting lower and lower until he could see the docking ramps slowly being extended and setting down the airship for good. Bakhi squinted at the vessel, its hull, and its sheer size as he began imagining what kind of destruction it could bring down on monsters and humans alike. His heart pounded as he realized that this 'medium-sized' airship alone could cause a great headache for his country to deal with.

Would they be defenseless against it? Not really... but the price to bring it down may very well be... too high.

"Stand here," Lancelot said, stopping him from thinking it through, one hand stretched out to hold him back from wandering too close.

Without arguing, Bakhi obeyed, watching intently and memorizing the shape and form so he could give a proper description when he got home. While watching, a small party began to descend the ramp. At the head was a woman whose presence took the breath from Bakhi's lungs, as she was one of the most beautiful and regal-looking ladies he had ever seen. Her crimson hair was like a burning banner, the perfect copy of the warrior heralds of the God Toobu in Khulman fables. He didn't need any introduction to know that this woman had to be the one Lancelot had mentioned. Sure enough, he began talking, seeing the slightly open mouth of Bakhi.

"My mother," Lancelot said quietly, "Well, not exactly. I call her mother, too, but my actual mom is the third wife of my father, the Sovereign. Sasha was his first, and she is the mother of my two older siblings. Anyway, I'm rambling. It is not that complicated."

True, it wasn't. His own Kahn had a harem of a hundred women. Thinking about that, it was then that Sasha's orange eyes locked onto Bakhi with a brief, clinical interest, scanning him once. She offered a courteous nod before turning her full attention to her son and King Edric, seemingly ignoring him afterward. No matter, Bakhi still bowed deeply, understanding his position perfectly. He was a scout, an observer. He had no place in their conversation, as he was not an official envoy, no matter the circumstances. No wonder he was told to meet King Edric, but that was all...

"Escort Bakhi back to his quarters," Edric suddenly said, waving a hand after exchanging quiet words with Sasha.

"Yes, Your Majesty," an Avalonian soldier behind them replied, stepping forward.

"Well," Lancelot offered Bakhi a small, almost sympathetic smile. "It seems that is all for today. Anyway, rest. Tomorrow may be a busy day."

Bakhi, knowing he had no say in the matter, gulped back the words he wanted to utter and followed his escort without a word, his mind already racing with what he would report. Then, he realized his people may need his presence. Who knows what their reaction would be, and if they did something stupid, things could get ugly—fast.

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Inside the Stormbringer, Sasha led the way to a private meeting chamber, wanting to talk with Lancelot and Edric in a place that was the most secure from foreign ears.

"He was pretty composed," Sasha said once they were alone, settling into a chair at the head of a wide oval table. "Not easily rattled, even when I purposefully ignored him."

"True," Edric agreed, joining her. "This Bakhi carries himself like how he looks. I can see why he is the leader of their scouting group. From what I could tell, Lady Sasha, he was honest, at least in part."

"In his reactions, that is for sure." Lancelot leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. "As for how our relationship would develop with the empire he is representing... That I have no idea of. Maybe Arthur or Leyla could have sensed more."

"This is good enough," Sasha smiled at him, tapping a finger against the wood.

"Will you talk to them?" Edric asked, curious.

"No," Sasha answered flatly, shaking her head. "It is up to you, King Edric. You are the king of Markoth, after all."

"But..." He gawked, eyes engaging, looking at Lancelot, who simply shrugged, showing that if Sasha said so, it would be done so.

"You are the king of your people." She waved a hand, closing the topic at once, "What do you know of them?"

"Well..." Edric mumbled, recollecting his senses, "The Khulmans are no strangers to hardship, as far as I know. Their empire is vast and built on harsh principles. They mostly have steppes, semi-arid plains, and mountainous deserts towards the southern edge of their country. Mmmhm... From what I remember, they value strength, adaptability, and survival over grand philosophy or courtly graces. They are not barbarians, of course, but they like to do the talking via actions and won't respect the weak or the weasely ones."

"What about their current leader?" Sasha asked.

"I know that he has the title of Kahn..." Edric answered, crossing his arms and furrowing his brows, trying to recall the little he had read about them in the past. "I don't know who their current one is, but I do know that whoever becomes one, they always trace their bloodline back to the God of War, Toobu."

"Sure they do," Lancelot chuckled, "Isn't it more outrageous than what Ishillia did?"

"Kind of..." Sasha muttered, blinking her eyes while thinking, "It could be... problematic if they are like the Theocracy."

"That doesn't mean we have to be enemies," Lancelot said with a shrug. "But we don't need to be allies either."

"It would have been fine if they had kept to themselves," Sasha added, looking at the two. "But that is no longer an option. And we can't let them plan or take the initiative. We need to act."

"I think the same," Edric agreed grimly. "The apparently quiet winter spooked them so much that they sent people up here to check us out. If they bring the news of Avalon's might back, it may have an adverse effect. Everyone fears what they don't understand."

There was a moment of silence, making Sasha pinch the ridge of her nose. She was not fond of things like this—never was. Whenever she was younger, when the cast-out vagrants came to her to make her settle their disputes or to look for leadership, she always felt stuffed in her chest. She hated that part. She hated it now, too. She came here to build, not to argue and to politics. But she couldn't say that out loud, not as Leon's wife.

"Then we should help them understand," Lancelot said slowly, a thought forming, looking at Sasha, knowing exactly how she was feeling, and already thinking of stepping up and letting her worry about the monsters only. This one... he can deal with. "Mother. King Edric. What if I traveled with Bakhi to Khulman? As an envoy. They expect to go back home alone... let's flip the table on them!"

Both Sasha and Edric turned to look at him sharply after hearing his idea.

"Out of the question," Sasha said immediately. "You are needed here."

"Am I?" He shrugged, "I am on guard duty only... Anyway. I'm not suggesting I go alone," Lancelot replied quickly. "We have one of the best groups of soldiers with us, no? Commodore Pion and a few of our elite soldiers would be sufficient to come with me. Even if anything happened, we could still escape and come back safely. Pion already has experience in missions like this. He saved my mother once from peril, no?"

"Still..." Sasha muttered, biting her lip, thinking what Yuri would say if she learned she sent her son into danger.

"The Khulmans respect strength," Edric mused aloud, stroking his chin. "But they despise arrogance."

"Exactly," Lancelot pressed. "Bakhi already knows my position and would understand that we are not sending a nobody but royalty. Plus, if we send an envoy like me—young, diplomatic, strong—it sends a message."

"And humble." Sasha chuckled, pursing her lips, making Lancelot grin just as Yuri usually does.

"Of course! It would also show them that we are not preparing to march on them but that we respect them enough to send someone meaningful, not just a minor functionary. It is the best option, Mother Sasha." He added, trying to make it sound as official as possible. He may sound nonchalant, but he wasn't joking. He was serious about it.

"You are stubborn like Yuri..." Sasha's eyes narrowed slightly while speaking. "You could be walking into a trap."

"Of course," Lancelot shrugged. "It could be the case, but I don't think so. If Avalon means to lead in this new world, we have to start acting like it."

"He has a point," Edric said slowly, his eyes glowing a little. He looked at Lancelot with an unmistakable zeal. "Their Kahn would appreciate Lord Lancelot's courage."

"..." Groaning without a rod, Sasha folded her arms, still visibly uneasy. "If—if—we did this," she said carefully, "Commodore Pion would be your shadow. You pee? He is there, guarding it for you! You would follow his command in all matters of security."

"Um... O-okay?" Lancelot said, feeling a bit unsure of that kind of security.

"You would not leave the capital of Khulman without orders either! I know how you are, you troublemaker. No adventuring, no exploring."

"Y-yes..." He smiled, blushing a little.

"I will order Pion to make sure of it. Now you are part of the army, so, even with being our son, he will hold authority over you." Sasha finished as she leaned back, exhaling through her nose. She stared at him for a long moment, searching for something. Then she glanced at Edric, who gave a slight, almost imperceptible nod. "Very well," she clapped, deciding it for real. "Prepare yourself. You will leave with Bakhi in two days."

"Don't worry! I am my mother's son~!" Lancelot smiled, relief and excitement flickering across his face.

"That is why I am a bit worried. You are not going there to make friends at all costs, Lancelot," she said sternly. "You are going to forge the first iron link of a fragile chain. Keep strictly to that, and don't try to add any flourish, please."

"I understand." He said, standing up and saluting, "I won't disappoint either you or Father."

"I will gather all the information I can through the books we have," Edric rose similarly. "We have little time to lose. I will make sure that Commodore Pion will be briefed immediately."

"Thanks," Lancelot smiled, his fingers drawn towards the hilt of his sword, "I will go and find Grandpa... To practice a little."

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Bakhi sat heavily on the low wooden bench inside the house they had been given, exhaling a long, unsteady breath. Temuj and Naran sat across from him, faces tense, eyes darting from left to right. Neither had spoken a word yet, waiting for their leader to gather himself. He arrived just at the right moment as the rest of the scouts were about to make a run for it, witnessing the flying monster returning to the city. Feeling the same frustration as they did, Bakhi rubbed his hands over his face before he finally lifted his head.

"It is worse than we feared," he said hoarsely.

"I agree." Temuj frowned. "The people here? They became monsters themselves."

"Not really the locals," Bakhi groaned. "It's the power behind them. The ones called Avalonians. "He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, his tone low and fast as he began detailing to them everything he noticed. "They rebuilt the castle. Walls, defenses, order! Doing it all with efficiency, I've only seen it in the southern fortresses of Khulman. Their soldiers are disciplined, akin to our Death Riders, and their leaders are... I am no Shaman, but I can recognize the aura of one. That woman was wielding the same source of power..."

"They sent a Shaman...? To here?" Naran leaned in, sensing the change in Bakhi's tone.

"Yes," Bakhi whispered. "I am convinced about it. She looked like the flaming goddesses in the fables. I could smell the embers around her."

"Damn!" Temuj's eyes widened. "If so, she has to be a trained one... Sending someone like that here means this Avalon is very confident!"

"From what I have seen," the old scout smiled a little, "they have all the reason to be. The local king spoke to me directly, but I am sure his role was predetermined, and his words were fed to him by the Avalonians." Bakhi continued, "King Edric is only king in name—an empty title granted to him by Avalon."

"What about the boy you mentioned?" Temuj asked.

"Lancelot, yes?" Naran added.

"Yes." Bakhi nodded slowly. "He is a sheathed blade. I could feel that he was sharp. Smiling... Playing the fool to lower others' guard against him. But his stance—his readiness to kill—is unmistakable. It is in how he moves his body, ingrained into it."

"So he is a proper warrior." The others said, looking at each other and feeling a bit of excitement, something that Bakhi couldn't deny either.

"He should be." He nodded, smacking his lips. "But we will have to see it for ourselves to determine whether it is real or just well-placed bravado."