Sylvanas on the offensive

In the end, Charlemagne paid Lucius a deposit of 100 gold coins. The shopkeeper said he would deliver the ore to Charlemagne when the Kingdom of Kul Tiras's merchant ships next arrived, in half a month.

As the greatest maritime kingdom among humans and even in all of Azeroth, Kul Tiras had a hand in practically anything involving seaborne trade. Naturally, it was also involved in developing the northern land of Northrend.

Although only a handful of pioneering expeditions had headed to Northrend so far, Kul Tiras had seized the opportunity to monopolize the sale of the north's various high-quality ores, herbs, and furs to the major nations.

After all, only the maritime power of Kul Tiras could currently build the icebreakers needed to reach the north. The other nations could forget about it and go to bed.

Of course, as Northrend's various high-quality resources caught the attention of other nations, Kul Tiras would inevitably have to cooperate with them in developing the north. No nation could tolerate it keeping the entire pie to itself.

The current king of the Kingdom of Kul Tiras was Daelin Proudmoore, a young man in his prime. Having just inherited the throne from his father, who had died of illness, he was brimming with ambition.

Raised from childhood to be king, he was certainly no fool. When Terenas Menethil, king of the Kingdom of Lordaeron, expressed some interest in cooperating, he readily accepted the proposal.

The two nations ultimately decided to develop the north together, with Lordaeron providing funding and manpower and Kul Tiras providing ships. Even the Bronzebeard Dwarves, who were very interested in the new ores, wanted a share of the action. The three nations had recently been engaged in close consultations.

Of course, Charlemagne knew nothing of this yet, but being able to buy titansteel was already an enormous gain for him.

Half a month more or less fit his plans. He had intended to stay in Silvermoon City during this time and borrow books from Xiao'en anyway. He had not forgotten about Teleport.

After paying the 100-gold deposit, Charlemagne still had over 500 gold coins on him. With 150 set aside for the final payment, the remainder would last him a long time, given how carefully he usually planned his spending.

With Liadrin's wholehearted assistance, he had successfully accomplished the purpose of his outing. To return the favor, he then accompanied the two ladies as they shopped around Silvermoon City.

Before long, however, he regretted that decision. Once women started shopping, their energy was simply boundless.

Liadrin spent the entire afternoon pulling Sylvanas around the Royal Trade District. Fortunately, the thrifty Liadrin and the habitually frugal Sylvanas did not buy much.

Otherwise, Charlemagne would probably have ended up covered in shopping bags.

When they returned to Ranger Square, Liadrin still had not had her fill and invited Sylvanas to continue shopping in the commoners' commercial district in the western part of the city the next day.

Hearing this, Charlemagne set down the clothes and jewelry they had bought and quietly slipped away. He had other things to do tomorrow and no time to go shopping with them.

Of course, Liadrin and Sylvanas noticed his sheepish retreat, and both women laughed softly.

"Syl, can you tell me now? Why have you kept staring at Charlemagne lately? If it's guilt, surely you've done enough by now?"

As soon as Charlemagne left, Liadrin pulled the second daughter into the hall and sat down, her face full of curiosity as she began questioning Sylvanas about her unusual behavior lately.

Women really were like that. Whether refined ladies, tough girls, or tomboys, gossip and shopping were their eternal pleasures.

Her friend's words immediately brought a slight blush to Sylvanas's face. After hesitating for a while with a conflicted expression, she finally whispered her troubles into her best friend's ear.

"Huh?"

Charlemagne had no interest whatsoever in the whispering of the two elven women behind him. His first stop was the hawkstrider stable to feed Swiftfeather.

Before reaching Murder Row, all the rangers' hawkstriders had been led to Ranger Square to be housed together. After all, Murder Row, the narrow street leading to the royal court, was a pedestrian street where mounts were forbidden.

Swiftfeather, who had been bullying the other hawkstriders nearby out of sheer boredom, immediately gave a joyful cry upon seeing his master. He rushed over enthusiastically and rubbed his long neck against Charlemagne.

Charlemagne gently stroked the pure white feathers on Swiftfeather's back, watching with amusement as the fellow continued kicking a nearby hawkstrider with his hind leg.

"Swiftfeather... are you bullying the other hawkstriders again, you rascal? Don't make their owners come complaining to me."

"Chirp!"

Swiftfeather proudly raised his head and gave a loud cry. This remarkably intelligent white hawkstrider held his dim-witted fellows in utter contempt.

At first, he had tried communicating with them, but unfortunately, he never received a response. Later, he simply began angrily bullying those fellows who ignored him.

Swiftfeather was noticeably more powerfully built than the other hawkstriders, and these ordinary hawkstriders instinctively feared him.

Although they felt terribly wronged by Swiftfeather's harassment, they did not dare resist. They could only cower miserably in the corner like meek little wives, burying their heads like ostriches.

After feeding Swiftfeather and playing with him for a while, Charlemagne finally returned to his room to prepare for the king's private dinner that evening. Although Anasterian had said there was no need to be too formal, taking someone else's courtesy for granted would have been far too thoughtless.

Back in his room, he once again put on the ceremonial armor his parents had commissioned for him. It was the only presentable formal outfit he had.

When he went next door to tell Sylvanas it was time to leave, he found that the second daughter's gaze had become even more... peculiar.

Her previously evasive gaze now carried an unmistakable aggressiveness, as though she wanted to swallow him whole.

"Uh... Sylvanas, it's time for us to leave."

Her gaze gave Charlemagne the creeps, so he could only immediately employ the great art of changing the subject and get down to business.

He had seen this somewhat familiar look in Alleria's eyes before, which left him feeling that things were not looking good.

"Mm, I know. Let's go, then."

The second daughter nodded and obediently followed Charlemagne to the entrance of Ranger Square. The carriage the Sun King had sent to collect them was already waiting there.

The Quel'dorei Horses standing before the carriage differed somewhat from the horses humans bred. These horses, unique to Quel'Thalas, had two horns on their foreheads, one large and one small, and were taller and more powerfully built than human horses.

The two Quel'dorei Horses stood with dignified bearing at the entrance, awaiting the driver's command.

Charlemagne gentlemanly extended his hand to help Sylvanas into the carriage first, but the proud second daughter merely rolled her eyes at him. Also wearing light ceremonial armor, she leaped lightly into the carriage.

Under the neatly dressed driver's somewhat teasing gaze, Charlemagne could only awkwardly withdraw his hand. After rubbing his nose, he climbed into the carriage as well.

"Hyah!"

At the driver's command, the two Quel'dorei Horses began advancing toward the royal court with elegant strides.

Up on the second floor, Lireesa watched the carriage depart with a worried expression.

Sylvanas, you aren't really planning to...

(End of chapter)