Chapter 335: Uncommon Knowledge
Dominic and Prince Fahad waited while the rest of the Axbridge soldiers and officers landed. They were moving efficiently to the designated location to set up camp, but a few ranking officers remained with the Prince, on top of the ten men from his Royal Guard.
That was still a manageable size for the Manor, though it was going to start getting crowded at the dinner table, and Dominic began making plans to have the Royal Guards of the Princes eat at staggered intervals.
It was a normal safety measure, but moving sixteen of the twenty Royal Guards from the Princes along with most of Princess Alexis’ Royal Guard to a second sitting would make the kitchen’s job much easier.
They could also take out the secondary banquet tables, but he would leave that choice to them, as there were only so many staff members in the house.
Once most of the soldiers were on the ground, Dominic led Prince Fahad to the house, where Castellan Julio met them at the door with a pair of maids.
"If you would like to freshen up before your meetings, Julio can escort you to your rooms first." Dominic offered.
The Prince shook his head. "No, we should discuss this first, and I will change for dinner after. It might not be the sort of major international issue that we all need to discuss together, but it is an urgent matter."
That sounded intriguing.
"In that case, please follow me."
Fahad motioned for the juniors who had followed them to follow Julio, while his guards followed the Prince and Dominic into the second sitting room.
Fahad activated the spells on the room as soon as they sat down, and then took out a binder full of loose papers.
"Word of your return has spread across the continent faster than anyone had expected, Lord Dominic. The great western plains of Axbridge have more nomads today than the last ten years combined, and the army has determined that they are mostly coming here.
Not just back to Stansia Province, but here. To Wistover.
At our nearest estimate, there are close to twenty thousand magic users and nonhumans planning to gather in Wistover, and none of them have any intentions of peaceful coexistence with the old nations." Prince Fahad began the moment that the room was sealed.
Dominic sighed and went to the side cabinet. The top flipped open to reveal a set of glasses and decanters, left from the previous Earl.
"This is going to need a drink. What is your preference, Your Highness?" He asked.
"Whiskey. Make it a double.
I am not certain that you fully appreciate the gravity of the situation, as you are also proudly nonhuman." Prince Fahad replied, with a nod towards Dominic’s horns.
"Lesser Illusion won’t hide my horns. The moment that the light hits them, the spell breaks. I can disguise my face if I have my head covered, that’s not a problem. However, the lineage of the World Dragon seems resistant to disguise." Dominic replied.
He also had terrible luck with his hats coming off at the worst possible moment, and he fully blamed the magic of his horns for it.
"So, you have no choice but to be known as nonhuman. But that’s the same to these migrants. They have all been driven out of their homes because of their lineage at some point.
The refugees from old Wavemates who are looking to return are only a small issue.
They are eager to return, but along with them are thousands of monster blooded Sorcerers, dark mages and bandits.
Every one of them sees the rumours of a rebuilt Wistover as the promise of a safe haven, like a free port to pirates, where they can settle and start over in relative anonymity.
If that happens, and they truly become bandits or an organized army, Wistover will be a threat not only to their neighbouring nations, but to Cygnia itself." Fahad explained.
Dominic considered the options for a few long seconds. "Well, vetting the troublemakers isn’t much of a problem. My power level isn’t as high as I would hope, but it’s getting better. Given a few more months, I think that I will reach a level where I can properly defend the town against most low-level mages."
Fahad chuckled. "But can you vet them? How many of them intend to create trouble within Wistover? Perhaps a few of the bandits are looking to set up operations with Wistover as a hiding spot, but you do have a certain reputation for dealing with those who endanger your people.
My father’s advisors believe that they intend to start over, using their skills to become businessmen or somewhat legitimate craftsmen.
But only for as long as they are being actively hunted by those from their former homeland, and then they will start to agitate for a free state for nonhumans. That is the real danger that has everyone else concerned.
While many nations have a large nonhuman population, there are no nonhuman nations on the continent."
The Prince paused, and Dominic frowned. "Anymore, you mean. Because Wavemates was, though there were still many more humans than nonhumans. Right, before I forget. There is a village of trolls a day’s march from town, and they might be within your troops’ patrol range. Kindly don’t attack them."
"And that friendly interaction between Nobles and monsters is exactly what has everyone else so concerned. If they settle within your territory in small groups, we have little to worry about.
However, if the town of Wistover starts building multiple mage towers and housing demihuman armies, the old trauma will cause the Kings to panic."
Dominic frowned at the Prince’s words as he sipped the fine liquor.
"What do you mean, ’old trauma’?"
"How much do you know of the history of Wavemates before the Dragon Kings?" Fahad asked.
"Essentially nothing. The last two or three hundred years had decent documentation, but before that, there wasn’t anything in my curriculum as a child. If any documents survived, they weren’t taught as common knowledge." Dominic explained.
"I suppose they wouldn’t be. They’re not taught to anyone but Royals in most nations."