Enatic Clans

It is another morning of freezing salt gust. In the upper deck of Condemna, the sun peaks against me and at the same, sailing towards the destination. Yes, east. To the east, Haganopolis. In a couple of weeks' time, I get the hint that-... well, we should say that Quexajo and I might be probably in the exact moment for the procession. Don't worry, Father, before you leave this world let me send you off peacefully.

I stretch the joints of my shoulders, moaning: "Ah~ that feels good." as the relief sends down to my spine.

Now, it's time for the tarsals on my hands. The sound of each crack is satisfying. Then into my knuckles, one-by-one - Pop, pop, pop. Of course, it's not only three cracks, there should be at least ten snaps. Again, 'Ah~'. After that, my ankles but first will be my left foot. I hear clicking noises while I rotate clockwise for every turn. Mmmmm~ and it seems sensual but each twist that I make is similar to tasting a nectar.

"Now," as I hit the counterclockwise motion on the same foot, "... let me hear those juicy tunes from sore clackings." as I grin while I am enjoying myself from this bothering pain. "Or am I just getting by now?" finishing, I add, then I still proceed rotating my ankles.

In an abrupt moment, during my pensive thought staring at the sky - an arcane portal appears around five mawwes (25 meters) above. After a while from just staring at it, a swallow comes out from that very magical gate. This interrupts my light calisthenics. My eyes are glued to the bird itself circling around. Suddenly, the bird comes straight at me, landing on my hand.

"Adrianus?" is the name of the bird, as I remember falconry is still in its infancy. I know this bird, he is one of the top contenders claiming the 'King of the Birds' in Kehina.

"What do you have for me, Adrianus?" as I check his talon, where there's a cloth wrapped around. Well, it has been a couple of weeks away from the kingdom.

For now, while I'm opening the content - I place the bird on my left shoulder, chirping since he doesn't want to fly around in the skies while I read what's inside the missive.

"Let's see…" a long awaited poetry is now in my hands.

The message says and I quote:

Earl Geoff,

How have you been? I, as well, am doing alright. The life within my belly is pretty fine. The midwives' advice is to rest since I might be in my second trimester. Hence, for these purposes I am obliged to relegate the governance and the oversight to the inner circle for now. Lord Gervðas is handling internal affairs. Lord Aisla made a friend, his name is Talbetter Avante O'Silverpelt de Alcanzantré. This feline gentleman is currently training the army and teaching them the way of arcane arts as of now. Send my regards to Haganopolis, esteemed earl.

Truly yours,
Anda

So, change is coming to the kingdom, huh? Desperate action. Active solution. Regardless how potent or vile. In this tumultuous time, where the invaders might land to the coasts, the arts of lifeforce may take us to new heights. With that in mind, Kehina is magically illiterate. Exiled troopers from Inglovia itself are of big help. But they are not ample when it comes to the hypothetical armada and horde from the Grand Empire coming to the kingdom. We need to accelerate. Yes, progression is the key. Though, we are treading into a mired path - I feel this is the way forward.

"We should seize it!" I exclaim, concurring with what Lady Anda has said.

"Lord Geoff, what are you crying about? It's still early. Could you lower your voice down for a bit?" as Quexajo just emerges from the quarter, with disheveled hair.

"Hahaha… will you give me some slack? I am just doing exercises. Of course, I will shout from time to time." I protest

"Say, milord. If a 'son of a bitch' is a man, what about the feminine version of it?" he asks something ridiculous right after he wakes up.

"That would be-..."

"Uh. Uh. If you say 'daughter of a bitch', that would be too mouthy to articulate. It should have four syllables like the prior words: 'Blank of a bitch'." he gives me further hints, however, my morning brain couldn't rack up still.

"How am I supposed to know? Of course, I don't know!" I simply don't grasp what he is trying to tell me about.

"That would be 'spawn of a bitch'." he then laughs. That's way worse! And first thing in the first light, of all the words he says, should be peace not inviting debacle.

"Will you shut up, man?" I roll my eyes over, then I throw the letter at him. I assume he learnt that joke from Jyana.

He catches, saying: "What is this? A letter from the chieftess? Her Majesty? The queen herself, wow! What does she say?" as he proceeds to fold open the letter.

"You know how to read, don't you? Why don't you read it yourself?" reminding him, as I give a sneer and disagreeing tone.

"C'mon, Lord Geoff. I'm just messing with you. Don't get so riled up. Jeez." then he continues with a cheeky response.

After a while, Quexajo finishes accumulating the content within. He doesn't seem to react since he and I have been pitching this idea a long time ago. It is inevitable. It seems the traditionalist view won't hold much longer, progress is coming.

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"It seems they haven't been in contact with Lord Guan. What's happening to him thus far?" he folds the letter back into its original form.

"I'm aware."

"Erm,... about the 'Orenda'. What do you think?" I think he might refer to the incoming progress coming to the kingdom. At last.

"'That'? I think it's great."

"Are you not happy about it? Our-... no, your long awaited wish has been realized. I mean that's it? No celebratory gestures or something like: wohoo~" really, what is he trying to make me do?

"Don't be daft, brother. In reality, we are still at its infancy and we have a war to fight against. Inglovian adventurers are way more effective than our current military, I mean we Kehinans can only do about our [Arms Sub-tactics] and [Unarmed Techniques] however those Inglovian can cast their spell. What more can they do if they join the military? In Inglovian perspective, we the Kehinans are just ants to be trampled on." as I give him my honest opinion.

"Well, for me, the issue is the folks themselves. Change is imminent. That's how life works, from slingshots to crossbows, from ballistæ to onagers. Kehinans are way too headstrong for the notion yet they bend the knee when there is a larger threat. Deifying 'lifeforce' as a form of salvation in times of crisis. Give or take, Kehina will adapt the studies and theories of lifeforces the next decade or so. I just didn't expect it would come so soon." as he mocks the way of life of the Kehinans, which is pretty reasonable since the idea is overdue.

"Brother, your mouth. The war with the Grand Empire is just a catalyst. It's just we are so lucky we haven't seen an armada visiting us."

"So, what's that all about? Why do they move so sluggish? War funds in deplete? Is there a political struggle going on? Quelling rebellions like we did the past moons? Civil wars?" he barrages many certain possibilities, some of his claims are plausible.

"You made some good points but, however, erm, I doubt it." in the back of my head, I do agree with him but I am inviting him to challenge me instead.

"First of all, maybe we shouldn't attest to word of mouth as a primary source. True, we don't have that much evidence yet. Even Lord Ameniah, don't get me wrong, he is a great informer himself. However, there might be inconsistencies and something-amiss-you-know-what in his reports. His estimates may vary or way off, that is a given, of course. He is only a human afterall, he needs rest."

"But there are words that the Caliph-Grand Emperor is rallying certain clans and ætt. Conscripting the entire Grand Empire. Not only his immediate vassals, that might include forcing emperors and empresses under him as well to mobilize hefty amounts of levies. That's a lot of men." he counters yet again another unproven fact.

"What do you mean 'a lot', Quexajo?" I inquire, nearly jolting my body.

"And oh, aside from two hundred and fifty thousand men conscripted and regular alike or that may include some mercenary bands, they built up a thousand ships around - but they still shy five hundred galleys to embark on the expedition. Seventy trebuchets. A mix of two hundred elephants, five hundred horses either as pack animals or utilized as cavalry squadrons, and a hundred terra dragons."

W-w-what?!? That's twenty five larger than our army! And we don't have cavalry corps or some sort. Our navy is nonexistent, we only have the Arancian pirates to help us in our stead. I bet their magic knowledge is five hundred years advanced whilst our arcane theories are yet to reap.

"Terra dragons?" I am completely unaware of that kind of animal or alwuhush.

"You know the land dragons that were used as transportation in Inglovia? That kind of dragon. And by the way, they have mustered and they have garnered around fifty Đaijiyo (200 metric tons) of provisions."

Fifty Đaijiyo?!?! They come prepared. That is concerning, indeed. We were just underestimating their capabilities since the Inglovians haven't made an initiative since the times that they declared on us around eight moons prior. We have misunderstood their intentions. They want us to defeat us flawlessly. This war is not only a war of attrition and defensive stance, this is the narrative between annihilation and survival. Inglovia and Kehina; The Grand Empire and the enatic kingdom, respectively. It makes me want to vomit. My heart is thudding so fast as I clutch inside my pocket. I am trying to keep myself calm by caressing and playing around with Adrianus perch on my shoulder.

"Lord Geoff?"

"Yes?"

"You were spacing out… what's the matter?" Quexajo concerns about me, whereas I stop speaking in an instant.

"Nothing…" I dismiss him.

"I think you're right. We should, uh, not quickly trust information like this. Since, you know? We are just defending our sovereignty while them - it is different." Quexajo looks at the bright side, but I shudder when the numbers are revealed. False or not, might as well deem it as a 'partially true'.

No, brother, I suppose you're on the correct side this time. I have miscalculated this situation.

"Lady Wellicia, please hear our cries and pleads. Give your children Your divine guidance." praying for the safety and welfare of Kehina.

"Amen?" Quexajo jokingly wants me to conclude my prayer that I thought I was channeling it mentally.

"Amen."

"Oh, by the way, with those being aside. How about, you know? Procuring stuff such as handheld cannons or what they colloquially called as 'muskets' in the Diamond Throne. Sounds like a good idea, eh?" he yet again makes another insight which could turn around the situation or could be used as a leverage, however…

"Diamond Throne people? Squinted eyes, yellow people? Those are diajui humans, right?" I believe I've some of those people here in this world.

"Absolutely." he answers me with glee.

"Great input yet, erm, the problem is how could we possibly traverse into that world (universe). The Diamond Throne is two worlds away from us. They have knowledge of trantraverse methods between worlds that we don't. What are you scheming, brother - abduct them?"

He smiles, casting: "If we find one, of course. And that's one way to put it. Afterall, I have heard that those Diamond Throne people have been playing with that toy for the past century or so. Alongside with the magic integration, Kehina maybe-... no, will be the first to introduce such a tool in this world. Down with the notion?" with confidence, as his smirk emboldens.

"I'm always down and you know that. But how about if we have 'those' in our hands, can we reproduce it? How?" referring to the 'musket'-thing Quexajo is talking about.

"Dwarves? Nith dwarves, specifically. Or the Kehinan folks are still stubborn and prideful, at least, we can ask the local homegrown blacksmiths. Or we can just continue to purchase on a monthly basis." he points out three valid choices but we should be decisive and discreet.

"True. When talking about dwarves, they are so keen towards crafting materials even at the first glance. I will give them still a benefit of a doubt that these dwarves could replicate that 'musket' in a week. That's very generous of me considering either a human, orc, elf, or any other races produce a sword. One SWORD. they manage to do it in a couple of days - whereas a dwarf could at least make ten swords a day."

"Sure, while we're at it. We can attempt to recruit several orcs or reintegrate some exiled orc officers."

"Why is that?" I ask him why he includes my partial kins.

"We have one orc in the realm that is Durgat," he claims, whereas I clear my throat: 'Ahem', and then he corrects himself when he is conversing with 'one' - face-to-face, "Wait! You ain't an orc! You're a partial orc, milord!" he realizes while I'm laughing at his sluggish reaction.