As the sound of the wagons' squeaking wheels echoed through the palace, Lidien's haughtiness reached its peak as he strode ahead of them.

Lidien stared at the female beastfolk sitting on the throne made of skulls and bones, smiling at him. He bowed slightly while placing his right hand on his chest in salutation.

"Congratulations... for ascending the Throne, Matriarch of the Dark Wolf Clan."

As the new Matriarch raised her hand, Lidien stood upright and smiled.

"I still remember your brother Kyer. Why was he not the one to come here... to celebrate my Ascension to the Throne?"

Lidien chuckled and gestured for the soldiers to open the wagons.

"He only sent his greetings and hoped we could find peace by offering a batch of slaves to help your Clan gather Verve Stones..."

Then he shook his head, as if regret had overcome him.

"However, I admit my methods could not hold them tightly on their leash, and they escaped with the wagons we, the Blood Rose Clan, intended to offer as a gift."

Lidien said, as he looked at the slaves moving busily within the rift.

"Well, in the end... they still found their new home... isn't that what we call 'The End justifies the means'?"

The Matriarch laughed, amused by the reasoning of the child in front of her, as her eyes turned emerald, staring at him intently.

"Don't get me wrong, Matriarch... we are only here to ask for your cooperation."

The Matriarch then stood from her throne and walked towards the edge of the platform.

"And what is it... the cooperation your Mother wants?"

Lidien proceeded to the wagon, lifted a jar sealed with silk and a fine rope... and broke the seal.

A rich, bitter, and profoundly inviting aroma immediately flooded the Dark Wolf Palace, a scent so potent it seemed to coat the air itself.

The Beastfolk, as if familiar with the substance, sniffed the air, still... their curiosity visibly piqued.

"This is Xocoatl, a Gift from the Gods... a rare commodity that can only be produced in the Northwestern part of the Savage Expanse."

Lidien then lifted it, and a brilliant smile touched his face.

"We want the Dark Wolf Clan's cooperation to attack the Berserker's Clan and join us on the Western Front."

The Matriarch walked back and forth, staring intently at the wagons, then back at Lidien repeatedly...

"We accept your gifts, but the decision to join the Blood Rose Clan on the Western Front will take weeks, or even months, to show any result..."

Then...

Lidien shouted, a vein throbbing at his temple. He stared daggers at the Matriarch, gritting his teeth so hard his jaw ached as he partially transformed his eyes crimson and his hands into claws.

"So, you're telling me you will 'Accept' this without confirming your cause? Isn't this stealing in broad daylight?!"

The Beastfolk soldiers watching Lidien hissed at him, making everyone tense, including Lidien's own soldiers... who gripped their weapons at a moment's notice.

"No, Child of the Blood Rose Clan... I only told you to wait, for the decision of the Dark Wolf Clan is not solely mine... the Elders need to approve it."

Lidien turned around abruptly, his hands gripping so tightly that his muscles strained as he forced himself to calm down.

"Attend to the Prince and all of his soldiers. Give them good accommodation, for the rest of the days they will stay here..."

Lidien walked out, followed by Alva and all the soldiers he had brought.

As the banging sound of the door ended the tension, silence followed, along with the disapproving murmurs of the Beastfolk.

"We should kill that brat for disrespecting us in our own territory!" shouted one of the Elders.

Yet, the Matriarch only smiled and stared at everyone, making them fall silent and only grit their teeth in dissatisfaction.

"We can't. On the contrary... we must protect him so he does not die in our Territory..."

As she tapped her fingers along the armrest of the throne, she added.

"I have known the Blood Rose Clan for too long, as I'm sure all of you have... Their target is us... not those Barbarians in the West."

Then she glanced at the wagons where the offerings were placed.

"Lady Rose... is even willing to sacrifice her own child, just to have a reason to attack us... and immediately after they learned that our forces were already divided since the last internal conflict in our Clan."

As her smile widened from ear to ear, she said.

"Protect the Prince. Don't let anyone assassinate him... for his death in our Territory would bring catastrophic war."

As she laid her back against the throne of bones, the commanding presence she held for her clan faded, replaced by a look of grudging respect for a worthy adversary.

Then she closed her eyes and whispered to the hall,

"Nice plan you have, Lady Rose... using our own nature to kill one of your own."

***

Lidien, along with Alva and thousands of his soldiers, were given accommodation in the inner zone of the Dark Wolf Clan.

The soldiers couldn't hide their smiles, for they were experiencing a luxury they hadn't experienced in the Blood Rose Clan.

Then, Lidien told them to do what they wanted for the rest of the days, adding another layer of happiness that almost made them forget their true purpose in the territory.

Lidien, with Alva, took a stroll... along with the familiar scent that could be smelled inside the whole Dark Wolf Clan.

Then, their walk stopped at the large river dividing the Rift and the Land where the Dark Wolf Palace was placed, connected only by a large tree branch, which Lidien guessed came from the large tree base of the Palace.

"Would you follow me in the End, Alva?"

Alva bowed, and stood beside Lidien... as her stare beyond the end of the river touched a longing.

"As long as I am alive, Master... I'll follow you in the End."

Lidien smiled, a genuine one, for he had acquired someone he could trust with his life... slightly opening his closed heart, from the trauma of his past father who left him to struggle with his mother.

Then...

A soldier, one of his own, came panting... followed by Beastfolk chasing him.

"My Prince... Escape!"

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