Snippet #2398226

Moloch had heard about Arkham long ago as a child. It was a depraved place where the nobility and rich bled the poor and downtrodden dry. It was as if the tyrant deity, Caetur, had manifested himself on earth and ruled a mortal city. Moloch's father had used the South Pacific Kingdom's division, lawlessness, and inept, greedy rulers as an example of a great kingdom which had succumbed to weakness. Drake City, or as it was no beginning to be called, the Drake Kingdom, was a place with its flaws, but place's emphasis on merit, particularly from its royalty and nobility, made it strong and prosperous. True, slaves died in its mines, but they were convicts, debtors, and prisoners of war who could still rise out of the misery of their existence and prosper. Yet, a new king had risen amidst the chaos. The long-divided South Pacific Kingdom was reunified and the internal problems preventing trade and diplomacy had been lifted.

It had also become a potential threat.

Moloch's more skillful diplomats were employed elsewhere and nobility, quite frankly, was terrified of this Khal Jinn. They feared they would be killed or worse given the way he had disposed the nobility of his own kingdom. Thus, Moloch had decided to visit Arkham himself, accompanied by his guard. His Guard Captain did not like this.

"You are being reckless, Sire. Again," Eirene chided him. Normally, Moloch would rebuke anyone who dared talked to him this way, but Eirene's job was to protect him. She had the right to object to him taking risks, even if they were calculated risks.

"This Khal Jinn needs to talk to someone he can respect. I am one of the few with both the authority and disposition to treat with him," Moloch replied evenly as they approached the gates of the city.

"You could have sent Cyrus. He's wise and has dealt with overbearing monarchs before," she stated. The old man at Cyrus' left hand smirked.

"Really, I do not wish to waste time proving that I'm not just another old man to yet another warrior chieftain," Cyrus told her, causing Eirene to wander whether he referred to him. Moloch, for his part, ignored them. They had finally reached the gate. Moloch eyed the guards with a cunning eye. Arkham had kept her legions, it seemed. He smiled and presented his ring.

"Please tell your Khal that the delegation from Drake City has arrived."