But the empire is in dire straights the only up side is this is happening all over and not just in the empire so other nations will not attack but we are greatly weakened and need allies to get through this period and the only ones close enough with enough military strength to do so is the northern barbarians.
I speak with the boys and my advice to them is that the current chief has yet to web if we propose one of their elder sisters to him for wedding purposes as a sign of alliance to trade them men for food that we are still in abundance for now that food production has restarted.
Although we will need to ignore others in the empire for this to fully work as long as the king can agree to allow it then any harm can be suppressed.
The eldest boy Chimon and his younger twin Chikao both have shown great talent and so when the letter of marriage to form alliance for protection comes to the emperor he is hesitant but knows they have little other choice if he wishes for the empire to continue to prosper.
So an envoy is sent to the northern lands waiting for there reply to the offer, a month later the reply comes.
A meeting shall be held by both parties in the northern walls in no mans land and all candidate for the marriage are to be present so as to see there ability to withstand and survive in there region and under there culture.
The meeting is set for the third full moon of the year in three months from now packing happens quickly and all the daughters of the southern king are expected to come no matter if they already are engaged or not as you do not know if they may be the one chosen.
A week later the convoy of the eldest twin Chimon and me along with 100 guards and 16 women set out for the alliance meeting.
The north is a cold land with little vegetation and from the reports many monsters, although many have begun to awaken a more advanced and powerful energy(Mental energy) few have properly adapted to the new energy and the few who have are those that cultivated life energy before hand too an extreme and that was only ever those that reached the level of general or me who is dual sex and therefore not considered a true person.
As we ride on our carriages and powerful steeds past a large stone wall with soldiers on it all in gaunt and tired looks almost as if they will drop at any moment.
The military of this region is horrible barely able to hold afloat much less deal with a potential threat from our neighbors, I see Chimon also see them and tell him, "You are a ruler and if you mess up that is the fate of your people and an even worse fate awaits you if you do not remedy it."
I can see his seriousness at my statement and so we continue out into the frozen landscape where the snow falls so continuously that you can barely see a foot in front.
We come to a cavern area with fires and furs all over and many people wearing leather and fur outfits and there bodies are filled with muscles, they sneer at our week nobles and soft women clearly not impressed with what has been brought as future wives.
A man with white hair and black eyes comes out and although no one else can sense it I recognize that energy anywhere, the man who they are bowing to and is clearly the chief is Wyatt.
I keep my face blank and my manners immaculate as Wyatt walks to our envoy and looks at me, my person is one that has fought on the front line and has even fought against the chief before so it would surprise no one that the so called chief recognized me and was interested in me.
"I welcome the chief and thank you for being willing to think of a alliance despite our past disagreements, we hope that each side will prosper with this agreement." I truly raised Chimon properly as he is neither assertive nor demure in this statement.
I see others scoff but Wyatt's eyes do not leave me and I can see the other barbarians have noticed this as well and are looking in my direction, in battle I wear a helmet and the only time the person I am acting as has ever had it knocked off is against the chief so none of the soldiers recognize me except for the chiefs second in command.
The second in command looks at me in a greedy way I have seen only on the face of the soldiers back in Neelan the look of wanting to posses.
"You bring me weak women like this as offering have you decided to spit on our culture like this while speaking of both sides prospering, truly it is as though you hold no respect for us." Wyatt says and I hold back my wish to glare as he is making this trickier then it needs to be.
"I apologize but I have no dual gender siblings and so I am unable to bring one for the marriage offer." Chimon says, clearly understanding that although in our empire dual genders are seen as deformed people over there they are seen as perfect wives as a guaranteed son or a future wife that is as strong and capable as a man makes it so the seek them out as first wives.
Unfortunately the snow gene of there region is incongruous with the gene for dual gender making it so most dual genders can only be brought in from foreign marriage and most foreigners are unwilling and most duel genders outside do not bother learning combat and are instead treated like women making them weak and not much better then a woman raised in the northern region.
"Well you brought a perfect candidate for my first wife along side you so I wish to make a slight change to the proposed alliance, the advisor next to you is healer Koju from the front army is it not he is perfect for our culture and appears quiet attached to your family since he is here as your assistant."
The men on the other side zeroed in on me looking me up and down ad the stare at me, my looks are similar though my hair is more silver and eyes more yellow.
I am without a doubt a beauty and to be strong and healing along with said beauty makes me the perfect wife by there culture as a duel gender but the problem is how did the chief know I am duel gender.
"I was not aware the northern chief had knowledge on me being a duel gender person tell me where did you gain such information."
The only way is if someone told them which means a traitor most likely from the imperial family as they would not wish the southern king to have his daughter married to the chief of the north.
I can see the men of the north shift at this statement in shock but neither the chief nor the second in command show surprise at the reveal of me being a duel gender person, the looks of greed appear then are pushed out as they know there chief has already made his claim to me and they have no hope to get me unless they beat the chief.
Wyatt looks at Chimon and says, "I agree to all the other offers but my bride will be Koju not one of your sisters if you agree then I request the right to properly meet and accompany my future wife over the coming week as we flush out all the details."
Chimon looks to me and I look in Wyatt's eyes before turning back to Chimon and nodding my head, I am to be wed to Wyatt better then if it was the actual chief as Wyatt will not expect children from me.
"We can begin negotiating both our trade and the wedding over dinner."