CONCLUDING THE TRIBUTES

After that, Grand Elder Horio concluded the first introductions and proceeded to announce the tributes. He had politely waited for me to sort out Fluffy and Hayao's rooming arrangement before just as politely picked up from where we had left off to continue with the formalities. I felt quite sure if it were a Lorent Elder, they would have blown their top at the way I had decided to handle the two Young Princes. Was the Young Blue Alpha so highly respected in the old one's eyes? Or perhaps since he had served under both Heller and Haku, he was used to highly eccentric alphas?

At the moment, the Grand Elder Horio's non-reaction flew past me and I couldn't quite pursue it because Gareth had opened new void gateways - a total of three, and there were an army of servants transporting various gifts out to us.

It was a good thing that someone had the presence of mind to order warriors to set up the road blocks. It would be terrible if our feeder bus ran over any of the horses or wolves or gifts.

{If he were bringing an army to us, we would be in a Trojan of trouble.} Wolfgang noted.

The Tributes were from both Heller and Haku. Although they were sent together, as Fluffy had pointed out, Haku was not sent to support Fluffy and Heller's gifts were not sent to support Haku's. It was pretty obvious the two Black Mountain Princes were competing.

Even in the two sealed letters Grand Elder Horio had to open in our presence and read aloud:

Paragraph 1 was like one of them definitely copied the other's homework:

Haku's gifts were tribute accompanying his son, the Young Prince Hayao, as a sincere wish for his son's happiness and a future relationship between our pack and his house and clan.

Heller's gifts were tribute accompanying his son, the Young Prince Alaric, as a sincere wish for his son's happiness and a future relationship between our pack and his house and pack.

Paragraph 2 had some slight but significant differences:

Haku thanked the Blue Alpha for her care of his son after his brave duel that surely proved his heart. He is confident that the Young Prince's pledge will be served with loyal devotion.

Heller thanked the Blue Alpha for her care of his son whom she rescued and nursed to health, thus surely proving her heart. He is confident that the Young Prince's pledge will be served with loyal devotion.

Thanks to Wolfgang who decided to hold a mini commentary over the mindlinks to educate my betas and I, the letters and tributes were very telling in what the senders hopes and expectations were from this exchange.

{There is no such thing as a free lunch.} Wolfgang reminded us.

Which was true. But there were complimentary breakfasts at the Langston. Just saying.

Anyway, these gifts were sent in exchange for the Blue Alpha's favor - and by "favor" the two old Tygers really wanted something specific from me.

Haku sent 17 apple seedlings with magic roots. If they were planted around our home and nurtured daily by Hayao's healing spells, they would grow to produce flowers year round. Just the fragrance of these flowers would be able to restore wolf power, but when matured, these trees will all produce apples in season, and as long as Hayao stayed close to the trees, they would grow into a magic barrier that would protect my home and eventually produce magic veins in the ground which would be able to support the development of not just Hayao's healer wolf but also many other healer and magic type wolves.

"Immediately, one can tell Prince Haku is a shrewd and caring father. His son was by no means cast out into the plains to fend for himself after his defeat. By providing such a gift, Prince Hayao is ensuring his son's cultivation in the plains as well as his son's place in the Alpha House." Wolfgang explained, "These trees would possibly take thousand of years to produce magic veins, but they would provide long term advantages for our pack to invest in them and keep Hayao in your home for as long as it takes."

Not to be outdone, Heller sent 17 wild horses from the Vast Valley. These horses roamed in tribes and were able to communicate with wolves and humans through telepathy - something like mindlinks, but did not require any kind of pack bond or condition except for the horse's own mood. They were wild, and would settle well in any wide grassy space, although they grow stronger near magic. Although these horses had little care for the world outside their tribe, if one could convince this majestic creature to accept you, it might be convinced to leave its tribe to be your mount and despite their stubborn and temperamental nature, were the best companion in battle and unpredictable journeys.

{So these horses want land to start a new tribe. The Warlock Lands would definitely be suitable.} Wolfgang was thoughtful, {We'd need to provide their tribe with a stable and supplies during the winter, and offer them our warrior patrols to keep the gyaara at bay - by doing this, we might strike a good relationship with the new horse tribe so they might be favorably predisposed to our wolves.}

In my opinion, the trees and horses were the coolest gifts, but according to Wolfgang, the gifts only got more valuable, with the most valuable gift presented last. All in all Haku and Heller both sent 7 gifts each.

Haku's Tribute List - 17 apple saplings with magic roots, 13 crates of wild plum wine (made according to their family recipe), 11 cartons of elixer water (the magic glowy bottle water), 7 golden guardian koi (a kind of large goldfish), 5 basic healing books. Although they cover the general basic techniques and knowledge for healers, they are the very best set. (I guess Haku felt the healers here needed their basics set right), 3 advanced healing books, 2 heirloom recipes for wild plum wine,1 Young Prince.

Heller's Tribute List - 17 wild magic horses, 13 magic-infused long swords and matching sheathes (all made with the finest craftsmanship), 11 fire daggers (which would inflict a burning sensation like fire in your enemy's wound that would last long after the wound is healed), 7 magic cloaks that can ward off passive enchantments, 5 bangles that can ward off active magic attacks, 3 bangles that can create a temporary force field that can deflect physical attacks, 2 crates of refined liquid argon (it was sealed because exposure to it was extremely lethal - please feed it to Fluffy to awaken his true bloodline power. Do this in the prescribed increments and schedule and adjust dosages accordingly lest he dies. The raw argon is a rare treasure, it would be wasted on a dead prince.), 1 Young Prince.

Each gift was presented to show the strength of the house the Prince represented and indication of how an alliance would benefit my pack.

Furthermore, all the gifts were given in quantities of prime numbers to show importance, and in a set of 7, a number which meant completeness. 7x7=49 which was a number signifying an infinite number of times.

So it could be said that both Haku and Heller were offering to back me with military strength, medical miracles, monetary profit, etc etc. for an unlimited time.

All I had to do was to accept their sons into my harem.

{What's the catch?} Ben asked.

Maybe that I didn't have a harem?

{Nothing much on our end for now.} Wolfgang shrugged, {They are taking a big risk to gain the first mover's advantage, but if their blue rose prophecy plays to their tune, Luna Bell will become the King of the Colored Mountains with the Blue Alpha by his side. By planting Fluffy and Hayao in the Blue Alpha's harem, they would be able to use their political position to carry their family to prominence in the King's Court. Of course, how much their investment pays off would be dependent on Fluffy and Hayao's abilities to remain in the Blue Alpha's favor, gain her trust, and prove their own capabilities and usefulness.}

In other words, if Fluffy and Hayao played their cards right, they were set up to become very influential persons in the future King's court. It was Fluffy VS Hayao in the big sweeps. Who would bring home the most glory/power/benefits for their family?

{These tributes are not simple.} Wolfgang warned, {They are obviously offering to build up the Blue Alpha's forces. With their support, it would be hard to guess if the true leader of the Colored Mountains will be the King who holds the blue rose, or the blue rose herself. Of course they cannot control what the Blue Alpha choses to do, but by putting the resources in her hands, they have created for her an opportunity. The more power the Blue Alpha has versus her Luna King, the more freedom her consorts would have to exercise their authority on her behalf.}

Wait, so this competition was not just Fluffy VS Hayao, but also Bell VS Me?

{Luna Bell hates playing politics. He will never accept it.} Ki said.

{That would probably be why they are gifting the tributes to the Alpha Princess.} Wolfgang pointed out.

{They found the backdoor.} Harvey surmised.

{So what should we do?} Ben asked, {I think Sam's already kinda attached to Fluff, and we need this Hayao guy to clean up the curse in the Alpha's backyard right?}