[i]Is this how all diplomatic relations go on Kanth-Aremek? Hell, is this how [/i]all[i] diplomacy goes?[/i]

Itxaro listened patiently as the group argued, waiting for her time to interject. Nellara frustrated her most of all; to Itxaro, it seemed the Tekeri wanted to simply sever all ties with Silbermine, end things right there, and run off with their human prize while the two gathering armies clashed right on the border where the Jotunheim sat. Perhaps this was her intention, or maybe the animosity between their nations simply ran this deep. Human history was rife with border disputes used as casus belli, and she doubted things were different here. Maybe the Ascendency thought they had the upper hand now and she decided to plunge them into conflict. Either way, Itxaro wasn’t eager to get caught up in a medieval magic battle. She preferred to read about those, not participate in them. 

Itxaro lowered both her voice and the volume on the translator to speak in some manner of privacy to Nellara. [color=fff200]“Listen Nellara, I don’t know what is going on here, I admit that. I don’t know your plan, or Silbermine’s intentions, but there [i]is[/i] a way to get out of this without bloodshed. There’s two armies on their way, which means war; whatever we have to offer you isn’t worth that. We [i]have[/i] to work with Silbermine, or people will die. Just trust me on this, or at least go along and then decide, alright?”[/color] Of course, she [i]did[/i] suspect Silbermine's intentions. But it was best not to say that within earshot of the Glen. 

Vigdis wasn’t winning much favor in the doctor’s eyes either. Itxaro figured that if they had landed in 14th century Earth somehow, they’d have been burned at the stake as witches by now. Vigdis was dumping some serious heresy on Silbermine, and though they hadn’t started lighting the pyres yet, Itxaro feared that suggesting their gods weren’t actually hanging out in the sky wouldn’t go well for them. She treated the whole situation flippantly in Itxaro's eyes, as if lives, both theirs and the inhabitants of two nations, weren’t on the line right now. Itxaro strained against a scowl creeping onto her face but kept her composure. It all threatened to crack when one of Silbermine's knights cut Kerchak down with their tongue. [i]If we were back home, your noble ass would be thrown against a wall and shot.[/i] The doctor’s blood was up.

The Running was their way out. It spanned weeks, giving them time to establish relations with all the players in the region, earn favor, and above all avert war between the Ascendency and Mythadia. They could repair the ship in the meantime, as well. She considered even accepting Silbermine’s offer to move their ship, if such a thing was even possible, but that wouldn’t be seen favorably by the Ascendency. Perhaps it was fortunate they landed right on a disputed border. 

Itxaro stepped forward to accept the offered bread and spoke to Silbermine. [color=fff200]“What my companion here means is that, well, Venurwreth’s domain in the sky is vast; incomprehensibly so, as I’m sure you know. They have not made themselves known to us. Maybe Venurwreth intends for you to serve as their envoy to us, Lord Silbermine?”[/color] Itxaro looked sidelong to Vigdis, as if to say [i]for the love of God, don’t insult their gods.[/i] [color=fff200]"We look forward to learning more about Venurwreth.”[/color] Weak, she knew, but it was something. 

Itxaro waited for their host to eat the strange loaf first. She studied the bread and smelled it. [i]Well, I ate Norwegian food before ending up here, and that didn’t kill me.[/i] Itxaro took a small bite of the mossy bread; tough, earthy, and incredibly salty. She’d had worse. Itxaro nodded to the Glen, as if in approval or gratitude. [i]Hope the salt kills anything that might kill me.[/i]

After she finished chewing, Itxaro responded. [color=fff200]“What interests me most right now is The Running. It sounds like a grand and noble tradition,”[/color] she began earnestly, as the tournament [i]had[/i] intrigued her. Tournaments on Earth had been for money, glory, and favor, but never [i]actual[/i] power. As far as backward societies went, not the worst tradition. [color=fff200]“I can’t speak for our leader, but I'd like to learn about our potential role in it as your champions. What sort of competitions are held? Is there bloodshed? No coin is necessary for us, but maybe some bargain could be made that will benefit us all.”[/color] Itxaro hoped her plea was heard by both Silbermine, Nellara, and the humans among the fray.