123 - A Thousand Years of Being Charming

Ilax sighed. “We are at war again, everyone. I'll have to take the pay cut, I suppose.” The Milari zon and the Lainz all laughed at his joke. It wasn't even a very good joke but everyone was just worn right out. The Nadu didn't immediately understand but people were whispering about how the Milar tended to cut their surdeniliarch's pay if a war actually broke out.

In the dim and smelly bird barn, with the leaking, crumbling hole, he got to his feet, squared his shoulders. “Konsiliarch Vidarna, I, Ilaxandal Vania aht Ruikart, Surdeniliarch of the Milari Unity, proclaim an undeclared war of extermination against Milar. I graciously ask you, in the person of your office, to grant me the post of Iliarch on this field, with all permissions to settle extraneous and ancient conflicts--” Da reached up and they grasped hands, even as Ilax went on. “-- to seek allies and to preserve our existence by what means I see fit.”

Everybody seemed to hold their breath. Kyrus had only seen Ilax this formal when he was in his chair at the Unity.

Ky could barely see her expression but it seemed tremendously relieved. “I, Vidarna Xshathrita Konsiliarch of the Milari Unity, do allow and request that Ilaxandal Vania take up the post of Iliarch in the name of our Unity, in the name of our survival.”

She reached into a flat leather case she'd been carrying. “It's about bleeding time, Ilax. I've got the proclamation for our signatures here. I got approvals before we left. I've also got approvals for you to negotiate with former enemies, now allies--” she nodded at Da. “--And grateful we are, Your Radiance, that you two bulled your marriage through Unity approval. I also have blanks so we can settle all of you Nadu on Milar land if this Lainz spot shouldn't be sufficient.”

Ilax blinked and Da laughed. “Vi, I think you've always been a canyon or two ahead of the rest of us.”

Elemfias snorted and every single one of the zon who were playing fysilios to Ilax just started laughing. “We've been running around like headless warbirds since this one,” she jerked a thumb at Da. “Came down off the mountain. It will be nice to have a clear enemy and a clear target again, even if we're only able to throw shiny rocks at that enemy's flyers.”

“Um...” Everyone turned to look at Werfas who had been sitting quietly nearby. He looked uncomfortable. “Two things... I linned to Hara at Lainz when we got into the barn, and the first thing is she says is they've built something better than just throwing rocks. And second... maybe more important. She's gotten hold of ally, running from Prime."

People were listening, their mouths hanging open, even behind the veils.  "Um. Er, well, he's bringing a couple of our people out of captivity.  He's been on the moon --working there -- and might know some more about contacting someone who might be able to stop Prime, or at least listen to us. Prime won't be able to just make us disappear and say “oops” or "sorry" or even "who knows?" and shrug it off, if these people come here and start asking questions.”

Everyone was staring at Werfas who blinked and quit talking, taking refuge in his most bland and block-like face. Wingbrother you just like it when people take you as boring and stupid. You find out what others wouldn't hear in a thousand years of being charming.