glacial_queen | The Queen's Lair, Arceria, Thursday Afternoon (Fandom Time)

The Queen of Arceria was huge. No, really, really huge. Her shoulders were level with Warren's chest, and her head was almost as wide. She easily weighed over a seven hundred pounds, her claws were roughly the size of Karla's fingers and her teeth--well, okay, Karla didn't exactly have a good measurement for her teeth because when the Queen had yawned as they entered, Karla's mind had gone blank, save for a very small voice that said, Please don't let her want to eat me!

It was quickly followed by a darted glance at the half-grown Kaelas and a Will he get that big, too?

That thought, though it had nothing to do with being devoured by a giant, fluffy, four-legged Green-Jeweled witch, was still terrifying in its own way.

After all of the formal observations were out of the way--and the kindred didn't go for formal much, thank the Darkness--Karla walked slowly forward to beg the help of the only Queen in Kaeleer who could probably help her. Begging: something she didn't do very well. Begging while intimidated: something she dealt with even worse. This was going to be awesome.

"Lady Lasfaeran," she said quietly. Lasfaeran. In the Old Tongue, 'Las' meant 'death' and 'Faer' was the word for 'jump' or leap.' A more accurate translation of her name would be something like 'Death from above.' Cheery. "I am certain that the Lady has already explained to you the nature of my audience. Across the border, in my Territory of Glacia, Black Widows--our Sisters are being slaughtered, victims of one male's blind lust for power. Due to the ancient laws of our society, no Queen can interfere in another's Territory without invitation, but as the future Territory Queen of Glacia, I am asking you for aid. Not your warriors, ferocious as they may be, nor your witches, skilled in Craft as they are. All I need from you is land, permission to clear and build settlements to bring our Sisters to for safekeeping, and a promise of safety from the kindred Arcerians who live in your Territory. In exchange, we offer not only the future friendship of Glacia and all her people and the promise of peace from all who make our temporary homes in your Territory, but also gifts of food and friendship in exchange for the use of your land."

Karla went through the presentation she, Warren, Jaenelle, Saetan and Mephis had struggled to put together: how much land they would need, the alterations they would make to it, how they would care for it while they lived there, and what benefits they would offer to the Arcerians. It wasn't terribly long, but Karla felt exhausted by the time she was done; sweat beading at her hairline and on the top of her lip. It was hard presenting to someone when she couldn't read their facial expressions, and Queen Lasfaeran was doing an excellent job of keeping her psychic scent neutral.

"And so, Lady, the final decision rests upon you. Please, will you help me save my people?"

Once again, the Arcerian Queen yawned, showing off an impressive set of fangs. *Arceria hears Glacia's request for aid,* she sent on a public psychic thread. *But Arceria refuses. Thank you for your visit, Lady Karla. Good luck.*

[NFB & for them what are in Arceria with her!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

glacial_queen

Karla was absolutely boggled, to say the least.

"I--I--What?! Why, Lady, please!"

From:

kindrednotkind.livejournal.com

Lasfaeran had been grooming her paw, but at Karla's outburst, looked up at her with cold amber eyes. *You come to me to plead for help,* she sent, psychic thread accompanied by a low growl. *To beg for the lives of your dying Sisters. But where were you when it was Arcerian witches being slaughtered? You humans die at one another's hands and yet I should bestir myself? Are you watching your children be trapped, murdered, skinned and worn? Do you see your males castrated and broken, discarded because their pelts aren't fine enough? How about your elderly dams, limping on broken legs because of traps set and then discarded, forgotten. Or stuck and starving?! Where were you then, child-Queen?*

From:

glacial_queen

Karla took a step back, swallowing hard. She almost wanted to shy away, both from the angry giant cat and and the fact that Lasfaeran was right. But if she backed down now, she'd never have a chance to change her mind. Arcerian cats were predators. If Karla put herself in the 'prey' column, then Lasfaeran would treat her like one.

So instead of cringing away and apologizing, Karla tilted her chin up and met the Queen's eyes squarely. "As you have said, Lady, I am barely more than a child." A gamble, admitting weakness, but she was using Lasfaeran's own words against her. "But that does not matter. What my people have done to yours is unjustified. And cannot continue. When I am Queen, it will not. Our Sisters are our Sisters, whether they walk on two legs or four. Trapping and skinning them is reprehensible. The price for hunting Arcerian kindred will be death."

From:

kindrednotkind.livejournal.com

*Grand words from a female with no Territory to call her own,* Lasfaeran noted wryly. *We do not need your permission to hunt and kill those who would trap us. Just as many of your bodies end up in our stomachs as our pelts end up on your backs.*

*Still...* Lasfaeran was utterly composed, save for the way her tail lashed about behind her. This notion of yours, outlawing the hunting of kindred intrigues me. I suppose you will do this in exchange for the dirt you beg for?

From:

glacial_queen

"What?" This time Karla's look was confused. And a little offended. "No, don't be stupid."

That was a great way to talk to the reigning Queen in her own Court, especially when she outmassed you ten times over. At least.

And from the chorus of growls from the males around Lasfaeran, they agreed. Karla, however, ignored them, keeping her eyes locked on the Arcerian female's.

"You have every right to deny me the land I am asking for." She would beg, if she though that would get her anywhere. Kaelas had been very firm when he'd said it wouldn't. "And if you do, I will leave and try to find a different home for our Sisters. But regardless of when I walk out of this lair and what agreements we've struck, one thing will remain true. On my Jewels, I swear to you, from the moment I become Queen of Glacia, no kindred will be hunted in Arceria or any other Territory. The penalty of disobedience will be death. Death to those who hunt pelts and death to those who would sell them."

Edited Date: 2011-08-26 05:01 am (UTC)

From:

kindrednotkind.livejournal.com

*Watch how you speak to me, little Queen.* Lasfaeran was getting up now, stretching a little before prowling down from her ledge over to Karla. *You have a Black Widow's talon, but very small teeth.*

From:

glacial_queen

Karla was intimidated.

The problem? Karla handled intimidation...poorly. Very poorly. Ask Saetan about her first letter. Or how many toes she'd stomped on when they'd first met.

So, rather than backing down and apologizing, Karla bared her teeth and snapped, "Maybe you should watch how you speak to me. I know how to use the weapons I have very well. And I have more at my disposal than you know."

From:

kindrednotkind.livejournal.com

*Is that a threat?!* Lasfaeran snarled as her males reared back in alarm.

From:

glacial_queen

"No, it is not," Karla said, folding her arms and glaring back at the Arcerian Queen. At least from this vantage, she had height-advantage. "You have given me no reason to offer violence to you or your people. But don't take my lack of teeth and claws to mean that I am easy prey, Lady. I respect you. I respect your position. And I apologize if I spoke out of turn. But I won't be told to sit down and shut up like a cub who still has her milk teeth because you can't see beyond my lack of obvious weapons."

Edited Date: 2011-08-26 06:22 am (UTC)

From:

kindrednotkind.livejournal.com

*Hmmm...* Lasfaeran paced around Karla, tail still lashing at the air. Her males relaxed though, settling back into their former reclining positions. *You are a cub, still, weapons or no. You wear your Birthright, you have no Court, you do not even rule this land you profess to save. So what good do your promises do me? I have no guarantee you will live past this year. Your mouth might get you killed before your politics do.*

From:

glacial_queen

Karla flushed a bit. She hadn't exactly been covering herself in glory here, that much was true. She could only image what Ender and Emma would be saying if they were here--and Warren looked like the only thing standing between him and a fatal heart attack was his Healing factor.

"Again, you have my apologies, Lady Lasfaeran." Karla bowed the precise degree owed to a ranking Queen from a darker-Jeweled supplicant. "Sometimes I forget myself and my manners. It shan't happen again."

Hopefully.

"As for my promises, it's true. You have no guarantees that they will come to pass. But what can you lose by trusting in them? If I fail, than things remain as they are. As you have said, you hunters are the equal to Glacia's. But if I succeed, then you will have more than my promises; you will have my gratitude and friendship--and, through me, you will have the same of Witch."

From:

kindrednotkind.livejournal.com

*And a village full of human Black Widows in my Territory with nowhere else to go,* Lasfaeran pointed out. *What's to keep them from deciding that, as humans, they have the right to take Arceria for their own?*

Her psychic thread thrummed with bitterness. *It would hardly be the first time humans invaded kindred Territory with conquest on their minds. My own Black Widows assure me we haven't seen the last, either.*

From:

glacial_queen

"At most, you'd have, what? Three villages? Possibly four?" Karla asked. "Compared to what you could bring to bear against them, four villages, even filled with Black Widows and their bonded males, wouldn't be much of a challenge."

Lasfaeran's brow furrowed and Karla hurried on so as to make her point without interrupting. "But that doesn't solve the underlying problem. It's useless bloodshed and no matter who wins, we all lose. The point is to cut down on death, not encourage it."

Otherwise, what would be the bloody point? "My first suggestion would be to incorporate whatever Queens or Black Widows who end up ruling the villages into the existing structure here. Let them be autonomous without being alienated. Those witches will serve in your District Queen's Courts. Perhaps one or two will serve a Province Queen or even in your own Court. Keep them within the system, not apart from it."

From:

kindrednotkind.livejournal.com

That suggestion took Lasfaeran aback a little. She blinked a few times and then climbed back up onto her ledge.

*That might be possible,* she allowed. *And kindred within the villages?*

From:

glacial_queen

"Welcomed and treated like any other Sister or Brother," Karla said promptly. "Our Black Widows would train with yours, if you have no objections. Our children would run with yours, our males hunt with yours. We are Blood, all of us, together. Our forms make us different, but if you look beneath the skin, we are similar. There is no reason we cannot all live together in peace. Since our villages will be cutting into territory where Arcerians are used to hunting and adding more competition for the game, we would also be happy to share our food with the kindred of the area."

Karla had mentioned that in her earlier presentation, but figured a repeat couldn't hurt.

"While our own livestock would be off-limits, we will share what we have and gladly. No one will starve in the winters, human, kindred, and landen Arcerian alike."

From:

kindrednotkind.livejournal.com

*You would make my people pampered housepets?* Lasfaeran asked, idly licking her front claws. *Fed and cared for until we forget ourselves?*

From:

glacial_queen

Karla didn't repeat her earlier mistake and call Lasfaeran stupid, but her tone was more than a little annoyed when she retorted, "I'm pretty sure it'll take more than a few years of mutual friendship and service to turn the Arcerians into a pampered anything."

From:

kindrednotkind.livejournal.com

*Your words have merit,* Lasfaeran finally admitted. *As does your proposal. And your standing with the Lady makes me slightly more inclined to trust you than I otherwise would. But I have no reason to trust your pale humans. You cannot vouch for all of them and neither can the Lady.*

From:

glacial_queen

Dammit, no. Not to have come all this way and get shot down and then work so hard to make her listen.

Karla struggled for words that would make Lasfaeran see. "Is there anything I can do, I can offer, that would ease your mind until trust can be built?"

Anything? Seriously!

From:

glacial_queen

For anyone who is there and watching, either as Karla talks to the Queen or after.

From:

wwiii

This particular member of the peanut gallery found himself gritting his teeth in the face of the Arcerian Queen's blatant refusal. Warren's hands twitched at his sides, and his feathers prickled behind him, but he kept his mouth clamped firmly shut.

He was pretty much bite-sized in the face of these massive felines. Go figure he felt more willing to open his mouth and argue with them than he did the boyos back at the Hall.

No. No no no. Too much had gone into this for it to be no, just like that.

From:

life_inshadow

"Is this some manners thing?" Tara asked him, in an anxious sotto voice. "You know, like how in Asia you're supposed to refuse hospitality twice before you accept it -- only backwards?"

The Arcerian queen couldn't be saying no. Not really.

Edited Date: 2011-08-26 01:48 am (UTC)

From:

wwiii

Warren shook his head a little, holding his breath and reigning in his urge to hiss between his teeth before letting himself form words.

"Karla said it wasn't going to be easy," he murmured. "The Arcerians haven't been given any reason to care about what happens to the Glacians. Kindred in Kaeleer aren't seen as proper Blood by... far too many. Especially not hunters looking for pelts."

He kind of knew what that felt like. Minus the pelt thing.

From:

life_inshadow

"But Karla's not a hunter," Tara whispered back, realizing it sounded foolish. "And, and -- I don't understand. How can she just let people die? It's like she doesn't care at all."

That was exactly what Warren said, but Tara wasn't listening all that well.

Edited Date: 2011-08-26 02:08 am (UTC)

From:

wwiii

"I think," Warren sighed, biting the inside of his cheek for a moment before continuing, "she might have some trouble opening her borders to citizens of a nation that has been hunting and murdering her people. Brutally."

Not that it had been the Black Widows doing such a thing. But why should the Arcerians draw any distinction between one caste and the next? A human was a human.

Warren had the dubious honor of being able to empathize with both parties in this situation. But his loyalty was to Karla, first and foremost. And Karla had never gone hunting for Arcerian fur.

From:

life_inshadow

"Oh." That got through Tara's filters, and she flushed pink. "Sorry. It's just -- sad. Karla can't undo any of it."

From:

wwiii

"I know," Warren sighed. "All she can do is promise that she'll do what she can to make it stop, when she has the power to do so."

He was holding his breath again, trying to pay attention to the conversation with Tara every bit as much as Karla and Lasfaeran's continued negotiations.

"We haven't been chased out yet, or eaten. That's something."

From:

life_inshadow

Tara stifled a purely hysterical giggle, fingertips firm against her ownb mouth. "That would be the worst way for this story to end," she said. "'And then they went to see a giant witch tiger and annoyed her and got eaten, the end.' It's not us."

seriously, if she came this far just to die...

From:

wwiii

"Karla's jewel outranks hers," Warren noted, his voice dropping even softer as he nodded to the green jewel nestled in the feline's white fur. It was nice to have some basic knowledge of things like jewel ranks, at least. Having every book on protocol ever written thrust into his hands over the past several weeks was starting to pay off. A little. "And I think I can fly faster scared than they can run hungry."

He could carry Karla and Tara if they had to scatter. Kaelas was on his own, because there was no way in hell that Warren could lift that mass of fuzzy white bulk on his own. Or Raven could teleport him out. Or all of them out. Actually, Raven was kind of one of Warren's favorite people now, in light of that fact.

"We'll be okay."

From:

life_inshadow

Tara's glance skipped from Warren to Raven to Karla. "This is a strong group," she agreed. Between Warren's flight, Raven's teleportation, and the magic she could add to Karla's, she was almost certain nothing could eat them without some overwhelming advantage -- surprise, perhaps, or numbers. "We'll be okay."

"I should learn the jewel stuff," she added thoughtfully. It wasn't today's priority, but it would be helpful to know.

Edited Date: 2011-08-26 02:51 am (UTC)

From:

wwiii

Well, the cats certainly had bulk on their side.

"The easiest way to figure them out is that the jewels get stronger the darker they are," Warren volunteered, thankful for the distraction. "Black is the darkest, and then it goes down from there. Ebon-gray, Gray, and so on."

Studying this stuff kept the little landen with wings sane. Ish.

From:

life_inshadow

Tara's eyebrows quirked up. "Karla's is a sapphire. So she must be up there."

She squinted at the cat, trying to see if anything Karla was sayig was having any effect.

From:

wwiii

Did snarling count? Warren looked up right about the same time the males in the Queen's company all rocked back at something that Karla had said, and if it wasn't for his healing factor, he probably would have taken a heart attack right there on the spot at the sight of all of those teeth.

"She's pretty high up there," he managed, going just a little bit pale.

We do NOT call the giant tiger-Queen stupid, Karla!

From:

life_inshadow

The snarls were hard to miss. Tara stepped neatly backwards.

"I don't like this."

Not that Tara had an alternate suggestion, or that she was ready to turn tail and flee. It was more of an observation.

From:

wwiii

"That would make two of us."

They were bright and ridiculous, but Warren was spreading his wings slightly all the same. Reflex, yes. Not that he looked much bigger when surrounded by massive, grumpy cats.

But Karla kept talking, and the tension seemed to ease some. Warren let go of that breath that he'd been holding.

"Someone is going to have to talk to that girl about minding her manners around anyone that can fit her in their mouth," he mumbled.

From:

life_inshadow

"Good luck," Tara murmured, glancing to his wings and blinking. It was not the time to ask about their shade, no. "Look. She seems to have talked her way out of it."

From:

wwiii

"Thank goodness," Warren breathed, watching Lasfaeran climb back onto her ledge. "If we're not being eaten or chased out, that's... Hopefully a good sign?"

He folded his wings in again, watching to make certain none of the cats were going to leap on them before his feathers smoothed down again.

"I'm going to take this as a good sign."

From:

life_inshadow

"Definitely a good sign," Tara agreed, letting out a breath. "At least, until Karla tells us otherwise."

From:

wwiii

"Or until the Arcerians do."

Which, Warren supposed, Kaelas would be able to spot first. Having one of the large felines, even if he was still just a massive kitten, on their side was reassuring.

From:

life_inshadow

Tara twisted her fingers almost frantically against the cloth of her skirt as she listened to the presentation. Karla had done good work; she couldn't imagine anyone saying no to her, not for such a small favor.

When Lady Lasfaeran did say no, she let out a gasp. "Why?"

From:

trigons_child

Raven was unhappy with the Queen's reaction. She'd been trying to read her emotions -- though not influence them -- but the announcement was still a surprise. She kept her face passive, biting back an upset cry, and waited for Karla's response.