The city of Iliucin was officially ruled by a council of four high lords, named the lords of the high council on most occasions. They had a slightly strange tradition, in that there was an actual leader among those four, but their identity was not public knowledge. Officially, the council was supposed to speak with one voice. Apparently, they mostly voted on matters with said leader’s vote counting double, but the records of how each lord voted were supposed to be secret, too. While women had on occasion been on the council, it was dominated by men, and currently the lords were all male as well.

  Tim had found out as much in the first few hours of their stay in the city. They seemed quite eager to speak to the Imperial party, although their own ceremonies seemed to get in the way of that talking a little. Clearly, they’d decided to pull out all the stops and receive them with proper pomp and circumstance, though. It was probably supposed to be a gesture. Considering that not every city on their trip had been willing to acknowledge Hivekind as proper emissaries, let alone give their leader the dignities of a prince, they could hardly complain.

  Not that Tim was used to thinking of himself as a prince yet, but he figured he’d better get used to it in a hurry. Even if Regina had only granted them the title in order to give him all possible diplomatic weight, all the help she could, it wasn’t going to vanish after this mission was over. At the moment, it was only a detail, though, and he had more important things to focus on.

  Being immediately welcomed by the guards, guided to the hall and then received by the high council was nice in diplomatic terms, but it had also made him miss some opportunities to accomplish the goals he was here for. They hadn’t seen anything beyond the main street they were led down. Tim had wanted to gather general information on the city, hints about the conflict in the region, who might be responsible and how much support they could expect in the area.

  He’d also wanted to return quickly, but leaving abruptly would probably be taken as an insult by his hosts now.

  For now, Tim tried his best to ferret out information from the city’s nobles and officials while he attempted to send a few members of his party into the streets to learn more. He was fairly sure the city’s leaders wanted some kind of alliance, but he also wasn’t going to go into it blindly. He knew the clock was ticking, their opponents had already sent a scout into the underground base, but they needed reliable allies or none at all.

  Thankfully, the banquet the council had decided to throw to honor him was a good opportunity to talk to people and gather information. While there was a lot of food, it was clearly meant as more of a general gathering, and a lot of people were speaking to each other, freely moving between groups or seats. It looked like the entire upper class of the city was here, although that probably couldn’t be literally true.

  He knew a lot of people would only be interested in him because of the novelty. That was also something he had some experience with. This time, Tim didn’t have the patience to play it up too much. He tried for serious conversations, though without appearing brusque, to find out more information about the city and its notables. It quickly grew tedious as the hours stretched on.

  “I do hope you are enjoying the banquet, my Prince,” Lord Nerani said, startling him slightly as he turned. “I know they can be tiring.”

  “Not at all, My Lord,” Tim replied with a smile and less than perfect sincerity. “I am enjoying the opportunity to get to know the people of your fine city.”

  “That is good. I cannot help but notice you seem disinclined to indulge in the drinks.”

  Tim shrugged lightly. If he had to make a guess, Nerani would be who he’d bet on as leader of the council. Although that was only based on his first impression, he’d barely done more than be introduced to them. “I am afraid alcohol is not good for my constitution, Lord Nerani, it is certainly nothing against what I am sure are very fine spirits you offer.”

  “Goodness, that sounds terrible,” the man said with what he probably intended as a charming smile. Tim suspected it wasn’t the track he usually took first. He had more frown than laugh lines, anyway. “I am not sure I would survive that. We must find an alternative for you.”

  Tim forced his smile to stay. This wasn’t the time to talk about humans’ habitual alcoholism (no matter how baffling and unhealthy it was). “I make do,” he said.

  “We do have some rather enjoyable … medicinal herbs. If you would like to try a new experience.”

  It wasn’t the first time that had been offered to him, either. Tim preferred to keep his head clear. “Perhaps some other time,” he said politely. “I wouldn’t want to muddle my head and inflict a poorer conversationalist on the fine people here.”

  “Of course. You must think me terribly unsophisticated,” the lord sighed. He was still acting, but getting better. “Let us talk business, then?”

  Tim wasn’t sure if he meant the weed or that he hadn’t been very subtle about trying to get him drunk and-or high to get information from him. He didn’t really care at the moment. “Of course,” he echoed. “You would like to build an alliance, but the Empire is a long distance away from here.”

  Lord Nerani didn’t look enthusiastic, for once. “Not as far as some, farther than others,” he replied. “We certainly would try for good relations. As for an actual alliance, well, perhaps we should learn a little more of each other before talking of binding arrangements, shouldn’t we?”

  Tim tilted his head. That didn’t quite fit the vibe he’d gotten so far. He supposed it might be cultural standards or that Nerani was one of the more opposed voices on their council. “Reasonable,” he allowed, trying not to show his thoughts on his face. “It would certainly be unwise to rush into it.”

  "That it would,” Nerani agreed with a smile that looked just a little too smug for Tim’s liking. “We are the gates to the world, Prince Tim. All manner of goods passes through our gates and our sister cities’. You may have the population of an empire, but I would caution you not to underestimate us.”

  Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  Tim nodded calmly. He was reminded that Regina did want contacts with the southern lands for their access to the wider world across the Mediterranean. Sailing the sea was still dangerous, but not as much as the Atlantic, or crossing the Alps. At least, as it used to be.

  Of course, this city wasn’t on the coast. “You must have quite a few of those sister cities.”

  “True, we do,” he answered, his smile gaining a pleased edge. He listed a few names, with their important characteristics and epithets. The list at least contained useful information even if he was boasting.

  “I notice you didn’t mention Veragles,” Tim commented.

  “Oh, Veragles,” the lord said. “Of course. That is who everyone thinks of in the same breath as our city’s name. Our friends there are certainly prolific, aren’t they?

  That sounded like there was a bit of bad blood between them; unless Nerani just wanted to give that impression. “They are eager to build bridges with us,” Tim said lightly.

  There it was, a bit of a flicker in the lord’s eyes. Tim was sure he hadn’t imagined it. Not just a ploy, then. At least not entirely. It made him reevaluate his impression of what was going on here. It had been easier to think of Iliucin and Veragles, the archmage and the adventurer he had sent, as one unit. But, of course, everyone had their own agenda. He shouldn’t be surprised.

  “I’m sure they are,” Nerani said. “Unlike more barbarous fellows, the lords of Veragles are eager to turn to diplomacy rather than the sword, to make friends of newcomers rather than harden enmities. At least at first. They are still strong allies to have.”

  “I know,” Tim murmured. “But as you said, true alliances take time, don’t they?”

  The lord smiled again. “That they do. But I think that is my cue to leave, my Prince. Others wish to lay claim to some of my time as well.”

  “Of course. We will speak again, My Lord.”

  “Your Highness.” He gave a curt, polite bow, then walked off.

  Tim stared after him for a moment, then turned. He grabbed a glass off a tray, barely glancing at its content. Alcohol, by the smell; not that they had much of anything else. Perhaps he should have looked harder, but it was perhaps better to have something to hold in his hand. He strolled toward the other side of the room, exchanging nods with some people he had already talked to.

  He swept the room with his eyes, noting the position of specific people. Most of those in his party were spread out, braving the gathering. Ash had drawn quite a crowd of the curious, but was handling them well. Nucme attracted almost as many stares, he noted. The others were a bit more subtle, but of course, melting into the crowd wouldn’t have been an option for Tim, anyway. None of them were in trouble, but he knew they were keeping an eye on him, and each other, as well.

  For now, Tim made his way through the room and then out the front door. There was an inner courtyard, a garden of flowers, low hedges and the occasional particularly flowery tree. A few people walked here as well, clearly taking some fresh air. Tim put down his glass and gave himself a moment to crane his neck back and look up into the sky, breathing deeply and releasing some tension. Then he paid more attention to the local nobles in the garden. Some of them looked at him curiously, but there was no one who particularly stood out or felt like they deserved closer investigation.

  Tim decided to head back inside after a short break for fresh air, but before he could move, several of the other people cried out. He turned, following their gaze, and then started in surprise as he saw a flash of light moving towards him.

  A bird, he realized after a moment. Some kind of hawk, just a faintly translucent, luminous version of it. It cried once, surprisingly quiet, before coming to a stop hovering in the air in front of him. There was a piece of paper tied to one claw.

  Cautiously, Tim reached out and untied it. He knew a construct like this must come from a Class Skill, belonging to someone with an uncommon Class and a high level. There were several people coming to mind, though — notably several soldiers featured in files he’d read. People you would include if you sent reinforcements across the mountains. He glanced around, ignoring the gazes of the other people. More of them had come out to stare. He could have hoped this would be more discreet, but there was no changing it now; everyone would know he’d gotten a message. It looked like the messenger had flown here, but he knew it must have materialized at some point close to him. Just as he unrolled the message, it disappeared.

  Tim decided he might as well stay there, only looking up to nod at several of his party members who were now coming to join him. Projecting calm, he read the missive.

  It took all of his self-control not to give any visible reaction. It appeared he’d done just what he’d wanted to avoid and effectively given the base over to their enemies by withdrawing half of their group for this trip. He was inclined to agree with Anuis’ decision to avoid a confrontation, but this was still bad. At least the first wave of reinforcements had arrived.

  Now the question is, what to do? He hadn’t achieved what he’d wanted to here yet, and rushing off now might ruin everything he had managed. But he couldn’t leave them on their own either, he was needed there. Should they try to fight for the base?

  “Tim?” Tirias asked carefully.

  Tim glanced up. The elf champion had been out in the city. He looked concerned now, there was tension in the set of his shoulders. “Important news,” Tim said. “You found something too?”

  Tirias nodded. “Can we go somewhere more private, perhaps?”

  Tim glanced at the others and waved them back. “Go back inside, show your faces, we’ll be right there.”

  Then he followed Tirias to a quiet corner, around a bend in the path, a spot that was mostly covered by a tree and several bushes. No one was close enough to eavesdrop, and Tim scanned the area carefully, scenting the air and straining his ears to be sure. Then he turned to his companion, who still looked a bit agitated. “What is it?”

  “I took a good look around,” Tirias said. “It struck me how calm the city was, especially around the outer parts. I went by several barracks of the city guard. They’re too empty. None of them is unused, but they’re not filled to capacity. This is the only regular military force the city has, Tim. If they’re not here, they’re out fighting somewhere.”

  Tim nodded. “That’s good to know. But we did know they were preparing or already fighting other cities in the region, anyway.”

  Tirias made a face. “I know, but … I managed to get a look at their military storage, too. They had warehouses close by the barracks. I know,” he added at Tim’s surprised look, “I’m not the sneakiest, but I can manage. And it was full. Uniforms, armor, weapons, filled to bursting. Like they’re recruiting new soldiers, preparing for an intense conflict.”

  “That’s weird,” Tim muttered. “You’d think there would be more recruits in the city in that case.”

  “Yes,” the elf agreed, “unless they’re out somewhere fighting without their uniforms and equipment.”

  It meant — a significant fraction of their fighting force might be operating under disguise, concealing their affiliation. Tim glanced at the letter again. The force that had occupied the base were only fifty people by their estimate. Still …

  “I think we might be in deeper trouble than we thought, Tirias,” he muttered. “We’ll need to confirm this. But if my suspicions are right, we’re probably in danger. And so are the others.”

  He glanced at the building they’d just exited again, filled with scheming nobles and envoys. Filled with a lot of pointless ceremony and engagements that would at the very least slow him down and distract him.

  He might be jumping to conclusions, but a lot of things seemed suspicious, if he posited that they might be working against him, trying to take the base out from under his nose, and probably planning to blame their rivals.