Chapter 757 — The March of the Times
Blade of Dawn · Page 2 of 4
Then he looked to the other side of the throne and nodded to the courtier with the thick beard and broad forehead. "Sir Golosh, the Ice Lord in the southern mountains has sent us envoys twice now to discuss formally opening a trade route. Perhaps it is time we gave some response."
...
In the western reaches of the Cecil Empire, in the city of Tenwoods, within Franklin Castle.
Wena the grey elf sat in a reception hall spread with soft, thick carpets, its walls hung with decorative shields and rune-embroidered tapestries. Light from magitech crystal lamps spilled over the polished round table, kindling a hazy shimmer across its panes of colored glass. Regarding Duke Boyu Franklin before her with a faint smile, she said, "Our first collaboration in this new era has been a great success. The first batch of alchemical potions, along with the eastern textiles we brought as samples, have been warmly received in the plains and hills. The Grey Elf King has commanded me to bring gifts to present to His Majesty Gaoyang Cecil, as a show of our friendship."
The lady—small in stature as a human child, yet in truth the leader of one of the great grey elf tribes—spoke while gesturing to an attendant, who stepped forward and set upon the table before Boyu a small chest about a foot square, richly and magnificently adorned.
A faint rune-light flickered, and the chest's magical lock disengaged. When the lid opened, a crystal orb roughly the size of a fist, clear and translucent, lay quietly on a velvet cushion.
"This is a crystal orb of the highest clarity, from Mount Mingcen. As you know, the crystals of Mount Mingcen are of the finest quality on the entire continent. This orb was cut and polished by the dwarf craftsman McIntosh Greyshale himself, and blessed by the Fairy King—may our two nations long preserve our friendship, pure and flawless as this crystal."
"I will convey this precious gift to our emperor," Duke Franklin said with a nod, ordering an attendant to put the gift away. "When the roads open next spring and we have established permanent embassies and exchanged ambassadors, I must invite you to accompany me to our imperial capital. You will surely love the thriving commercial air there."
"I look forward to it," Wena the grey elf said with a smile and a gentle nod. Then she asked, "There is one thing our king wishes to confirm: when can we expect the second batch of textiles and alchemical potions? In the plains, there is a great shortfall of both."
"We can supply alchemical potions in quantity at any time—alchemical works have already been built in the western reaches. As for the textiles from Typhon..." Boyu Franklin pinched his chin with some difficulty. "As you know, that requires a long journey. The last batch of samples had to be relayed from east to west by way of the Whitewater River and then overland caravans, but bulk river shipping on the Whitewater has now been interrupted for the season, and the railway needed for the magitech train... cannot possibly be completed this year."
"Of course, even so, we can still supply a small quantity of textiles. That should at least cover part of the shortfall."
"Being able to supply alchemical potions in full already solves half the problem," Wena said with a smile. "As for the textiles... we understand your difficulties. Moving bulk goods from east to west is, one imagines, exceedingly hard."
At this, the grey elf tribal leader paused abruptly, then turned the conversation with natural ease. "Incidentally, since you mentioned the 'magitech train' just now—I have heard that peculiar term several times lately. Could you tell me more about it?"
The corner of Boyu's mouth curved upward. Stroking his fingers lightly, he leaned in. "Oh? You are interested?"