A Wolf's Howl, A Fairy's Wing

Erik blinked for a moment, but then he smiled slyly. Ankur's outburst was unexpected, but not unwelcome. By building up the benefits of this deal, Ankhur was also constantly inflating what he thought would be the demands, until anything they actually demanded would seem petty by comparison.

Meanwhile, Ankhur rapidly calmed down again, sinking back in his chair with a sigh. He realized he'd just lost a lot of momentum, but he didn't say anything. Rather, he stared sombrely at Erik, waiting for his response.

Erik nodded, still with the same, infuriating smile. "Alright, Ankhur. No need to shout. If you wish to know my demands, then I'll tell you."

He opened this mouth to continue, but Ankhur interrupted him. "You're not getting the kingdom!" he growled, cutting off any such demands before they were uttered. "You may offer a great many benefits to my people, but I don't trust anyone but me and my family to rule them justly!"

Erik closed his mouth again and chuckled. He waved his hand dismissively, "I don't want your kingdom, Ankhur… not in the way you're thinking, anyway."

His smile widened considerably, his eyes shining with ambition. His voice grew louder, more domineering. "What I want, Ankhur, is your allegiance! Bend the knee and be the first king to join my fledgeling empire! Retain the rule over your people but do it in my name!"

Ankhur's eyes widened, as did Naeku's. They knew he was ambitious and showed many of a conqueror's hallmarks, but this… Despite his mysterious methods, it was still a little surreal to hear a second ranker talking about an empire, while demanding a third rank king bends the knee!

Silence fell. Naeku turned uncomfortable, and Ankhur became sombre and solemn. "You've got balls, boy. I'll give you that. Do you truly believe these benefits you offer are worth the autonomy of myself and my people?!"

Erik shrugged, smiling confidently. "Absolutely. If you refuse, I will still help fight Lilith, for my own reasons, and as thanks for letting me stay here until then, but you're on your own for everything else."

He frowned a little now as he continued. "If Lilith proves too powerful, I will simply flee with my family and try another time. I'd be willing to take you two with me, but your people will be lost. Yet, even if we defeat her this way, how many of your people will be lost before our battle with her ends? How many could have been saved if you took my deal?"

Finally, he raised an eyebrow tauntingly, "How many of your people's lives are worth your pride?"

Anger flashed through Ankhur's eyes. He was about to stand up and give this little brat a piece of his mind, but a hand on his shoulder stopped him. At this side, Naeku showed surprisingly little anger. Rather, she seemed sad but determined.

"Please, Father… consider it," she muttered softly.

"What?" Ankhur blinked in surprised at his daughter's words. "Would you truly trust our people's future to them?!"

Rather than answer him, Naeku turned to Erik sombrely. "If we bend the knee and become the first step in your empire, that means we'll have your support in any future conflicts?"

Erik nodded calmly and with conviction. "Absolutely. Your people will become my people, your kingdom, my territory. Any aggression against you, will be aggression against me."

His voice took on a threatening, low growl when he continued, "…And I will squash aggression ruthlessly until no one even dares think of raising their weapons against me or mine."

Naeku nodded, strangely comforted by his words, and turned back to her father. "I told you what I saw in Djibouti, Father, but you didn't see it with your own eyes…" she whispered in a pained tone. "I— I swore I would never let that happen again, no matter what…"

Ankhur was a little caught off-guard by her impassioned words, but Naeku wasn't done yet. "Tell me, Father, even if we defeat Lilith without taking their deal, what's to guarantee our survival going forward? Even here in Africa we're not without enemies, and the Humanitas Sangh will simply return eventually, you know that as well as I."

Ankhur looked into his daughter's pleading eyes and felt his will tremble, his eyebrows twitch. "Please don't let your pride stand in the way of what's best for our people, Father…" she muttered softly.

Father and daughter continued looking at each for a few moments. But then, Ankhur deflated entirely, and sagged back in his chair. He rubbed his face with his one good hand and sank into thought.

Everyone else gave him the time to think about this. Elora and Erik started softly flirting with each other, delighted by how things were going so far.

Finally, after a full five minutes, Ankhur sat up straight again. "I have conditions…" he growled, clearly still not entirely convinced, but more willing to negotiate.

Erik took his eyes of Luna and nodded at Ankhur with a smile. "I would have been disappointed if you didn't."

Ankhur nodded sombrely, tapping his armrest as he appeared to sink into thought again. But he spoke up almost immediately. "First of all, if you truly become a third ranker, we will duel… if you fail, or don't manage to impress me, the deal is off, even if we defeat Lilith afterwards. And you will still do everything you promised between now and then!" Explore hidden tales at My Virtual Library Empire

Slowly, an excited grin spread on Erik's lips. If there was one thing he had absolute confidence in, it was his fighting ability. "Deal," he thus nodded calmly.

Ankhur narrowed his eyes a little, not having expected this to be that easy. "Furthermore, we still need to discuss the exact level of autonomy me and my people will retain under your rule…"

Once again, Erik nodded magnanimously.

Feeling a little emboldened by Erik's agreeability, Ankhur continued. "Also, if we lose the battle despite all your help, the deal is off, too! No coming back later to free my people from oppression and claiming they already belong to you! You don't get to fail them twice! New deals would have to be made!"

Erik rolled his eyes a little but still nodded. "Fine. Anything else?"

For a moment Ankhur's eyes swivelled to Naeku, but both Erik and his daughter immediately stopped him. "Don't even think about it!" they exclaimed at the same time.

Ankhur smirked wryly and turned back to Erik. Solemnly, he sighed and nodded. "Alright, Erik… if we can come to an understanding regarding autonomy, then… you have a deal."

Instantly, Erik and Elora's lips slowly curled into predatory grins.