He subsequently refocused his attention on Jack, his deanor shifting to show respect.
"But I am Grom Zor-Grimmarch, Shaman of the Krogar line," he said. "I can sll a lie written in paper and ink as easily as I sll rotting flesh. I examined their reports. I studied their words. And beneath the careful language, beneath the diplomatic courtesy, I detected the rotten, sulfurous stench of demonic essence."
Skarl made a sound that was almost a gasp. The other Orcs in the chamber stilled completely.
"The High Council is corrupt to the bone," Grom stated, his voice carrying absolute conviction. "They are hiding a monster in their high seats. They think we are too stupid to recognize the markings of demonic interference, too simple to sll what they have done. They murdered Korva Stonefoot with sothing born of the Ash, and they tried to bury the truth beneath layers of official decorum."
He paused, his gaze still fixed on Jack with a fierce intensity. He was assessing far more than simply the human’s physical form.
"The question now is: why are you here? Why does a Kaiser son care about the death of a single Orc negotiator? The answer cannot be simple charity. Your bloodline does not traffic in charity."
Jack remained silent for a mont. The pause was deliberate, allowing the weight of Grom’s revelation to settle.
"They are not just hiding it from you," Jack said finally. "They are using you as a distraction while they consolidate power. They murdered your negotiator to test the extent of your response. When you took no action, when you accepted their lies, they moved forward with larger plans."
"And you know this how?" Grom asked.
"Because I have been investigating the sa corruption," Jack replied. "The Elven Council attempted to conceal evidence of demonic activity from their own King. They tried to hide the presence of a demonic entity from the throne itself. Your negotiator’s death was likely collateral damage. A test of whether they could commit murder and escape accountability."
Grom’s grip on his damaged staff relaxed fractionally. His painted face remained impassive, but sothing in his bearing shifted.
A slight adjustnt, he was reconsidering his initial assessnt.
"You offer this information freely?" Grom asked. "A Kaiser prince walks into the Krogar villa and simply provides intelligence about cris against our delegation?"
"No," Jack said with absolute clarity. "I offer it in exchange for sothing."
The statent resonated within the chamber, creating a palpable tension.
"Speak your price," Grom commanded. "But know that Krogar does not barter with blood for anything less than permanent alliance."
"Then we have alignnt," Jack replied. "I want two things. First, if anything cos for my family or , Krogar will provide support indefinitely. Military support, magical support, resources. Whatever is required."
Grom’s expression shifted. His tusks caught the light as he nodded slightly.
"That can be arranged," Grom said. "We have lost much patience with the Elven Kingdom. An alliance with a Kaiser would be beneficial, particularly if that Kaiser is investigating the sa corruption that took Korva. And the second thing?"
"I want to et a certain individual in Krogar," Jack said. "Soone of significance. Soone who operates outside the standard hierarchies."
Grom’s eyes narrowed. His hand moved instinctively back to his staff, gripping it despite its damaged state.
"You ask much for an unknown," Grom said. "But I sense no deception in you. The air does not lie, and your mana does not shift with falsehood."
"In exchange for these two things, Sorne will receive trade agreents with Krogar at three tis the standard rate. And I will also make sure you get all the materials you ca here for."
He paused, his shamanic senses apparently processing information that existed beyond normal perception.
"Very well," Grom continued. " I will personally ensure that your introduction to this individual occurs when the ti is appropriate."
Jack inclined his head slightly. "Acceptable."
"But before we finalize this agreent," Grom said, moving closer, "I have a question. The demonic residue in Korva’s death. The signature I detected on their docunts. Did you find similar evidence? Does your investigation confirm my assessnt?"
Jack maintained an entirely neutral expression, with no alteration in his breathing or posture.
"The High Council attempted to conceal a vial of demonic residue," Jack stated flatly. "The substance was found inside the body of a Krogar emissary. Specifically, inside the mana veins, which had been hollowed and filled with it. Soone deliberately infused the residue into Korva’s corpse, then allowed the Council to discover it and attempt to dispose of the evidence."
The assembled Orcs reacted with several individuals stepping forward, their expressions growing stern. Skarl’s hands clenched into fists, his calloused knuckles turning white as blood receded.
Grom remained still, but his grip on his staff tightened once again. The wood groaned under the pressure.
"A summoning," Grom said quietly. "Soone brought a demon into the Elven Kingdom and fed it mana. They used it as a weapon against Korva. And then they attempted to hide the evidence."
"Yes," Jack confird. "This ans that the corruption extends beyond individual Council mbers making questionable decisions. It had to be a coordinated effort, involving ticulous planning and the strategic allocation of resources specifically for concealnt."
Grom turned away from Jack, moving toward a heavy wooden chair positioned at the far end of the chamber. He seated himself as he thought for a mont.
"Then our agreent is sealed," Grom said, his voice carrying the weight of shamanic pronouncent. "Krogar will stand with you. We will provide the trade agreents you require at three tis the standard rate. And I will arrange your introduction to the individual you seek."
He paused, his ancient eyes fixing on Jack once more.
"But know this, Jack Kaiser, if you prove to be deceiving us. Suppose your investigation into the Council’s corruption proves to be false. If you are simply using Korva’s death to advance so agenda of your own. Then Krogar will co for you with the force of a thousand storms. We do not forget our debts, whether they are debts of alliance or debts of blood."
Jack t Grom’s gaze without flinching. His white hair seed to catch more light as he stood, the golden-orange eyes reflecting the torchlight with an intensity that made even the assembled Orcs shift uncomfortably.
"I do not lie to allies," Jack said. "The Elven Council’s corruption is real. The demonic activity is real. And if you stand with , you will see both of these truths confird."
"Then we are agreed," Grom said, inclining his head slightly. "Skarl will prepare the formal docuntation for the trade agreents. And I will send word when your introduction to the individual you seek is ready."
Grom rose from his chair, and the assembled Orcs seed to take this as a signal. Several moved toward Skarl, who was already gathering writing materials from a side chamber.
Jack stood in the center of the chamber, surrounded by creatures ten feet tall, and felt absolutely nothing approaching concern.
His presence commanded the space not through intimidation or display, but through the simple, undeniable fact that he was operating on a level of power and clarity that transcended the normal rules of hierarchy.
"That is not necessary, I have soone who will draw a contract and give it to ."
"One final matter," Grom said as Jack prepared to depart. "The demonic residue you discovered. Do you still possess it?"
"Yes," Jack replied without elaboration.
"Good," Grom said. "Because I suspect that before this is finished, we will need to examine it more closely. My shamanic senses can detect demonic essence, but not the details. The specific origin, the nature of the summoning, the identity of whoever perford the ritual, those details require deeper investigation."
Jack inclined his head. "When the ti is appropriate, you will have access to it."
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