ld reached her hand out and her fingers locked around the mini brain as she took it from Li.
"This feels…rather strange?" said ld. "I've not held any seed quite like this."
"Nor would you want to," remarked Sindra.
"I'll explain what this is. It's called the Synarch. You keep it with you, and you can establish a clear line of communication with just like using a ssage crystal. You just need to, hm, what was it again?" Li took a second to rember the obscure lore about using ssage crystals. "Yes, channel so mana into it."
"Ah," said ld. Her eyes stared forward as the brain wriggled in her palm. "Alas, I do not have mana."
"Right," said Li, rembering that the heroes here did not abide by the sa rules as other beings. "Then Cicero, you take it. I also have more of a…contingency plan against you if you ss up as well, so I suppose you are the better choice to begin with."
"Two seeds upon my body now," said Cicero dryly as he took the seed from ld's hand. "Never did I think I would beco a living garden, but here we are."
"That seed is absolutely priceless and one of a kind," said Li. "If you lose it, you may very well beco fertilizer for a new garden."
"Understood," said Cicero with a nod.
"Good. Now, I have the seed's husk." Li held up the leathery outer coating of the seed he had ripped off. "Whoever holds this is on the other end of the communication line. And do not worry about the seed's functions becoming compromised. Its rarity cos not from its ssaging function, but the fact that it can guard against any and all interference, even effects such as True Silence."
"True Silence?" Cicero raised a brow.
"A higher form of silencing effect," said Alexei with a degree of familiarity. Unsurprising, considering he was higher leveled. "It renders the accursed completely mute from all their senses, unable to reach out even through remote ssaging to others."
"And an ability commonly attributed to Higher Vampires," noted Ven'thur with a smile.
"Now that is new knowledge," said Alexei, his stone-cold expression giving zero hint or give at Ven'thur's antics. "You seem to be a scholar of sorts. I am too. Perhaps we may chat about our knowledge so ti."
"It would be my pleasure," said Ven'thur with a slight bow.
"Alright, now that tea ti has been scheduled, I'll continue," said Li. "Cicero, channel your mana into that and give any updates you deem important. Do not use the seed too liberally. It does give off magical energy when activated which may be traceable. In other words, I am not expecting a bedti call every single day."
"Understood," said Cicero.
"Good," said Li. "We can test out the seed later. For now, I want to get through other orders of business from our special guests. Starting with you, Alexei."
The count nodded. "As one of the premiere nobles of this city, I have been privy to the army's war plans. I have had a few aides replicate my notes summarizing the details and distributed them to Sindra, the most capable master of coin. However, I warn you that once the armies leave Riviera, I will no longer be privy to these plans.
A few points to note that may draw your attention. Leonid and Launcelot have decided to stay at Riviera with half the first blood legion. The remainder will march with you, it is said."
"I am sure that news made waves among the nobles and generals here," said Li.
"Most certainly," said Alexei with a slight sigh. "The utter chaos in the revelation that the Far's Guild of all had managed to obtain the might of an entire blood legion, one of the finest fighting forces in the entire duchy. And to further it all, the guildmaster obtained the force through besting Leonid the Heart-Ripper through single combat. There was much a clamor to force your enlistnt."
"A good thing I am going on my own terms," said Li.
"You speak as if you would have allowed these noblen to strongarm you into enlistnt," said Alexei amusedly, though it was difficult to tell there was any levity in his permanently serious voice. "And further – I cannot grant you the assistance of Black Securities westward.
I suspect I am drawing significant suspicion in my relations with you, and I must maintain so asure of distance between us. This temporary leave you undertake will be quite beneficial in that regard."
"I understand," said Li. "But, tell , I suppose you can still operate in the shadows?"
"Certainly."
"Then I have a request for you. After this eting." Li turned his attention to Gronn. "And now you. What is your purpose being here?"
Gronn gave out a grunt of acknowledgent, which Li began to realize was quite a habitual thing for the brawny dragon. "I tell you now what I am to do. I will return north. Take all my lesser brethren. I will send them here."
Sindra imdiately sat up. "Excuse ? How many dragons will that be?"
"Ten," said Gronn.
Li felt so confusion. "Only ten?"
"I cannot save all. Ten I have managed." Gronn growled, more to himself than to anyone else. "Highers suspect . Tell now to bring heads. Proof. I cannot wield magic like the highers. They will see through any trick."
He pointed to Tia. "Intended to bring her as the last to save. Then flee with my brethren. But I know now there is safety here. If you-," He directed his claw to Li now. "Are willing to raise us. The lesser. Like her. Then there is hope. Will you take them?"
"Any you direct here, I will take," said Li.
Tia clapped her hands. "More dragons! More ! Will I see them?"
"Yes," said Li as he put a hand on her head. "You will. Let's hope they're all nice."
"All of them are friendly," said Gronn. "Young. Like her. So older. So younger. But no large difference."
"And you?" asked Li.
"After sending the lessers here, I will et the highers. Attempt to tell them I have failed. That I could not find her," said Gronn. "I may die. I may not."
Li looked at Gronn again. The dragon's humanoid form had features he recognized. Black scales that were thick and crudely shaped like roughly hewn tiles. A large jaw with fangs that jutted out like those of an orc's. But most noticeably, the grey flesh beneath the scales was not leathery like reptilian skin, but rather smooth.
"You are a Salamander base dragonkin, are you not?" asked Li.
Gronn paused to wonder where Li was going with this. "Yes."
"You can regenerate?"
"Yes."
"Then give your arm. If you end up perishing to the higher dragons, I will consider resurrecting you." Li's voice gained an imdiate edge. "In return, do only this. When you et the higher dragons and tell them you have failed, they will ask you about the details of your hunt, no? Where you went. Where Tia is."
Gronn grunted affirmatively.
Li nodded. "Lead them to . I would like to et them. Personally."
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