A Wolf's Howl, A Fairy's Wing

Erik looked around curiously.

He was currently in the palace entrance hall, which also functioned as a kind of throne room. In its entirety, the palace was rather simple, suggesting it was originally built by an austere society whose rulers didn't put much value on projecting wealth, but it did have a place intended for the ruler to meet foreign dignitaries. Erik simply hadn't spent much time here yet.

Reaching the main living area didn't require passing through this hall, so he never had much reason to be here before. Today, however, they'd use it for its intended purpose.

The room was small, yet imposing in its simplicity. Smooth black stone formed the walls, polished enough to faintly reflect the sunlight coming down from windows at the top of the tall walls. The air was cool, almost heavy, as if the very stones held onto the weight of history.

The throne itself was not overly elaborate—just a broad, high-backed seat carved from the same dark stone, its surface worn smooth by time and use. It stood at the top of a handful of low steps, making it rise just a few feet above the ground.

Simple geometric patterns adorned the base of the throne and the supporting columns around the room. Their meanings were long forgotten by most, but Elora, who was watching from inside his dimension, suspected they spoke of lineage, duty, and the burden of leadership.

High on the back wall, behind the throne, a single long, narrow window let in a sliver of light, casting sharp shadows across the floor.

No tapestries hung here, no golden embellishments or lavish displays of power. Instead, the room itself commanded respect, a testament to a people who valued strength and resilience over ostentation.

Erik couldn't help but wonder why it was that this city and its buildings actually matched the Enkarian temperament so perfectly… After all, this city was much older than the people occupying it now.

Shaking himself free from his thoughts, Erik exhaled slowly, his gaze sweeping across the chamber. Right now, he was casually leaning against the throne's right side, with Naeku next to him a they waited for the matriarch's arrival.

The throne itself was actually occupied by Ankhur, whose stern gaze was patiently watching the large doors at the end of the hall. Technically, Erik superseded him in negotiations with an external nation, but since this was still Ankhur's palace and kingdom, Erik paid him due respect by allowing him his seat.

Finally, the doors swung open. From the other side, a few guards escorted Nobuntu and Kudzai inside. The matriarch's eyes narrowed subtly when she noticed the people on the other end of the hall.

She maintained a composed façade but knew she'd have to tread carefully. She'd lost face at their earlier confrontation and clearly understood she'd only worsened the delicate situation she found herself in.

After solemnly approaching the throne with her son in tow, she nodded respectfully in greeting. "King Ankhur, Princess Naeku, and…. Erik, I believe your name was? I thank you for agreeing to meet with us."

While still leaning casually against the throne, arms crossed in front of his chest, Erik smirked playfully at her. "Come now, Matriarch Khumalo. You know my name, so you certainly know my title, do you not?"

Nobuntu shifted her gaze towards Erik and looked at him solemnly for a moment. She still remembered what happened outside the palace and found it difficult to get a read on this man.

"I've heard several titles, in fact," she told him in a measured tone. "Some curse your name, but most hail it. They call you Emperor, Silver Emperor, and I've heard some whisper the epithet 'God-Emperor'. Even those that curse your name call you the 'Usurping Emperor.'"

"I think we're both noticing a theme here, Nobuntu," Erik smiled slightly, now addressing her with just her name as well. "It makes me wonder why you do me the disrespect of not using my proper title. Especially when you want something from us."

Despite his smile, there was an edge of danger in his eyes that didn't go unnoticed by Nobuntu. Even so, she stood her ground.

"I am merely confused," she told him sombrely, her green eye flashing cautiously. "An emperor rules an empire, but an empire traditionally consists of several distinct nation-states." She raised an eyebrow and glanced at Ankhur, sitting on the throne. "I'm not sure what the deal is here, but I believe the Kingdom of Enkare Nkai still exists?"

"It does," Ankhur calmly nodded. "We simply fall under the umbrella of the Silfrmáni Empire, which his ruled by the Silver Emperor, Erik Gunnulf."1

"You may technically be correct that the empire still consists of only a single, distinct nation-state," Erik continued at this point, with a small, meaningful grin, "but such things are easily solved, you know?"

Nobuntu narrowed her eyes as a flash of anger went through them. She clenched her fists behind her back. "Is that a threat…?"

"Only if you perceive it as such," Erik shrugged calmly, leaving quite a bit open for interpretation.

A tense silence fell as Nobuntu and Erik stared at each other. Unsurprisingly, the former did not appreciate Erik's insinuations. If he wanted to incorporate more distinct nation-states into his empire, he'd have to expand… and that made her nervous.

Eventually, she sighed. Relaxing a little, she turned her attention to Ankhur instead. "To be frank, my reasons for coming here today were two-fold. As Matriarch of the Khumalo, I came to restart discussions about Naeku's marriage to my son."

Ignoring her son's wry groaning, Erik's hostile glance, and Naeku's dismissive scoff, she continued unperturbed. "But, as representative of the Free Tribes of Azania, I'm also here to assess the current diplomatic stance of our long-time neighbours."

Still looking at Ankhur with a stern gaze, she finished. "To me, it seems this emperor you've aligned yourself with is a danger to the region's stability. Since I assume your daughter is a part of whatever deal you made with him, I will make a counterproposal."

She straightened her back and looked him straight in the eyes. "Marry Naeku to my Kudzai instead and forge an alliance with us. Retain your sovereignty and preserve the peace. No one will blame you for breaking a deal you made under duress, and if you need help dealing with this fake Emperor…" She turned to Erik with a calm yet distinctly threatening gaze. "I stand ready to assist…"

Instantly, silence fell in the hall. Everyone's eyes widened as they processed her words, including even her son.

Finally, everyone reacted.

"Mom, no!" Kudzai exclaimed in shock.

"Dense bitch," Naeku growled angrily. "Never learns…!"

"Your view of the world is still far too limited, old friend," Ankhur sighed with a wry shake of his head. Despite his own anger at Nobuntu's inaction during the Humanitas Sangh invasion, there was somewhat of a connection between them. After all, Nobuntu had been a close friend of Naeku's mother…

However, the most severe reactions came from the last person in the room, as well as a certain furious fairy inside his dimension.

"Erik…" she growled.

"I know…" he responded calmly as lightning began to gather at the tips of his fingers. "Someone needs to learn some respect."

Silfrmáni means SIlvermoon in old norse :)