Chapter 144: It’s NOT Arrakis! It is a Sand Sea though…

- Ligera Province, Newly Built Governor’s Office, - Robert's POV –

It has been several weeks since the tariffs by the Serpanis House went into effect and, all things considered, we’d actually come out of the problematic situation in a better position than when we’d went in. Using the economic danger of losing access to the trade goods coming out of the massive ports of the Twin Cities, we’d instead gone North and had an extremely productive conversation with the Sanguis House instead. I’d heard rumors for years of a secret deal that the family had with the Kobold’s and Sand Lamia Tribe’s. One that allowed the two polarized groups to live fairly peacefully near to each other. Officially these tribes were technically under the rule of the Sanguis House and by extension the Queen herself directly. Unofficially these tribes were more or less entirely independent nations with a frankly quite hostile attitude to trespassers.

Most of the time these tribes weren’t treated as real threats. And, outside of a few roaming warlords that cropped up from time to time, they didn’t create permanent governmental groups or villages. There was, according to said rumors, one exception. A single city in which all desert dwellers must adhere to certain rules. These rules made it the only truly peaceful place within the desert as a whole. It was also rumored that said city had its own trade agreement with the Elves as well as with a mysterious group that dwelt under the only mountain to pierce the desert sands only known as the Elders. Most people thought of them as a myth however, so I took such talk with a grain of salt.

What was concrete though was the wealth that trading with the desert dwellers brought wasn’t less than that which came from the Twin Cities. In the past we’d only looked at such things passingly as it wasn’t absolutely clear as to how credible such rumors were and we didn’t want to push the only non-hostile Ducal House into possibly being antagonistic with us.

The situation had changed however with the new tariffs blocking the poorer merchants belonging to our faction. As a result, we’d strengthened our ties with our northern neighbor and even confirmed many things about the nature of their deal with the desert people’s. It was only unfortunate that I was unable to meet with said partner directly as their religious belief’s forbade them from leaving behind images of their physical likeness. This unfortunately also applied to long-distance communication through Image Stone’s. I had been able to at least speak with the woman, from the sounds of it one of fairly advanced age, and she’d been surprisingly sensible for someone that lived most of her life in tents. She hadn’t confirmed about the city though. Shame.

[So, with that the deal is struck, correct?] – Duke Robert de la Amchier

[Our people find no issue with the content of your city contract. We, at least, will follow through with shipments as scheduled. You’ll must speak with the other Chieftain’s for their agreement, but we see no issues for most.] – Chieftain El-is

[So, to summarize, your people will increase the flow of valuable goods to allied brokers in cities within my territory and we’ll trade food, water and other goods as needed in return as well as an agreement to keep our armies out of your territory unless given cause to do so? Anything else?] – Duchess Persimmon de la Sanguis II

[We find no issues with your summary. We agree to the terms. Is that all? Our talk has been quite long, and we are weary of you city dwellers.] – Chieftain El-is

After weeks of negotiation with first the Sanguis Duchy then the various local tribes we’d finally come to a sort of agreement. Sending a representative to treat with us Chieftain El-is had literally just walked up to the city walls one day and asked for an audience with the “Ruler of the City Dweller’s” unannounced. It had been a bit of a shock honestly as I’d only been speaking remotely through my Image Stone since it seemed to be slow going on getting any sort of concrete agreement. The different desert tribes, while unique in nearly every way culturally, seemed unified in one thing and one thing only. Distrust of city dwellers.

When I’d first come to the Sanguis Head, Duchess Persimmon, I’d initially been given the run around as far as any sort of deal they may have with the Desert Tribes, but I’d persisted and eventually convinced the reticent Duchess to reveal that her family had been trading with the local tribes for generations. Apparently even before the formation of the Anguis Kingdom entirely, when their House had been a minor noble family within our own. Both then, and now, they’d hidden their deal on the premise that most viewed those who lived within the desert as savages. Even in our less prejudiced time openly coming out in support of the independence of said groups and even treating them as equals would still come against powerful pushback from a large number of powerful people.

Which is why those tribes had been extremely skeptical when we’d come to them with an offer to make our dealings with them public. Our agreement had gone even further however in that we’d recognize each tribe’s sovereignty within their territories and do our best to keep trespassers from violating them. It was the sort of deal that would almost guarantee a response from the less progressive portions of the Kingdom, which is why I’d also gotten permission from the Queen before proposing it. She’d be making an announcement within a few days.

Either way while technically the tribes would still be within Anguis territory and still subject to their laws they’d no longer be expected to pay taxes, not that they ever actually did so, nor would they be policed by our armies unless we were attacked first. If you were to describe the nature of the relationship, we’d have from now on it’d be similar to a Suzerain like the Centaur Lords of the Southern Plains.

[We thank you for your journey Great Chieftain, please accept this water as thanks from the Sanguis House.] – Duchess Persimmon de la Sanguis II

[And please accept this water as well. While I am unable to attend in person, I respect you no less nor that of your traditions.] – Duke Robert de la Anguis

[We receive your water and return it to the earth. May the sands’ part their ways before your feet. Farewell.] – Chieftain El-is

Talk done the curt woman immediately rose to leave. Unable to display her image on my end I still had no idea what she looked like, but I’d gotten a feel for the woman after several days of speaking with her and what I’d gotten from her was that of a no-nonsense woman that had no love of unproductive conversation. Preferring instead to sit in silence or leave when finished speaking the woman had grown on me immensely throughout our interactions. Which is why I felt absolutely no hesitation to honor her with the traditional farewell for allied parties within her culture.

Pouring water on the ground in full view of the Image Stone, I also heard the Duchess on the other end doing the same. Meant to symbolize the act of watering the soil to improve the land where an agreement has been reached, this tradition had seemed strange to me when I’d first heard it. The idea of not only wasting water in an area where it is sparse but even doing so in a way that was highly unlikely to even have any sort of benefit was baffling to me.

I’d hear later though that the act of spreading such an important resource like that symbolized how important you considered the other party and, according to Sebastian, it was rumored that such practice led to the creation of a grand oasis, one which housed a city of myths.

Regardless of how unnecessary the process seemed however I heard the Chieftain echo our action herself, the tinkling of water striking stone coming clear through the Image Stone.

- Abelis Academy City, Gnomish Embassy - Rose's POV –

Unfortunately, I’d been unable to find the time to meet with Master Gilgamesh in-between schooling, etiquette training and incursion practice at night. And now, on the one day I might be able to actually meet the old bastard before the party that was quickly approaching, I’d instead been asked to come to the Gnomish Embassy for some tests. While I was annoyed that I’d lose out on the little bit of free time I’d finally gotten my hands on I wasn’t particularly angry about it since I’d have plenty of time for free time after that damn party was over and done with. Plus, I hadn’t seen Ein in literally weeks since the first time we’d met. It seemed the Gnome’s really WERE following through on their promise to avoid affecting my normal life as much as possible. Given how excited the little nerd had been I’d honestly expected her to jump at any chance to get up close and personal with me, but I guess she’d confined herself to long-distance observation. Although apparently, she and Karen had become close nerd buddies in their shared Science and Maths classes.

[Okay so please raise your right arm as high as you can. Hmmm…. Good. Now your left. Thank you.] – Ein

[So, is this it? You just wanted to get some measurements from me?] – Rose

[Not exactly. You see we finished the initial observation period and now need a baseline to work with. These devices you see here not only measure mana response but the absorption rate of radiation in your body! Both of which are beyond amazing by the way! Anyway, it’s unfortunate that we weren’t able to study you since you were born but by taking periodic measurements like this, we can get a feeling for both your baseline as well as how far you will grow! Ahhh! The amount of lost data points because of-!!!!] – Ein

[Ahem!] – Older Researcher

[R-Right… We also are taking your measurements.] – Ein

[Right. Umm did you get any of that Karen?] – Rose

Staring at the young gnome as she unleashed a bunch of science sounding mumbo jumbo I looked to my translator for help. Karen, staying by my side as much as possible now out of concern for my mental well-being, had also come with me to the Embassy. She’d even volunteered to have some tests of her own body while she was here as well. Even implying that she might be okay doing so each time she accompanied me.

As someone that knew her more than a little bit, I knew that she, more than anyone, was the most interested in her own body. The thought that what was effectively a giant bacterial/fungal? colony could not only move and interact with the world but develop a higher consciousness tickled her science fiction loving heart. Also, her degree would be invaluable in analyzing anything that they found out about her so the Gnomes had wholeheartedly agreed.

[Ah me?!? W-Well basically what she’s saying is that because they missed out on taking measurements when you were a child by doing periodic measurements over a long period of time can reveal the baseline that they were unable to record. It’s a method for figuring out the past of something when you’re unable to find another similar object instead. Just run the clock backwards as it were.] – Karen

[Ah. Thanks. Went over my head a bit there.] – Rose

[N-No problem!] – Karen

Thanking her for her explanation by lightly squeezing her free hand I took the opportunity to continue holding hands with her while we continued with another round of tests. I didn’t miss the dark purple blush that covered her face.