Not (Just) A Mage Lord Isekai

It took another round of questions and memories to get all the answers we could out of the elf in the cell.

He'd been rather shocked when I'd returned. Even more so when I deposited the heads of his compatriots at his feet, with flesh or without.

Perhaps not the best way to get him to talk.

After they'd attempted to kill my family, I honestly couldn't bring myself to care. While he'd become even more tight lipped than he'd been before, his thoughts were still easy to pick clean. I was glad he didn't practice the soul strengthening exercises I'd picked up with Recall. Even a few weeks of practicing them a few minutes a day had made the memory scanning device useless on me and the others.

The worm in front of me didn't deserve that protection.

Neither did the dozens that had ended up crowded into the other cells. Fores'thall bulk teleporting assassins in had revealed a rather obvious weakness in our defenses.

When we were done questioning them, I was tempted to simply end the threat. The fact there were likely questions we hadn't thought to ask held me back. I did make some slight modifications that should stop others from using someone as a beacon though. Then we took the time to add a sleep enchantment, so those without physical enhancements would get gently knocked out.

With Keeper accepting the memory jades, it patiently sorted through the group's thoughts, as I paced on the far end of the room. We hadn't found any additional assassins within Mount Aeternia, other than those in the cells of course, but there were too many places that were less secure.

It chafed that we'd just gotten the barrier shield up in time for assassins to come knocking.

Wasn't a coincidence, according to what Keeper retrieved.

Without the Sahevin or Unclean clans acting as a threat to wipe us out, the Fores'thalls had apparently felt forced to act. It wasn't the entirety of the Fores'thalls that had sent the assassins. The actual guild was split up into several divisions. Only two of which had any involvement with the assassins. The head family, who oversaw everything to some degree, and the Dark Thorns, the actual assassin branch itself.

Meaning only two parts of the guild needed to be purged.

"Your feast reveals a great deal about other rot that festers within your lands," Keeper said, drawing me out of my thoughts.

I nodded along as Keeper provided a surprisingly long list of agents and informants. Not just the Fores'thall spy network but several other groups of competing spies they'd been keeping their eyes on. I hadn't even known the Unclean clans had spies, but a couple were working for Inertia.

The list of informants was almost too long to bother with, and mostly consisted of people who loved to gossip. That was information that could be used to keep them away from sensitive projects but included far too many people to track, nevermind punish.

There were a lot of plants in Vaserra's territory as well. It had been too long since I talked to my neighbor, so I had Selvi make arrangements to visit, since her scouts were talking to Vaserra's people all the time anyway.

Instead of the Waygates or even Aeternia's Shield, we took the train the next morning. Calbern was rather taken with the machine and Bevel was occupying herself moving around and explaining each part to him.

Further back, Ari and I watched the landscape roll past, standing close but not quite touching.

"Think Tamrie's making her way alright?" I asked, admiring the mana rolling off Mistvale Lake. That very mana had caused an explosion in our rail network, including the very tracks we were riding on. We'd laid tracks all the way to Vaserra's keep in little more than a day.

Was really nice having other people get things done, and the mana to spare.

We still needed more engines, and the people to operate them, but I was hoping taking the Iron Wolf to Vaserra's territory would help with that, since it would demonstrate the technology and hopefully build interest.

The train didn't quite connect to the high road, since Vaserra hadn't let those who'd been building it get too close to the Frost Riven keep. Instead, we were greeted at a flat rock platform near South Sheephome. It'd make a horrid train station for most of the valley, situated as high up the ridge as it was.

Better locations would come later.

In addition to Vaserra, who sat astride Frost Lily, there was a man sitting on an Inferno Drake, a single hand on its black and red scales.

"Well, that's quite the sight," I said as we stepped free of the train.

"You are one to speak," Vaserra said, shaking her head. "Arriving upon a wolf of steel and steam."

I took a moment to look back at the engine. The snarling jaws of steel, with steam rolling out of its nostrils. Was pretty great.

"So this is the legendary Vaserra. Tamrie was very impressed by you," Ari said, her hand resting lightly on my arm. I decided to lock elbows with her instead, like Tamrie and I used to do.

"It is," I said, nodding. "Though I don't know this man."

"This is Zerian. The first to bond an Inferno Drake," Vaserra explained, with what I thought might be a touch of pride in her voice. She certainly sat straighter as she gestured to him.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

"Didn't think you could bond adults," I said, staring at the large drake. The bull Inertia had challenged for the leadership of the pack had been bigger, but that was the only drake I'd seen that was.

"Fire Dancer is quite young and tempestuous," the man said, his voice low and growling, the drake choosing to punctuate his words with a snarl, flame leaking out its nostrils.

"The bond was unusually strong," Vaserra said, "Zerian lost his wolf a few years past, and refused to take another. It seems his promise was not lost."

That had some interesting implications, especially when combined with what we'd learned of their once forgotten oath.

The man nodded in Vaserra's direction, speaking calming words to the drake that was shifting beneath him, pawing at the hard mountain stone like it was soft earth.

"It's incredible. Does that mean he's the leader of a new clan? I've noticed that seems to be a thing," I said, gesturing vaguely northward towards the Unclean clans and their very unmixed groups.

"Before you returned the words, I would have said yes. As has long been our tradition, we would have been allies, but our clans would have been distinct," Vaserra said, motioning us to follow her. "But with the oath renewed, I know better. The divisions must end. I shall challenge Arther once he has recovered. Vergel will support my claim."

"Vergel's not making a play for it himself?" I asked, not too surprised Vaserra was waiting for her biggest rival to recover. If anything, I suspected the discovery of the oath would make her behave more honorably, not less.

"Vergel has neither the popularity nor the strength to challenge Arther. Not with a hope to bring the clans under his banner," Vaserra said, shaking her head, the totems in her red braids clacking. "On the other side of the ice, my successful defense has garnered me much support, and as for strength… Well, you delivered the words yourself."

"So, it worked. You're tier-4?" I asked, somewhat surprised. Keeper hadn't exactly said that's what they needed to progress to tier-4 but it had seemed likely. And Vaserra had kept to the spirit of the oath even if she hadn't known the words.

"It did. I must admit, I am somewhat embarrassed that such a vital truth was lost. All it took was swearing upon an idol my father had hidden away," Vaserra said, gaze shifting to the nearby city. "That father's actions were so directly in opposition of our oath while my mother stood true… I cannot help but wonder if my father knew and hid it from me."

"When will Arther be ready for your challenge?" Ari asked, as we started down the hill towards South Sheephome.

"He has been healed, though he pretends otherwise," Vaserra replied. "I hear he intends to wait until after one of his assassins succeeds in weakening me. They grow thin, their attempts merely allowing me to ascend further. If he continues, he may find himself facing the first True Ascendant in living history."

True Ascendant. Tier-5 as a pack-bonded. Keeper had told me of them too. Despite the name, they weren't considered on a true path of Ascension, because they were expected to hold even tighter to their oaths than a Path Guardian, which was Vaserra's new tier. Considering how long even a tier-3 bonded could live, being the first tier-5 in living memory was even more impressive than it sounded at first brush.

"He can't actually put it off forever though, can he? That doesn't sound like something the clans would tolerate, especially since most of them are going to be sitting around eating gruel while they wait."

"No. He will face me tomorrow, whether he wishes to or not. Vergel has that much support. Or so he has claimed," Vaserra explained, hair totems clacking as she shook her head.

"Make sure you let us know when it's happening. Would love to bear witness," I said, Bevel nodding enthusiastically beside me.

"Very well," Vaserra replied, a small smile on her face. "Now, that isn't the sole reason for your visit, I presume."

"Not even close," I said, before explaining what I'd discovered of the spies in her territory.

Then our discussion moved on to placing railways, and I agreed to provide her with some special versions of the track layer that would let her connect the various Sheephomes. I also informed her of the materials that building an engine required, and we settled into friendly negotiations on what we would need from each other to make it work.

By the time we arrived in South Sheephome, we'd hammered out a basic agreement, one that should have her first train engine delivered in roughly two weeks, assuming she could source the materials.

Something she was uncertain of, unless she could get some of it from the clans after defeating Arther.

The actual visit to the town involved us performing an official declaration of alliance, as well as formalizing Henri's place as part of Vaserra's burgeoning nation. The Ten Feathers' chieftain had been waiting when we arrived, giving children rides on her giant eagle, to the consternation of nearby parents.

Of course, when Bevel saw them, she ran over to join in. Not for riding, but in offering rides of her own. On her back, stomach, and even for one ill-advised attempt, her foot.

The kid was safe enough, but it worried the nearby mother enough she ran forward and retrieved the boy.

Vaserra moved through the crowd, greeting her people, laughing and singing, now that the official work was done.

"She is an impressive woman," Ari said as we sat at a table enjoying a feast grown by Vaserra's farmers using the enchanted tools I'd provided her. "I understand now why Tamrie found herself seized by jealousy every time you interacted with her."

"She tore the heart out of her father's chest," I said, feeling that was a point that shouldn't be forgotten. "I saw her do it. No matter how necessary, I'm never not going to see that when I look at her."

"Given your history with your own father, it surprises me you have such a strong opposition to patricide. Much as I would abhor anyone so much as laying a finger upon my own, if I could reach back through time and flay yours or Tamrie's father's flesh from their bones, I would do so without a second's hesitation," Ari said, her voice taking on a harsh edge as her grip tightened on my arm.

"I… wow. Thanks," I said, feeling my cheeks warm a lot more than they should've. Then I let out a soft sigh. "I never could bring myself to stop my father. Not with my own hands. The idea was… I couldn't even imagine it. Was only after he died that it occurred to me that it was even possible. As for Tamrie's… yeah, right there with you."

Ari didn't respond, simply raising an eyebrow, as if expecting more. Spotting a crispy dish that reminded me a lot of a bean taco, I carefully took a bite from the messy meal, using the time to think.

After I'd finished, I set it down, shaking my head. "It's not just that Vaserra killed her father," I admitted. "That's just a convenient excuse. Really, we're just… too different. Tamrie and I… I guess we were different too, but we also clicked on a certain level. Kinda like me and you."

"We do fit surprisingly well," Ari said, reaching over to clasp my hand, a small smile playing across her lips.

"Thanks," I said, squeezing her hand back. "But you're not Tamrie. I know that wouldn't have bothered you."

"True," Ari said, finger tracing the back of my hand. "Is it… is it awful that I am terribly concerned that if this is becoming what I think it is, my father will be truly insufferable?"

I couldn't stop from snorting out a laugh at that, beating at my chest as the taco fell half eaten to the ground. Before I could recover, or our conversation could continue, Bevel ran up grabbing our hands and dragged us down to join in the singing, where Calbern was dancing in a line with several others.

All the while, we were helping Vaserra locate the spies within.

Truly, family bonding at its best.