The Doom of Kings_ Legacy of Dhakaan - Don Bassingthwaite [100]
Second, I would like—with your permission—to offer Haruuc the services of a few mercenary companies from beyond Darguun. Clan politics add to the tension between warlords and among the people. I think Haruuc will quickly see the benefit of using outsiders to supplement his guards, especially if it becomes necessary to move food on a large scale. This is an ideal opportunity to begin addressing the unbalanced relationship between Deneith and Darguun.
Third, I believe we should stand ready to offer mercenaries—again from outside—to any warlords who become sufficiently enraged with the Gan’duur to move against them on their own. Haruuc may not be able to act against Gan’duur territory, but I have seen him subtly pushing other warlords in that direction. If hostilities were to open on a small scale between the Gan’duur and another clan, I expect he would turn a blind eye. The availability of our mercenaries might tip that balance, and we would earn Haruuc’s favor for helping to end the Gan’duur threat.
I also strongly advise that you send out instructions that any hobgoblins with Gan’duur affiliations serving with our companies be immediately removed from sensitive positions. Clan ties are strong, and we should be ready for desertions as Gan’duur goes to the aid of their clan. If we are prepared, we may be able to avoid embarrassment in the face of our clients.
I continue to make contacts among the warlords, of course, as well as among independent companies who want to sell their services to Deneith. Interesting leads are forwarded to Redek at the Gathering Stone. Senen Dhakaan of the Kech Volaar seems to be warming to me, but I will bide my time before again raising the possibility of brokering the services of Kech Volaar warriors. Ashi
Vounn paused, lifting her pen from the paper, and considered what to write. It had been more than two weeks since Ashi had departed Rhukaan Draal, but it was too soon to be concerned. Word had trickled back, almost lost among the news of the raids, that Haruuc’s questing party had been seen close to the Seawall Mountains in the southwest. From what she’d learned of the geography of that part of Darguun, there would be no further word of them until they left the mountains again—or crossed them and entered Zilargo. Another two weeks, perhaps three, and then she might worry. She reapplied pen to paper.
Ashi will remain longer than we had planned. She has taken a great interest in the history and politics of the goblin peoples. Given how rare such a thoughtful activity is for her, you’ll understand that I have encouraged her to pursue it.
Wishing you health and prosperity—Vounn d’Deneith. 2 Rhaan, 999 YK.
Vounn returned the pen to its stand and sifted fine sand over the report to blot the excess ink. She stared at it as she waited for it to dry, wondering again if she had done the right thing by allowing Ashi to leave Rhukaan Draal. And crushed the moment of doubt before it could go any further. She picked up her report, shook the sand back into the shaker, then folded the paper and slid it into a thick envelope. Blue wax had melted in a tiny vessel over a candle’s flame. She poured it along the envelope and pressed a seal down into the blue pool. When she lifted it, the three heads of the chimera that was the Deneith crest stared up at her.
On the other hand, she thought, the last two weeks had been more peaceful than the previous months. When she had accepted Breven’s request that she act as mentor to Ashi, she hadn’t expected to be chaperone to a willful savage who challenged every instruction that was given to her. Several times she had come very close to leaving Ashi at Breven’s door like some overgrown foundling and inviting the patriarch to take a turn at educating her.
But giving up would have been failure,