Chuluun had heard of Tahira Qiul'kovesh, the supposed "Ashen Hound", the Wolf of the Roses, and the Head Inquisitor of the Eternal House. The sultan was knowledgeable of her many triumphs throughout history, her status as a hero amongst the people. The Ysstmar had even heard that she wore the scales of his brethren as a trophy. But the reptile no longer trusted the judgement of those who were content in settling in their own accrued filth, like the crowds of fools he found himself surrounded by in the streets of Nirvana, and thus, he wished to see what she was truly like with his own eyes. If incompetence had even infiltrated the Inquisitorius of the Eternal House, then he was going to have to consider a rather violent restructuring. And so, he had taken the Centipede Railway to the Eternal Expanse and had one of its many outstations reserved for their meeting. Once he had arrived, he had ensured that the place was in order before he had settled down and started to write a letter that was to be sent to Tahira and notify her that he wanted the mer to be present.
To Tahira Qiul'kovesh,
I have heard of your rather exceptional feats, including your skills and ferocity with a blade, the discovery of a new magic art, your various triumphs across time and your long service to the Eternal House. But previously, with some rather disheartening discoveries along the way, I desired to hear such claims from the woman herself. I wish to meet with you, to sit down and have a drink whilst we familiarize with one another, warrior to warrior. You will want to hear what I want to share with you. I await your arrival.
Sincerely,
Chuluunbattar Del'fluent
After writing the brief letter, the sultan let out a faint, weary sigh before calling upon one of the House's many servants to receive the parchment and deliver it to the head inquisitor. Once the servant had arrived, took the letter and went on their way to deliver it to Tahira, the sultan had grabbed an unopened bottle of arak and two glasses from a nearby cabinet before setting it down on a table in between two chairs facing one another. However, instead of seating himself, the king would walk over to the outstation's balcony instead. He waited on that veranda, overseeing the vast expanse of the Eternal House's various wombs of scientific advancement and institutes dedicated to the furthering of knowledge. But that's not why he chose to meet the inquisitor here. It was the lack of congestion, the distance away from that wretched city and it's foul inhabitants. So, he had decided that this place would be more suitable for such a meeting, as the lack of the ignorant crowds would help him keep a clear head on his shoulders. And so, Chuluun had begun to bide his time, those raging flames within his eyes glaring across the Eternal Expanse from that piazza as he stood still both silently and patiently.
Tahira knew what needed to be done and understood the road forward. The sultan could bootlick all he wanted; it wouldn't budge the vampire an inch. Even if somehow Chuluun should fail and become swallowed by the ensuing madness. The slayer would escape the mandibles of oblivion. The Eternal Houses continued survival was beneficial, although not critical. Their forces and resources would speed up the process and assist with developing her machinations. If somehow this purging should backfire, she would reposition herself and prevail long after the final brick of the house was torn down. Naturally, this didn't imply that the vampire yearned for such an outcome. After all, the bird in your hand is often better than the two in the bush.
Tahira looked upon the scarred lizard as he prattled off about her zealotry. It appeared the saurian had misconstrued her connotation. It didn't matter. In the end, Tahira was devoted to one thing, her hive. And as long as he facilitated that or didn't emerge as a detriment, then she'd abide by his tenure. Though the operative had a sneaking suspicion she needn't fret, he had thus far mostly handled himself well. With the new deal brokered, she could finally set both her and her spouse's plans into fruition. And whether the sands were ready or not, sweeping change will soon rend through the desert.
With the matter concluded, Tahira saw little reason to jeopardize overstaying her welcome. Calmly the mer arose, the feet of that chair dragging against the floor as she towered over the still perched lizard. She'd linger for a second, giving him time to rise as well or remain seated. Either way, the inquisitor would address the sultan.
"I have the staff. I will send you a letter once the payment and factory have been settled. Though, might I make a suggestion. Institution thirteen is a fortified structure. It's tucked from prying eyes and has the necessary space and equipment to expedite my research. Don't worry if the name doesn't ring a bell; it is on a need-to-know basis. Queen Samara will enlighten you. One final thing. I will only deal with you or your wife. I respect you two and know any concerns you might raise, even if erogenous, are not grown from stupidity. If you send me some messenger, expect him to be killed on sight. I can't risk our shot at preparation getting out and somehow reaching our enemies' ears."
She paused, ensuring he kept her eye contact the entire time.
"Queen Samara is an accountant and great at policies. Her strength has never lied militarily. This is likely why she was drawn to you. Heed her counsel, but she isn't some perfect being despite what some might lead you to believe.
I look forward to our next meeting. Try not to die; good help is hard to find."
Tahira pivoted before she marched to the door. She'd grasp the handle and open it before giving the king one last look.
"Next time, I will come outfitted in my ysstmar scales. Maybe over a real drink? Good day, my king."
A subtle admission that she did indeed drink. But denied that offered swill because it was too weak for her. Slipping through, she'd close the door behind her, leaving the sultan to his thoughts.
If there were one thing Tahira would laud concerning this saurian, it was his capacity to remain uniform. Even now, after her many proactive maneuvers, Chuluun kept on studying her. Tahira was unsure if this boded well or ill but figured she'd glean a satisfactory enough resolution with enough time. The bounty of markings etched onto his visage evoked no response. Some might be impressed by such scars. The vampire, however, wasn't so readily influenced. Even the sultan's approval chuckle and expressions did little to soft-soap the feller of vermin.
The reptile's continuous staring made Tahira wonder how his eyes hadn't exuded yet from that intense focus? Could the shortage of competence be that barren that the presence of someone moderately efficacious within their craft liquefied Chuluun's mind? The king's gurgling tautened her attention; each syllable was indiscriminately dissected. How interesting. So, the ysstmar felt the only recourse was a culling? A bold gamble, given he jeopardized much with such a salt the earth tactic. Tahira didn't consider it ludicrous, more or less a strategy mandating quite the degree of prudence to pull off.
"I look forward to seeing how you define those nebulous terms. Strength, adaptability, and will are buzzwords by themselves. I'm sure they look nice on parchment, but it's their application that will hamper or aid your little crusade."
She added, hoping to move past this talking point. There was no point in delving deeper into the matter. Ultimately, she'd ascertain the truth by the end of that imminent butchery. Her time strolling across the badlands presented her with a distinctive stance. And while she was undoubtedly invested within the Eternal House. The bloodsucker saw little wisdom in containing all of her eggs within a single basket. If there was one lesson she extracted from her mother's execution, she needed to be adaptable and ahead of the curve.
If Chuluun succeeded, then their little relationship would continue unabated. Nevertheless, should he verify himself just another brute swinging a stick. Then Tahira was more than prepared to reposition herself accordingly. After all, notwithstanding his bombasts and confidence, the reptile was still an unknown. And some lights flare up quick and vanish just as swiftly.
"Men love to disgorge such bravado. If I die, I don't deserve my life. Do you know how many don't shit themselves when death does invariably come booting down the door? None. All that flaunted valiance somehow disperse whenever one comes face to face with their mortality."
She added candidly, only to scoff before addressing the inevitable inquiry. Her ultimatum would ring hollow if the saurian didn't question it. Providentially for the lizard, Tahira had no interest in muddying the waters. While a helpful tool, deception can only exemplify as catastrophic if misapplied. And given the sultan's reluctance to desist his ogling or refusing to back down when she invaded her personal space ever so nonchalantly. The operative long since concluded an abrasive truth suited him better than a charming fib.
"I intend to save your failing state. The jungle to the north, we stand no chance if they should invade anytime soon. What use are you as a king if you can't even defend your borders? What manner of ysstmar would you be if you didn't meet that hurdle head-on? Indeed, this very same plight keeps me awake at night. I may not be a king, a lizard, or have a cock. But I am a proud soldier all the same. I will keep it short and straightforward, as I doubt you'd understand the intricacies within my aspirations. I will devise new weaponry; relight the fire of industry barely fed the necessary oxygen. The sands will reach new heights, and we will gain enough of an edge to keep the spider at bay through science. And while I could do it alone, I feel the time wasted might present itself as disastrous. Please make no mistake Chuluun; we're at war. And the true enemy dons no sigil. Adapt or be conquered. I am offering the former."
She stated with that dry tone, yet her body conveyed conviction in those statements.
"A will usher a new stratagem, a new epoch. I will do the one thing my mother couldn't in life. Succeed with the fundamental reconstruction of the sands. Her most remarkable lapse was that she lacked the insight that such an enterprise is cooperative."
The atmosphere within this space was charged, its very ionization causing the hair on the back of Tahira's nape to rise. While Chuluun rummaged away within that pensive stupor, the operative would let out a sigh. She was a busy woman and had a particular bee back home longing for affection. And while she appreciated the saurian's concern, she deliberated over the point of this summon? The butcherer wasn't accustomed to being examined so intently. And while she could surmise much concerning this reptile, the vampire wouldn't refute he had a knack for building up anticipation. That response reached her ears; Tahira was dissatisfied by it. However, she'd abstain from expressing such in any manner.
Initially, the inquisitor remained muted. Her mind was trolling through such information in an endeavor to cull something of merit. Those unnatural lanterns pursued his advancement as the saurian cruised about the room. His waddle was that of someone perhaps engrossed in thought. Could it be he was aware of her rearing? Was there some piece of evidence she foolishly omitted from destroying? No, Tahira was nothing if not thorough. Whatever inspired these meditations couldn't have originated from that whole sordid ordeal. And rather than keep him needlessly waiting, she'd deem fit to reply.
"That is your right."
A straightforward enough retort. Its construction and monotonous nature are as neutral as ever. If the sultan had anticipated some verbose comeback, then he hadn't been paying attention. Tahira favored a few choice words over a deluge of compositions. Nonchalantly she'd raise her muscular leg, overlapping it over the other as she got herself comfy. A sign that the mer wasn't strong-armed by his presence nor rattled. She had witnessed far worse to be so readily wobbled by some overgrown lizard. Her eyes fixated on his scaley face as the king took his sweet time perching across from her.
Those inviting orbs reflected the ambient light as she aimed to meet his without any trepidation. Tahira understood what this was, at least partially. The ysstmar was sizing her up, verifying rumors in some hollow effort to classify the agent. And try as he may, he'd in due time uncover that his initial deductions were inadequate at best. Chuluun's words were as well-spoken as ever. This led the vampire to consider if he was part ophidian as well? He had quite the vernacular for a tribal and soldier, almost noble. Could it be he derived this diction through his time within the tribunal? That seemed far-fetched, given from what she had been told, his position was newly appointed.
Throughout the totality of that address, the mer subsisted as unruffled. Tahira's body language, facial expression, and even aura never flinched. The conclusion regarding her bodily ailment was well known, which only verified he had to be green. That, or Chuluun treasured to state the obvious as if it somehow bolstered his intellect. It wasn't till he babbled off regarding the state of the land and the need for procuring partners did he boost himself within her eyes. Indeed, politics was a dangerous game ripe with a myriad of perils. And given he had gleaned the true antagonist of the sands; Tahira would concede that his vision wasn't as blurry as most.
The king's request to be addressed as if they were buddies, was a clever maneuver. It presented the illusion of choice and an inkling of camaraderie. Though if this saurian truly desired to build a lasting rapport with the reproduction of life, he'd have to try much harder than vomiting out mere words. Talk, after all, was cheap. And unlike himself, Tahira had the laurels to back up her worth. Whether or not he'd accept it was a different matter altogether.
Indifferently she'd raise her hand, only to settle it on that wooden desk. Her armored digits rapping away as the exterminator frittered little time leaning forward. This closure of space was a way of testing the man's grit. If his words were more than just vapid noise, then he wouldn't shy away or be enraged by such a motion. Those blue and green eyes narrowed, sizing up his words before she pushed herself back and returned to reposing.
"A name is but a name. However, it is others that bestow it with power. What erodes at the house is evident and reveals nothing pertaining to my abilities."