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Diplomatic relations between cultivators were tricky. Those who were the best at diplomacy weren’t necessarily the best at cultivation, and that occasionally resulted in quite mismatched positions. Simran was one of those with sufficient rank to meet the envoy from Ivory Peak, but she didn’t think she was the best at negotiations. However, sending someone weaker would be seen as an insult or weakness.
Besides, her presence had been specifically requested, so she would show up. Not necessarily alone though. Barrett had disappeared somewhere, but she wasn’t planning on him to help. Doubtless he felt the same way as her about negotiations. It would have been nice to count on having a grandmaster though. Then again, that might be too much honor for their ‘guest’. Simran did arrange for additional guards to be on the scene, and she was justified in that decision when she approached the meeting chamber. A fifth tier magic cultivator waited there.
There was nothing to be afraid of just because someone was nominally stronger. Simran knew the two grandmasters had defeated seventh tiers when they were still sixth tier. That was a bigger accomplishment… but she wasn’t sure if she could compare to them. And she wouldn’t be reckless with her life and choose not to bring guards when there were extras available. If she was killed on sect grounds there was no chance of a fifth tier cultivator escaping, but that wouldn’t do her much good. Defeating enemies in single combat was nice and heroic, but Simran was used to working with her brothers and sisters to stand against their foes.
The representative of Ivory Peak was a somewhat older man. Some people overestimated the strength of those with advanced age, assuming their experience would make up for lack of cultivation. Others presumed that since they hadn’t advanced any further they weren’t much to worry about. They were both right in part, but Simran knew that it wasn’t sufficient to judge people in that way. Some people got late starts… like Urvi, who was an exception to the whole thing. She didn’t have extra years of experience, but she also hadn’t yet failed to reach her next steps in berserk energy cultivation. She just had to spend more time- the same amount as even the best cultivators needed.
Simran held her head high as she entered the room. “You are… Master Sharma, are you not? What does the Ivory Peak wish to discuss with me today?”
“Mistress Simran.” The man maintained at least the bare minimum of cordiality. “I have come to discuss the return of the southern mines you purchased from Heavenly Mountain five years ago.”
“Those mines…” Simran nodded. “They have been quite profitable for us. However, we would be willing to sell them back to you for triple the price we paid for them.”
The old man put on an obviously fake smile. “You misunderstand. They were never meant to be sold in the first place. They will merely be returning to proper hands.” He turned to leave at that.
“I see.” Simran said, “And you expect to just walk out of here after that?”
The man looked over his shoulder at her. “The lord of the region has declared that envoys must be allowed to return to their sects unharmed. You don’t intend to go against his words, do you?”
“Of course not. That’s why we’ll be taking you before the lord to say what you just said to us.” Simran clapped her hands and a dozen guards stepped forward. “I’m sure you won’t mind coming with us to see him, will you?”
“You wouldn’t dare to touch me.”
“Yet you dare to threaten us here?” Simran leaned forward and shook her head. Then she suddenly moved, her body springing forward like an arrow. At the same time, the guards moved with her. Simran grabbed Master Sharma’s arm as he avoided the grasps of the guards. As he started to gather magic, she twisted his arm and dislocated his shoulder. That delayed him for long enough that the rest of the guards managed to grab him successfully. “If you make another move, we can snap your neck. I’m sure you’d prefer to explain your position to him yourself.” Master Sharma’s eyes flared, but he held his magic in restraint and let himself be carried away. Simran sent some of the lower cultivation guards nearby to inform Urvi and the other masters of what had happened, so they could send people to defend the mines.
—–
Barrett showed himself again when the group stopped for the night- the region lord’s city wasn’t so close that they could reach him immediately. “Is this normal protocol for visiting emissaries?” Barrett asked of Simran.
“You could override my decision at any time, if you think it is incorrect.” Simran frowned, “But you were the one who said we couldn’t let people walk all over us.”
“I just have one question… would you have done the same thing if I wasn’t here?”
“Absolutely,” Simran nodded. “Though I would hope you could help defend those who work at the mines. Where did you go?”
“I’ve been here. I just felt like the air.” Barrett shrugged, “Well, plus I was far enough that it wouldn’t be easy for you to notice.” Barrett crossed his arms and looked at Simran. “I don’t plan to involve myself if it’s not necessary… but it’s about time we made an appearance again anyway. In case people thought we really abandoned you. It’s just not so close that we can easily stop by.”
“I understand,” Simran nodded. “Even if you had left us, you gave us all a chance to be better. We can take care of ourselves… much better than we were formerly able to do. Even if something happened now… most of us wouldn’t have made it here. Not and have any free will of our own.”
—–
The guards at the gates of the Lord’s City, Bardhar, were obviously concerned as a man was carried up to their gates. They had handled similar situations before, however. “Is there a bounty on this man?” they asked.
Simran didn’t loosen her grip on the back of Master Sharma’s neck as she responded. “This is an intersect dispute. It needs to be dealt with in front of the lord, but he was reluctant to come with us. We plan to go directly to Lord Nagarkar.”
The captain of the guard nodded. “I will send a detachment of men to escort you.” Left unspoken was that they would be watching them for any untoward activity. The captain of the guard didn’t think anyone would be so brazen… but sometimes cultivators thought they could get away with anything.
Simran easily agreed, and they headed towards the palace. Many people wanted audiences with the lord of the region, but masters were given priority. Urgent situations even more so… though Simran knew Lord Nagarkar wouldn’t be happy about seeing them. Still, he was known for being as fair as possible… and Haven wasn’t a sect without influential allies.
The official organizing the petitions was quickly briefed on the situation. He didn’t looked pleased, but he announced, “Your petition will be heard soon.” He looked towards Master Sharma, who was currently restrained, “You will be let to walk freely, but if you do not remain to provide your side of the incident, we can only assume that whatever they accuse you of is true. We will guarantee that justice is served and you will not be unfairly harmed from this point.” At that, he looked to Simran, who let go of the back of his neck- and the guards stepped back quickly as well.
Within an hour they found themselves inside the audience hall. It was capable of supporting many more people than just the dozen or so who entered- though there were more guards than that, and two regal looking sixth tier cultivators standing to either side of Lord Nagarkar. The region lord himself was also a sixth tier cultivator, but he was younger as far as they went. He had the potential to reach grandmaster. His own forces weren’t strong enough to deal with all the various sects in the region, but they could handle any one or two- and any commotion of a certain size would catch attention on a larger scale. The region lord had the support of Cangui as a whole.
Lord Nagarkar looked boredly over the group assembled before him. Finally, he gestured to Master Sharma. “You. Speak.”
“Yes, Region Lord. These cultivators from the sect called Haven violated the envoy agreements,” Master Sharma gestured to his arm. “I merely came to negotiate with them and they attacked me.”
Lord Nagarkar looked over the group, “And the injuries on them?”
“Those happened when I tried to escape their capture in the night.”
The region lord looked to Simran, “Is this true?”
“He did attempt to escape from us in the night, and the wounds were indeed caused then. However, he did not come to negotiate with us but to threaten us. I shall repeat the exact conversation.” Simran did so. “We are concerned that they may have already launched an attack on the mines. The right of purchase is on file as appropriate, so any members of the Ivory Peak or Heavenly Mountain attempting to approach the mines will be in violation of our sect’s territory.”
“I see.” Lord Nagarkar shook his head, “At the moment, we only have your word versus his. Your loyal guards, of course, will corroborate your story. However… given Haven’s reputation, it is appropriate for us to seriously investigate these matters. Master Sharma will remain here under my supervision until the investigation is completed. We are of course aware of Haven’s location, and I imagine you have confidence in your accusations or you would not have come here. Any falsehoods you fabricated will of course be the responsibility of your sects.”
“And the mines? Will you send someone to defend them against this attack?”
“As I said, there will be an investigation. You are dismissed.”
“I understand.” Simran bowed and turned to leave with her guards. She would have preferred an army… but near neutrality in the situation seemed to be what they would get. As she walked out, she noticed Barrett mingling among her guards.
“Don’t worry,” Barrett said, “The mines will be fine. I didn’t return here alone, after all.”