Rolling his eyes at his mother's ushering, Erik moved to the other side of the hall. Along the way, he weaved past the other guests, handily ignoring anyone trying to fawn over him, until he reached a sowhat quieter corner of the hall.
Nobuntu's eyes had already locked onto him as he approached. She and her son were sitting at a table with so drinks and food in front of them that had gone mostly untouched. The people around them seed to be doing their best to ignore the duo.
"There you are," she growled a little when he ca close enough. "We were just about to leave. I didn't think you were still going to talk to , and your guests don't seem particularly enamoured with us."
Erik chuckled and, much to Kudzai's anxiety, put a hand on Nobuntu's shoulder. "Well, can you bla them? You are, after all, a powerful third-ranker from a nation that betrayed them in their hour of need and might soon beco an enemy. If they were a little more confident in my backing, they'd likely be cursing you out."
For a mont, Nobuntu wanted to protest his physical display of control, but then the collar of runes around her neck appeared in a flash, and she was forced to calm down.
Kudzai didn't notice his mother's struggle, but he did feel a tension. He quickly stood up and gave Erik a small bow. "Silver Emperor! We haven't talked since that day, but please allow to congratulate you on your weddings! Your wives are the envy of any man."
Lifting his head a little, he locked eyes with Erik's fierce, amber orbs. A hint of steel slipped into his gaze. He wavered a little, but then steadied his voice. "I trust you'll make Naeku happy…"
There was no 'or else' at the end, but Erik could infer what he ant, causing him to grin. According to what Nobuntu told him, Kudzai was naive, a little awkward, and easily swayed by a woman, but there was clearly so kind of backbone there, which Erik could appreciate
Suddenly, a thought struck him. This Kudzai was actually not dissimilar to his pre-awakening self… His eyes widened for a mont. Was that why… his mother…?
'Nope, nope, nope,' he instantly exclaid loudly in his own head as terror filled him. 'That's enough of that. There's nothing to see here, nothing at all.' With a shiver travelling down his spine, he shook his head and burned any remnants of that thought before focusing back on the young man in front of him.
Despite his backbone, Kudzai was obviously nervous. He and his mother had been there to witness Erik's speech about uniting Africa, and he knew very well what that ant for the relationship between Erik and his ho, the free tribes of Azania.
Yet, the fact that he could still sowhat manage to threaten Erik sowhat was impressive enough to deserve a proper answer, in Erik's estimation. "I'll certainly do everything in my power to do so," he nodded with a small, but sincere grin.
Before Kudzai could respond, Erik swiftly moved past him to take a seat on Kudzai's chair, next to Nobuntu. Before either of them could protest, he turned to Kudzai with a raised eyebrow and a stern look. "Now, I'd like to talk to your mother alone for a mont. If you don't mind, I asked my mother to keep you company for a mont."
Kudzai blinked and glanced at his mother. Unfortunately, Nobuntu was forced to nod quietly after receiving an order through her bond with Erik. He parted his lips to protest, but then Runa suddenly showed up.
Dressed in casual clothing that exposed much of her powerful body, she looked devastatingly beautiful, imposing, and mature. As soon as she appeared in his field of view, Kudzai was struck dumb by a re glance.
"Uh, uh…" he muttered, as Runa grinned her pearly whites. The large breasts, exposed abs, and powerful arms fitted onto a tall, mature, beautiful woman made him gulp. His mind tried to find words to say, but nothing ca out. He'd admired her from afar before, but up close, she was even more devastating.
Naturally, Runa thoroughly enjoyed his current state and didn't give him any ti to get it together. She grabbed his shoulder and started dragging him away. "Co with , boy," she said, her tone domineering. "I'll let you entertain for a mont."
Kudzai could not find the ti to respond properly before they were long gone. Behind him, his mother followed his captor with a worried look, while Erik did the sa with surprising amusent. 'Maybe being my mother's wingman isn't so bad…'
After they were gone, he turned to Nobuntu, who looked at him sombrely. "Oh, don't look at like that," Erik chuckled mischievously. "He'll be fine. People may be angry at you, but no one would dare defy my mother. She'll… take care of him."
Sohow, his last words only increased Nobuntu's worry, but Erik gave her no ti to think about it. He spoke to her through their bond. "Just start the conversation normally, but put whatever they're using to record you on the table."-
Unable to defy him, she turned her body fully towards him and put her left arm on the table, accentuating a peculiar armband she wore. She looked at him sombrely and responded to his earlier comnt about the anger of those around them: "It wouldn't be so bad if you hadn't validated their hatred by essentially declaring war on everyone."
Erik shrugged, a small smile forming. "Maybe their neighbours shouldn't have been such cowards. I'm simply bringing just punishnt, as well as ensuring we can stand up to the hunters in the future."
Knowing he was being recorded, he naturally had to asure his words a little more than usual. If he said anything that might be misconstrued by the people, the Azanian rulers would surely use it against him. In the anti, he grasped her hand and gently pulled it under the table and out of view.
Nobuntu instantly grew concerned, but Erik's voice echoed in her mind again. "Don't look down. Just keep talking."
As he said that, Nobuntu could see a soft green light begin to radiate from sowhere near her hand, yet Erik's order prevented her from looking down. Inwardly, she cursed.
Had she been able to look down, however, she'd have seen a small fairy, covering her armband in a green glow while softly whistling a casual tune…
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