I had an idea: What will you think as a former Mob if you came to a Halkegenia city like Lutecia or my Hannover - metropolises with almost half a million inhabitants? Even Arrun the largest of Alfheim's cities had only twenty thousand inhabitants plus minus.
From the Wilderness into Civilisation: The Metropolis, the Germania's Emperor and the Daughter of the Ashanti
Dahlia was feeling overwhelmed. She always knew she will one day leave her village for another as was the custom of her people. But when she chose the Germanian scholar as husband from her rescuers she couldn't imagine how different their worlds were.
Now she stood on the deck of the flying ship the ruler of these land sent to bring her husband and all those with him to him so he could hear from them what they found in the rain forest that was summoned with the rest of the Alfheim.
Dahlia didn't want to believe that someone could have the power to bring Alfheim to and merge with Halkegenia but when instead of the ocean new land lay in front of her when she and the rest of the expedition left the forest she and her brethren couldn't doubt the humans words anymore.
The city of Aachen was large with buildings that rivalled those of Fae. The crowds were larger than she could imagine. Dahlia wanted to hold on her husband and to stare around herself as a small child simultaneously. Only her pride held her back. But Aachen was small in comparison with the city in front of the ship - Hannover, the Imperial capitol. Karl told her that it was the second largest city in the Halkegenia after Romalia with Gallia's metropolis Lutecia close third. But seeing it was entirely different matter. The city was large! Also it smelled strongly with all people and their animals living so close together. Dahlia wrinkled her nose. The rain forest smelled differently.
She felt hands on her shoulders and turned her head to smile on her husband. She liked Karl from the first moment they spoke but she found that she started to fall for him hard now. He took his role seriously and was doing what he could to help her in the new world. He smiled back to her.
"The ship will land in twelve minutes," he told her. "We should go to gather our luggage love."
She nodded to this and they left for their cabin together.
***
The Port was build like most others around massive tree and was large. If one flying ship was awe inspiring how would you react to hundreds of them taking off or landing? Dahlia holding Karl's hand didn't know on what to stare first - the landing ships or the cranes loading and unloading crates and large barrels. They went past large lift full of cargo that descended from wharf into a warehouse down under the tree. They took one such elevator too - using the stairs would be to slow and strenuous.
A luxurious coach awaited them down there with small mounted escort. Remembering the etiquette lessons Karl gave her Dahlia let him help her into the coach's cabin and took the seat across him. They were here alone because doctor Wiatzek and Saisha were overlooking the unloading of their collection of trophies and herbs so Karl could quickly refresh his advices to Dahlia about the Emperor and the proper etiquette. They had time for it, because even with escort the ride was slowed by the traffic.
***
"Welcome back Sir," young officer of the imperial guard greeted them. "And congratulation to your wedding." He then motioned for them to enter the small audience hall. "Die Majestät is awaiting you with Lord Wegenner and Lord Habsburg. While the names didn't mean anything to Dahlia, they made Karl pause. Graf Ferdinand Wegenner was the imperial minister of treasury and Herzog Otto Habsburg von Wien was Emperor's closest ally, his uncle and the current Marshal of Imperial Army.
When they entered Dahlia saw the Emperor in heated debate with his two ministers but they turned to them. She could feel their curious stares - she was first Alfheim's denizen they saw. She felt like a display piece and fought hard to not blush.
After Karl introduced her to the Emperor and his two Ministers the Emperor postponed their previous debate so he could speak with professor Karl about his expedition. He then led the Lindemanns to his private rooms. After they entered he motioned for them to sit down and done so himself. The servants brought for them some refreshments and left.
"So Karl, this is the woman who caught the confirmed bachelor?" Emperor turned to his old schoolmate when the three were alone.
"I did rescue her, so it was my knightly duty to solemnly accept her as a reward," Karl bantered back with serious expression. Dahlia didn't know if she should blush or hit her husband. Especially because he was right - she didn't let him choose after all. "I didn't regret it," Karl continued. "Dahlia is a lovely woman and will be a good mother for our daughter and any other children to come."
Now Dahlia was blushing under Emperors scrutiny. She and her grandfather were impressed with doctor Wiatzek - drop of her blood into a potion, short spell and he told her that she is expecting girl two days after her wedding. That was after he cured the illness that was troubling the tribe for some time. Her grandfather needed for confirmation of the news to conduct night long ritual so the spirits of the ancestors could confirm Dahlia's blessed condition.
"So congratulations are in order," Emperor shook Karl's hand cordially. "So what can you tell me about my new subjects?" he asked curiously.
So Dahlia told him about the origin of Ashanti - the refugees from Vanirheim when Ice Giants froze the land turning it into replica of long gone Jotunheim. Her people didn't liked Vanirs or Nilfheimers who reigned the land after an ancient war. So they found a way to the surface where they found another Yggdrasil's race - the Faeries. After short war her forefathers fled into then mostly uninhabited Rain Forests. Only inhabitants were the Pygmies who weren't that dangerous and small Warrens of Coinins or Dens of Sionahs. With their magic and being good fighters and hunters Ashanti prospered. But that changed when the War of Races or War of Chosen started. Driven from their lands in central Alfheim and greedy for riches and artefacts buried in the ruins in jungle the Spriggans came, and with them enemy too powerful to overcome. For the last decades Ashanti and other tribes played dangerous game of hide and strike with bands of adventurers and occasional invaders. Not all encounters were hostile but they dominated.
"I heard," the Emperor interrupted Dahlia's story, "that the war between Fae ceased with the event that brought you all here. They even, what I heard started negotiations with their wild cousins. Baron Blücher reported that he saw Coinin Sidhe in Arrun and even spoke with them. Tristain already granted citizenship to Pixies after an incident."
"Huh?" Dahlia blinked. "Still don't know what it would mean for Ashanti."
"Well, Fae don't have problems with humans or at least not with Tristanians," Emperor pointed out. "And that you are expecting Frau Lindemann shows close kinship between Ashanti and humans. How close tough professor Lindemann?" Emperor did show the scientist in himself.
"I and doctor Wiatzek did some preliminary surveys using the rescued commoners and ourselves as a sample of human populations," Karl told him about his findings. "It's too early to say it with certainty but I think Ashanti are closer to us than any other race we encountered so far. They are even closer to us than werewolves and everyone knew werewolves evolved from humans after being cursed. There are some peculiar differences but they are small and few. The same can't be said about Pygmies tough ..." he mused.
"I will guaranty you that you will have plenty opportunities to continue in your studies professor Lindemann," the Emperor was now serious. "The situation is bad. All our plans with and maps of Tristain can be thrown out. The so called Transition changed everything. For example how accessible is Tristain through the Reichswald?"
"Not really," Dahlia answered after Karl motioned to her to do so. She new the territory of her tribe much better than Karl and his people, and she or her brethren scouted the territories south and north from the village too. "The ridge is too steep with only ancient artificial passageways called the Stairs usable to cross them by foot. There are three such Stairs - two on the surface and one underground. They are narrow, steep and in bad condition if still usable."
"Also the forest itself is formidable obstacle," Karl continued. "We took seven days to get to the ridge, and we were only carrying the basic equipment and most of us were woodsmen with great experience with dangerous forests. Large groups of men will even with Ashanti's help struggle to go anywhere and the terrain west from the ridge isn't better - it's worse with more dangers."
"Good analysis Frau and Herr Lindemann," the Emperor nodded satisfied. "I can only add, that even official and with Transition not changed roads through the Rain Forest were with Spriggans recommendation closed until further notice. They are still closed and Tristain's and our merchants had to use new route crossing the new Orlein Lake. Remagen, until Transition godforsaken hole, is turning into strategical river port. We also knew nothing or only little about the inhabitants, animals and plants of the changed lands. Which is, why you will not go back to Jenna professor Lindemann but will contact professor Osmond in Tristain. I know he was trying for years to woo you. His Academy is great but they always lacked experts on fauna especially the magical. They also want you as an expert on Firstborns, the Orcs and Goblins respectively."
"You want us to spy on Tristain?" Karl frowned. He knew he couldn't refuse such order but still...
"Spy is such bad word, professor Lindeman. You will simply continue to teach what you know, and in your free time study the knew animals and humanoids. We will of course be waiting for you to publish your findings and if our army finds them useful ... We will not be the only one who will benefit from your work. Tristain's offices will be as eager to read your works as will be ours. It will be also your chance to work with Faeries."
Dahlia grimaced now. She wasn't happy about meeting old enemies of her people. Emperor of course saw this.
"You will be fine Frau Lindemann," he reassured her. "I heard that not all Fae made it through the Transition and most of those who did are pretty decent. That you carry Herr Lindemann's child and are his wife will not only protect you but help all your brethren. "
"Dahlia is also able to use Brimir's magic," Karl told to the Emperor. "I was planning to teach her more than the cantrips she knew now."
This made Emperor chuckle. "Excellent. This should teach the more idiotic Nobles some humility. It would be great if you can get her in the academy as a student. We lost one of our lower contacts there recently. She was only moderately useful but has some good insight into Galian secret service surprisingly. We don't know over what she tripped but she is under heavy censorship now. We need someone to monitor the students, we don't need any surprises like Heavy Wind was." The Emperor paused frowning.
"The situation is more dire than I would like," the Emperor sighed. "We don't have plans to go to war with Tristain but if Tristain and the Fae don't manage to stop Reconquista Germania will be forced to intervene if only to stop Gallia to do the same."
Emperor stood up and motioned for his guests to do so as well. The audience was at its end. "We thank you Frau Lindemann and your people for your gifts," the Emperor motioned to the Ashanti artefacts Dahlia gave him as her tribe's presents, "and we extend the Germania protection to your people giving them the status of free citizens under the Emperor's direct governance with the Reichswald as their territory. In exchange we want only for you to maintain safety of Germania border and curb the more aggressive beasts."
After the Lindemanns departed the Emperor returned back to his still waiting ministers to plot new plans reflecting the changed world.
The End. Not betaed.
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