The cold weather begining to hit once more, all you could see was fires around to keep the guards warm. I could see all of the Manticore guards surrounding he village keeping a close eye on everyone. I could feel the intentse hatred building as the Three leaders from the Beaastmen nation beinging to overtake the air. The only ones not on edge where the four humans from another world. Jared, Dom, Brad and I didn't hold resentment towards anyone, yet. We four looked at the ship began to settle right at the docks. I was the first person the Royal Guards of this ship saw.
They held out their swords to me and asked who I was. "You human, who might you be to greet us with a smile?" A Wolf Beastman asked me, I continued to smile when I replied with. "I'm Jacob Wellings, I am the man responsible for the meetings for tomarrow." I bowed my head a bit as another Wolf came forward. "You're the Chieftain of this Village than?" He asked me and I shook my head "no" Then I said. "I'm more of the Village's weapons smith and village Guard." I said pulling out my dagger in my belt, "I make special iron and other metal work." I added to see some of the guards were going to take the dagger from me.
The man instead stopped them and checked out my dagger for himself. He picked it up and saw how light it was but how nice it felt in his hands. "This feels like a strong blade do you make these for just anyone?" The man asked me and I nodded then I added, "I do though get most of my work orders from my people and our guards." He gave me the blade back, We smiled at eachother till Roni came flying down to us. "Jacob my friend, we have a couple more ships coming this way." He said to me as the man looked pleased, "Ah that must be Queen Geta and Lia, they were leaving a day after I did."
He looked at me then introducted himself to me. "I'm sorry for not introducing myself, I am King Hide of the Wolf Clan. I'm here to hear you out about a peace treaty." He said bowing to me, I stopped him and held out my hand to him. "You are most welcome here, for now, and as I said before my name is Jacob." I said to him as he took my hand to shake, as we stood there for a while. I saw Helga and Helda were coming down to greet the visitors. King Hide saw a ring on my future wife's hand then saw my smile when I looked at her. "Who prey tell are these two Sir Jacob?'
He asked me and I snapped back to the moment. "Right this woman on the right (Helga) Is the Chieftain of the Village. The other one on the left is my fiance Princess Helda, her father is one of the Kings of the Vikings." Both women walked right up us and Helda gave me a small note in my right hand. I took it out and read what she had on it. "Father needs your assistance in the meeting hall." It read and I smiled, "Dear you could of said that out loud," I said looking over to King Hide. I called over a Manticore guard to watch over the girls while I left to help King Canutis.
I bowed when I said goodbye to the Wolf and I ran off to see what Canutis needed from me. As I made through our little village I saw Canutis was sitting on the steps of the building. I came up to him and he looked concerned about something. I caught something in the corner of my eye, there was a passed out Lily laying on a beam. "You need me to take care of the little Manticore problem sir?" I asked him scarying him half to death. "Oh God, you scared the hell out of me, and yes. She's been up there all day and won't come down no matter what I offer her." He said to me and I laughed at him for a minute.
"Ah, she's being a stuborn one, well you can't offer a Manticore something she doesn't need." I said as I walked into the hall and then I told him what some of her kind respond to. "She only fears and like a couple things, with fear is being scolded by someone they respect. For the things they like, you most have something she wants more than anything." I looked right at Lily who was now wake looking right at me with a happy look on her face. Till she saw I wasn't smiling at her, she curled her ears back. "Lily, you need to come down, this place is not a tree to climb in!" I told her and she was hesitant but then she saw I was being serious.
She got up and then she jumped down right at me. I caught her Then set her on the ground. "I know thought that was a good place to nap in, for now stay out of here till those ships are gone." I said to her then I got on the ground to her height. "Here" I said giving her a bag of jerky I made from dear meat. "Go find your cousin and see if she needs help at my shop." I said to her smiling trying to make her feel better for being scoulded. She looked in the bag and then she ran off with it smiling as she got to Manti. Manti looked at me and I mouthed, "Watch her for a bit." Manti nodded then took her inside the house.
I saw that the other leaders were now here but the meeting wasn't till the morning. I sighed long letting my body stretch out for a moment. "I think we should have Scree, and Thorin stay in their rooms tonight. I can get everyone settled with the beastmen if their happy and full." I said to the air, Canutis took my hint and had one of his guards make my request accpeted. So that night in the Beastmen Camp I offered to cook everyone a meal. I walked right to the largest area next to the camp fire. "Wow they can really set up fast!?" I said out loud when King Hide saw me, He waved me to come over.
So I accpeted and walked right over to them, Where Helga let them camp out was in the old logging field Brad cleared four months ago. "Ah Lia, and Geta, this is Jacob Wellings. He's the one whos going to be over seeing everything in the morning. He's also the Village's Black smith as well." He said intoducing me right to the Queens of the Beastmen. Lia a lion Beastman, looked right through me with her golden cat eyes. I then looked at Geta who was a lizard or Dragon Beastman as she was doing the samething to me. King Hide then offered me a place to sit next to him by the fire.
Hide looked at his fellow leaders then saw they looked at me with hate. He was going to say something till I got tired of being glared at. "I can get use to people staring at me but the glares need to stop." I said out loud that were supposed be only in my head. Hide seemed to laugh but covering his mouth a bit as the women looked shocked I was so bold. Lia was the first to snap back at me between the women. "You're human, your people have slughtered many of mine for years, so we have.." I raised my right hand to stop her, "My adopted people or just humans in general?" I asked her and she froze for a moment.
"Adopted, are you telling me that you're not a Viking Citizen?" Lia asked me and I smiled for a moment. "Yeah, I'm from another world like this one I even have proof." I said pulling out my lighter I've always kept on my person. Then I added, "I came to this world from a portal, I was dropped in the laps of a Viking woman and her people. I believe it's been over a year now." I looked up in to the air as I saw a red flickering light. I pulled out a random cigar from my pocket and lit it. Lia who wasn't satified with my short story asked me. "Why can't we hate humans in general?"
I blew the smoke in my lungs out my nose for a moment. "Would it be fair if I hated someone just because they look different than me. When I've never spoken to them?" I said looking right at Hide he shook his head. "I'm sure your people don't like certain races of Beastmen because of a dumb reason?" I asked and Hide nodded on that question, "The Lions and Wolves hated eachother for centuries, and the others I'm curtain." Lia then asked me after she knew I was right. "What do you see when you look at us then, do you fear us?" Everyone looked at me as this was the first good question she had.
"I don't fear most non Human or Beastmen because of the world I came from. We have books and playes that show people like your's as everyday people. When I met Corie or as we call her Manti, she was in her normal monsterous form. Instead of me running away I wanted to see if she was friendly. I could of died from making a bad judgement but I didn't" pointing to all the Manitcores running around. King Hide had a suspision about the Manticores but then I said all that. "What kind of friendship do you have with them?" He asked me and I shurgged but then I told him.
"When I gave my left over boar I couldn't carry all the way home I gave it to the first manitcore I met. She then came to the village to thank me but I was on the ground covered in blood after getting my ass handed to me by pirates. She saved me with healing magic and creating a familar contract with me. After that we lived together for months. Eventually I need help from them to protect my village so I went to met them. One thing led to another and I slowly became friends with most of them." I took a slow buff on my cigar for a minute as everyone started to give me a weird look.
"So she's a slave to you know?" Lia asked me and I shook my head "no" then I said putting my cigar down. "She's is as free as she wants to be, I may ask her to do somethings for me but she's not a slave. She could break the contract at any time but she hasn't yet." I said, Hide nodded but the women didn't they just looked at me. "I promise you I would never make someone do something I can't do myself. I was raised to take care of my own problems." I said making them look at eachother, I saw a servant come up to give the leaders their own food.
I smiled, as I saw that the food looked something from my old world. There food was fried and raw with the fish, King Hide saw me smiling like an idiot. "Do you know what kind of food this is?" He asked me and I nodded but then said. "It looks like the food I used to like back when I was in the military in my old world." I looked to the stars and remebered how good that food was. Hide split some of his food and handed me a bowl of it for my to try. I was going to refuse but I caught the smell of the fried veggies lingering in the air. "Thank you sir, I was going to make a welcome dinner for you all but I guess sharing a well made meal is good too."
I said and everyone waited for to eat it to see if I liked it. I took a bit of the fish and felt a spice take over my mouth. I smiled and took another bit before I ate the veggies. "You like spicy food Jacob, never I'd see a Human able to handle our food before?" HIde asked me and I nodded, "I love spicy food, when I was younger I use to eat things like this all the time." I took a drink offered to me by the servant and it was a kind of Green Tea. I seemed to cry a bit as everyone watched me, Lia got a look in her eye as she asked. "Are you really from another world, or is that what you tell people?"
She gave me a demanding look that scared me a bit. "Yeah, I'm from a world like this but with out living Vikings and Beastmen." I said and she seem to have more questions for me but Queen Geta stopped her. "We all should get to bed for tomarrows big event." Geta told everyone, we all nodded and I help pack up the cooking ware a bit. As I brought the servant the last bowl Lia asked me. "Can you make us that meal for tomarrow after the meetings. I'd love to try it if you don't have much on your plate?" I smiled, "Sure I can do that once everything is settled." I then left for home and crawled into my bed where Helda was.
I went to sleep and dreamed of nothing, it was just a dark peaceful night for me. Then when it came to morning I was already up and dressed in my clothes I got from King Thorin and Canutis. Roni and a couple of the Manticore guard were rigth next to me as I set up the table. Corie or Manti came in to the main room with a look on her face. "Whats wrong Manti?" I asked her and she seemed to laugh for a moment then said. "My parents are here to be a part of the meetings today, I tried but.." I smiled, "They are most welcome since they are a huge part of the Village."
I said as I began to rearrange the table a bit for two more spots at the table. It wasn't time to start yet but I wanted to make sure everything was fine. I had everything double cleaned and made sure that Lily wasn't sleeping in the rafters again like yesterday. Then around the fourth our of day light I saw King Thorin and Canutis come in to the room. They had only seen it unfinished and were suprised how clean and nice the hall was today. "You spent all morning here I suspect my son?" King Canutis asked me and I nodded confirming his question.
"With magic it was easier than being a normal person. I even made two more chair for the leaders of the Manticores." I said as Slay and Cory came into the room to see me. Canutis shook his head but understood I didn't have a choice to let them in. Cory came up to me and gave me a hug after a minute of staring at the Kings of the Vikings. "We're here to support you and to support our own." She said to me as she had her husband sit in the new chairs for them. She then had a second thought and stood Slay back up. She then got close to King Thorin and Canutis, "I'm called Cory, I am the Village leader of the Manitcore."
She said holding out a hand for them to shake. Canutis was hesitant but watched Thorin shake her hand. "Madam, it's a pleasure to meet you, I over heard you say your here to support sir Jacob?" Thorin asked her and she nodded. "We come to see him as a good friend to my people, we also have a stake here with being so close." Cory said looking right back at her husband who introduct himself to the Kings. I was by the spot I was going to sit when I saw Queen Scree burt in to the hall. She looked mad about something then she saw looked right at the Manticores.
She was going to say something but she saw my face was plain and still. "Please don't slam my doors like that Madam, I worked to hard to see them being abused." I said in a cold tone that even spooked Cory and Slay. She sat in the spot furthest from me as everyone started to pile in. I saw it was only going to be the first captain of each Guard and a couple of children of the Beastmen's Rulers. I then heard loud thunder like pounding on my newly built floor. Roni and Corie who were next to me went to got stop them but I held them back. "They're just making a big entrance I will deal with it later."
I said to my guards making them stand down. Hide, Lia, and Geta all sat on my right opposet to Thorin, Canutis and Scree to my left. Queen Scree glared at the beastmen but the Kings did not, then I looked at the beastmen leaders. They glared only at one person and that was Scree. I laughed a bit then I slammed my fist to get their attentions. "King Hide and Queen Lia and Geta, these three infront of you are Kings Thorin, Canutis and I'm guessing you already know Queen Scree?" I said as they nodded to the Kings but watched Queen Scree. They all then looked at me, "You can see something we can't?"
King Hide asked me tilted me head at him. "I can see all of you are glaring at Queen Scree really hard but not at the Kings at all. Why is this, why do you have some much hate for Queen Scree?" I asked him and he was going to say something back to me but Scree stood up. "They keep trying to take my land to the south, I don't know why but they've killed off the fishing spots for many of my villages." She said interupting Hide from telling me his side of the story. I shot stream of fire from my nose for a second in anger. Queen Scree was sat down by Canutis as I let Hide say his peace.
"We have been moving towards the north settling on land when we need to resupply. But since we're beastmen we're not allowed in Queen Scree's Villages or ports. My people don't eat a lot of fish but I know the others do. But I don't believe they would take everything since it's been a weird migration year." He then had looked next to him at Queen Lia who was the Lioness. "We do eat mostly fish but we never consum enough to dwindle that resource." She said arguing her point well with eyes that weren't lying. How I could tell is a secret only good leaders and survivalist develop.
I looked at Scree who now looked a bit embarssed like when her son attacked Manti. King Thorin then stood up to ask the leaders of the Beastmen a open question. "What do you need from us and why call for war?" The Beastmen looked at each other like they never knew about what he was talking about. I looked at Scree again and I realised what was going on. Both King Thorin and Canutis felt the temperture in the room change to desert like. Everyone looked at me and saw I was beyond angry at this point. "You were going to put everyone into war because of a problem you had with..."
I felt a hand touch my back and it was my Cousins and my brother. "I can not believe you'd be so dumb to think this wouldn't be found out. Starting a war over a simple matter is not becoming of a Queen or a King." I said with a calmer tone than before, King Canutis and Thorin were now looking at their fellow Viking Ruler with the same eyes as the Beastmen. Then I saw Corie move, "Oh no," I said to myself as she told everyone. "This must be a family trait, thinking their racist views is a course to start a war." Corie's Parents looked at her confused to see a scar on her stomach.
King Thorin had to tell them what had happened. "Her Son attempted to kill Manti here but failed leaving a scar on her and on my faith to my Kin. Queen Scree, you're going to answer for your crimes later but I still want to hear what the Beastmen want from us as a whole people?" He gave the floor to the Beastmen, Geta stood up and said. "We only want to create a treaty for trade and safe passage through the waters under Viking Control." She said then she hissed a bit that almost made me laugh a bit. She gave me a funny look then she sat down. As we discussed the detailes of the treaty the Beastmen looked at the Manticores.
Hide then asked, "Jacob, what are they doing here, they've been silent for a bit since we've started the meeting?" I face palmed myself then I introduct Slay and Cory. "These two wonderful people are King Slay and Queen Cory the leaders of the Manticores. They also live very close to this small village so they made it clear to be here for today." I said and Slay gave me a werid look and I just shrugged it off as they spoke up. "Great rulers of the Beastmen people, We hope to start trade with everyone here if everything goes off right. Since though finding out my daughter was hurt by a Viking Queens bastard child."
"I wish only to trade with only the five of the leaders here today." Slay said bowing to everyone, I smiled a bit then looked back at Manti. She shoved me a bit when Helda walked into the room. She saw everyone was calm for the most part. Now with the Manticores involved a bit more they all came to a treaty that was more like a signed friendship with the Vikings, Manitcores and the Beastmen. I even thought of something to unite our three people together. "We have a type of learning that puts all of our children into a place called a school. They have many names but I think a Academy for Future's rulers would be a good way to explore this treaty a bit more."
King Hide and King Thorin loved the idea but some of the others had their reservations about it. "Who would teach these children, it can't be just one type of teacher?" Geta asked me and I gave her a rough image of what a school was. "A school has a couple teachers for every type of subject, but for here I thought maybe. We do magic, financing with money, History and everything you all think should be taught in this school. We can even set up multipule schools around the six Kingdoms to get everyone involved who qualifies." I then saw everyone understood the perpose of a school.
"What should we call this learning program and who would we allow in it?" Lia asked me and I told her. "Everyone can join if they pass the opening tests, with Magic power, fighting ablility and intelligence. When their mark or what I call Grades go to far down we can exspell them." Canutis raised his hand and told me that we could hold off on all that till everyone is settled with the treaty. I agreed with him and let them continue more of their conversations. I stood their listening to everything when Queen Scree pulled me aside. "I know you don't like me but, can you help me with something?"
She asked me and I nodded to see what she needed from me. "I am ashamed of what I and my family have done in the last year to everyone. Can you help me change myself so I don't hurt out people like I was going to. I see that you even though not a leader by trade, have the insight I need." She begged and I smirked a bit but then I placed my hand on her bare shoulder. "First sit back and watch, enjoy everything around you. Then and only then will you see what I see when I look into the eyes of our people." Scree was confused but she accepted my advice and she sat not saying anything but watching.
As the afternoon went on I saw that it was almost time for dinner. "Hey Roni," I said turning to him as he was watching everyone closely. "Yes, my friend what is that you need of me?" He asked me and I smiled, "Can you watch things here for an hour, I need to get dinner started for everyone?" I asked him and he nodded, "Sure, if anything happeneds I'll get Corie to come get you sir." He said as I rushed off to the Kitchen in the main hall across the road. Helda who was talking with her father saw me leave in a hurry and ran to catch up with me. She though saw I was taking a slow walk to the Main hall slowley.
I let all the nerves I had hidden under my skin out. With a breath of fire straigth into the air I roared a bit. Helda was now behind me and got spooked but hugged me from behind. I was going to throw her off but it felt nice. I felt everything I worried about melt away for a moment. "I know you put up a act for everyone but you don't have to hold everything in." She said to me and I just nodded, "You want to help me make dinner tonight for everyone?" I asked her and she just said, "Yes dear." In a calm gental tone, we then headed into the Hall and into the kitchen.
We made the dinner in record time, we even got to make my favorite tea to drink. The meetings ended as I started to place the heaps of food on the tables. Everyone next door could smell it so everyone came into the building with hungry bellies. I waitied for everyone to get their food then I had Helga make a toast to everyone. She went right to her bid chair and then looked out to the Kings and Queens of our world. "All I can say is, thanks to a friend of the crown, we all can enjoy a good meal together with allies tonight. Here's to the man and leaders who didn't start a war tonight."
Helga said raising her glass but then pointed to me. "Jacob give us a few words like you're Chieftain!" Yelled King Thorin edging me to step up next to her. I broke then I got up to give my own toast. I looked all over then I looked at Helda. She gave me a little smile then I gave me toast. "I am not a leader by any means, but I was asked once. Jacob who can you trust someone who's not like you? I didn't have a good response at the time but I do now. I was given the ablility to see the world for what it is. We have a world full of people, a world full of beauty, a world of adventure. Accept what you can, but try to put good into this world."
I said not making much sense but I got my point across. Everyone raised their glasses and began to eat the dinner. Everyone talked and laughed together, swaping stories and adventures with each other. I was with King Hide and King Thorin drinking wine. They were chatting about their best moments in battle from their early years. They both then looked at me and were going to ask me about my military past but didn't. I looked sad about the battles I had fought in the past. Hide though then asked me, "Why do you have that face when we talk about these things Jacob?"
I took a slow sip as Helda who was right next to me told them. "He had a rough time with his worlds wars. He lost life he tried to save and it hit him pretty hard." She then put her hand over my free hand, "I tried to save a child who was badley wounded. He did in my arms as we were air lifted to safty. I know there was nothing we could of done in time but it hurt my soul." I said as I set the cup down, everyone seem to get depressed from that. But then I changed the subject with a happy memory. "There was a good moment though, where all the branches of my countries military came together."
I then looked at them and continued, "we all took a picture of that moment in our uniforms, it was turned into a large portait in our Grandmothers house." Just as I said that Jared pulled out the picture I was talking about and showed it to Hide and King Thorin. Both Kings looked at it and Thorin smiled, those uniforms are pretty nice but not very safe." He said and I told him that those were are formal uniforms. He smiled, "Ah, so you have better armor then?" He asked me and I shook my head, "No" then I said, "it could stop some arrows but didn't really have any protection like a full armored suit."
We talked for a bit more till I got late, Helda saw I was getting tired like I did when entertaining company. Hide saw I was tired also so had everyone get ready for camp. Helda and I went to the house and I sat on the bed. I took off my boots to see that were getting worn out from all my traveling. I teared up a bit then I set my boots on the ground as I sat further back to my handmade pillow. I felt Helda touch my shoulder but I drifted off to sleep. She layed her head on my chest and fell asleep right after she covered us up with a blanket.
The next morning I slept in a bit till about ten. The only reason I woke up was because I felt Manti staring at me from the door way. "Are you going to get up, oh and King Hide and Queen Lia asked me to request your presents." She said to me and I got up quick putting on my boots that looked newer for some reason. I then threw on my regular clothing, I then walked to the camp to talk to Hide. I saw that all the Manticores all went home but for Roni. He was talking with Helga and Kal, Which they were in the camp talking to Hide and the Queens. King Thorin and Queen Scree left hours before I got up so Canutis was only here.
I walked into camp and everyone looked at me. Hide was talking with Helda, "Yes, if you both could visit our land we would show you some of our wonders. Though we don't have alot but we have good food and magic devices that need some outside help." King hide said to her and I was drawn right into the conversation. "Oh Jacob, would you love to spend a month in one of the capitals of the Beastmen? I would even let you stay in my brother's Manor for the time being." He asked me and I accpeted his request, "I feel like I need a nice vacation from all of what I achieved this year."
"I would love to come with you to see a new land for myself." I said to Hide and he told me that they would love for Helda to come with, "You can even bring that other Human you've had around you. What's his name, Jared I think?" Hide said to me asking for me to bring him with on top of bringing my future wife along. I looked back to the village and saw Jared was making his way to me. "Sure I can ask if he'd like to come with. Helda do you have any objections going to their country for a month?" I asked Helda and she didn't have any objections on going.
I went and asked Jared if he wanted to go and he nodded to agree on coming with us. "I've only seen this village and the Manitcores, I'd love to see how different this one is from ours." He said making me smile, and of course Manti wanted to come with but I told her. "You need to be here with Brad and Dom to protect the village with Helga. Don't worry I'll bring you something back in a month or so." Manti frowned but then she waved her feelings off and smiled at me. After that day we got packed for our long trip and headed to Hide's ship. King Canutis was still here to see us off on our vacation to the Beastmen Country.
"You three stay safe and Jared make sure your cousin stays out of trouble." He demanded, Jared smiled a bit and nodded as he went to the center of the ship. Canutis then looked right at me, "I know we have a treaty with them now, but don't let your guard down you two." He said to us now using his father tone to both Helda and I. "Yes sir, don't worry I never let my guard down, never know when crap will hit the sails." I said trying to make a joke, Canutis understood what I meant and gave me a smile. He then looked at his daughter and she just smiled at him. We felt the ship move and we all waved goodbye to him.
As we watched the village get smaller I felt a strange energy flow under my feet. King Hide then came to where we were, "Going to need you guys to sit while we hit the engines for our trip home." He said to us and my ears only heard "engines." I had Helda sit as I watched the ship change a bit. Two large propellors came from behind the ship and went into the water. Then the sail retracted and we took off across the water like a jet. As we got to the open ocean the ship really settled in a stable speed. The wind wasn't hitting our faces but I knew to keep my hands in the ship.
I was amazed just as Jared and Helda was as we crossed the ocean. King Hide saw how we all were and he laughed. "You guys don't use magic the same way we do?" He asked us and Helda responded with. "The only ones that can use magic are those with contracts and Jacob's family." Hide was suprised to hear this but now understood why the Vikings had not advanced their ships yet. "Ah, we can teach you all how to use magic. We have a system to see if someone has the potential to use any type of magic." King Hide told us and I nodded as Jared came back to us.
"We are going to have fun on this adventure aren't we little cousin?" Jared asked me and all I did was Nod to him. We all watched the ocean as we sped across towards a new land.