"As stormy as a Strovian and a Srijavat on the same boat."

- Common Uiatachian refrain; also seen use in the Brisabri Archipelago, Nictor and other areas

“Raise your head, Outsider Roland of Earth, and hear my words.”

In the Crystal Court, there was only silence - and so King Aigulf’s voice - the self-declared sovereign of the court, and the realm around him - reverberated around the hall, effused with the force of doctrine.

At such a command, even an Outsider would be bound to listen. Hence, Roland, visitor from another world, was kneeling on the floor with his provided Uiatachian raiments sweeping across it, adhering to the pomp and ceremony of the moment. With with practiced solemnity, he raised his head, and declared, “Yes, your Magnificence.”

“As of today,” A royal aide read out in a clear measured voice, “the twentieth som of the fourth orvit of the fifteenth findrielpulz of Aigulf, we recognize the contributions of the Roland, the Outsider, to Strovia and humble lands of Straskey, in the crafting of otherworldly wonders and the defense of the weak. Hence and henceforth, the Esteemed Dominus of the Realm has thus seen it fit, to proclaim this humble visitor as Pueri.”

There was a chorus of clapping.

“Do you accept?”

“I do, Your Magnifcence.” Roland replied with measured deferrence, even as his heart pounded ever further.

A servant walked over, a ceremonial bowl embedded with a ring of pearls. Amidst the silence, he scooped out a thimble of thick red liquid, and then poured it over Roland’s head, dousing the Outsider with a pungent aroma suffused with the fragrance of sweet honey. Another servant walked forward as the pourer retreated, holding a sword in a scabbard, kneeling as he offered it to Roland.

“I proclaim you now Pueri; servant and defender of Strovia. Now take your sword, and fulfill your duty.”

There was a round of applause from the crowd. Amidst it, Roland simply extended his arms forward, and felt the servant gently lower the weapons into his hands. He stood up, bowed once more, and quickly made for the side of the hall, where Madeline and her Household were standing.

As he closed towards her, she shut her eyes, and Roland could feel his mind lighten. Acknowledging the handshake, he mentally reached back, as he stood by the Magister’s side.

“Congratulations, Roland.”

A not-so-foreign thought flowed into Roland’s mind, almost blocking out the hubbub and summons of the Court. Mental connections tended to do that, but Roland shifted his senses, mentally pushing back the mental link to prevent it from consuming his conciousness, and with it the sense of the wider world returned.

“Thanks,” Roland responded, mentally sending his thoughts back over the link. Now stabilized, it formed a two-way flow of their whispered thoughts, allowing them to converse without speaking. “Why now?”

“The rest of this court session will just be mere pleasantries and other sort of nonsense, issues that don’t matter to us.” the Magister replied. Roland stole a peek at her, noticing that she had become utterly still, her attention completely focused on maintaining the mental connection. “Thus, no better time to educate you n the status of your new found rank, Pueri,” The Matriarch did not seem like in a mood for argument. “Now, as a Pueri, you now have certain privileges, especially that you are now recognized as a noble and companion of Straskey from now on. But that involves having some duties - such as the raising of troops, as well as tribute.”

“Er?” Roland replied, confused. "Wait-”

But of course, the ‘agreement’ that concerns you is that your current work with me will be sufficient for fulfilling whatever duties you will be burdened with of the moment. So, for now, that matter is simply settled. What privileges as of the moment, would be the right to bear arms, own land, and various others. You should also be officially geting payment from the Straskians - although it would be only somewhat more than the stipulation that they have given for our expenses, and in local coinage, so I doubt you can use it back on Earth.”

“Sounds like just a nominal honor then,” Roland said, as he balanced the sword he now helt in his hands - the simple looking ornamental scabbard aside, he couldn’t help but turn it over and over, testing its weight, although refraining from drawing it.

“You seem quite interested in your newfound sword, though.” Madeline noticed the action, and did not hesitate to point it out.

“I…mean, a weapon is a weapon, its a bit of a fascinating thing in itself…even if I wouldn’t use a sword.” Roland thought to stow the weapon away, but the lack of hooks, let alone a baldric, led him to merely hold it in his hand. “Besides, this is my first time holding a sword.”

“Fair. In any case…hmm?”

The mental connection between the both of them dropped, as Madeline quickly turned her attention to the rest of the room. Roland followed, and noticed a certain amount of unease brewing, marked by many hushed and disquieted whispers.

“What sort of guests?” “Who would dare breach the Crystal Court when it is in session?”

“Its…its the Srijavats! They have sent a…a delegation, and they…they wish to speak with you, your Magnificence.”

The room suddenly erupted with noise, as the conversation grew in frenzy. Nobles and members of the court started speaking ever louder, as the guards at the edges of the hall rustled with nervousness. A few of them had started walking towards the double doors, nervously raising their weapons.

“The Srijavat watchship landed just a few grisans ago, the dockmen probably didn’t have enough time to send a messenger up to the castle -”

“Still! Why are they demanding their way in? Shouldn’t they be asking for a audience first, the nerve…!”

“Srijavats…” Madeline whispered, interrupting Roland’s eavesdropping on a pair of nobles. When he turned to look at her, there was a certain look in her eyes. “And no forewarning from the Straskian envoy to Srijavat, hmm.”

“What does that mean?”

“Anything, but nothing particular good, I would wager.” She tilted her head to Roland, whispering a warning. “Stand behind the Advocatus and make yourself look like one of the attendants. Stow away that sword, and remain as inconspicuous as possible.”

“Wha-”

“Just do it.” the Magister asserted firmly.

Taking the hint, Roland moved himself behind Madeline, trying to block any sign of himself, while slipping the Uiatachian robes over his new weapon and raiments. Meanwhile, the hubbub in the room had grown ever larger, with conversations slowly turning into shouting.

“Your Magnificence!” out of the noise, a large noble, with a ring in both index fingers, walked in front of the throne and prostrated himself. “We…if these diplomats have come even uninvited, it would be wise to simply welcome them; it would be ill-advised to annoy one of their a-”

“Srijavat, whatever, they should wait.” Princess Livia suddenly spoke, with a cold voice absolutely dripping in venom. “This is Straskey and the Realm of Strovia, and we have our laws and respect to consider, especially if they are guests in our nation-”

“Enough.”

With three taps of his gavel, the monarch of Straskey sent the entire hall into silence.

“We will welcome them, perhaps whatever they have to say is of merit.” A few men reacted violently, only to stop themselves in the face of their sovereign. “Open the double doors!”

As the attendants hesitantly pried open the double doors, the various nobles on either side of the hall began to reform their presentable rows and columns. Quickly, Madeline repositioned herself beside the Advocatus, near the Princess Royal, while Roland ducked into the darker parts of the room, anxiety rising as he tried to make himself scarce among the other court attendants.

The doors fully opened, and the hall descended into silence. From them, an entourage approached, and the first thing he noticed was a dazzle of gold.

The Sirjavat entourage consisted of five men - four guards flanked their envoy, each dressed in golden laminar armor with an unsheathed curved sword attached to their belts, with their their arms and shins exposed and wearing uncovered sandals. Their envoy, was more covered, wearing a jewelled shoulder cover draped neatly over a long-sleeved tunic and pants, wearing a metrtoculously decorated golden coned hat and various gold plated amulets and tassels handing off the cover. A necklace of green, white and red orblets hung from his neck to his waist, with a seal of office dangling from the bottom.Behind the entourage, a small cart covered in pristine cloth was dragged in by one dutiful servant, who was no less ornately dressed as he held his burden.

In contrast to the dully dressed Strovians, the Srijavats riot of color was like a gaudly sunburst. Not that it mattered to the entourage, as they advanced steadily towards the Straskian throne.

“Greetings, King Aigulf Weltzen, Sovereign of the Kingdom of Straskey, Ducal-Regium of the Strovian Realm, claimant of the Velvet Seat and…” the envoy paused for theatrical effect, “his Magnificence Radiant.” The rest of the Srijavat contingent went to kneel, leaving the envoy bowing deeply instead. “I, Senapati Tajawa, bring tidings and gifts from the Wilwatika, as well as treaties and various other courtises.”

“Rise, Srijavats.” “I thank you - and the Wilwatika - for being so kind to pay my court and I a visit. But I must ask; why have you arrived on such short notice? Lembass Denel did not send word of you”

The envoy made no response, merely signalling to the courier behind him. The man pulled out something from his cart, a jewelled box embroidered in coloured red cloth.

“One hadria - or findrielpulz - ago, one of your esteemed lords came to us, alleging that there was collusion between various groups, around the smuggling of weapons and other contraband in Strovia and the Great Srijavat. And so, we have investigated, and found its ringleader. As such we present to you -”

With a flourish, the envoy opened the box, and suddenly the hall was filled with a unified gasp of horror.

“Lembass Denel!!”

“Explain yourself, Srijavat!”

“What…what is this?!”

“Outrageous!”

Roland strained himself to look, and a pair of dead eyeballs stared back at him. With a yelp, the Outsider recoiled, trying to cover his eyes as he pressed himself against the wall.

But not before he had seen the piercing image of a perfectedly severed neck.

For a few moments, Roland gasped for air, quaking as he desperately tried to banish the image from his mind, to the point that he almost missed what the envoy said next.

“...you are aware of the Sia Talima, the Code of Warisan, I believe?” The envoy paced about in a slow, deliberate manner, facing all the pointed eyes towards him with not a sign of weakness. “It is said, that those who participate in the act of grand larceny against the state, to plunder the treasuries and armories of the Wilwatika…shall be sentenced to death, by beheading.”

“...and Lembass Denel was found guilty?”

“Quite, found even in the act. Which is why we were not able to bring him back here in chains, but with his preserved tula.” The envoy signalled to his servant again, and was presented with a scroll and a box. “Inside here, we have proof of his crimes, his collusion with traitors within Srijavat, and various other information. We offer it freely, as one of our gifts.”

The servant presented to one of the Straskian attendants, who received it with ginger nervousness. He was about to hold it up to his lord, only to be stopped by the Princess Royal.

“Even if he was sufficiently guilty…” Princess Livia walked down towards the envoy, the sceptre in her hand thudding against the ground with each step. “...to kill a Strovian is a vicious offense.”

“Firstly, he was Straskian, I would remind all members of this court.” The envoy faced back, unflinching despite the Princess Royal’s advance. “And to assure you…we very much avoided trying to avoid his death, with many attempts to merely capture him when he staged his escape…but alas…the winds of fate can be very fickle. To this, we offer numerous remuneration…and a signed letter of apology from the Wilwatika himself.”

A dread silence filled the hall.

“We will proceed to investigate this.” King Aigulf answered with a layered response. “So in the meantime, Senapati Tajawa, your presence as our envoy with the Wilwatika is requested in the Court. Please assist my executors in understanding, and getting to the bottom of this matter.”

“I shall, Your Magnificence.” the Srijavat envoy bowed in reverence. “I shall be at our assigned abode, in the Northern Quadrant.”

“And we will accept your lord’s apology, for the time being. Present your gifts.

There was a wave of murmuring in the Court.

Meanwhile, the Srijavats proceeded to pull item after item from the cart, and presented each item in order to the King. Many bars of gold, various luxurious cloths, sets of armor, made pleasantly for a royal percussion, jewellery, and few others. Amongst them, however, Roland noticed a familiar sight.

One of the gifts was brought out with some difficulty; despite their strength, the two men bringing it down clearly was struggling with its weight. When they finally laid it out in front of the monarch for all to see, however, the sight of it caused the Outsider - amongst others, to gasp.

A circular tube, closed at the back with a bronze seal and open on the other, the circumference of the tube shrinking towards its open end. A carving of some beast’s head formed the mouth of the tube, with the carvings and patterns laid throughout the tube meant to invoke the stature of some mythical, blessed beast.

In a very fitting form too; for the object, to Roland, was unmistakably, undoubtedly, a well defined, well built, naval cannon.

As the Outsider tried to process the information, the Envoy continued his speech, with nothing but naked pride in his voice as he presented the weapon.

“You are certainly familiar with the power and prestige of Srijavat’s tarkaduntsi, but today, I present to you not crude workings of steel and bronze, but masterworks of forging, made with unparalleled skill of craftsmanship. Some of these are to be mounted on our fleets, but we have seen fit to bestow some of our finest creations upon you and your men, given recent troubles. May they blow your enemies, with the might of the tarka.”

Another long silence. In this meantime, the King could be seen whispering with the Princess, who then nodded her head.

“Very well,” King Aigulf finally replied. “I accept this generous gift.”

And so the proceedings continued under a tense atmosphere, until the last items were returned to the cart, and a Straskian servant moved to attend to it, hauling it off into the treasuries of the Crystal Castle.

“Is there anything else, Senapati Tajawa?”

“Nothing else, other than the reiteration of various treaties signed. Oh and…the question of a replacement envoy.”

“Hmmm…” King Aigulf looked around, thinking. “Must we organize one at this timing? It isn’t particularly forfeitous, as of this moment.”

“Forgive me…but I do need some sort of liaison, should we continue with our…investigation.”

“Alas, given your…disposal of one of our esteemed Lembass, I’m afraid there are few candidates for such a task.”

To the jab, Senapati Tajawa made a slight smile. “Unfortunately so…but the situation…still requires as such.”

King Aigulf made a sigh. “Very well. Pueri Roland, step forth.”

“Father?!”

Hearing Luvia’s protest, the Outsider thought his hearing had gone bad - until the attendants surrounding him turned to look at him, whispering among themselves with a few fingers pointed.

“What?” Roland exclaimed, a little too loudly in denial

“His Magnifience is calling for you, hurry,” A hand pushed him a little forward, and Roland could not help but nervously make his way to the steps of the throne. King Aigulf eyes bored down on him with quiet intent, while the Princess Royal was staring at her father with disbelief.

When he arrived, he hammered out in stammering Strovian, “Y-yes…your Magnificence?”

“I hereby dictate that you are to act as acting envoy to the Srijavat Confederation, to act as liaison in the name of Weltzen, and envoy for the people of Straskey, henceforth onwards.”

“I…I…”

Roland’s mouth opened and closed a few times, in complete disbelief. On instinct, he looked for Madeline in the crowd, and noticed her merely pensively watching him.

“You cannot refuse a command from King Aigulf, especially here.” Their eyes met, and immediately her voice touched his mind once more. “Accept the nomination…for now.”

“I humbly accept!” Roland replied hastily, quickly dropping to his knee, heart pumping madly as his eyes stared straight into the ground.

“Then this matter is settled. This court is hereby dismissed.”

Immediately, the hubbub returned, with the clank of the great double doors opening to let its occupants out. As the crowd of attendants being to shuffle towards the great exit, Roland pushed himself off the floor, breathing heavily.

“May I?”

A hand reached out to him. By instinct, Roland grabbed it, and its owner pulled him up -

- causing him to stand up face to face with the Senapati Tajawa.

“A mere Pueri…but it seems that the Weltzens have some manner of trust in you.” The envoy said, with a smile. “A pleasure to meet you…Ro-land? Rou-lan?” He struggled to pronounce the Earth-side name, frowning with each attempt. “You do not seem like a Strovian.”

“I’m…I’m from a far off land, you see.”

“Ah.” the Senapati Tajawa nodded with a smile, before shaking Roland’s hand vigorously. “Then, here’s to a fulfilling relationships with you, Pueri.”

“Same to you…” Roland said a little cautiously, while feeling a stone settle in his stomach.