“Advisor Phovoula, thank you for coming on such short notice!” Skiavor, a black-furred Ksithan with equally dark eyes, smiled as the Raptor climbed up the stairs to the Grand Hall of the Twelve.
The Ksithans weren’t quite as democratic as other species. They were ruled over by the Tromeros family, a large, powerful heritage with a massive family tree, who had repeatedly united and reunited the Ksithans over the millennia. Similarly to the Lanex, the Ksithans did somewhat bind themselves to twelve different tribes, but each tribe was less bound to a specific duty and more of an independent state. Each state was watched over by a member of the Tromeros family, and those leaders formed the Council of the Redeemed. The twelve council members would then elect two members to be the Vassil and Vassem, the Queen and King of the Ksithans, the overall rulers of the race.
Phovoula technically wasn’t a blooded member of the Tromeros family, but she had united Ksithans under her own banner, on the now neutral world of Portalia. This happened during the most recent Ksithan Reunification Period, a thousand years ago. Considering how Phovoula had violently taken over the local Kisthan population and had driven away most of the other populations, the Tromeros family quickly decided that it would be better to befriend the unkillable Ancient Warlord rather than trying to force her to surrender.
Ever since, Phovoula had worked alongside the Tromeros family, acting as their advisor, and they’d given her a few fancy titles as well. Back when she was a conqueror, she was hot and fiery, often bloodthirsty too, but Phovoula had somewhat calmed down over the years, and her agelessness did bring wisdom and stability to the Ksithans overall. Still, these days, she mostly just ran the Great Arenas, that kept her occupied and out of the way whenever the Vassil and Vassem needed to discuss things she didn’t like. Yes, the Raptor was very smart and wise, but she was also stuck in her ways too.
“It’s fine…” Phovoula growled. “I don’t know why you’ve dragged me here though. This could have been a video call.”
Skiavor shrugged. He was the leader of the Shadow Tribes, but he was pretty young, having recently replaced Skotonos, someone that everyone considered to be both old and an asshole. “The Vassil thinks it’s good for us all to get together occasionally. We only ever see you on telly.”
The Raptor growled some more, but quickly relented. She didn’t mind Skiavor too much. She didn’t mind Photeios, the current Vassem as well, but Phovoula and Kindyna, the Vassil, didn’t see eye to eye on much. Kindyna thought Phovoula was an uptight prick. Phovoula thought Kindyna was a whore. Because she was. As Phovoula followed Skiavor into the Grand Hall, she noticed that Kindyna not only had another new boyfriend, but she was also clearly pregnant.
Although, to be fair, Kindyna’s previous partner, a colossal asshole by the name of Allaxos, did attempt to usurp Kindyna, and shed had him arrested and thrown in jail. Her new partner, a much, much younger guy called Agapios, did seem rather sweet.
“Ah! The Ancient Warlord, the Unending Fear, the Great Raptor of Portalia, welcome home!” Photeios announced as he spotted the newcomers. The Grand Hall was set up with a gigantic banquet, and all twelve of the Redeemed, plus their partners, were present. Phovoula was the only person who was permanently single, but she’d given up on relationships over 900 years ago, after her two previous boyfriends had died during her various campaigns. Skiavor was single as well, but he’d recently broken up with someone.
“It is… good to see you all…” Phovoula did her best to be pleasant. After all, she did… kinda like Skiavor, and they had clearly been set up to sit together. There was a 1005 year age gap between them though. “Why have you invited me here?”
Kindyna stepped down from her throne, her arms wide open. She was more pregnant than Phovoula realized.
“My dearest sister, we don’t get together enough! But we also have things we ought to discuss, and your openness to everyone apart from your fellow Ksithans might come in handy.”
“I… I don’t follow… Is there something you require from me?”
Varys, one of the older of the Redeemed, and the ruler of the Gravity Tribe, grunted at Kindyna. “Just tell her. Don’t beat around the bush, Vassil Kindyna.”
Kindyna tutted, then pulled up a chair next to Phovoula. The other tribe leaders all returned to their own conversations, but both Varys and Skiavor wanted in. Kindyna decided to let them listen.
“Alright, basically, the Lanex and the Spasts have gotten in touch. They want help patrolling the borders of the universe. They’ve already made arrangements with the Rethavok, who are helping them up north. They want us to help down south.”
Phovoula hesitated. “Why does this concern me? This should be dealt with whatever tribes are closest to the borders that the Lanex and Spasts want us to look over?”
“That’s what I said…” Varys tutted. “We can deal with it. The Gravity Tribe is furthest south. We have spare ships. It’s fine.”
Kindyna glanced at Varys, and Varys shut his mouth. “My problem is, I don’t know if this is a trick or a waste of resources or something.”
“Why would it be a trick?” Phovoula frowned. “If it was just the Spasts? Then maybe they would want us to waste resources for their benefit. But the Lanex are particularly honourable, and they’re permanently low on resources. If they are working on this, if they are putting effort in, then it is something we should consider too.”
“How comes? Skiavor asked. “The Lanex already do border patrols anyway. That’s… Howling Gales duties, I think.”
Phovoula thought for a moment. “They do, yes, but there might be increased activity currently, and the Lanex and the Spasts are both low in numbers. At the same time, they’re not exactly friendly with the much more populous races, the Torr, the Vohra and the Temthans, so they’re more likely to ask the next most populous races. Which kinda happens to be the Vrekans, the Rethans and us.”
“Have they asked the Vrekans?” Skiavor was full of questions.
Kindyna shook her head. “No. But the Vrekans keep to themselves, same way the Athrens and Thraki do, and they don’t have spare ships.”
“The Rethans have spare ships?”
Phovoula spoke rather plainly. “The Rethans are more well-off than they appear. Cold military-communism, forced taxes and maximum incomes and a general UBI all go a long way. Means they can quickly set up a Legion with some spare ships to do as the Lanex ask. I assume they’ve already set things up?”
Kindyna sighed, then nodded. “Yep. Their new Legion was initiated this morning.”
“So why are we dragging our feet?” Phovoula grunted. “If the Rethans consider the request worth acting on, then we should too. Yes, we don’t see eye to eye with the Spasts, no one does, but the Lanex are ALWAYS trustworthy, they know not to waste resources because they have very little of their own. They wouldn’t waste our time on this.”
Skiavor leaned back and smiled. “Well, I’m convinced. Doubly so if the Rethans are in. They’re technically part of our union beneath the Ice Wolf’s gaze, we ought to help out.”
Varys nodded in agreement. “Indeed. It’s a minor request anyway.”
Kindyna closed her eyes, sighed yet again, then patted Phovoula on the shoulder, perking up somewhat. “That’s why we keep you around! You’re always full of good advice. Anyway, I’ll sort things out, then pass things on to Varys once we’ve got full confirmation of what the Lanex need from us. In the mean time, feel free to enjoy both the fine food and Skiavor here!”
Skiavor immediately cowered in his seat, hating what the Vassil was implying. Phovoula though, for once, didn’t seem too bothered. Kindyna glanced back at her throne, where her boyfriend was waiting for her.
“Toodles, my fellow Redeemed!” Kindyna smiled as she got up and wandered off. Varys also got up as well, returning to where his wife was sitting, leaving Phovoula and Skiavor alone.
“This is… awkward…” Skiavor eventually muttered.
“Eh. I’m used to it. Kindyna has been trying to get me into the Tromeros family properly for decades…” Phovoula trailed off. “She doesn’t get that I’ve always been infertile.”
“She does get that you’re kinda lonely though.”
Phovoula paused, then looked Skiavor up and down. “Well… she is right about that… I suppose, for once, maybe I can let my guard down… You’re nice, after all…”
Skiavor smiled back. “Really?”
“Yeah.”
“Huh. I… I appreciate that. You’re not too bad either.”
The Raptor snorted, then poured herself a drink. “Hah! You know what? I’ll take that. Cheers.”