Purple was now my most hated color, courtesy of Xaseah and her focused gaze. I did not know exactly what I felt about her. I hated that she manipulated me, I loathed her for the fact that she reduced me into a slobbering addict of a vampire. My addiction for human blood had passed during my coma, but the scars it left was still very much there.

Xaseah is a dangerous woman. There was more to her than meet the eye, and as such it was a bug mistake on my part to have completely forgotten about her and our previous meeting. But that was not exactly my fault, I have had a lot of things on my mind as of late.

She was sitting on a couch made of earth, but furs if animals I did not know were lined around its edges and placed on its seat for comfort. We were in one of the four rooms I had Nisi build on the ground floor of the tower, it would serve a purpose as a meeting room for now.

I had to admit that Nisi had done a good job, the girl was young but she was very talented and creative. Of course there was not much or a creativity in the floor above, considering she just hollowed the whole thing out, with the exceptions of the balcony, the ceiling with carvings of divine lions on it and the stair way everything else was rather bland and empty. But it set d its purpose as bedroom.

I admit me thinking about Nisi and her prowess with construction was just a way for me to stall my impending disaster of a meeting with Xaseah. But it was the best I could do for now, she makes things complicated for me.

I sat down on the chair opposite of her and crossed one leg over there other. I admit that my intention at the moment was to look cool or intimidating, but with the way she arched her eye brow it was quite obvious I failed, spectacularly.

Xaseah moved her gaze from my face, to Kuyait’s who was standing behind me. She scrunched her fore head in confusion as she asked.

“I thought this was a private meeting?”

“it is.” I replied back.

“Then why is she here?”

“she’s my assistants. She goes everywhere I go. Besides I don’t think having her around would be of any consequence.”

Xaseah’s eyes bulged out like she had just heard something completely unbelievable, she shifted her gaze form Kuyait to mine, and back again. Even I got a little confused.

“Are you not aware of her reputation, the woman behind you even with all of her blemishes is the most beautiful of all the vampires or dark elves. But she is very much as snake like as the Nagas we have to fight.”

I couldn’t help but get angry. Kuyait has been nothing but nice to me, and as far as I was concerned I did not think that she had any I’ll intentions against me. It was weird but I trusted her completely.

“I did not bring you here to insult my assistant Xaseah. I demand you apologize to her this instant.”

Xaseah’s eyes narrowed as they took on an angry tilt. I could not help the feeling that I may have said something that I was not supposed to say.

“I did not come here to be made a mockery of Lord Kael. Let me remind you are not king yet, and the people who put you in this position could just as easily take you away from it. I’m a priestesses of the dark elves, even if I may have made rather unsavory decisions concerning our relationship in the past. I will not, even under the threat of death bow to a whore!!!”

Safe to say she was angry. But more unfortunate, so was I. and I was prepared to give this pampered, prideful and pompous princess a lesson in humility and respect. Though I had a feeling that I would loose badly, I was still going to defend Kuyait’s honor as a woman. Even though it was from another woman. But her hand on my shoulder stopped me.

“her highness Xaseah is right my lord. This is a meeting if extreme importance and my presence here would not help matters. And in regards hunger to having her apologize to me, I think my lord Kael was acting a bit rashly when he made that decision. Nothing she has said so far is a lie, and in your bid to defend me you have paid a great insult to the priestess by asking her to apologize to me.

And for that you highness Xaseah, I apologize. Now if you would excuse me, there are other things that require my attention.”

And with that said she left the room. I did not think it was fair, I did not think Xaseah was fair to her either. And I let her know how much I thought if her by trying to glare a hole through her head. And she glared right back. As calm as she always tried to portray herself, it seems Xaseah was more fire than water in her character. At least it made me know what to expect from this meeting.

I know the kind of pride both races had, and vampires had it even more. Not to mention Xaseah who was just like Cassie and was a hybrid. But unlike Cassie who was born of a vampire mother, Xaseah was born of a dark elf. I have no idea who had it worse.

So maybe asking her to apologize was not the right way to go. It was the right thing to do, but it should have been done in an entirely different way. Both our outburst was completely uncalled for, I knew it, and she knew it. But no body among the two of us was going to apologize, no; not at all. We had to much pride foe that.

But no a dilemma has presented itself on how we could proceed, I had no doubt that Xaseah would lend the gnomes under her to help. Considering it was a shot at the survival of everybody in the pit. But it would definitely come with a higher price than before.

Not to mention if we do survive the Nagas we might have need of them in the future. But I have successfully pissed of the leader. And now with the woman whose help I needed angry at me,( even though it was entirely her fault) there was not many options left for a collaboration with each other In the future.

Of course I could go directly to the gnomes and try to convince them, even the ones who have chosen to remain neutral and not render any help unless there was profit in it for them. But it would cost me, it would cost my people. As such that was decision I could not take unless I was left with no choice.

“How did you know it was Nagas in the tunnel?”

I was surprised that she took the initiative to talk to me first. I couldn’t help it but my impression of her increased a bit. At least this showed that she was more mature than I gave her credit for. She was objective in her dealings, and those were very good qualities of leader. But coming from me; someone who could hardly get his council in order……it seems stupid. With a little hesitation I answered her, if she could be mature so could I.

“by the description the gnomes gave. As you know considering you were part if the people who made this decision. The tunnel was left blocked as a line of defense should the guards and wardens return.

So a few gnomes, vampires and dark elves were stationed there to watch and guard the entrance. The gnomes are natural earth mages, but without proper training they rely on nothing more than Instinct to ply their craft. When they sensed the Nagas in the tunnel, they said they moved strangely. Even if it was a horse that was in the tunnel, they would have know what it was from its footfalls.

Because I’m sure the gnomes trained themselves to be able to recognize foot steps. After all smuggling human blood into the pit would need some serious surveillance, meticulous planning, and a very impressive ability.

They identify based on vibrations, but on intervals only. The Nagas are always in constant contact with the ground due to having the lower body of a snake. They are in constant motion and as such the vibrations they give is constant, the gnomes are not as advanced in the magic to be able to pick out a proper shape from such motions.

I have spent most of my time reading and learning, especially about the pit and its histories. I know the Nagas come here for a routine inspection every two years. And counting the time since I woke till now, I would say they are a little last their due date. From there it was just a matter of connecting the dots.”

Even I was impressed with my skills of deduction. It doesn’t hurt to have a little power trip once in a while anyway. Xaseah seemed to be analyzing what I just told her. But then she asked me a question that left me confused.

“What’s a horse?”

“well….um….a horse is……a horse is…. I don’t know.”

She raised an eyebrow. I was a little miffed so I felt the need to defend myself from whatever she was thinking about me.

“I lost my memories, sometimes names and impressions just pop into my head. How could you not know what a horse is. You’ve been alive for a whole lot longer than I have, and I know for a fact that the dancing caves are very much in touch with news from the outside world. Except in recent times that is.”

I felt justified. It was not me who did not know want a horse was. I could be given a little leeway since I had lost my memories. But Xaseah seems to be nothing more than all boons and no brain. But then she said

“Did it ever cross your mind that I don’t know what a horse is, because such a thing does not exist.”

I was speechless, I had no idea how to refute that, so I just kept quiet. Initially this was a meeting to discuss how I could acquire the help if her gnomes. I had no idea how it went so sideways. I cleared my throat and kept my voice leveled as I said to her.

“Be that as it may, we have more important things to talk about. I need those gnomes. Their control over earth will help us bolster our defenses, not to mention set up a trap that will stop the Nagas.”

Xaseah leaned back on the chair she was sitting on, and tilted her head to the side. She looked somewhat cute with such an act, but her beauty was not the topic of deliberation here.

“Of course I will lend them to you. But as you know lord Kael, there is always a price as far as the gnomes as concerned.”

“that’s to be expected. What do you want?” I asked her impatiently.

“I want a seat on the council of twelve. A seat that would belong to me and my descendants for as long as this charade can continue.”

So in return for gamin ng the help and expertise of a two hundred gnomes, for the express intention of saving the lives of millions, I had to give a power hungry bitch more power……well where do I sign.

“done.” I gave my answer curtly and without hesitation. I could see a look of surprise flit last her eyes before she settled back I to her calm disposition.

“just like that, you and I have a rather interesting history and I’m sure you hate and want to lay me back for manipulating you and trying to use you for my gain. But to give me the seat just like…its strange. Some might think you have lost your mind. After all we’re enemies.”

“make no mistakes Xaseah Lis Sarvit, I am going to make you pay for what you did to me. There’s no escape from my wrath and anger. It was just postponed. But as soon as we are done with this naga business I’m coming for you. The decision on how to survive rest solely in your hands.

There’s danger at our doorstep, and we can not afford to bicker among ourselves. So in the light of that, I will put our differences aside. So that we can work together and make a proper pathway to freedom for out people.”

I felt that to deal with a person as manipulative as Xaseah, the best course of action was to be as honest as possible. Especially when she had something I needed. Public opinion of her would change if she refused to lend her help, but if we should survive the Naga’s incursion, there was definitely going to be a time in the future when I might need Xaseah’s again.

So as much as the this woman rubs me the wrong way, coupled with the fact that I still want to lay her back for her crimes against me. I needed to keep a cordial relationship with her. If possible make her into one of my allies.

“very well lord Kael, I don’t believe there’s any thing left to say. I will send the gnomes over as soon as possible. But I think you should still lay heed to my words. The whore that serves you now, is dangerous. There’s more to her than meets the eye and she could just as easily betray you. Good day lord Kael its been a pleasure.”

Its been anything but a pleasure. I didn’t know why but thus woman drove me insane. She pushed my buttons without even trying and I very, very much hated the guts on that chick. I watched her leave with my anger barely contained. I wanted to throw a planet at her and see what happens then.

It was frustrating really, but the fact that I was stuck playing politics with all this people felt more then exhausting than anything I could remember. At the moment I think accepting to be king was a very bad idea, and I very much regretted it already. It was just to much work.

So far everything has been a little to convenient for me, of course I had been through some really bad situations, but the fact that things that I needed just seemed to fall into my lap at the most opportune moments piqued me as strange. It was as if someone or something was looking out for me, but such thoughts could not be quantified or proven. So in the end it could just be that I am incredibly lucky.

But now with the gnomes under my command, at least for now u had to find a way that their abilities would be put to the best use. We could not face the Nagas in direct combat, such an action would be a death sentence, and I knew for a fact that they would not be alone.

There was bound to be a whole battalion if not more of werewolves and humans following right behind them. And those were just what was within my current predictions. There could more unpleasant surprises and unaccounted variables in this fight. So really we were very much going into this blind.

The enemies know what to expect from us, even if most of the population were now rediscovering most of their natural abilities that was blocked by the regular administration of Ionite, it would still take a longer time for them to get all those abilities under complete control. With that left out, the only thing both races had were their speak d and strength. But against incredibly advanced magic users like the Nagas, we would most probably be wiped out from a mile away.

The only other option was to find a way to hinder them, trap them and find a way to limit their abilities. I had no hope of us being able to kill them, but I wanted to find a situation that would force then to retreat. The traps can work, but they can only go so far. With the gnomes and their earth magic proper defenses and traps can be raised. And as limited as my weaving abilities were, they are still quite strong.

The only limiting me is my own imagination and energy. I was very sure that with just my single word weaves I can probably make our defenses stronger and set more elaborate traps. Not to mention I still had Teluna and his control over darkness. But I would much rather prefer if the boy was away from anything dangerous, but I might not have a choice.

Time really was running out, and there was a lot to do. But I felt strangely optimistic even with the threat of impending doom hanging over the heads of millions of vampires and dark elves me included. I had that feeling I was being led, I don’t know what but I knew I would try my best. It’s all I can do at the moment.