"To rule properly, one needed to have an equal measure of benevolence, and ruthlessness. Rulers with just benevolence would likely just set themselves up to be overthrown by overambitious vassals, and changes they wished to make out of benevolence would usually die in the cradle with them. On the other hand, those with just ruthlessness would be feared. Fear, however, has a way to turn into hatred and anger, for one could only trod upon others so much for so long before they fight back. Only those who had an equal measure of both, and the understanding of when to apply which, would go far in life." - Emir ibn Khalif Elam El-Ehr, beloved ruler of the Assadun Emirate, circa 72 VA.

"To a different matter now. Theodin," said the Bone Lord as he turned to face the pope. Even the pope couldn't help but be somewhat intimidated by the vacant stare of the soulfire in his eye sockets. "Have you made plans to address the current situation yet?"

"Part of it," admitted the pope apologetically. The situation the Bone Lord referred to was how the rival nations not only had worked together, but also knew enough to lay an ambush for people who returned from a secret meeting. "We have not identified the leak yet, Ciarran is still investigating that. What we worried the most about at the moment is the morale impact should our mole, or worse, our neighbors revealed our alliance."

"Then do not give them the chance," replied the Bone Lord nonchalantly. "Tell your people yourself before they could, let the revelation be on your terms instead of theirs."

"We had considered that," said Ciarran from the side. "But we feared that Antemeia or Junora might use the unrest that would ensue to invade."

"If you are willing to come clean about our alliance to your people, I will send in Brenegan and Sera to help in case the idiots around us decide to make a play," added the Bone Lord. Brenegan and Sera were his personal disciples, both very powerful necromancers a generation above Aoife. "You can even sell it to your people as a hostage exchange of sorts. This would also give little Aideen an excuse to walk back home later."

"That… might work if you also send someone younger to act as the 'hostage'. I don't think Brenegan or Sera would make a believable one," said the pope after he pondered the issue for a bit. "After all, what kind of hostage is stronger than their hosts? I don't think I could handle either of those two."

"Of course. I'll have Mimia play that part. Do take care of that brat for me while she's here," answered Nec Aarin after he nodded. "From your side, I'll have Aideen and Diarmuid come along, and Aoife as their 'chaperone'. This should also keep them from being targets should any idiots get the idea to move against them."

"That would be much appreciated, sir," said Ciarran as he bowed in gratitude. He himself, his father, and Faerghus were publicly very popular with the people of Vitalica, but even now many eyed Aoife and Diarmuid skeptically.

"I'll get Diarmuid a good teacher while he's staying with me as well. The boy has quite a bit of untapped potential, just lacking a proper teacher to pry them out," added the Bone Lord. "How long do you think you might need to root out the weeds, Theodin?"

"Give me at least two years, maybe three to be safe. Someone in the inner council had leaked the news to our enemies, and the implications of that has the potential to be… ugly."

"Let's do five, and I'll have troops ready by the border in the meantime. If the cowards next door got scared into staying still, it'd be best," said the Bone Lord. "Pack up your bags, kids, you'll be staying with Grandpa for a while."

What followed was a maelstrom of revelations that shocked Vitalica to its core. When the pope gathered the populace for an address a week later, none of them expected him to be lambasting a traitor within their own high council, much less when they learned that the attack on Aideen and Diarmuid's party was the responsibility of said traitor.

But what truly shocked the crowd was when a series of black carriages openly headed for the stage, and from within stepped out the figure of dreaded necromancers. A tall, bald, and burly man that still looked heroic despite his advanced age and black robes escorted a young child with innocent eyes and silvery hair, while on the child's other side was a severe-looking older woman, gaunt and pale, with a face that reminded people of a stern teacher.

The figure that attracted the most attention was the diminutive skeletal figure who walked in front of them, however. Despite the figure being scarcely taller than the child, all who laid eyes on him looked away in horror immediately, while those nearer the stage felt almost suffocated by the dreadful pressure he emitted just by existing.

Many looked on with surprise and disbelief when the pope himself openly admitted that their rise to independence decades ago was not entirely their own efforts, but that they also had discreet help from the Bone Lord, and he formally announced their mutual alliance to the gobsmacked crowd who did not know what to think.

It was not until the pope shook the hands of the bone lord, and announced that he would send his own grandchildren as hostages to showcase his sincerity, that someone in the crowd started to applaud, and soon the wave of applause infected the rest as they wildly chanted their support.

To most of the older people, the pope had been their savior, and any hatred they might have against the undead, was overridden to their loyalty to the man, who in their minds could do no wrong. Those children born after the independence, who were similarly indoctrinated since young by the stories, also stood firmly on the side of their savior. To them the undead threat was a far more distant thing, compared to their parents' generation that lived their lives under the yoke of their necromancer overlords.

Those who had different thoughts, that wanted to sow discord, was intimidated by the enthusiastic crowd, and slunk away unnoticed.

That same evening, Aideen, Diarmuid, Aoife, and the Bone Lord rode together in the same carriage as they left the gates of La Fiachna behind, and headed for the Lichdom of Ptolodecca.