The dark elves of the Eternal Dark did not have a capital city.
That didn’t mean there were no big or important cities, of course. As Armin had started to learn, in effect it meant that there were several mini-capitals out there. Storied cities of cultural and political importance. His current location, Laterien’nas, was one of them.
The dark elves did have a central government. It wasn’t as centralized as what the Empire had built in some cases, but even more so in others. The lack of a proper capital was hindering them, though, that was plain to see. There were several offices, branches of the government, distributed across several cities. They had very sophisticated magical communication links to make sure those departments could stay in contact, but he suspected it was still far less efficient than if they’d simply been housed next to each other. There was only so much one could transmit in any given day.
Because of that, the notables of the Eternal Dark regularly met in large gatherings. Which cities had the honor — and expense, presumably — of hosting them varied, rotating through the bigger cities of the Eternal Dark. There was jockeying around that, since it was assumed the house in whose home turf the meeting was held had an advantage, and they wanted to grasp it when important decisions crucial to their interests were on the agenda.
He wasn’t quite sure what that meant in view of the fact that this gathering was held in this city this year.
House Oliren wasn’t the only house native to this area, although it was one of the biggest and most powerful. Or so Armin had been told. What he’d seen since arriving here hadn’t contradicted that information, though. They were apparently busy and powerful enough that while his arrival attracted notice, it had hardly shaken them up much, and it took a while for him to actually get an audience with their matriarch.
They finally met in a semi-formal receiving room (apparently there were different types) in the house’s main estate, where only the main family lived — the actual high nobles, essentially. Currently, that meant its lady, Lermen and a few aunts and uncles with the occasional child. Icnes was her only child, which was normally not unusual for dark elves, although Lermen had mentioned that people expected them to have more children. She could have had them with someone besides him, too, but that would be stupid, apparently.
“I am glad to see you, Sir Armin, and hopeful that you bring me news of my dear daughter,” the matriarch greeted as they sat down.
Mistress Oliren did not look much like her daughter, coloring aside, but there was something about her gaze that he found reminded him of her, anyway. She was obviously not a young woman, though she looked a bit younger than her husband — quite unusual in the Eternal Dark, he’d learned that women were typically older than their men here, rather opposed to most human cultures.
“I would be glad to do so,” he replied, inclining his head.
They spent the first few minutes talking politely about life in the Eternal Dark and, especially, the surface, with him updating them on their daughter’s activities. He knew Icnes Oliren had sent letters home, so they were hardly unaware of what she had been doing.
“It pleases me to hear that Icnes has settled in well and enjoys spending time in this new empire,” Oliren said. “I take it she has also reconciled with her half-sister, your lady Madris?”
Armin hesitated for a moment. “They have had the opportunity to reconnect and spent some time together, yes.”
“Good,” Tedis said, her lips curving up slightly in a smile. “Madris’ departure may have been regrettable, but that is no reason to stop speaking to each other. They seemed to get on well, then?”
He relaxed a bit. “They did, indeed,” he said, then added, “I believe it is only due to Icnes that Madris would have any involvement in what is happening in the Eternal Dark.”
“She is not planning on coming back, then? I am dismayed to hear that.”
Armin shook his head. “She has not shared any such plans with us. And Madris is not the sort of woman to keep such secrets from family.”
Tedis smiled a bit again. She didn’t look like she was too disheartened Madris would not come back, he noted. “Indeed, she rarely bothered with deception when she was one of us. I am disappointed she will not be available to help our cause, although I suppose that her presence might also radicalize some elements against us.”
“Our tentative allies with the dwarves, for example,” Lermen added.
“You have allies in the dwarven states?” He hadn’t heard about that.
“No firm allies, but a few see the sense in supporting our policies,” Tedis said. “They want increased contact and trade between us.”
Armin hesitated. Now it got to the dicey part. “I had the impression that your proposed actions were … not necessarily friendly to the dwarves,” he said carefully.
The two exchanged a quick look. “Unfortunately, there is truth to that,” Lermen said. “I, personally, would much prefer peaceful cooperation. However, not everyone thinks this policy would be worth its return. Among those with similar opinions as us regarding the society of the Eternal Dark and the need to look outward, well, some do not care who else gets hurt in our name.”
“So, you make political alliances with people who are expansionist and who are in favor of ‘suppressing’ the dwarves with violence,” he surmised.
“I dislike the way you both put it, but I must admit that is the long and the short of it,” Tedis agreed with a sigh.
“There is no way to convince them to come around? In the long-term, mutually beneficial cooperation is usually much more advantageous.” So he had heard, anyway. Madris and Empress Regina herself had both espoused this opinion, and they should know what they were talking about.
“We have been trying,” Lermen said, frowning faintly. “It is not an easy ask, Sir Armin.”
He raised a hand slightly, canting his head to the side after a moment. It wasn’t a bow, but made him a bit less prepared and situated to fight, which must have determined it as a gesture of mild apology or abashed agreement.
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“I admit I was not expecting you to be so eager to decry violence,” Tedis said thoughtfully. “Or to show such care for the dwarves. You are a Delver, are you not?”
Armin frowned. “I will try not to feel offended at your words, Mistress Oliren. Not all Delvers are xenophobes — or, indeed, human. Just look at Madris. Do you think she would have shown me such trust if I was a brute or human supremacist?”
Maybe many Delvers would have reacted differently. But he had always counted himself fortunate that his own home was rather less steeped in bigotry against different races, at least compared to many others he had seen in his travels. Not to mention, what was that expression he’d heard in Cera, about throwing stones in glasshouses?
“I apologize for the implication, Sir Armin,” Tedis said. “Although Madris is hardly above using violence, or worse. There is a reason her name is still used to evoke fear in many places — especially the dwarven kingdoms.”
Armin dipped his head. That was something he was curious about, but now wasn’t the time to ask; he didn’t quite feel comfortable asking Lermen or showing vulnerability to Tedis Oliren. “Regardless,” he said. “I would try to aid your efforts in moving things in a … less violent direction if possible. I assume important decisions will be made at this year’s gathering of the councils?”
“They will,” she answered with certainty. “It will be interesting to introduce you. Of course, we needn’t wait for the gathering proper to start. I would have preferred an official envoy from the Empire in some respects — I don’t think you qualify, do you? But perhaps it’s better this way.”
“Not quite,” he said. “I have spoken to the Empress and several other people of importance in the Empire before departing, so I could convey their stance and opinions. But they thought it would be better to send me instead of a regular diplomatic envoy first.”
Also because there was no one available of sufficient status that she wanted to send, he was sure.
“And they couldn’t simply name you an envoy?” Lermen asked, frowning. “I suppose the surface is different.”
“There are political considerations, I am not a lord or even a native of the Empire. My citizenship is in a bit of a ‘gray area’, supposedly. And there is the fact I was adopted into her family by Madris.”
Which technically made him a citizen of the Eternal Dark, he supposed. It was why he’d counted on being able to move freely down here. He could’ve easily become a citizen and gained a position within the Empire, of course. But he preferred to keep his independence. This was only supposed to be a short visit. And look where we are now.
“Of course,” Tedis said. “I understand, some things are better handled less officially. Your presence will still be valuable. I will make sure to give you the chance to advocate for the Empire, as it were.”
Armin smiled. He had spoken a bit with Lermen on the trip here, as well as during his stay. They clearly knew most of what he would say, and Tedis seemed fine with it, if not a bit uninterested. He supposed there would be time for ‘advocacy’ later and she was more focused on the political situation within the Eternal Dark.
“In the meantime, I would like to see more of the Eternal Dark,” he said. “To gain a better understanding of it and see the issues we are facing politically out in the world. The city would be a good place to start.”
“Of course, I’ll make sure Peras is available to guide you,” Tedis agreed with a wave of her hand. “Is there something specific you intend to look for?”
“I appreciate that,” he replied with a nod. “In fact, I would like to visit the street market at the lower ravine, and there is one important matter. I have noted that there are no captives working in your estate. I hope that is accurate.”
It felt like the temperature dropped a few degrees and he had to make sure his expression remained calm as he asked the question.
“My house has not taken any captives and we do not make use of them either way,” Tedis said, her tone cool and her jaw set. But she reminded him enough of Icnes, who he’d gotten to know relatively well in the last months, to know that she was being defensive to hide negative emotions. Perhaps shame, at her people’s actions? One could hope.
“But others still do,” he pressed, carefully keeping his tone even and as non-confrontational as possible. “They are still traded like goods?”
“Not quite, but there are some, yes,” Lermen said.
“I have been told dark elves’ captives are not slaves, although I confess the distinction eludes me.”
“They may refuse to work and are still given food and water,” Tedis said. “Work grants privileges and stipends. They are released after a few years and may go where they wish in the Eternal Dark, settle where they like. Families are not broken up. Children born to them are free to choose their own paths.”
There are probably ways to ‘motivate’ them to work, and what does a few years mean to dark elves? he thought. “That is better than outright slavery,” he acknowledged. “But it still seems a system ripe for abuse with concerning implications. I understand you are trying to change that, for which I commend you. But I would be remiss if I didn’t warn you. Empress Regina has strong feelings on the topic of slavery or indentured servitude. Clinging to this practice will strain relations with the Empire.”
The two dark elf leaders exchanged a look. Lermen dipped his head. “We are aware, but it is good to hear your perspective, Sir Armin. I look forward to hearing your thoughts when you return from your trips to the city.”
“Thank you, Lord Oliren.”
The conversation moved on, but it didn’t last long after that. Armin stood up, clasped their wrists, bowed his head and left the room, listening to them start talking in hushed tones, but the door closing cut them off.
To their credit, they moved quickly. Later that afternoon, Peras was ready to accompany him into the city, escorted by a few household guards. In case he wanted to see the more troublesome, poor areas of the city, she explained.
Of course, Armin took advantage of their offer and they set off into the lower parts of the city. There was a gradient of sorts, where the richer people lived on top, he’d seen, although it wasn’t consistent all throughout the city. The government buildings were in the center, and connected to the main gates by direct roads or walkways. They walked along one of the main thoroughfares before turning into a side area, then going down several walkways and one slide.
Peras stayed quiet, letting him look at the city and the people. Armin tried to simply take everything in, but his conversation with the Oliren leaders played through his head, especially the end, and he couldn’t help but look out for the people he knew had been forcibly brought here.
“Captives are mostly other races, aren’t they?” he mused.
“Yes. Actual wars between houses are rare,” she explained easily. “They are primarily dwarves, considering the areas of the most frequent and most recent conflicts.”
Armin nodded. He’d seen several dwarves on the streets already. They didn’t wear anything that would distinguish their status. He wondered briefly what the Imperial government would make of it. The Empire had made an alliance with the dwarves in the southwestern mountains, but that group wasn’t one of those bordering the dark elves directly — though they must have some contact.
“I admit that I don’t understand the logic,” he said. “If you wanted cheap labor, then slavery makes sense even if it’s reprehensible. But there are protections in place, apparently. And they’re even paid, though I’d venture a guess that it’s not much.”
Peras shrugged. “Captive-taking is not about free labor,” she explained. “That would be short-sighted. Slaves don’t buy anything or create any art. They’re simply risks. It is about expanding the population.”
“Ah.” He glanced around again, this time noting the subtle but visible differences in styles, the occasional building with smaller door- and window-frames. “I take it that’s why children are free, but the parents aren’t, so they’ll still be raised here and stay in the Eternal Dark. And many captives would not have places to return to.”
Peras smiled at him. “I believe I underestimated your understanding, Sir Armin.”
Armin nodded absently, still frowning a little. It occurred to him that the factions with expansionist ideas would wage more wars, take more captives — deport more people — increase the population in their territory, at the cost of other nations.
At the back of his mind, he was also considering the actual laws of the Empire and the Empress’ stance on the same issue. Madris had mentioned she feared the country’s population would not increase quickly enough for her needs; would she consider increasing it by force?
