“King Ver, it is an honour to have you visit our humble nest!” Korak smiled nervously as the leader of the Vrekans and his team of highly trained assassins marched through the entrance of the Kolasian Nest. “Y-you did not need to come in… person…”
The Vrekan king, adorned in gold and silver jewellery and studded with rubies and emeralds, smiled back at the little Vohra. His soldiers circled around him, their eyes scanning every single nook and cranny.
“Seriously…” Nuvak, Korak’s assistant, butted in. “We just wanted help analysing some files. Your presence here is unusual. And potentially dangerous for all of us.”
King Ver continued to smile. “Vohra, you worry too much. I am here for more than simple cyptic files. I am here to extend an invitation of peace.”
“I thought we already had peace?” Nuvak whispered to Korak. Korak shrugged, then led the Vrekans down to the old throne room, where Avrak, Levuk and a handful of other Kalsa Warriors were waiting for them. Also there was the young Varga Talok, who was happily chasing his tail.
“We apologise for the mess,” Korak sighed. “We like to bring in some of the Varga to play, get them used to being part of a nest again. Talok there is our… Mascot…”
Unlike most visitors, King Ver stepped forward, his hand flat and open, prompting Talok to come over and have a sniff. Talok seemed to like Ver, and rubbed up against the Vrekan king before moving away and wrapping himself around Korak.
“Sorry…”
“It is not a problem!” Ver’s hawk-like smile was only slightly disturbing. “This is the poor Kalsa Warrior who prompted you all to fight back and gain independence, yes?”
“Yes.”
“Well, you have done a fine job maintaining your independence. Which is why I wished to visit you personally.” Ver waved at one of his soldiers, all of them members of the infamous Myst, who handed him a small canister. “But first, the results you wished for. We studied the attachments and the emails, there is no malicious content in them, although the messages are indeed dubious. But it turns out they are genuine.”
Korak looked at Nuvak and Avrak, but they both seemed as confused as she was. “What do you mean, they are genuine?”
“The Vohra appear to have started following a religion of sorts. They want everyone to join or to label them as heretics. The Vrekans have had a flood of demands from nearby Vohra nests, commanding us to follow the words of Kenos.”
“So that is why you are here!” Nuvak exclaimed. “You want us to leave you alone!”
No, actually…” Ver’s smile flickered for a moment. “I want to become allies with you, because your nest is the only sensible nest in the Maza system. Your atheistic ways put you in danger from the rest of your kind.”
Nuvak pulled Avrak and Korak to one side. “You think he is offering citizenship, the way Vice General Elkay did when we got our freedom?”
“I don’t know…” Korak muttered.
“I am not offering you the chance to fold into Vrekan ranks,” King Ver interruped. “I want us to be allies. Friends even.”
“Why?” Korak asked. “Generally others want something out of this. What do you get?”
Ver’s smile turned into a grin. “I get little out of this relationship. Ever since I became king a year and a half ago, I have been trying to rebuild the ties that my forebears destroyed. Peace of mind is my prize. Yours is a new friend when all those threaten to harm you.”
Nuvak glanced at Korak again, then back at King Ver. “And who else are you offering a green leaf to?”
“So far, just you. But I plan to speak to the Rethans when their… messy election is over. No point making promises if the leadership is to change, don’t you think?”
Suddenly, Talok leaped up and wrapped himself around the Vrekan king, licking him all over. Korak rushed to stop him, but found that Ver wasn’t bothered. In fact, Ver started patting Talok on the head, calling him a “good boy”. Talok quickly calmed down and sat down next to King Ver.
“Your friend is adorable,” Ver smiled some more.
“He knows things…” Korak admitted. “He knows liars. You are not a liar.”
“I know,” Ver sighed. “I will leave you with my offer. Let you mull it over. Let me know what you think. But act fast, as I feel there is something… horrible… heading our way.”
The Vrekan king waved his arm, and his soldiers all filed out. The Kalsa Warriors watched on, unsure what to say or do.
Finally, Levuk chirped up. “That was awesome! Not every day you get to meet a king!”