The conclave was so silent, you could hear someone blink if you listened hard enough.
"You really don’t know what you’ve been sitting on, do you?" Valea started
"A chair?" My voice was flat as I answered.
"No, not literally", the exasperation in her voice clear despite the gentle giggle that escaped her. "I mean, your territory is a goldmine waiting to be explored. Each of our territories has something...special"
"Are you saying mine doesn’t? But if it doesn’t, how is it a gold mine?"
"Just, listen! My territory’s pioneer skill was Agriculture, due to its rich natural environment. Solch’s was smithing, gemstones, ores, minerals, and whatnot. Nocturne’s was herbcraft, though it eventually developed into Alchemy and Enchantments. Your territory has all that, and their dependency on vegetative life will only strengthen their agricultural prowess"
"So", Solch butted in, "What’s the way forward? Because humans will naturally move where the grass is greener and the sun shines brighter; by the time that authority is expanded, we are at risk of potentially losing our followers to him. If they start to migrate"
Dune scoffed, mockingly. "Speak for yourself; my followers are Nomads; they don’t stay in a single place for too long, even the ones that start families in other territories end up coming back to me to claim their child"
My expression shifted. "You claim children? Is it some cult?"
"NO!" Dune corrected, his voice almost a yell "It’s a ritual process, or a decision the parents of a child take when both parents follow different Gods" Unconsciously, he sighed as he continued explaining.
"Here’s an example: recently there was a family; the mother was Eryndri, the father, Alrian. In such a case, the child technically doesn’t belong to one God, unlike if both parents were Eryndri or Alrian. So! What did they do? They held a claiming ritual, calling on both Valea and Solch. Solch was the one who ended up claiming the child, so by claim, the child is now Alrian; and so by right, where they are from depends on the god that claimed them, IF their parents are not from the same place. So lastly, and most importantly, I do NOT run a cult!"
"It was just a question..." my voice carried a slightly stunned quality as I replied to Dune’s sharp response.
"But Solch has a point", Nocturne interposed. "Not the follower thing, but the way forward. Astrael could clearly be of benefit to us, and that’s something we need to discuss"
"But how would you be of use to me?" I countered, "Since this meeting started, it’s been all about what I have and what you could get; I’m inexperienced, not stupid; I know what it means to be leeched off."
The silence in the gazebo was immediate.
"You have a point" Valea was the first to speak. "It’s been all about what we can get and not how you benefit; it was an oversight on our end. Dune," she called, "since you’ve been speaking so much, what could Astrael’s people benefit from yours?"
"Me?!" Although surprised, after a moment of thought, he came up with an idea "I could have my Proxy tell the King of the Kharvans to make Vasyti a part of the national trade network and become their first external merchants; my followers could also introduce the Vasytri to new spices, as well as all sorts of knowledge and information. And if the Vasytri don’t have currency, they can introduce them to a currency system, although I have a feeling they will"
"Thank you. Solch?" Valea remarked, beckoning on Solch to speak next.
"You mentioned smithing, but you didn’t talk about ores", He pointed out
"Well, we made do with what we have; we didn’t have a particular scarcity when it came to the ores we did have" My response was simple, an answer to his implied question
"Well, on how you could benefit from me. Ores," he stated simply "The smiths under your divinity have been operating with whatever ores happened to be available, and they can get creative with what they have, but creativity has a limit. So, like Dune, my proxy will communicate with the Alrian Lord to have my followers provide your followers with ores, gemstones, rare metals, and whatnot, as well as some smithing techniques. So your people learn from mine, and mine learns from yours." Done presenting his offer, he leaned back against the backrest of the gazebo chair.
"Good, Nocturne?"
"Alchemy techniques, counterintelligence and reconnaissance techniques; my followers will teach yours; in return, you provide flora for possible alchemical discoveries. Dunes helps your people with information; my people teach yours how to help themselves to get it," she listed out tersely, not bothering with overexplanations or sweetening the deal.
"Hold on, what do you mean by information? I thought that was my thing; there’s a whole saying around my followers, because they are the ones with the info," Dune objected.
"I never knew there was a monopoly around information now", Nocturne replied blankly.
"There isn’t, but, but, but, you just can’t do it; it’s my thing," retorted Dune
"Pity", Nocturne responded wryly.
"You two" Valea’s voice held a bit of listlessness as she commented on their exchange. "Now, our territories already have something in common, Astrael." For dramatic effect, she paused
"Agriculture", she continued. "Our flowers could trade agricultural knowledge, from knowledge of soil management to farming techniques, and even animal husbandry if your followers care to learn. My followers could also provide seeds and plant species Vaysti doesn’t have"
"Your followers will have to mind the plants they bring in, then", I interrupted "If it is a poisonous plant or a plant that could harm people or the land itself, it won’t last in my territory no matter how advanced their horticultural practices are."
"Worry not, I’ll ensure my proxy makes it clear, so even if it does happen, my followers won’t waste energy attempting to cultivate a plant that your territory rejected." Her assurance, although not that much needed, was satisfying to have. "Back to what I was saying, there’s one more thing", she continued.
"Aside from regular plants and some rare flora, my followers will also bring in some more endangered ones. I hope you don’t mind; your shelter is the perfect place to preserve what my own territory can no longer safely preserve."
"Of course I don’t, as long as it’s endangered and it’s something that doesn’t violate the order of my authority, it will be safe in my land." I assured her, "But!" Her breath hitched, waiting for what I was about to say
"I’ve heard all your proposals, and I can proudly say I have no issue with them. At least this sounds more like an actual interconnection! But quick warning: Any non-follower of mine who tries to kill one of my followers within my territory will be expelled. If they succeed, they will be executed where they stand. The same applies to your followers if they’re attacked by someone who isn’t mine. If one of my followers is the aggressor, however, they’ll be punished, not expelled. And if their attack results in a death..." I paused. "The death penalty remains."
My gaze swept across their faces to ensure they were listening before I continued.
"Hope that makes sense? Because you’ll have to explain it to your proxies before they tell your followers anything."
Valea drew in a quiet breath of air.
"Yes, we’ll ensure our proxies understand the ’uniqueness’ of your territory," her voice tight with shock "So, I believe we have reached the end of this meeting, and a very good end at that, and without any further thoughts, objections or questions. This divine assembly is officially cl—"
"Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait"
"What is it this time, Dune?" Asked Valea
"I just remembered the most important thing."
"Which is?"
"Sunstones; my merchants could also introduce your followers to sunstones"
"Right, I’ve heard of those before. What are they... no, rather, what are they for?" With that question, the formally closed meeting just got cracked wide open.