Eltanin stayed in Hydra Kingdom for the next one week along with Fafnir, Rigel and Lerna. And in that one week, he assessed what would be the next course of action for Hydra.
The Alphas were not ready to give up their territories and Rigel wasn't ready to let Lerna come and rule Hydra Kingdom on her own. Fafnir was too busy with bringing up Pegasii and so Eltanin had to think hard on what to do next.
It was on the fifth day that they were sitting in Eltanin's bedchamber. Fafnir was standing out on the porch and talking to some Nyxers and faes.
"I can't stay here forever!" Eltanin said.
"But you must take over Hydra," Lerna insisted. "You were Felis's half-brother."
"Lerna, I know, but you were Felis's half-sister too. Why don't you take over?" Eltanin insisted.
"She won't!" Rigel growled. "What will happen to our pups? And besides, I have to look after Orion along with her. Hydra is too risky, especially with those Alphas!" Rigel was insecure about leaving Lerna in Hydra.
"Then I have a solution that is going to be best for all of us," Eltanin said.
They looked at him with expectant eyes. They really needed a solution and they needed it fast. In the past five days, it was already established that Eltanin could easily claim the throne of Hydra. Even the Alphas had no qualms. They just wanted them to break the seal.
Eltanin went to sit on the couch. He looked at the porch where he saw Alpha Jaris coming over. He was looking at the fae with wonder in his eyes. The fae flared his wings and curled it around him. Alpha Jaris stepped back and they all burst into laughter at some joke. "Why don't we divide the land of Hydra into five territories. Each of the territories is going to be ruled by these Alphas. They know their people best."
"What? No!" Lerna countered. "They are not progressive! They have the same mental thinking as all the Nyxers. If they were progressive, they wouldn't have had harems. Didn't you see the condition of men and women in the streets when we were coming?"
Eltanin nodded. "I know, Lerna. But I have reached this conclusion after thinking a lot." With his chin he pointed at Jaris who was now touching the wing of a fae with wonder and excitement in his eyes. "That Alpha is the best amongst all of them, but he is the youngest. I heard that while all of them were at war against each other, only he stayed neutral. In my opinion, he would be the best ruler. But--" he looked from Lerna to Rigel. "Jaris is young. He doesn't have much experience and all other Alphas are going to start plotting against him the moment he is on the throne. I don't want him to die young."
Lerna shifted in her place, visibly uncomfortable.
Eltanin continued. "If we divide the lands into five territories, the Alphas are going to take care of their territory."
"And how will you ensure that?" Lerna asked not sure that the Alphas would take care of their people.
"I will be appointing Draka soldiers and some faes. Together they will make sure that the Alphas rule according to us. I will draw a treaty with them and breaking the treaty would cost them their land."
Lerna jerked her head back. "That is... harsh."
Eltanin's lips curled up. "Yes, it is. But it is the best way to get them all in line."
Lerna smiled for the first time in her stay at Hydra. "Thank you, brother," she said in a soft voice full of emotions.
"You are welcome, sister," Eltanin replied.
"I would like to be a part of the treaty," she added.
"Of course!"
For the next two days, along with Lerna, Eltanin drew the treaty. Both Rigel and Fafnir did not interfere. A long treaty was drawn and then the Alphas were called. After reading it, they were all tense. "We need time to understand it and think over it," said Henk.
"Sure," Eltanin replied. "We would want you all to understand it well because there won't be any changes in it."
The Alphas were speechless. "This is too tight," Henk protested. "This is not what we thought it would be. You must give us freedom to rule our territories!"
"You have to earn that freedom, Alpha Henk," Eltanin growled. "It is either this or nothing at all. And if you think you can change it, then we will seal the boundaries of Hydra forever!"
"No!" Mirik intervened. "You can't do that. We have suffered a lot."
"Then you don't have any other option other than to agree to the treaty. If you don't sign it by tomorrow's sunrise, then we are going to leave you the way you are," Eltanin stated as he rolled the scroll. He handed it to Alpha Jaris. "You all may take a look at it."
None of them could speak a word after Eltanin's ultimatum. They just... left. But the treaty was signed by all of them by the next sunrise. Eltanin appointed his men. He said that he would be sending more men to Hydra. The faes were not ready because there were very few of them. They sealed the Hydra boundary for a few days. So when they returned, only one fae was left behind to open and close the seal when required.
Two weeks later, Lerna also sent her people to Hydra and a team of twenty-five Draka soldiers, Pegasii soldiers and faes was dispatched. Once they were all in Hydra, the seal was removed completely.
"Are you happy now?" Rigel asked Lerna who was seeing off the soldiers who she had deployed at Hydra.
She chuckled. "I am happy that it is a new beginning. I hope that they construct the schools and I hope that with our new methods they are able to grow crops. I want a new Hydra. A Hydra Kingdom of my dreams."
Rigel kissed her and curled his arm around her shoulder. "And you will get one."
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