Chapter 133 – Table Manners

  “These organizations need to be treated like any other business entity. There should be taxes, auditors, government oversight and everything else you would see of a bank or oil company. Just because they deal with those people doesn’t mean they are exempt from the rule of law.” – Argument in the house of commons, England.

  “If you think one more divine being rising to power is something, then I have some news for you.” Jay smirked. He was about to say something when the waiter returned, dropping off their first courses.

  Alexi stared at Jay for several seconds, ignoring his soup until the waiter left. “Would I be right to assume that you are wrapped up in this business with godlings, and templars?”

  “Don’t forget about the Strand.” Kurt muttered while stirring his soup.

  “Strand!” Alexi nearly shouted while Ronni reached over and hit the red button on the device hard enough to make it bounce off the table. “When did more Strand show up?” He hissed after the blinking red light turned solid.

  “Not long ago. They popped up in a rift that we suppressed.” Jay tasted his soup before continuing. “We think it’s tied to the rise in rifts that have been coming our way. Everyone’s way, actually.”

  Ronni’s eyes flicked to Kurt and he just shrugged. He wasn’t sure about any other organizations or even other order teams for that matter.

  Once more, Alexi sighed and a frown crossed his face, seeming to suddenly age him by several decades. “Perhaps it would be best if you started from the beginning.”

  *****

  Over an hour, and several courses of dinner, later, Jay had caught Alexi and Ronni up on everything that had happened in the recent months. Kurt could tell when things clicked into place for Alexi as a flash of recognition would cross his features for the briefest of moments. Finally, after Jay had told the tale, and they had time to digest before the after dinner drinks, Alexi spoke.

  “It would seem I was playing a crossword with only half the prompts.” The old templar said. His voice held a bit of irritation as he spoke. “I will not lie and say that we are completely unaware of the Order’s activities, but this sheds new light on what our ‘sources’ told us.”

  “What sources would those be?” Kurt asked.

  “Your friends at the enchanters guild came to us not long ago. They wanted to use our position to pressure the Order. To what end, I am unsure.” Alexi paused. “I could make some guesses, however.”

  Jay gestured for him to continue so he did. “Now this is all speculation, but I think they are trying to burn your bridges and salt your lands before you even get there. They want to create animosity toward you in all your potential allies. If I were a betting man, I would say they plan to isolate and overwhelm the Order economically before pursuing military action.”

  “Their offers were quite tempting.” Ronni added between sips of his beer. “And, them being the only name in the game of enchanting really sells it. If you want their goods, you do as they say.”

  “And that’s before the not-so-vague threats about our trade and supply lines.” Alexi grumbled.

  Leaning in, Jay propped his chin on his fist. “You are still running shipping lanes?”

  “You know darn well that we are.” Alexi laughed

  Jay just smiled. “Just confirming. Oh, Kurt, would you by chance have any of the first-generation rings on you?”

  Kurt knew that Jay was talking about the first generation of storage rings he had made. All of them had been swapped for the upgraded generation 2’s that didn’t have the aperture size limit. All except for Jays, though he did drop bars of gold and silver on Kurt as payment for a new one.

  “Yeah, I got… well nine of them.” Kurt said, accounting for the all but his bosses original.

  “Alexi, what if I could solve not only your smugg- erm- shipping issues but also your enchantment problems?” Jay asked.

  Kurt wanted to kick him. How could he commit him to churning out enchanted items? How big were the templars? Was he going to have to supply thousands of people with enchanted goods? He really didn’t like the sound of being cooped up in his workshop all day every day.

  “Don’t panic.” Jay said to him. “I won’t make you do it all yourself.”

  “Do what?” Alexi asked, confused but curious.

  Slapping his hand on Kurt’s shoulder again, Jay grinned. “Kurt here is an enchanter. One who has made a lot of strides in the industry and might have something to help ease your worries.” He nodded to Kurt then.

  Holding his hand up above the table, Kust summoned a small box into it, making Alexi frown and Ronni flinch. He then opened the box to show nine rings.

  “How did you do that?” Alexi asked, staring intently at Kurt’s hand. “I saw the surge of magic but after that…”

  “Storage ring.” Kurt said. He put the box down on the table the summoned a large bottle of water, an MRE and a coat. He set each item on the table so they could touch them, verifying they were real.

  “I’ll be...” Alexi muttered in amazement.

  Ronni was much less awed by the sight. “And how much are you going to charge for such a resource?” He didn’t sound accusatory but there was a certain caution in his voice. Kurt wondered if he had been burned by a bad deal in the past.

  “For these?” Kurt wasn’t sure what to ask in return for them. Luckily for him, he had a master negotiator with him.

  “Access and alliance.” Jay said, picking up the slack.

  “Access to what and an alliance to what ends?” Alexi immediately asked for details.

  Jay summoned two familiar pamphlets. “Perhaps you should read these.” He handed one to each of the men. Kurt watched both of them read the trifold document. Unlike with Renee, where he saw a repulsed expression turn friendly, it was the opposite for the Templars.

  Alexi finished his pamphlet and stabbed a finger into the red button on his remote again. “Jay, what the actual fuck is going on?” The sudden curse and harsh tone surprised Kurt. It was very unlike what he had come to expect of the man.

  “We have been duped, old friend. Force fed a ‘truth’ born from lack of context.” Jay was oddly serious in his tone. “There is something going on with a cult and pretender templars recruiting lesser angels and trying to get at my people. The scion of the first werewolf sits before you, recognized by Odin himself. His mate’s patron is Inari and his second mate has barely scratched her dragon and angel heritage.”

  Fists clenched, Alexi sat in silence as Jay continued. “The enchanters guild is enslaving people, hording and controlling the market on enchanted items for some reason. They created a ‘join-or-die’ organization with the express purpose to limit access to enchanted items. And to top it off, the Strand, whose weaknesses are few and far between, have returned to our realm and likely others too.”

  “If any of us stand alone, we will fall alone.” Alexi sighed. He looked at the table and drummed his fingers a few times before looking up again. “You have a deal.”

  “Just like that?” Jay asked with a raised eyebrow.

  “I have long ago learned that you tend to drag me into a mess only to be the one who pulls me back out in the end. Last time we did anything together was… Vienna, in 1683, if I remember correctly. While it was you who talked me into the standing with the defense, it was also you who brought the hussars to break the siege.”

  Jay smirked. “I do have a track record I suppose.” He looked to Kurt. “While you went galivanting off into the sunset after dealing with the guild, I had Ra go around on another mission. All those enchanters you helped free? Yeah, most of them work for us now, in much better conditions with actual pay and no limits or contracts.”

  Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  “Really?” Kurt couldn’t help but blurt in astonishment. He would have figured they would want nothing to do with enchanting after what happened. He wouldn’t have blamed them for it either.

  “Really-really. All the ones that signed on are very well compensated and we are providing sanctuary to not only them but their families as well.” Jay answered. “Some of them would just prefer relocation, however. So that is where the Templars come in.”

  “Ahh, I can see now.” Ronni said, as his smile returned. “It is for them that we would provide transportation and sanctuary in return for their work?”

  “Right on the money.” Jay made finger guns with him.

  Kurt then passed the box of rings to Alexi and explained how they worked and some of the finer details of their limits. The old archmage was suitably impressed by their capability and looked to be on the verge of asking about the generation 2 rings that Kurt was now making.

  After Kurt finished, Jay once again stepped in. “Now, the young master here needs his access.”

  “Name it.” Alexi said as he tested one of the rings.

  “I want him to have access to your library, your resources, your ‘trade’ network and your information network.”

  Ronni raised his eyebrows as the list was rattled off. “That is a lot to ask for an outsider, regardless of his relationship to us.”

  “Ninety million.” Jay said, pointing at the box of rings. “That box of rings has a value of ninety million USD.”

  “You sold one of these for ten million dollars?” Alexi asked, his face losing a little color as he quickly put down the ring he had been examining.

  “And that was the first generation one.” Kurt answered solemnly, playing along with his boss. “My second-generation ones are superior with faster summoning time, larger internal space and no aperture limit that I have found. How about a slight compromise?”

  “Oh? What would that be?”

  “How about you appoint an intermediary, and I will work through them. All in good faith, of course.”

  Alexi thought for a few moments before responding. Kurt was beginning to learn that the man was cautious, despite his power. “I think that is reasonable as long as we have the same access to you.”

  “Access to me?”

  “Indeed. Young man, despite your considerable accomplishments, you are still very… well, young.” Alexi said with a shrug. “Call me what you will but I recognize potential when I see it.” His eyes flicked to Ronni.

  Kurt was at a loss. “What could I possibly provide for you?”

  “Isn’t it obvious?” Alexi tapped the ring box on the table. “While I am sure those other enchanters we will house are fine craftsmen, you have a certain ‘quality’ that they don’t. If we are to be fighting the enchanter’s guild and later the Strand, I dare say a little divine intervention would go a long way to help.”

  “That is part of why I asked for access to your library.” Jay said. “I want Kurt to borrow a certain book.”

  “Is it the book that I am supposed to tell you doesn’t exist and if it did we certainly don’t have it?” Alexi asked with a wry smile.

  “Master!” Ronni gasped, the look on his face being of shock and horror.

  “Relax little knight, I am the one who picked it up while in the fey realm. We aren’t exactly spilling any secrets here.” Jay waved his hand dismissively. “Yes, Alexi, that book.”

  Kurt raised his hand, index finger pointing up. “Point of order. What book?”

  “Well, I think it’s more of a tome, really.” Alexi had a whimsical look on his face.

  Jay’s smirk returned. “He would probably consider it more of a grimoire of a divine persuasion.”

  “You know, We had one of our arcanists try to use some of the information once. Given he went insane we have actually categorized it as a Necronomicon.” Alexi took pity on Kurt and ended the byplay early. “Either way, regardless of what it is called, he would likely meet the qualifications for it.”

  “What qualifications? What book?” Kurt repeated and tried not to shout but it was becoming very difficult to control his annoyance.

  “Remember when I told you about my little vacation in the fey realm?” Jay asked and continued when Kurt nodded. “Well, while I was wandering around looking for information, I found a lot of references to things. After I met Regina, I had ample opportunity to loot the places we destroyed. I found a great many things, this book being one of them.

  “The book doesn’t have a name. In fact, I only saw it referenced as the Book of Paths. It is, in short, a way for mortals to use the divine power they have acquired outside of their normal limits of authority.” Jay was oddly serious while explaining the book. “Alexi is the only other person I know of who had enough personal divinity to make use of it, so I left it with him.”

  “And we have safeguarded it ever since. Even when our order fell because of greed over this very book, we safeguarded it.” Alexi finished. “Though I haven’t used it personally, since my own aspect didn’t quite fit.”

  “How did that happen, anyway?” Kurt asked about something that Jay had hinted at earlier in the night. “How did you start building divinity of your own?”

  Alexi sat back in his chair, his eyes flicking briefly to Jay. “It was a long time ago. Back when gods and their agents were more active in our realm, for better or worse. I will sum things up by saying that it was misplaced faith. An Archmage is a very powerful being, those who are unaware might even call that power godlike or… holy. If you save enough people and they have enough hope and faith in your ability… well, sometimes you don’t get to consent to your elevation.”

  “Surprised they didn’t make you a saint.” Kurt muttered.

  “Gotta ‘die’ before they admit it. Not that you need their honorific title anyway when you have the real one.” Jay snorted. “But I don’t think the church would be willing to reinstate you.” Kurt caught his strange choice of words but couldn’t figure out what I meant before Alexi answered him.

  “Indeed, I don’t think they would, even if they remembered me.” Alexi’s smile returned. “But I have found another calling, doing the lords work outside of his formal organizations.”

  Kurt wanted to ask what he meant but a pointed look from his boss told him to drop it. Instead, he asked about the logistics and details of their agreement. He trusted Jay had his best interests in mind but also wanted to put in his two-cents while he had the chance.

  In the end, all the future work that Alexi would ask for would be for a very limited number of people. Apparently, it would be for the scribes and knights of the Templars plus a group of people known as ‘lancers’. When he asked about them, Jay likened them to shock troops that were organized into smaller groups than the knights and scribes usually operated in.

  The scribes were also a misnomer, they were not clerks, nor even related to any sort of general office work at all. The Templars had formed into units based around two person teams, a knight and a scribe. Where the knight was generally a fighter with little if any magical ability, the scribe was typically the opposite. They were highly skilled in magic and almost exclusively were there to support the knights, though there were no slouch in a fight either. Jay had said that the tactic was rather impressive, even to his standards, which meant that these people knew what they were doing.

  Kurt learned that, while the knights had evolved into using guns, many remained very skilled with the more classical weapons like the sword, halberd and pole axe. That really got him thinking about another problem he had. While he could find any number of people to teach soldiering and tactics, he was very limited in melee weapon instructors. In truth, he had only been able to find some people that practiced HEMA and wasn’t sure about them.

  He ended up working out a deal that whenever they brought this book over, he would like them to provide some trainers to teach the teams in their weaponry. Well, the sword and pole arm versions of their switchblades, he had found a couple people who were unfortunately experienced in knife fighting already.

  “So, we have reached an agreement.” Jay summed up at the end of the conversation.

  Alexi nodded and stood up. “Indeed, for all that we can predict what will happen, at least the ball has been set to roll.” He then turned to Kurt. “It has been a pleasure, Kurt. I am sure we will be talking again very soon. Don’t be to alarmed if a few of our real members show up in your city.”

  “Will you be sending some to my other teams as well?” Jay asked.

  “I am planning on it.” Alexi nodded.

  “Great, I will let them know to keep an eye out and not engage them. Perhaps it would be better to schedule meetings?”

  “I can make arrangements if you can grant us access to the Order pocket realm. Then we can set up a little meet and greet with your people.” Alexi said while giving Jay a quick hug.

  Kurt shook hands with the older templar and Ronni. He was sure that he would be seeing both of them again and was ready to move on to his next projects. A moment later, Jay opened a portal and they walked through, reemerging in his office once again.

  The demon visibly sagged after stepping though the portal. “Oof, that took a lot out of me.” He murmured.

  “I thought it wasn’t a problem for you to open portals.” Kurt said, wondering why this one had been so hard on him.

  “It’s not too bad going out but the wards on this place make it very hard to get in from certain locations.” He answered, standing straight once again. “It is by design but still annoying. If it weren’t for me having installed an anchor in my office, I wouldn’t be able to do it at all.”

  “Huh, I was wondering what your range was.” Kurt scratched at his chin in thought. “Anyway, need anything else from me?”

  “No, thank you and have a good night.” Jay said, showing him out and waving Kevin in.

  *****

  “How did it go?” Kevin asked after the door had closed behind Kurt and he was a ways down the hall.

  “Almost as expected.” Jay replied while going to sit behind his desk. “Kurt acted almost exactly as we predicted and played his role well.”

  “The role of the confused and eager?” Kevin said with an amused snort.

  “Exactly.” Jay summoned a few items from his ring and set them on his desk. “Kevin, please send a message to our other partners and let them know of this development. I will deal with Thalla.”

  “Yes boss.” Kevin nodded before quickly retreating back to his own office.

  Jay hummed as he opened the first item he had pulled out, a small brown book that had his notes. He reviewed it for a few moments, making sure that they hadn’t missed anything in his project plan. After seeing that they had crossed the first phase line, he opened the small flat box on his desk and touched one of the dozen stones resting within.

  He focused, mentally picturing what he wanted to say and pushing a little mana into the glossy grey surface. A moment later, the rock buzzed and he took his finger off. He watched as the humming increased for a few seconds before the whole stone vanished with a little pop and the smell of ozone.

  “One down, two to go.” He said to himself as he sent the next message out. Now that the board was set, it was time to play the game. He wondered how many pieces would be lost this time and hoped it wouldn’t be too many, he had grown rather fond of his teams and was tired of attending funerals.

  With that in mind, he continued until all three stones had been sent away. They would appear in the right locations for the right people to get the message. After sending the last stone, he moved to the third item, a ledger.

  This particular ledger was actually more of an inventory. It listed all the contents of a particular vault that he had long ago sealed before leaving the fey realm. Jay smirked as he snapped the ledger closed, confirming the contents he had last seen hundreds of years ago.

  His work done, Jay stood and walked to his personal portal home. He had wives to get to and one of them had to be convinced to go pillage her home realm. Well, he had to convince her to stop at recovering his vault and not terrorizing the masses once again.