The Other Huntress (Kotallo/OC)

Chapter Twelve: Avad

I had a LOT of fun writing this one, so hope you enjoy! Also, I just want to let you guys know we'll be coming up to Kotallo and Orea meeting again REAL soon! We've got about fix chapters to go, give or take a bit, and then we'll be there, so thank you guys so much for your patience! Enjoy!

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Avad pressed a single tanned fingertip to his forehead, feverishly rubbing the spot he knew a headache would emerge near in a few hours-or perhaps minutes'-time. No one had ever claimed the title of Sun-King was an easy position to hold, but some days were certainly worse than others. This day was certainly worse than others. Forced to endure hours on end of meetings with overindulged nobles and their opulent demands, (how any person could be so self-absorbed was utterly beyond him) Avad's only reprieve came in the form of Vanasha striding hurriedly into the throne room, scroll clutched tightly in hand. Normally cool as a Snapmaw, the faint traces of worry on the spy's face had instantly set off alarms in Avad's mind. With most of his closest companions gone at present-Talanah, Varl, Erend, Orea, and Aloy all scattered about the Forbidden West-the monarch immediately assumed the worst. At his side, Uthid also stiffened, equal parts worried for the agent ahead of him and the news she carried. Hastily-and as politely as he could manage-booting the remaining nobles out of the royal hall, Avad laid his full attention upon his most trusted advisor.

"What is it, Vanasha? Is there something wrong?"

"I have news from the West," she answered. "A report from Erend."

"What does it say?" he asked eagerly, leaning forward ever-so-slightly in his gilded throne. The Sun-King, for all his ability and experience remaining calm in every situation, was unable to quash his anticipation at the prospect of such news. News from the West meant news of the twin huntresses currently on a mission to save all life on Earth-particularly a certain flame-haired huntress who had captured his heart entirely. Not to mention the matter of the Embassy between the Tenakth and Carja that had taken place recently; during which his cousin Fashav was to return to Meridian in a gesture of peace. Avad was greatly looking forward to reuniting with his cousin, but he desperately wished the summit to go well too. The Tenakth were fierce fighters, and the Sun-King much preferred to have them as allies rather than enemies. He was also hoping a mutual partnership between the two peoples could begin to heal the many wounds the Mad Sun-King-his father-had inflicted upon the Forbidden West. Reconciliation was perhaps a long way off, but the 14th Sun-King could only hope the Embassy would serve as a fresh start.

"A lot," Vanasha answered, unrolling the glyph to its full length. "First on the list is a Bristleback infestation in the Daunt. According to Erend's report, a massive herd of machines somehow made their way into the Daunt, because of which the Sun-Priest Studious Vuadis refused to leave the Oseram settlement of Chainscrape until the valley was again cleared."

"Bristlebacks 'somehow' made their way into the Daunt?" Uthid asked to Avad's right, a single skeptical hand scratching his chin. "How does an entire pack of machines just appear under everyone's noses?" Vanasha only shrugged.

"Beats me, but as the report says, nobody quite knows how the machines showed up: only that they wreaked havoc and that the Vanguard had to clean up after their mess."

"Any casualties from the Vanguard?" Avad asked.

"No, only a few minor injuries reported, including a broken rib on Erend." The Sun-King breathed a sigh of relief: zero was a number he could abide by.

"Did the Bristlebacks cause any trouble with Chainscrape?" Avad had visited the Oseram settlement neighboring the fortress of Barren Light himself on a few occasions, mostly during its formation, as any foreign settlement occupying Carja land was required by law to be signed off upon by the Sun-King himself, as well as any mining or timber claims. The town's de-facto leader (for he truly seemed to have no actual power compared to his peers) Ulvund Freeholder had seemed relatively unsuspect at first glance-merely an Oseram businessman hoping to make a decent profit off a relatively nondescript business opportunity-but as the shards had flowed more and more freely, so too had Ulvund's greed grown. Now, it was a regular occurrence for Avad to receive lengthy reports from his magistrate in the area, Javad the Willing, detailing Ulvund's increasing demands, and his increasingly worsening treatment of Oseram workers. Unfortunately, Avad himself was in no position to affect the happenings of Chainscrape-as an Oseram settlement, he had no jurisdiction over its internal structure or leadership-so all the Sun-King could truly do was try to keep the peace. I truly need to give Javad a promotion. Poor man deserves it.