“I like that approach, Lord Padarro,” Sinteya said. “This way, they maintain their independence and we’re able to make formal agreements with them.”
“Exactly,” Hatan said.
“But how shall we address the fact that they harvest goods from Jehubal lands,” Briondi said.
“We will give them some of the land for their use, on both sides of the Ring,” Hatan said. “We haven’t been able to safely utilize that land anyway because of the war, so it’s no real loss to us. In fact, it will establish a border that would open our ability to use it more freely without fear of recourse. But that’s only with the Bayvana Tribe to the south. We can make similar arrangements with the Dasaven Tribe in the north.”
“But the landscape is about to change, is it not,” Obet said. “Whatever land we give now may very well be completely different soon, and some of it may end up submerged beneath water.”
“Yes, but we don’t know what that will look like until that time comes, Lord Ilanitan,” Hatan said. “So the agreements will need to have room for adjustment.”
Obet leaned back in his seat and folded his arms.
“So,” Hatan said, looking around at the rest of them. “Are we in agreement?”
“What are the specific terms, Regent Padarro,” Roan said.
Hatan shrugged. “We’ll establish those once we determine what they are open to, which should hopefully be any moment now.”
“They’re coming here?” Nedro asked, looking over his shoulder at the door, wringing his hands.
Hatan tried not to smile at the merchant lord’s immediate discomfort. “Yes. If they agree. I invited them to send representatives from both tribes.”
“Is it wrong of me to hope that they do not accept the invitation?” Nedro asked.
Hatan set his jaw as he regarded the old jokester. “Yes, I would say so.”
“Lord Regent,” Emil said as he opened the door. “Your guests have arrived.”
“Very good,” Hatan said with a smile. “Bring them in, please.”
Emil stepped aside to make room for the guests. In walked four shamanfolk, fully dressed in their stormwading armor, though they appeared properly disarmed.
“Welcome,” Hatan said. He walked up to them and offered to shake their hands, but they merely nodded to him. “I am Regent Padarro, soon to be king of Jehubal.”
“I am Elder Manahae of the Bayvana Tribe,” said one of the shamans, a taller man with dark features and deeply set eyes. He looked around the room. “King Rikaydian did not last long I see.”
“Yes,” Hatan said. He’d prepared to address this. “It seems he was complicit in the assassination of his predecessor in a manner that is quite technically illegal. It proved his succession illegitimate. He is off engaging with other pursuits at present, but I worked very closely with him and seek with all earnestness to accomplish his same goals for peace and unity within our region.”
Manahae nodded. “We do of course see the benefits of continued peace, regent. Which is why we made an effort to appear personally. There will be many difficulties to come as the old seasons resume. We can expect great issues being so close to Delirad Lake and the canyon. We would benefit from all the concerted effort we can muster. I believe seeking a formal audience together was the honorable thing to do.” He gestured to one of the other shamanfolk, an older woman with sharp eyes and the type of air that made Hatan feel he needed to be on his best behavior.
“I am Elder Mashe of the Bayvana Tribe,” the woman said. “Let us hope that the political status of Jehubal can remain stable enough for us to weather the tides, yes?”
Hatan inclined his head. “Of course. I wish nothing but the same. I thank you for coming and hope that our discussions are beneficial for all who live within our region. Now, please, take a seat. I wish to bring up a few points that I think will be of particular interest.”
The shamanfolk representatives all sat together, though none of them truly relaxed. They seemed on edge, ready to jump from their positions at any moment. But once they heard him out, he knew they’d be pleased.
“Very well, then. Let’s start by discussing land use.”
***
A mark and a half after the meeting started, they finally decided to end. Hatan resisted the urge to rub the weariness from his eyes as the shamanfolk representatives inclined their heads to Hatan before leaving, both tribes taking with them a single paper that indicated their proposition. The elders said that they would need to consult with the rest of their elder councils in order to come to any sort of agreement.
Hatan had been hoping to come to a conclusion by the end, but the representatives did not have the jurisdiction to make decisions for the entire tribe.
“Well done, regent,” Sinteya said, coming up to him once the shamanfolk had departed. “I think we’ve made a very big step in the right direction.”
Hatan shrugged. “It did not end as I was hoping it would, but then again, I did not understand the political structure of a shamanfolk tribe. Having learned something more of our neighbors is still a victory, even if no conclusion has yet been made.”
“Even Lord Ilanitan cannot argue that the terms will be beneficial economically,” Nedro said.
Obet’s lips had all but vanished as he regarded Nedro with a flat stare. “I’m not sure there is much to gain in terms of trade with the tribes.”
“You heard it, Lord Ilanitan,” Hatan said. “They have resources we’ve scarcely tapped into. Potions that heal. Potions that promote healthy crop growth. And with some of their own safe land, they’d be able to cultivate ingredients to produce them in greater quantities. I think we will see prosperity never known to Jehubal.”
“Yes, but it is magic,” Roan said. “Is that not room for concern all on its own?”
Hatan shook his head. “I don’t believe it is, Lady Malema. King Rikaydian said it to me this way: magic is simply another tool. What matters is not the magic itself, but the person who wields it. Remember, if they truly wanted to betray us, they have weapons that would decimate our people if they so choose, even with our recently enlarged stock of silver-imbued weaponry. When they were presented with a peaceful option, they took it. I think that says enough about their integrity up to this point. Which is more than I can say about our own people right now.”
“Yes,” Roan said, nodding as she looked to the side. “I can see your point. Thank you for elaborating.”
“Unless there are other questions, then we will dismiss,” Hatan said. “Thank you again for joining me to meet with them.”
Everyone stood up, but Sinteya lingered at the back of the line, walking just in front of Hatan. “Care to walk with me?” Sinteya said.
“I believe we are walking, Sinteya,” Hatan said.
She gave him a sly smile. “No, I meant a stroll.” She touched his arm with a single finger. “Perhaps you could show me that secret garden in the back of the palace that nobody ever gets to explore.”
