Chp.31: Let's set sail

Even though his intelligence wasn't exactly the best, that didn't mean that Darbi was stupid. The fact that his smartness level was below average for dragons didn't stop him from having good intuitions. It took a while to get them, and often needed a little help, but she had them. And from those intuitions he could derive a plan to turn the situation to his advantage.

In nearly all the situations he'd been in since they'd been born, he'd rarely had the chance to have an insight, not because he wasn't capable of it, but because time had been too short. To put this into understandable perspective, while Haku could intuit something and formulate it smoothly in a matter of minutes or hours at the most, and all other dragons could do it in just a few days, Darbi needed a few weeks in which he was subjected to the same situation to be able to invent something. This clearly could not happen when he was fighting an opponent or when there was a need to act quickly. Consequently Darbi normally preferred not to think and act only on instinct, because the few times he tried to think he ended up causing some trouble, as had happened when he let himself be knocked out by the hydra.

This time, however, the situation was different. Darbi had been able to interact with the beastmen for a long time and had a clear idea of ​​what they thought of him. Furthermore, he had been able to gain some familiarity with what it really meant to manage a fleet full of refugees, many of them injured or unable to fend for themselves. He had all the information he needed and had needed only a little help, which had been Gord's words, to put the pieces together. Most likely if he had asked Haku or any other family member straight away they would have figured it out much sooner than him, but for once he was able to come up with a good idea on his own.

The beastmen feared him just because he was a dragon. That didn't bother Darbi much, because as Gord himself had pointed out, people needed time to get used to the news. He was willing to wait even years enduring in silence. But he had hoped that at least their leaders were smart enough to understand that even if there could be no trust between them, they could at least try to work together. But instead when he had talked to them it had been like talking to walls in most cases. Everyone had made it clear they would prefer if he did anything.

Then, he would have do exactly what they wanted: anything.

Darbi would do nothing more. He would go off on his own and leave the beastmen to run the fleet themselves. And of course, even his trusted subordinates would never do anything again. This put the beastmen in an extremely complicated position: not only would they lack a strong central figure, but it would also completely destroy the system of food, water and medicine distribution, as well as deprive them of almost everyone who knew how to drive a ship. In practice, it was no different than a general saying to his officers: 'I'm leaving and taking away all my elite troops, healers, supplies, etcetera. But don't worry, I'll leave you the simple soldiers. Now arrange yourselves, and fuck you all'.

As he'd guessed, the beastmen weren't taking the news well. "Do you think you can leave like this and take away all the most important people in this fleet!?" Yuko exclaimed standing up. "We won't allow you to..."

Darbi fixed him with an icy gaze, stopping his words in mid. The lionman felt a shiver run down his spine and his survival instinct kicked in immediately. Even though Darbi was constantly smiling and jovial, that didn't mean he couldn't be intimidating if he wanted to. He was still a dragon, after all. "You won't let me? I didn't know that I need to ask your permission. I and all my men aren't your subordinates. You have no authority over us" he said in a calm but firm voice. "How are you going to stop us? Threatening us? Are you really going to try to face me? My brother destroyed an army and killed a legendary level without any scratches. Don't be fooled into thinking I'm inferior to him, in fact, I even have bigger horns than him. I don't intend to fight you, but if anyone here would try to threaten me or any of my men, then in their defense or mine I will respond in the most appropriate manner. And believe me... you don't want this"

For a dragon, saying 'I have bigger horns' was like saying 'I am stronger', since the horns were a sexual display of males. Darbi was not comparable to Haku or Rhaegal in terms of cunning, but in terms of physical prowess he surpassed them both. Therefore, Darbi was subtly pointing out that fighting him was a very bad idea. Obviously it was a huge bluff: he wouldn't stand a chance if all the lionmen, tigermen and lizardmen turned against him, but he could use his brother's victory to his advantage. Even though Haku hadn't actually fought in the battle against Carrion, he had still been its main strategist and commander, and therefore it was as if he was the one who had won. The beastmen, who knew little about the whole battle other than what Darbi had reported to them, had the idea of ​​Haku as a fierce, powerful and ruthless fighter. And now Darbi was gently reminding them that he and Haku were brothers, and that he could be as dangerous as he was. Even though the beastmen leaders knew that the dragon alone couldn't win, they couldn't help but feel awed by those words.

Seeing that the beastmen were starting to sweat, Darbi decided it was time to drop the final bomb. "I am not one of your subordinates, and I am no longer your commander. However..." and a malevolent smile appeared on his face. "... I'm open to the possibility of getting hired"

The beastmen leaders sweated even more. It was clear that the dragon had something up. Even Brenno, Gord and Misune, seeing Darbi smile like that, couldn't repress a shudder: at that moment, his kinship with Haku was definitely evident. "What do you mean by getting hired?" Tzegorn asked.

"Well, no one ever ordered me not to work as a mercenary" Darbi replied. "Therefore, if anyone here wants my services, you can buy them. And of course you can also buy all of my men with me. I can assure you that I will do my best to perform my duties. But first of all we have to redact a contract, right?"

Obviously Darbi didn't intend to redact a real contract: he didn't know what to do with a worthless piece of paper. What he meant was that first of all a negotiation had to be made, to establish what duties he would be entitled to and what advantages he would have. The beastmen leaders understood this, and even though they knew they were doing exactly what the dragon wanted, they had no choice but to ask: "Supposing we wanted to hire you, what would your terms be?"

"Well, obviously you would get my full availability. Which means I would be willing to run all major ship operations, provide medical assistance, supervise food distribution, ensure that the course is clear of obstacles, prevent a ship from lose or disband, provide protection from possible assailants and also act as a mediator in case conflicts arise. Of course, if you wish, you can add other clauses… but let's say these would be the main services I would provide you" Darbi answered, talking as if this were really a business deal. "As for payment... well, I'm not a greedy person. I don't know what to do with gold and money, and anything you could provide I already have. But if I really go back to my family without of you I would be considered a fool, and I still have a dignity to defend. So I would be satisfied if my payment was based exclusively on some... favors on your part. Favors that could be summed up in your total open-mindedness in the any discussions, your help in keeping the peace and keeping things from heating up, and finally obeying my orders if they concern one of my assigned duties. Don't get me wrong, you will still remain in charge of the fleet, but if by any chance I will order to distribute the food in a certain way, since the distribution of the food will be under my responsibility, you will have to do exactly as I say. With these terms, I will be sure that everything will go well even if I am not the commander of the fleet, and I will therefore avoid being teased by my siblings when I return to them. Let it be understood that, if any of you would shirk the favors you owe me, I will consider our contract dissolved and feel free to leave on my own at any time"

Darbi grinned as he saw the pale and furious faces of the beastmen. He knew he had won big. Some fool might have thought that in fact with that 'contract' Darbi would have achieved nothing, since his duties would have been no different from when he was the commander of the fleet, and that before he could have simply ordered the beastmen leaders to act in a certain way… but that couldn't be further from the truth.

When he was the fleet commander, he had a duty to protect everyone. The beastmen knew this well and therefore took it for granted that he would always help them, regardless of their actions. Which meant they felt free to obey him or not depending on their personal opinion. Sure, the beastmen leaders often reasoned logically and then did as Darbi told them because it was more beneficial to their people, but there was no guarantee they would do it again the next day, or the day after that. It was a significant safety hazard. Not to mention the absolute hostility they had continually shown towards him. Darbi couldn't set sail in such a situation: after all, nothing was worse than an army that did not trust its general.

But now, things were different. Darbi had made it clear that he no longer intended to help anyone; indeed, he had specified that, if someone did something he didn't want, there would be unpleasant consequences. By giving up the position of commander and stripping the beastmen of all his support, he had shown them that they couldn't do the way they wanted towards him, but that they had to respect him at least enough to prevent him from taking offense and going off on his own. Now, if they wanted his help, not only would they have to ask him, but they would also have to submit to his terms. Which meant, in no uncertain terms, that they had to take it easy, or he would make them pay. The illusion that they could do as they pleased without consequences had now dissolved: Darbi had made it clear that he wasn't going to let anyone walk over him.

"Do you agree with this?" Tzegorn asked looking at Gord, knowing that he was a great friend of the dragon. Maybe he was hoping the lizardman would get up and dissuade Darbi from his plan.

But Gord nodded with a satisfied smile. "My subordinates and I are here only for formality. In reality, Darbi had already informed me of these terms, and I have accepted them all. The people of the lizardmen already have a contract with this dragon"

The lizardmen beside him, who hadn't been told of this, breathed a sigh of relief. The tigermen and lionmen however narrowed their eyes: if the lizardmen were already on Darbi's side, then any possibility of taking control by force was considered dissolved. Sure, they still had the numerical majority, but their opponents had a dragon with them, and everyone knew what a dragon could do thanks to Haku's victory over Carrion; therefore, no one wanted to take the risk of trying to take matters into their own hands with weapons. "You are a son of a bitch" Failemon grumbled looking at Darbi.

"You have no idea how bitchy my mother was" Darbi replied simply, then he turned serious. "Don't complain to me, but to yourselves. I tried to do my part, to seek a dialogue with you, to show you that I'm not the monster you think I am. I did my best... but you don't. You haven't tried to understand me, even if only for the good of your peoples. I didn't pretend trust from you, but at least I wished you were willing to seek a peaceful understanding, but you weren't. Therefore, I was forced to to take drastic measures. Now, if you want my help, you'll have to ask me nicely and do exactly as I say. And if that doesn't suit you, you can always sail for yourself"

The beastmen let out an angry growl, but they knew they had no choice. They weren't prepared for this turn of events and couldn't help but accept. "Okay... as long as you fulfill your duties, we will fulfill ours" they said finally.

Darbi smiled triumphantly. He had done it. Now he could make the journey without worrying that something might go wrong. "Great! I'll be happy to work for you. So what are we waiting for? Let's get back on the ships and set sail"