Summoning the HKA: Lords of Eternity

Chapter IV: Speak Softly

Northern Reaches, Qua-Toyne

August 17, 2526 XY

The ship had not been built for luxury. Or so Emilia thought when she stepped into it. It was smaller than the RAN destroyers she had seen in the museums but larger than the ferry boats dotting the rivers of Kiavalar. The back of the ship had been flush, giving way for a helipad that was missing its helicopter. Instead, the space was used for large crates provided by the foreign service. They were filled with goods, gifts and other materials needed by the delegation. She was surprised to see a well-designed interior, resembling the conference rooms of the foreign service headquarters. The air-conditioned space had a large oval table in the middle and chairs around it. Additional seating was lined along the walls and a large TV hung on one side of the room. The people that had entered with her made themselves scarce, brushing up on information and notes about the new nation. Of the 20 anthropologists, diplomats, military officers, scientists and other experts that had made up the expedition, only one had piqued her interest. She had expected a serious, self-centered man, declaring the importance of the delegation and its success. Instead, she spent the greater extent of the journey conversing with a quiet and reserved man. During briefing, he had outlined the objectives with precision, only to ease the mood with well-placed witticisms.

He had explained how the ship that they were on was actually a vessel used for important meetings. Its relatively low size meant that anyone looking to do harm would ignore it and look towards larger prey. While the thought was comforting, she still would have preferred making first contact with a more neutral looking vessel. As it were, the ship had one too many guns for her liking. Of course, it did not hurt to make a statement and present with at least some strength. She was not dealing with a modern nation, but rather a medieval kingdom with a potential for radically different belief systems. On that front, she liked the idea of strength.

Near the last leg of their journey, she had found herself in the dining hall of the ship. She sat at one of the window-side cubicles, going over the last of the details. Truthfully, they hadn't known much, anything extrapolated by the smart people back home was entirely speculative. She misliked relying on speculation. She hadn't noticed him enter the dining hall, nor had she seen him take a seat opposite to her. So, when the commanding voice of Illyen spoke, she was taken aback. "Sorry?" She asked, looking up from the sheets of paper on her hand.

"I asked if you needed anything... For the talks I mean. You requested some things from the Foreign Office and were denied, no? I understand that things got a bit heated." He said for a second time.

"Oh." She replied. Heated was an understatement. She had found herself yelling at an unnamed clerk back at the foreign office, demanding to see the Foreign Secretary. The goals of the expedition were changed, and she found it extremely frustrating. "I'd have at least two more senior diplomats and a dozen other things. I'd also like more info on the damn place, it's like trying to play a game of 'guess it'. We barely know anything about them." She added with exasperation.

Illyen found that amusing, but also felt sympathetic. With a soft chuckle uncharacteristic of his personality, he spoke again. "So, would I. Yet, we must make do with what we have."

Emilia knew the officers of the High Kingdoms Military were subdued fellows, but how could he be this calm in a scenario such as this. She was about to ask the very thing but decided against it. Instead, she took a sip from her drink and asked, "So, how come they sent a seamarshal for such a matter?"

Illyen smiled, leaning back into his seat. "You think this assignment is below me?"

"N-no, I meant no offence. I was just curious. We'll speak about something else."