Chapter 305: Tense Negotiations

“Well that’s not fucking happening.”

The assembled high priests all turned their heads to regard Jadis’ three selves with a mixture of expressions on their faces. Oswin in particular was giving her a look of censure, like a disapproving father, while Sholto was grinning widely like he’d just heard a fantastic joke. Jadis didn’t have time to examine the others in the room as the conversation quickly resumed from her strongly worded interruption.

“Do not interrupt,” Vraekae spoke with the authority of a god in her own domain. “This is a formal meeting and participants will adhere to standard practices. Do not speak until you have been called upon.”

Jadis’ teeth ground in three sets of mouths. All good will she’d been feeling towards the magistrate had just flown right out of the window. It was suddenly very clear to her that Vraekae had truly intended this “meeting” as a trap, or else she would have at least told her the rules of this apparently formal occasion.

Jadis had already considered that the priests might want to put some limitations on her. It had been a major topic of discussion during their prep the night before. Still, hearing Oswin just out and out say he wanted throw her in some kind of cell for her own good was pissing her off to no end. There was no chance on Oros she was going to just sit there and watch them discuss her fate without speaking her mind.

Without knowing what else to do, all three of Jadis’ hands rose into the air.

Vraekae stared at her blankly, as did the priests around the table.

“What are you doing?” Lonan asked after a moment, blinking in confusion.

“I’m raising my hand to let the magistrate know I would like to be called on,” all three of Jadis said in a fair imitation of the frozen anger that Vraekae herself could exude. “Since no one has actually told me what a formal meeting is, I’m going by the rules I know.”

There were a few looks exchanged around the table. In particular, Jadis noted that Aurea was looking at her with worried sympathy while Egilhard had a slight smirk to his expression. Gods, Jadis wanted to punch him in his insufferable face. Followed shortly after by Vraekae.

“This is a discussion,” Oswin finally said, taking the reigns back. “A formal one, to be sure, but perhaps in light of the cultural differences of those present, we should relax those formalities that are typically adhered to. With your permission, magistrate, I would motion that the table be opened to all.”

“I second the motion,” Sholto quickly added, his wide grin still on his green face.

“The motion is accepted,” Vraekae once again rapped her knuckles on the table. “The current topic is open to the table at large.”

“Good,” Jadis said once more in perfect unity. “Like I was saying. No fucking way.”

“The profanity isn’t necessary to make your point,” Vita tutted, her expression clearly amused. “Even a blind mouse could see that you are upset at the proposal.”

“Let her curse if she wants to,” Steingrimur waved a hand dismissively. “We’re not a bunch of fucking priestly prudes.”

Oswin clearly had a thought that was at odds with Steingrimur’s statement, but after a moment of hesitation he must have decided that discretion was the better part of valor. With a short sigh, he turned his gaze back on Jay, choosing her as a focal point rather than switching his attention between the three of Jadis’ bodies.

“My petition is intended for your safety, Jadis. Far Felsen is a city located in a border territory that is under direct attack by the current demonic invasion. Your own village, the last of its kind so far as even you are aware, was destroyed by demons. You are the last of a race that has been thought to be extinct for two thousand years. It would be only prudent to move you to a safer area where you can be properly protected. I by no means intend to curtail your freedoms, simply assure your well-being.”

“It sure feels like you’re infringing on my freedoms when you make a petition to have me moved rather than just asking me.”

Oswin nodded, not disturbed by Jay’s accusatory tone. He folded one hand over the other’s fist, his expression one of understanding.

“I can see how you would feel that way. However, that is the purpose of this meeting. If it were our intent to simply make a decision concerning you without thought for your own will, we could have had this meeting back in the capital. In fact, it would have been far easier on us to do so rather than chartering a ship to travel all the way to this colony. This is a formal decision that is meant to set precedent in both how we interact with you, as well as any other situations similar to your own that may occur in the future. As such, we must treat the decision made here with the formality it deserves, rather than a simple ‘back-alley handshake’ as it were. With all of that said, your opinion on this matter is important, which is why several of us insisted on coming to Felsen to meet with you.”

While Jadis digested that explanation, one thought came to Jadis’ mind. Did Oswin and the other priests really think precedent was necessary? As in, did they think other extinct avatar races might show up? The idea made her want to impulsively explain to the priests that her existence was literally a god meddling in the affairs of the mortal world and that the chances of something like her happening again were pretty much nil. But then again, when she thought about it, there wasn’t anything about her situation that meant actual pockets of Merrows and Dwarves might not show up someday. It was interesting to think that the priests were making plans that far ahead.

Jadis’ thoughts were interrupted as the other priests continued to speak.

“It would not have to be a permanent move,” Aurea spoke up in a concerned voice. “If love of your homeland is what spurs your objection to the petition. It would only be until the Demon Lord has been slain by the Hero and the demonic invasion has ended.”

“Your safety is our prime motivation,” Myron added in his slightly echoing voice. “There is room for negotiation.”

Prime motivation. Not sole. Prime. Jadis wasn’t so dense that she missed that particular distinction.

Still, she was beginning to see where the battlelines were being drawn. Oswin, Aurea, and Myron were clearly in favor of locking her up in a gilded cage for her own protection. Maybe their intentions were good, but there wasn’t a chance in D’s nonexistent asshole that she was going to accept any deal that involved her being shoved into a backroom somewhere in the capital like some kind of fragile little princess. She was a lover, yes, but she was also a fucking fighter. She wanted to be on the front line.

“I’m not interested in taking a backseat in the fight against the demons,” Jadis replied through Jay’s voice alone. “I want to be on the battlefield. I’m good at it. It’s what I do best.”

At her words, Jadis saw that Steingrimur was leaning forward, approval gleaming in his eyes. Next to him, however, Doru looked unhappy with the sentiment. Strangely, Jadis saw that Egilhard was also looking pleased with her statement, though why the general should be made happy by her words Jadis had no clue.

“Being good at fighting isn’t a strong enough reason to keep you in harm’s way,” Doru intoned in his deep voice. “You are the last of your race. You have a responsibility to ensure your own safety until such a time as your bloodline is secured.”

There it was. The baby making.

Jadis had planned on going to the capital specifically for the purpose of visiting a priestess that would allow her to impregnate Eir, as well as maybe a few of her other bonded lovers who might be interested. She didn’t need the priestess to ensure the conception was successful; she had her own skill for that. Jadis wanted to keep adventuring and the priestess had a spell that would make it so that Eir’s pregnancy would be paused indefinitely until they as a group were ready to settle down and make a home. Impregnating her lovers now was intended as a kind of insurance, just in case the worst should happen.

Her already intended plans would probably go a long way to satisfying the concerns the high priests had. However, Jadis considered the plans she had with her lovers to be private. It wasn’t anyone else’s business what she and her lovers did in their bedroom. She didn’t want these prying assholes sticking their noses in what was an intimate decision made between her and those she loved. The thought of explaining everything to them made Jadis’ fists clench at the indignity.

“First of all, whether or not I have children isn’t your god damn business,” Dys snapped at Doru, causing the man to defensively fold his arms across his chest. “So don’t even start with that ‘responsibility’ shit.”

“Second, I’m not just good at fighting,” Jay said in a calmer tone. “I’m great at it. I unlocked my first class this year

. Six months ago, in fact. In that time I have already reached CLR fifty-eight. I’ve also killed three demon matriarchs, three greater demons, and I don’t even know how many magic beasts that were possessed. But you can count a possessed mage that was over CLR eighty in that number.”

“Saved a dragon from being possessed, too,” Syd added almost as an afterthought. “A really big one that could have probably destroyed Far Felsen if that greater demon trying to possess it had succeeded. So, you know, you’re welcome.”

There was a general silence in the room as the priests processed the information Jadis had just unceremoniously flung at them. The first one to recover and speak was the Golem, Myron.

“Do you have evidence to support your claims regarding the destruction of the greater and matriarchal demons, as well as the saving of the dragon?”

“I can attest as witness to almost everything that Jadis has claimed is true,” Eir spoke up for the first time since introductions were made. “I wasn’t present for the first demon matriarch she slayed, but I was for all of the others.”

“I can also stand witness,” Tegwyn put a hand on his chest, “to the fact that Jadis has slain multiple extremely dangerous demons and did save Vetregin the ice dragon from being subsumed by a greater demon. She did all of this, by the by, while saving my family’s grove from being invaded by an army of demons.”

“The public record also confirms this,” Vraekae stated calmy as she laced her fingers in front of her. “I have the full testimonies of captain Willa and all of her surviving subordinates that accompanied Jadis on her expedition. They can confirm much of what Jadis just stated as fact.”

“Oh, this sounds like a good story,” Sholto cackled as he leaned forward towards Jadis. “And a story told by the hero of it themselves! Do regale us, do indeed! I would pay a pretty coin to hear this tale from your lips!”

“The others are at a disadvantage,” Vita purred. “I know some of the story from our talk last night, but the story should be retold in its completion for all to hear.”

“Is it truly relevant?” Oswin asked, not angrily but with the tone of a debater. “Jadis’ recent deeds, no matter how valorous, do not change the fact that her safety is a priority considering the circumstances of her race.”

“I would argue that her capabilities should be taken into account,” Lonan spoke up, turning in his seat to face Oswin. “Your petition claims that she needs to be moved for her safety, but if the woman is more than capable of defending herself against even the most dangerous of threats in the area, what is there to fear?”

“Let’s hear it,” Steingrimur slapped his hand down onto the table for emphasis. “Battles shouldn’t be fought blindly. I want all the information.”

So Jadis told the story of her expedition, starting from when she left Far Felsen and all the way to her return. She didn’t go into any private details of classes and skills, either her own or those of her companions, though she did tell them about the levels that they had gained. Jadis made no attempt to hide the various close calls that she had, especially since she knew that Vraekae had Willa’s report which likely would not spare any inconvenient details, but instead chose to spin those near-death experiences as proof of just how much punishment she could take and overcome. It wasn’t everyone who could take magic daggers to the chest and walk away.

There were few interruptions from the priests as Jadis recounted her story. A few questions were asked here and there for clarification, but overall they mostly stayed silent. As she spoke, Jadis made note of her audience’s reactions. Some were hard to read, particularly Myron and Rhyswynn. The elf because she had a stolid deadpan to rival Vraekae’s and Myron because he had no facial expressions at all. None that Jadis could see at any rate. However, Sholto was an active listener. He laughed, gasped, and even cried out in alarm at various parts of the story. By the end of it, he actually gave her a standing ovation.

“Excellent! Most excellent!” Sholto proclaimed as he enthusiastically clapped his hands. “The delivery needs work or else you’ll never make it as a bard, but the story was thrilling!”

“She’s not a damn bard, you twit,” Steingrimur snarled at the excited goblin.

“Order, please,” Vraekae commanded as she once again knocked her knuckles against the table. Once Sholto had plopped back down in his seat, she motioned with one hand towards Jadis. “Thank you for your testimony. While my office has not yet received the demonic cores for confirmation, I can again attest to the fact that Jadis’ story is corroborated by the witness statements of my own guard that were present at the time of these events. Are we all in agreement that Jadis’ testimony can be taken for factual truth?”

“Agreed,” all of the priests said at the same time. Even Egilhard and Gerhardt spoke their agreement.

“Then, considering we are in agreement that Jadis is more than capable of not only defending herself against even some of the most powerful of demonic combatants in Weigrun, but has in fact defeated many of them, by what argument do you make your petition that Jadis be removed from this territory and transferred to the capital in Eldingholt?”

Jadis stared at Vraekae with open confusion. Hadn’t Vraekae just tried to shut her down at the start of the meeting? And now here she was making an argument that seemed pretty clearly against Oswin’s attempt to have her sequestered somewhere safely under imperial control? Jadis frowned. Vraekae hadn’t been so antagonist towards her just for the fact that Jadis hadn’t followed protocol, had she?

Fuck. That was probably exactly

the reason why.

Damn bureaucrat…

“While I do not disregard Jadis’ exceptional abilities,” Oswin replied to the magistrate’s question, “my argument is based on the fact that battle is unpredictable. Even the most powerful of warriors can be felled by unexpected circumstances. I am no combatant myself, but I think my colleagues who are more warlike than I can agree on that sentiment.”

Steingrimur, Doru, Loman, and Rhyswynn all nodded their heads.

“For the sake of the safety of the last Nephilim known to exist, I would contend that she should be moved to a territory that is safer than a war-torn border colony that is weeks away from any substantive aid should it be needed. The presence of so many demon matriarchs in the area alone should support my argument.”

“My apologies for disagreeing with your eminence,” Egilhard butted into the discussion at that point. “I do need to add clarity to your assumption. As of this date, we have no intelligence to support that there are any demon matriarchs still alive in Weigrun.”

Jadis had to stop herself from gaping at the general. Had he just joined in on the argument on her side?

She shook her head internally. Clearly this was some kind of ploy. General Egilhard had been ham-fistedly trying to entice her to join the military under his command since they’d first met. When she formed a mercenary company, he’d started working on trying to disband it in order to try and hem in her options. Now, seeing that she was pissed at the prospect of being spirited away by the priests, he was taking her side to seem like an ally. Jadis was sure that once the meeting was over, the general would have quite a lot to say about how on her side he was and how if she worked for him, he could leverage his influence to keep her in Weigrun.

As though she were so easily manipulated.

Still, disregarding the obvious attempt to curry favor with her, Jadis was intensely interested by the general’s statement. As were the priests, it seemed.

“No demon matriarchs?” Oswin repeated, one eyebrow raised high. “None at all?”

“Correct,” Egilhard inclined his head. “Taking into account the Twisted Wretch, Bramble Fiend, and Nithetre matriarchs that have been reported slain in the past month, the only other matriarch that was confirmed to still be in the territory was a Grundwyrm matriarch located somewhere in the northwest section of the mountains. However, as of nine days ago, the fifth division of my forces tracked the matriarch down and killed it about thirty miles from Fort Roundtop. With the grundwyrm matriarch’s death confirmed, we have no evidence to support that there are any matriarch demons left in Weigrun.”

There were sighs of relief and murmurs of excitement and praise around the table. Jadis herself couldn’t believe it. There really weren’t any demon matriarchs left? Sure, that didn’t mean Weigrun was totally safe or anything. There were still demons wandering the forests and hills, and who knew how many greater demons might still be out there. But, thinking about it, Jadis and her companions had encountered relatively few demons on their way back to the city from the grove. If there were no more demon mothers out there to produce demon hatchlings, that meant the demons left weren’t going to be getting any more reinforcements. With every skirmish fought, their numbers would dwindle until the demons would be gone from Weigrun. Which, while great for the locals, wasn’t so great for Jadis and her mercenary company. A lack of hostile demons to fight would drastically diminish their income, never mind what it would mean for their leveling pace…

Definitely a situation Jadis needed to think about.

“Do you have any further arguments to support your petition to have Jadis removed to protective custody in the capital?” Vraekae asked Oswin, her head tilted to one side.

“In light of the information provided by Jadis’ testimony and the report given by general Egilhard,” Oswin leaned back, a contemplative expression on his face, “none at this time.”

“Are there any further arguments from the table?” Vraekae addressed the meeting at large.

When no further discussion was forthcoming from the gathered priests, Vraekae nodded her head once and knocked on the table three times.

“Then as the duly appointed magistrate of the territory of Weigrun, I hereby deny the petition to have Jadis Ahlstrom removed to the capital. Until such a time as a higher authority overrules my decision, Jadis will remain a lawful citizen of this territory. Further, as the head of a mercenary company in good standing with the empire, I see no reason to curtail her or her company’s freedoms or duties. I place no restrictions on the activities of Fortune’s Favored.”

Jadis let out a huff of breath. That was it? Oswin had tried to have her taken away, Vraekae had denied the motion, end of story? She honestly wasn’t sure how to feel. She had thought that there would be a lot more arguments, maybe counter petitions or lawsuits or however things like that worked in the empire. Instead, Oswin didn’t even look all that unhappy with the outcome. Shouldn’t he be upset that his plan had failed?

All in all, it felt too easy. Jadis wanted to be happy, but instead she felt like she was waiting for another shoe to drop.

And, of course, when that second shoe did drop, it was a big one.

“Moving on to the next item on our docket,” Vraekae continued with a nod towards Sholto. “I cede the second matter to High Priest Sholto. As you please.”

“Thank you,” the goblin said with a sharp-toothed grin. “I petition that the elf known as Eir Aedraheill be immediately removed from Far Felsen and the territory of Weigrun and taken to the capital city Eldingholt.”

“What!? Why?” Jadis yelped in surprise.

“Because she is an Oracle, of course,” Sholto said in a patronizing voice. “That’s almost as rare as you are! Can’t be letting you hog her all to yourself now, can we?”

Jadis clenched her fists. She had a new target to punch.

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