After deciding on the rewards, Belissar was about to dismiss everyone when he heard Chief Rohsuak’s voice in his head.

    “I apologize for the late report, Tower Keeper, but would you like to hear about my talks with the sigmaka today?”

    Belissar’s eyes widened a bit. He had forgotten about those.

    “Ah, yes. Is...there a reason we’re using the Tower speak?”

    He glanced over at Chief Rohsuak and she moved her eyes in Tarwantrad’s direction.

    “Do you wish to inform our guest about the sigmaka and our dealings with them? I did not wish to speak in front of them until you had made your preference clear.”

    Belissar crossed his arms. That was a good question. Did he want to tell Tarwantrad about the sigmaka? Or rather, he knew he didn’t mind Tarwantrad knowing, but did he want to tell the Circle and the Compact about the sigmaka?

    “I...think it’s fine to let Tarwantrad know. I’m pretty sure she’ll warn us if we shouldn’t let the Compact know? Or is there another reason we should hide it?”

    “It depends on if you prefer to prioritize cooperation or contingencies, Tower Keeper. If we inform our allies about our dealings, we could potentially arrange for broader agreements and avoid any misunderstandings. Likewise, letting them both know we are working with other parties may encourage them to cooperate further. But if we want to prepare for the case where either of them prove untrustworthy, an ally they weren’t aware of could become a powerful asset. Additionally, if they are aware of each other, they could potentially make agreements without our knowledge, though this is less likely in this case since you control the only door the Compact can travel through.”

    Belissar groaned softly. Again, this was all very complicated. Chief Rohsuak’s expression softened.

    “Well, if I had to offer my opinion, I would point out that part of our potential agreement with the sigmaka involves them sending challengers to the Tower. If that happens, there is a chance they might encounter Tarwantrad or another member of the Compact at some point should they visit at the same time. It would be simplest to inform them both of each other before that occurred, otherwise you may need to take measures to prevent such meetings.”

    Belissar hummed again as he thought, until a second humming joined his own. He now noticed Niobee hovering in front of his face.

    “King ok?”

    Belissar glanced around and found all the bees hovering around him. Tarwantrad was looking at him with concern as well. He flushed as he realized him groaning while having a silent conversation with Chief Rohsuak had not gone unnoticed.

    He glanced around at the bees and Tarwantrad and then took a deep breath.

    “So, there’s another tribe of beastkin nearby called the sigmaka. We agreed to leave each other alone at first, but have recently been discussing an alliance.”

    Honestly, he could still barely keep his mind around the complicated situation with the sigmaka and had no idea what the right decision was, or even what his preferred outcome was. But he decided to put that all aside. The God of Bees wanted him to share monster bee queens with Tarwantrad. The God of Flowers had sent Tarwantrad here and the God of Bees had urged him to let her through. If those two gods wanted them to work together, then Belissar would. And...he personally felt that if he could trust anyone outside of his Tower, it was Tarwantrad.

    Tarwantrad smiled as he explained the situation.

    “I see. Thank you for trusting me with this. Please, proceed as you will. Let me know if you want me to consult with the Circle or the Compact on this, I will not inform them until you are ready.”

    Belissar gave her a smile and then gave Chief Rohsuak the go ahead to report today’s talks. The karnuq had a smile of her own on her face.

    “I’m pleased to inform you that the sigmaka have agreed to our conditions. We will fight alongside one another against the Hunger and against the Tower Lords. If either of us are attacked by another party besides those two, we will consult with one another on reasonable assistance. In exchange, our Tower will open its doors to sigmaka challengers and inform them of the preferred methods to prove themselves in the sight of our patron god.”

    Belissar let out a relieved sigh at that. Despite all the complications and negotiations and worries, the talks had worked out in the end. That was one more ally against the Tower Lords when they eventually returned.

    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

    Now he just had to figure out how challenges should work...

    His eyes widened and he spun around to face Tarwantrad. He didn’t have to figure it out himself anymore! He had someone he could ask about this sort of thing now!

    “Hey, Tarwantrad, how do you handle challengers?”

    Tarwantrad blinked at his sudden attention, then began to rub her chin.

    Tarwantrad’s eyes widened and began to tremble.

    “The humans have...ten thousand fully blessed champions?”

    Belissar shook his head.

    “Sehfitis, ah, a human augur we captured who joined us, said the Tower Lord whose son attacked us has ten thousand.”

    Tarwantrad went completely pale.

    “B-Belissar, I need to tell the Circle about this. Nenavann at minimum. This...this is something you and I can’t deal with alone.”

    Belissar and Chief Rohsuak glanced at each other, both of their eyes widening. For Tarwantrad, one of the mystical fair folk, to be this shaken? Chief Rohsuak gave Belissar a grim nod. He turned back towards Tarwantrad with a gulp.

    “Yes, please.”

    “Is that so?”

    Tarwantrad gaped at Nenavann for a moment before scowling. They were currently in a small office within Nenavann’s dungeon, with a large window looking out over the sea.

    “Is that so? Is that so? Nenavann, how can you act so calm?! The human dungeon masters have ten thousand champions! Each!”

    Tarwantrad cut off her shouts, though, as Nenavann lifted a hand.

    “You have the wrong impression, Tarwantrad. You are imagining ten thousand of our champions. Humans are different.”

    Nenavann turned his hand until his palm faced up and then blue lights began to dance above it.

    “We of the fair folk live and breathe magic. It flows through our veins and naturally follows our commands. We are promised great power and immortality from our very birth.”

    He held out his other hand, leaving it empty.

    “It is not so with humans. They are born with short lives and no magic. It takes them years of study and practice to achieve what even a child in the land of the fair does naturally, and by then their time is already ticking. Due to their lack of strength, far more humans will seek the gods’ blessings. An average warrior among our people can match what all but the most exceptional of human champions, while only the most devoted of our people will become champions at all. It is not ten thousand sword saints that come for Belissar.”

    Tarwantrad collapsed into her seat.

    “Oh, thank the gods...”

    Nenavann dropped his hand and grimaced.

    “That is not to say, though, that the situation is not extremely serious.”

    He rose to his feet and turned to face the sea.

    “...we had not expected the humans to have survived the Hunger at all. To hear that they can operate on such a scale...they are far more resilient than we gave them credit for. The threat to Belissar is grave indeed.”

    Tarwantrad held herself.

    “What are we going to do?”

    Nenavann silently stared out the window for a long time.