Machiavellian Evaluation

"So... You are assured that you can provide details on all the barrack locations in Deagoth? All the Temples, and key Officials?" Spoke the King of Jakahn while gazing at Honored Guest Mark, from across the table.

The King of Jakahn and Mark were in an open area, that was well lit with Glowstone. This was the palace of Jakahn's Grand Hall. Honor guests, Ambassadors, meetings, and negotiations took place in this hall. As one could see lush green grass covered the floor, and ivy grew along the walls. This was a display of power of Jakahn. Green was a color that was in the least abundance in the Underworld.

This Grand Hall only served to remind Mark of things he loathed, but his gestures and speech gave nothing away to the contrary. Surrounding the small table in the large hall were numerous other undead. These were aides to the King for various functions of the kingdom.

"Yes. In addition, I can provide information on the Cultivation of the Key Officials and the War Marshals, even a little bit about each War Marshal's preferred style of attack, like the ones to the north you have little contact with." Mark spoke while swirling the liquid in his wine glass. Mark had no idea why they served wine to a Skeletal undead... He felt it an insult, but didn't point it out.

"And what are you asking for in return?" The King of Jakahn asked, in a grim voice.

"I would say everything, but that would be unreasonable. I will ask for freedom to my merchants to move untaxed in Jakahn, and cultivation resources." Mark put the wine glass down on the table.

"No taxes and some resources?"

"Yes."

The King paused for a moment. One of his aids were messaging him.

"It sounds like a simply request, Honor Guest Mark, but what quantities or... Qualities are these resources?"

"Quality, of course."

After a pause, "Name your resources, and see if We can reach an accord."

Without missing a beat Mark replied, "Two large Soul-binding Cap Mushrooms, four Giant Rusty Toad Tongues, six Typhoon Bat Brain preserved in simple Ichor Wine, and lastly, one Lavagrim Geoshark fin."

All the aids, including the King of Jakahn, were already cursing after the second item. What where these items! HIGH GRADE! All of them were high grade items, and the Geoshark fin was ultra high grade! Only one Geoshark fin would be auctioned per thousand years... And the last one sold a hundred years ago!

Lavegrim Geosharks were a type of fish like beast that lived in the lava ocean, specifically the Brimstone Ocean to the left of the ruined continent. Only Jakahn, Deagoth, and Stonedge had access to this Ocean. Dragon's Jaw could, but with the elevation they were all their coasts were massive cliffs. They focused more on their Dragon's boneyard for profit and resources than bother with the ocean. Deagoth was known for the holy bones produced by their bone mills and Glowstone, and Stonedge was the kingdom of Burnt offerings, wines, and mushrooms. A foodie's paradise for the zombie undead!

This left Jakahn to access the ocean, almost, exclusively, but even then, Geosharks were not a beast one could just fish easily. If one already had a Lava boat to sail the ocean, and the crew and years of knowledge to navigate the lava flows and cunning eddies, then the beast itself was a class 4 beast. A class 4 beast was the equal to a knight ranked Cultivator, but fighting one in its home like the Brimstone Ocean made it feel more like a class 5 beast... King rank.

There was a long period of silence. All the aids and the king were messaging each other back and forth.

Finally, the King spoke up, "This will take some time to acquire. We hope you understand. We can't just produce these kinds of items when We feel like it."

"I understand. How about this? For each Item listed, I will divulge another piece of information, and when all the resources are collected, I'll fill in any blanks. I'll even aid in any plans you have using this information."

"Deal." The King instantly spoke.

"Decisive. I like that in a leader." Mark nodded approvingly.

"Naturally."

"Aids, dismissed."

The aids were walking out from the hall, only leaving behind one servant. The king looked at the remaining servant. His expression showed he was messaging this hand servant. Quickly, the servant walked out of the hall with purpose.

"You liked the last burnt offerings from Dragon's Jaw?" Asked the King.

"Aye, they were pretty good. Though I prefer harder stuff."

"Then be in a treat." As the King spoke this, a skeletal lady gracfully walked into the hall holding two censors with burnt offerings.

"Ah, Violet come meet our guest." The King called.

Mark observed this lady. He could see why the King called her Violet. Her bones were a lovely color of lavender purple. She wore a beautiful, but simple dress, in royal purple. Only her bright white teeth, and her jet black hair that came to her waist stood out to Mark. She was monochromatic purple.

Violet carried the offerings and placed one by the King.

"This is my daughter, First Princess Violet." The King said with much pride. His first daughter was his favorite child. She wasn't the most powerful of his children or was she the most cunning, but she was very gentle and filial.

"This is Honor Guest Mark." The King gestured to Mark.

Violet walked to his side and placed down the censor. She curtsied to Mark, while holding out her right hand.

Mark reached out and gently held her hand, and brought it to his mouth, pressing his teeth to the back of her Metacarpal on her hand. These were the bones in the middle of the hand connecting the fingers to the wrist.

"It is a pleasure to meet such a fine lady. You must be your father's favorite." Mark spoke softly.

While Mark was making a pleasent comment, he was actually right.

"You flatter me, Honored Guest Mark." Violet took her hand back, and continue to stand by Mark.

The King noticed that she did not return to his side.

"These burnt offerings are some of my most exotic. They are from a small tribe of undead that still live within the Kingdom. I granted them a plot of land to live, as long as the offered this to me annually. They call it Dream Dust. It's a great relaxer."

After lighting the censors, a wispy pinkish smoke filled the small area in front of both the King and Mark. A few seconds passed as the smoke drifted to them both; it filled them both with a feeling of of drifting in warm waters.

"Good stuff!" Mark said after his first drift of smoke.

The King of Jakahn laughed loudly, "I enjoy this after every council the ministers drag me too." Laughing again, "even Violet likes it!"

"Daddy!" Violet stamped her foot.

"It's true!" The King continued to laugh, while Violet turned her back to both her father and Mark, but she didn't leave.

The King and Mark continued chatting for a while, and eventually even Violet joined back into the conversation. As the hour was getting late, the King finally decided it was time to retire for the day, "Honored Guest Mark, We should get together tomorrow, without all the aids. What do you think?"

Mark lean forward, "Do you know chess?"

"What monarch doesn't?" with another big laugh, "I hope you're good enough to give me a good fight!"

"Of course. Then I'll see you tomorrow then."

Mark rose, and as he walked out, a servant appeared to guide him to his guest chamber.

"Well daughter?"

"I like him."

"Ah... errr... I mean his character."

"He's a secretive person with an agenda."

"Tell me serious, even my aids could figure that out." The king sighed.

"The cultivation resources aren't for him. It's someone else."

"For the Witch King?"

"No." Violet shook her head. "He generally hates Deagoth. I don't know how he stayed there so long with not one finding out."

"Perhaps they did... And just couldn't use a reason to get rid of him. We both know how the Witch King does things."

"In that case, that is even more reason to be cautious of him. You can't just stay somewhere for over a thousand year doing mischief and getting away with it, without being a Machiavellian.

"But you still like him?"

"Yes."

The King shook his head.

*******

Verruca was over looking the training grounds of the undead-at-arms stationed in Saigunrai, with her arms folded under her massive bosom. Today, she was personally over seeing their training. This had always been Verruca's way of forgetting her troubles, much to the woe of the soldiers being drilled.

"Hey, girl!"

Verruca turned to see the approaching female undead, "Hey, Warmarshal Chaoshood." Warmarshal Chaoshood was a tall zombie undead. She would have a gorgeous face if it wasn't for the scars under both her eyes that appear like black tear stains. They did add a sense of mystery to her. She wore a tight fitting robe that showed off her womanly curves, with the robe coming just below the waist, showing off her long legs with black high heels. A large white wrap secured her middle, above her hips holding the robe in place. On her neck, hung a small pendant that glittered in the light. If one looked close enough, they would see inside the pendant spun a small dotted whirl pool. If Jack seen this, he would make the comment that it looked like a galaxy in a marble.

"Wow! You are in a worse mood, than I first thought." she joked, as she stopped beside Verruca and looked out at the drills performed by the undead-at-arms.

"Why do you say that." Verruca furrowed her brow.

"Whoa, now. None of that pinched brows with me."

"I'm... I'm sorry. I just have a lot on my mind." Verruca said apologetically. "But how could you tell?"

"Well, one your arms are folded, and your drilling the troops personally. Secondly, you called me by my titled name. How long have we been friends now, and you still called me by my titled name?"

"Again, I'm sorry Stephanie... Does that make it better?"

"Yes! Much better. Now... What I want to know is what has you in such a foul mood?" Stephanie asked.

"Just a lot of things really. Kingdom is in the middle of some..." Verruca was cut off by Stephanie, "When was the Kingdom not in the middle of some impending war or conflict? No, that's not it. It's his grace, isn't it?"

"...Yeah..."

"Angel of Death?"

"Well... He's fine. He fought Boss Crag of the Crag families." Verruca said as she turned her head back to the troops and yelled, "COME ON YOU MAGGOTS! THAT WAS THE MOST PATHETIC ROUND OF PRACTICE I'VE SEEN IN THE PASS HUNDRED YEARS. ANOTHER THOUSAND SPEAR THRUSTS."

A collective groan was issued by the soldiers. "I HEARD THAT! TWO THOUSAND SPEAR THRUSTS, AND IF YOU DON'T GET IT DONE BY LIGHT'S DIM, THEN ITS NIGHT TRAINING FOR EVERYONE!

"You know some of them are going to have to visit the bone doctor after this." Stephanie laughed

"It's good for them. If I don't come around every once in a while, then they start to get soft."

"Their Lieutenant general does a good job."

"I have him out there, too. Look over to the far west." Verruca chuckled.

Stephanie put her hand over her eyes to shield them from the light of the Skull of the Sun God, "Is that also your general?"

"Yeah. That's her."

"No wonder the troops call you the Iron Maiden."

"Like they know whats good for them, pfft."

"So... Boss Crag. Do we know how the other families are going to respond?" Stephanie asked while returning her eyes back to Verruca.

"We don't. Well, not yet, at any rate."

"Julia... Answer me. What else is bothering you."

Verruca kept silent as she over looked the soldiers preforming their drills.

"His Grace?"

"His Grace."

"The new consort?"

"Fine, damn it. Yes, it's the consort. Are you happy to drag this out of me!"

Stephanie always felt that Verruca had something for The Holy Witch King, but every time she asked Verruca, she would dodge or change the topic. Many rumors were about concerning the love life of the Iron Maiden, but Stephanie was close to her. She knew they were all untrue.

"So you do have a thing for him?"

Verruca nodded.