The World Dragon's Heir

Chapter 698: Some People Like Trolls

The Earl sighed. "Why did it have to be Trolls? You know that they don’t like the rest of us as much as they like you, right?"

"And that’s exactly the problem. If the Trolls don’t trust you, the rest of the Sorcerers won’t either. It’s instinctive at some level for those with monster blood in them. An innate aversion to those who aren’t like them, and whose loyalties are unknown." Dominic replied.

The Earl noticed that his counterpart from Wistfield River, a County outside Wistfield City, was looking a bit embarrassed, like he wanted to avoid the conversation, but was somehow involved.

"Tell me that you didn’t make an enemy of the Trolls." Earl Causter demanded.

"No, enemies isn’t the word that I would have used. You see, I may have taken a Forest Troll as a Mistress after my wife was confirmed as infertile. She was heavily injured during her first and only pregnancy, and can’t have any more children."

"Why didn’t you just take another wife? It’s not unheard of. Or pick one of the maids?" The Earl asked.

"Well, that’s what I did, now isn’t it? She told me that if I wanted an heir so badly, I could damn well shag a troll. And the healer’s assistant thought that was mighty funny, and she told the staff, and one thing led to another, and now I’ve got a very pregnant forest troll waiting for me at home with an upset and confused wife."

Dominic laughed. "And now you have to inform the King. It’s protocol that the Royal records are updated with the birth of every potential heir. With no son from your wife, your heir is likely going to be half troll."

Earl Causter frowned. "I’m not saying that I don’t understand the need for an heir, or a man’s natural needs. But I am judging you."

The man shrugged, while the Earl from Lympsbury laughed. "This gets funnier if you’ve met his wife.

She’s a full head taller than he is, muscular enough to give your gate guards a run for their money. And Forest Trolls are rarely more than a hundred fifty centimetres tall, especially the females.

Though, if you can get past the fact their skin looks like tree bark, they’re shapely enough, I suppose."

The sound of someone choking caught Dominic’s attention, and he turned to see one of the King’s advisors standing next to them, holding half a glass of red wine, and wearing the rest.

"What sort of talk is this for a public gathering?" He demanded.

"Talk of the heir of Wistfield River County. It has been confirmed by the healers that a strong and healthy heir is on the way, but a few of the others had opinions about his choice of surrogate."

"Right, then. Congratulations are in order, I suppose. I will have an appointment made with the record keeper. Duke Wavemates, Earls, the King has requested your presence as a group."

Dominic nodded. "Should I send a runner to inform my Duchess? I believe that she will want to meet with her father."

The advisor shook his head. "She has seen him already, and is in a meeting with Advisor Morgana. This is a matter of Royal Affairs, not just the usual birthday greetings."

The Royal Summons naturally caused gossip to spread.

Anyone who was summoned before the King had made the official appearance at his own birthday had to be incredibly important to the Monarchy, either in a good way or a troublesome way.

But he was also meeting with the King of Dagos earlier, and with what everyone had heard from Duke Staptondon, this meeting might be an absolute nightmare.

All of the men he summoned were from Stansia Province, presumably the frontline should another war with Dagos break out. But if they were going to work out with Dagos, they were also the majority of the border Nobles, as well as the Governor of the Province.

The small group followed the Advisor up to the Royal Quarters, where they found not just the King, but also King Gustav of Dagos, and both of the Paladin Twins, plus a dozen advisors and Dukes in the room.

Supposedly, they were all in separate meetings, but the rooms were connected by hidden passages, and they had all gathered in the same spot.

Dominic stopped just inside the door and bowed politely to the King, who gestured for the group to rise.

"Welcome, Duke Wistover, Earls. Please, take a seat and we will bring you up to speed." The King began. "We have been in meetings with Dagos for some time now, and it has been deemed not feasible for the nation to continue to exist at the borders it had previously held.

As such, we are working with our Royal counterparts in Axbridge, as well as in West Keria, to stabilize the situation.

Now, on to the important parts. Kinewen City has been examined, and deemed a forbidden zone. Not only will it be impossible to rebuild the city within our lifetime, it is no longer even safe to pass boats along the river.

Unstable magical energies abound, and Axbridge has lost two naval shipments intended for relief of Albroles already.

The exact details are unknown, but the boats were found thirty kilometres downriver with only the skeletons of the crew on board, as if they had been abandoned for centuries. This has led King Witheton to petition to have the region declared a forbidden zone, not to be entered or occupied by anyone.

I happen to agree with him.

However, that leads us to the next issue.

Without Kinewen City, and without the ability to ship goods by river, there is no reason for anyone to return to Kinewen Province.

King Gustav believes it is a lingering aspect of the bloodline curse that caused the disaster.

And he would like to expunge it from his territory, for a somewhat reasonable fee."

Dominic resisted the urge to smile.

This was exactly what he had been hoping for. Wavemates had chased the invaders out on its own, and now he just had to give one final push, and he would have his entire homeland back.j