The World Dragon's Heir

Chapter 544: Contrition

The merchant sent a message, and a few minutes later, Rill came over with a storage cube in his hand.

“This should cover the payment that you requested for the initial ship. I will keep up with Gully to see when we can expect another, as we have other routes that we would like to service, including a far northeastern route, and a southeastern coastal route.”

Gully smiled. “Happy to take your money. We will get right on it, and build the next one just the way that this one is right now, so you can start sending another airship tech along on the route to learn the particulars of the new airship designs.”

Everyone split up and Dominic mounted his new horse, then whistled for the mechanical mules to follow him before reaching down to help the veiled maid up.

“I suppose that it’s time to get back to work. I’ve done the essential parts here.”

Behind her veil, the maid laughed. “You make it sound like a bit more paperwork is the end of the world.”

“True, it’s really not. I just despise doing it. Remind me again why I agreed to this?”

“Paladin boobs, My Lord.”

“Right, that was it.”

The pair laughed as the horse walked through the streets, catching the attention of everyone they rode by.

The Dagos Royal Family emblem was quite distinctive, and even with his horns showing, it still took everyone a second to realize who was on the horse and relax.

Dominic helped the maid down at the gate, then slid down beside her, so the stable hand could take the horse away.

“Take it to the forge after it’s cleaned up. I am going to put a fresh coat of enamel on it.” He instructed.

“Of course, Your Grace. We do have artisans who can do that for you, if you would like?” The stable hand asked.

“Oh?”

“The debutantes have been looking for an excuse to show off their artistic skills.” The young man, the son of a farmer, joked.

“Actually, that’s not a bad idea. If we coat it with a hard enamel, it should be durable enough. Where is that maid? Ah, behind me. Can you ask that the offer to repaint the warhorse to be suitable for use by the Duke of Wistover is open to anyone with painting skills?

I will pay them, or we can offer a reward of some sort.”

The maid bowed. “I will see that it is done. Princess Poppy would be perfect to arrange it. That way it sounds like a gift to you, as host, and not a commission, which might bring about jokes of being common labourers.”

“Thank you for understanding women better than I do.”

“Dave also understands women better than you do.”

“Go away, I will get my paperwork finished.”

Dominic slowly made his way back toward the house, then stopped as a man came running around the corner, with Dave right behind him.

“Your Grace, please, wait!” He was shouting as he ran.

The man fell to his knees in front of Dominic and bowed flat with the ground, holding something out in front of him.

“Your Grace, please, a chance to explain.” He begged.

“Go ahead. I have no idea what you’ve done yet, so say your piece.”

Dominic motioned for Dave to wait behind the man, far enough back that he wouldn’t feel like he was towering over him, but close enough to smash him with the club if needed.

The man continued to hold out the object. “It’s not like that, Your Grace, I simply opened my portal on the wrong side of the house. I thought that the entrance was on the other side, and ended up in the garden.”

He cleared his throat and calmed a bit of his panic, which seemed to stem from his imminent death by spiked club.

“Lord Dominic, I was sent to make peace with the Wistover Duchy.”

Dominic frowned. “And who do you represent that you believe that there is a chance for peace? I only recall the Duchy having one perpetual blood feud.”

The man blanched, then nodded. “On behalf of the Westleby Village in Dagos, I have come to publicly renounce our alliance with the Northern Lords, and our role in the rebellion against the rightful King of Dagos.”

“And what makes you think that you should bring this to me instead of the King of Dagos? Would that not be the logical spot to declare your allegiance?”

“But… you are his enforcer, are you not? I mean, after the other day… Ten thousand dead in four hours, what could that be if not an object lesson in loyalty to the throne?”

Dave rumbled with laughter. Even a simple-minded Troll knew that Dominic had smashed their people simply because he was angry, and they were in the way.

“Well, when you put it that way, I can see why you thought that it was personal. I assume that you have brought me a token of your sincerity?”

The mage nodded. “Yes, Your Grace. This is one of the Royal Clone Orbs. The clone has been destroyed now, and it is inert. No longer does Westleby Village harbour a false copy of the Traitor Prince.”

A clone Orb?

Dominic knew that someone had made puppets that closely imitated Prince Kaizon, but he had thought that it was a grand spell by the Archmage supporting him.

Now, he had proof that it was actually a combination of grand magic and magitech.

Dominic took the orb and examined it for a second before continuing his questioning.

“How many more of these orbs exist?”

“Just one. The orb in Helster was still active when ours was destroyed. All of the others were lost during the storm, and the spell indicated that they had all gone offline permanently.”

“So, there is still a fake Prince out there? That means the rebellion isn’t over yet. As long as there are still cities rallying to his cause, Stansia Province can’t call itself safe from the Dagos Rebels.

They have attacked us too many times, and in too many ways, to call it finished at this point.

However, I will accept your contrition. Now, come with me, and we can discuss how to present this to your King.”