Grand Game 292: A Daring Proposition (Patreon)

“What bargain did Loken strike with the Marauders?” I asked.

“What makes you think there is one?” the envoy asked, her composure in place once more.

I snorted. “I know Loken. Whatever ploy he has to get control of this sector—and more importantly, Erebus’ dungeons—it will not be his only stratagem. He will have a backup plan, and I’m guessing it’s tied to the Marauders’ strategy for taking over the valley.”

I gestured to her. “By your own admission, that’s why you’re here. That’s why you’ve threatened the wolves. To stop me from ruining Loken’s deal with the Marauders.” I paused. “But if you accept my proposition, there will be no need for such a bargain.”

The envoy cocked her head. “Assuming what you say is true, what are you proposing?”

“Just this: whatever Loken’s bargain with the Marauders, I’m willing to consider the same terms if he gets the Marauders to back down and if he supports my bid to control the valley.”

“Your bid?” The envoy laughed. “You think you can take over the sector?”

“Why not?” I challenged. Raising my left hand, I ticked off points on my fingers. “I’m more truly neutral than the Marauders—who are, after all, a Shadow faction that Dark and Light will be less inclined to trust.”

I raised my second finger. “I already have a relationship with Tartar and his envoy—as Loken well knows.” I did not elaborate on what my exact relationship with Captain Talon was; that wouldn’t do my cause any good.

I lifted another finger. “I’ve also earned Arinna’s favor.” Although, the Light Power might not see it that way. “It gives me an in with Muriel.”

I held up the last finger. “And finally: Loken owes me.”

The envoy stroked her chin. “As… interesting as all that is, it doesn’t overcome the fact that you have no faction.”

“I’m working on it,” I replied.

“So, you have the one thousand soldiers sworn to your cause and ready to claim the safe zone?” she asked skeptically.

“I will,” I said.

“Where will you get them from?” the envoy asked, intrigued.

“I have a plan for that,” I lied, “but I won’t reveal it.”

“I see,” the envoy said. “And how precisely do you expect me to get the Marauders to—how did you put it?—back down?”

“Kalin already thinks Loken ordered the attacks against his people. I want you to maintain that deception and stop the Marauders from re-establishing themselves in the sector.”

“Keeping away the Marauders indefinitely is too big an ask,” the envoy replied automatically. Despite this, she seemed to be considering my words. “I can give you one month.”

I shook my head. “That’s not enough time. I still need to form a faction and contact Tartar and Muriel. Six months.”

“Three.”

“Four. And not a day less.” I paused. “I will not enter into a Pact either. Loken must trust in my word or accept the consequence of my ongoing vendetta with the Marauders.”

The envoy studied me for a second longer. “What of our bargain with the Marauders? Will you honor it?”

“You will have to tell me the terms first,” I pointed out. “I will not commit blindly.”

The envoy bowed her head, thinking. “The Marauders pledged access to the dungeon for ten days every month.”

“I can promise one week out of four,” I replied quickly, and before she could say anything else, added, “What you’re asking requires me to do more than take control of the sector. You also need the Awakened Dead pushed back from the dungeon. Right?”

She nodded. “How would you do it?” she asked curiously. “You don’t have the strength to take on Erebus and Ishita.”

“Neither do the Marauders,” I said, which was pure guesswork on my part. “But Tartar does.”

“You will use the legion to do your dirty work?”

“Why not? Captain Talon has his own bone to pick with the Awakened Dead. He will be glad to do it.” I was making more than a few sweeping promises that I wasn’t sure I could honor, but I couldn’t afford to appear uncertain before the envoy. “But,” I conceded, “I will have to provide him something in return.”

“Like time in the dungeon?”

I nodded.

“And you trust Captain Talon to relinquish control of the dungeon after he clears out the Awakened Dead for you?”

“He is the honorable sort. He will not betray his word.” Assuming he ever entertained the notion of another bargain with me.

The envoy studied me quizzically. “You realize you’re constructing a house of cards. If it comes tumbling down, it will be you who is left with contracts you cannot fulfill. Whatever deal you strike with Muriel and Tartar, neither will accept excuses if you are not able to live up to your end.” She paused. “Nor will Loken.”

“You let me worry about that,” I said blandly. Seeing that the envoy’s mood had mellowed somewhat, I risked a question. “Out of interest, how did the Marauders intend on securing Tartar and Muriel’s corporation?”

“Muriel was no problem. The Marauders have dealt successfully with her in the past.” She sighed. “Tartar was always the weak link in their plans. The Bull considers it beneath himself to deal with the Marauders’ likes.”

My eyes narrowed. “So, the Marauders bid for the sector was a non-starter?”

“A long shot, perhaps,” she allowed.

“Then… you lose nothing in making this deal.”

The envoy chuckled. “I wouldn’t say that. There will be a lot of angry Powers in the Shadow Coalition after this.” She eyed me speculatively. “But Loken knows how to deal with them, and strange as it seems, your chances of negotiating a truce in the sector are better than Kalin’s. Perhaps, you will succeed where he could not. Tartar is the biggest hurdle to overcome, and for some reason, the Bull seems to like you.”

I pasted a smile on my face. “That’s me. Likable as hell.”

That surprised a snort out of her. “Very well. We have a deal. I will keep the Marauders at bay, and in return, you will take ownership of this sector in four months. By then, I expect you to be ready to grant our people access to the dungeon once every four weeks.”

Loken has allocated you a new task: Brokering Peace! The Power’s envoy has tasked you with establishing peace in the wolves’ valley within 4 months. Objective 1: Negotiate a truce between Muriel, Tartar, and Loken in sector 12,560. Objective 2: Take ownership of the sector. Objective 3: Control access to the sector’s dungeon. Note, this task is time sensitive and will be failed if you do not complete it in the allotted time.

I raised an eyebrow. “You don’t need to take the matter back to your master?”

“I am his envoy,” she replied, a hint of scorn in her voice. “Loken trusts me to run this sector as I see fit.”

I nodded thoughtfully. So, was the ruse with the Marauders hers? Was that why she’d been so upset by my interference?

“But if you play me false,” the envoy continued, “you can rest assured no amount of bandying Loken’s name around will save you. I will end you and your allies. Do we understand each other?”

I nodded grimly. “Perfectly.”

“Good,” she said, “then I look forward to hearing from you in four months.”

“Wait!” I said before she could turn around.

“Now what?” she asked, sounding exasperated.

“The compulsion on the dire wolves, when will it end?”

“I’ve unraveled the spell already,” she said. “Their will is their own again.” Not waiting for my reply, the envoy contracted the shadows around her and vanished from sight.

✵ ✵ ✵

Only after I was certain the envoy was gone—I hadn’t even learned her name—did I let any hint of my true feelings show.

Striking a deal with Loken’s lackey had left me feeling unclean. After the manner in which she’d toyed with the pack’s minds, the wolf in me cried for vengeance. I’d wanted to rend her flesh, but not only would that have been shortsighted, I doubted I would have been able to pull it off.

In raw power, the envoy was as far above me as I was over the twins.

The unfortunate truth was that to protect the pack, I had to forgive the envoy’s misdeeds against them. But I would not forget, and someday there would be a reckoning.

Sighing, I turned around and hiked across the plateau toward the pile of rocks sheltering the pack. A Game notice buzzed for attention, and suspecting what it was, I let it unfurl in my mind.

Congratulations, Michael! You have completed the task: Tavern Trouble! Through force of arms and wiles of mind, you have dealt with the trouble plaguing the tavern. Wolf is pleased, and your Mark has deepened. But be careful, scion, the path you tread is a tricky one. Lies and manipulation will only take you so far.

I snorted morosely.

Even the Adjudicator seemed leery of my plans. There was no disguising it: I played a dangerous game. Partly, I did so to shield the dire wolves and partly to protect the tavern, but a large part also stemmed from a desire to gather power.

Without power, there would be no raising House Wolf, and without House Wolf, there would be no protecting those who depended on me beyond my own death.

If I wanted to leave a lasting legacy in the Kingdom, I had to grasp the opportunities before me. The prospect of controlling a sector as rich as the valley was too enticing to ignore.

Yes, events were moving faster than I anticipated, and yes, I was not as ready as I liked, but if I let this chance pass by, another might not come for years. Not to mention, it would mean abandoning my allies to those who would prey on them.

To shield the dire wolves and to protect the tavern, I had committed myself to chartering a delicate course between three juggernauts of the Game—Loken, Tartar, and Muriel. Not only would I have to forge a lasting peace in the sector between the trio, I would also have to force the Awakened Dead out of the dungeon they were entrenched in, and I would have to do it in four short months.

All in a day’s work. Right, Michael?

I laughed in gentle mockery of my own ambitions. One day, I was going to get myself in a bind I couldn’t escape, but until that day, I would continue to play the Game boldly and fearlessly.

Raising my head, I saw a small party of wolves approaching. It was Duggar, Sulan, Aira, and Leta. My spirits rose at the sight of the four, and waving, I hurried forward to greet them.