Chapter 158: The Rules Of The Beastfolk 1

Tanaka discovered that getting into Varghelm was never going to be his main problem. By midmorning, Maeryn had taken him to one of the royal administrative buildings near the inner district, where foreign guests should learn the laws governing their visit. The building itself was vast, circular and decorated with many carved emblems of different beastfolk races.

Tanaka recognized the wolves right away. The others took more time. A golden lion stood next to a fox curled around a flame, a rabbit beneath a crescent moon, a bear standing on its hind legs, a hawk with wings outspread and a few smaller icons Tanaka didn’t recognize at all. "There are more than I expected," Tanaka muttered.

Maeryn nodded. "Those are only the major recognized peoples," she said. Garric folded his arms. "The Beastfolk Lands aren’t made up of a single race with different ears. That’s the first misconception outsiders have," he said. Tanaka glanced around the chamber again. "So each race has its own territory?" he asked.

"Generally," Maeryn replied. They entered the large chamber. Numerous beastfolk clerks worked at long tables, poring over travel permits, trade agreements, clan disputes and various other matters of state. Tanaka spotted wolves, foxes and rabbits among the officials, though most of the higher dignitaries wore the blue and silver insignia of the Wolf Crown.

A clerk approached Maeryn first. "Chief Maeryn," she said. She greeted the elderly woman respectfully before pausing briefly to regard Tanaka. Her gaze hovered an extra half second longer than was strictly necessary. "Lord Tanaka Eldoris?" she asked. Tanaka smiled.

"That’s me," he said. She recovered quickly. "The royal administration has approved your temporary residency within Varghelm. Until the Wolf King requests your audience, you’re free to visit the public districts, markets and registered guild areas," she explained. Tanaka tilted his head. "Registered guild areas?" he asked.

Garric sighed impatiently. "Here we go," he said. The woman continued, "Restricted military areas, clan archives, royal residences and some magical facilities require special permission..." "Alright," Tanaka said. He didn’t have a problem with that regulation. The Kingdom of Eldoris would have similar laws if more foreign merchants and dignitaries came visiting.

The clerk handed Maeryn a wooden tablet bearing the insignia of the Wolf family. "There is one more condition," she said. Tanaka arched an eyebrow. "What kind of condition?" he asked. "Foreign rulers must understand the Three Laws of Recognition before conducting any major negotiations with the Beastfolk Crown," she said. Tanaka blinked. "Three laws?" he asked.

Maeryn gestured for him to follow. "’Tis best explained in private. Most of the building will misunderstand an official explanation," she said.

The chamber was set with a round table and carved wooden chairs. Maeryn took the first seat. Tanaka hesitated before realizing he was in human form and occupying the chair opposite her, and Raizen still behind him. Garric leaned against the far wall. Maeryn folded her hands in front of her.

"The Beastfolk Lands are governed by three primary concepts. Blood, territory and strength," she said. Tanaka frowned. "That sounds simple," he said. "It isn’t," Maeryn replied. She indicated the emblems carved above the chamber entrance. "Blood defines who we are. You are a man. I am a woman. This is a wolf, that is a lion and this is a fox. Every people has unique traditions, inheritance laws, marriage ceremonies, disciplines and ruling systems," she explained.

Tanaka digested that. "So the Wolf King doesn’t dictate the laws of every race?" he asked. "Correct," Maeryn said. Tanaka nodded. That law made sense. The wolf villages he had seen were already relatively independent of each other, with their own laws and regulations determined by the council of their local chief.

Maeryn continued, "Territory defines who rules whom. A sovereign has limited authority over the borders of their claim. Invasion, annexation without agreement or interference with another ruler’s subjects constitutes an act of war." Tanaka thought about Eldoris. That law was even more important than the first. "And strength?" Tanaka asked finally.

Maeryn’s gaze sharpened. "Strength determines whether one rules or obeys," she said. Tanaka hid a smile. There was the law he understood. Garric crossed the room carelessly, propping his hands against the wooden table. "The Beastfolk follow tradition and hierarchy, but strength ultimately rules these lands. A king must prove himself strong enough to enforce his will upon the people," Garric said.

Tanaka glanced back at the warrior. "So if a king proves himself weak?" he asked. "Then his authority will be tested," Garric said. Raizen’s ears twitched. Tanaka took in the full complement of troops guarding the room. He didn’t doubt Garric’s claim. Tanaka leaned back in his chair.

"If that is true, why does the Wolf King hold precedence over the other rulers?" Tanaka asked. Maeryn smiled. "You are asking the question most foreigners do," she said. She stood and wandered over towards the wall, tracing the outline of the carved wolf symbol. "A long time ago, the territory which composes modern Varghelm was not ruled by one king. It was dozens of independent regions, clans and kingdoms.

The lions held portions of the central plains, the wolves dominated the northern passes, the foxfolk were famed throughout the land as spirit-callers and rabbit kings multiplied across the fertile river valleys. Other smaller peoples guarded what borders they could," she said. Tanaka imagined it. Wastelands where the lion clans of old used to duel each other for sport, wolf packs skirmishing with mercenary armies along the trade roads.

Foxes and rabbits who could read minds and see the future, and other wonders of beastman kind past and present. Tanaka didn’t notice Maeryn’s amused expression. "Werewolves are said to have begun when the wolf tribes created the first permanent roads which connected several beastman settlements," Maeryn said. "Roads?" Tanaka asked.

Garric elaborated, "Trade roads, courier routes and military roads." Tanaka would have expected a glorious battle. But the war was fought over infrastructure, of all things. Maeryn chuckled at his expression. "Victory goes to the strong, Lord Eldoris, but roads assure victory," she said.

Tanaka realized this was true, and a good lesson to learn. The wolves controlled vast territories along the trade routes, and from there they branched out to protect merchants, settle disputes between their vassal kingdoms and guard the roads in their borders. "So the other races followed the wolves’ example?" Tanaka asked. Maeryn shook her head. "Not immediately. Some rulers tried burning the roads," she said.

Tanaka could imagine that. "Did the war have a name?" he asked. The room went quiet. Maeryn resumed her seat. "The War between the Beastfolk peoples is not one nation trying to conquer another, but rather dozens of states fighting on dozens of fronts, including trade routes and succession disputes. The lions assaulted fox territories, wolves became embroiled in civil war, rabbit kingdoms hired mercenary armies and smaller nations were literally crushed between bigger powers," she explained.

Tanaka frowned. "How long did it last?" he asked. Maeryn’s voice was hushed. "Eleven years," she said. The silence that followed was heavy. Children could not have been born into the war, nor had they died before their seventh birthday. "The Wolf King of that time put an end to it," Maeryn said. "He fought the toughest warriors of every rival kingdom and opened up the trade roads, forcing representatives of the major peoples to meet and form a council."