Chapter 197
Kingdom Co
Their march slowed down considerably, Valen noted as he silently observed the open stretch of land currently being occupied by tents and campfires roaring smoke into the sky. It was in part because their army grew bulkier, tripling in size effectively, aning that they could no longer maneuver as quickly as they used to.
Most of it, though, was entirely because of General Staun and his insistence on three-day-marching and four-day-training program. Theyd usually stay still for two days at minimum while he tried to get everyone in relatively the sa shape. At first, it was just physical--having them run and swing weapons for hours to build up stamina and strength, but now he also began training them in a variety of formations, both small and large-scale.
That was precisely what the large groups of nearly six hundred people were doing at the mont, spread out across the vast plains like a swarm of locust feasting on the land. Shouts and roars repeatedly rang out like thunder, the song of hard work playing out into infinity.
Deep in his heart, Valen envied it all--he, too, wanted to leap over and join them, swinging his sword and roaring alongside them. It felt at odds with who he was to be sitting back and simply observing, even if he always hid that part of himself away, fearful of what others might say. But there was romance, he knew, in war--as much as there was bloodshed and tragedy.
Sitting by his side, and seemingly unbothered by any of the thoughts Valen was having, was Sylas. The man had finally put on a shirt after many such requests, though still remained barefoot, his feet hung over the wooden fence surrounding them, a hat of bale and straw covering his eyes and shielding them from the sun. Every so often, hed bring the cup of wine close to his lips and sip for a mont before going back to appearing comatose.
What do you think of them? Valen tried striking up a conversation, wanting to distract himself from the burning desires.
Of who? Sylas asked, pointing up with his index finger and lifting the hat, glancing over at the Prince.
The army, Valen said. Theyre getting better, arent they?
Its the legs that youre missing, not eyes, Sylas replied. Yet there are days where I have my doubts.
... Im not missing the legs. Theyre here, arent they? Valen said with a smile. What do you an? Are they not improving?
Let ask you sothing, Sylas said. If a fiddling army made up of novices and ard with weapons and armors on the verge of giving out could take over this Kingdom, why is it that no other Kingdoms ever conquered it?
Oh.
Sotis I wonder whether youve ever been in the capital, Sylas said. The Kingdoms true army would never just walk out to et the rebels. If they stretched their main force out this far north, it would leave them open to attack from everywhere else.
So, youre... youre saying that we cant win?
Huh? No? When did I say that?
Just now! Valen exclaid as Ryne joined the two, carrying a tray of fruits and gently putting them down before sitting between the two of them.
No. I said that the army cant win, not that we cant win.
... what the hells the difference?!! unbeknownst to Sylas, to others hed beco the very thing he despised in this world for so long--a cryptic old man who never gives a straight answer.
Because we dont need to defeat the army, Sylas sighed. Seriously. If we go all out in a full-blown civil war, we may as well just give over our Kingdom to others. Didnt you learn anything from hundreds of those council etings or whatever that you host?
... alright, Valen swallowed his frustrations. Enlighten .
You want the main army to accept your ascendancy to the throne, Sylas said. And continue supporting you. Ive made a few... extraordinary claims, here and there, about burning down the Kingdom and build it anew, but those were mostly taphors. We dont want to literally engage in a deadly civil war that will leave us depleted of n and resources alike. Didnt that kid basically say the sa thing just like a week ago?
The Commander? You really should stop calling him a kid, Valen said. He doesnt like it.
The boys got no pubes, Sylas shrugged. Forget pubes. His voice is still crackin. If he aint a kid, there aint no kids left. Anyway, he said sothing along my lines, didnt he? That now that weve broken the wall of the anti-rebel forces, well maneuver into a slow march as we go through the various parts of the Kingdom and obtaining their support. Logistics of it all escape , to be honest, but thats the gist of it.
No, no its not, Valen frowned. Nowhere in there did either one of you ntion how Im going to win over the army to my side. Every new conscript swears a Blood Oath to serve the King--it will take a lot more than fancy and passionate speeches to turn them over, Sylas.
Thats right, Sylas nodded lightly. In truth, theres likely only one thing that will have enough impact to make any dent.
What is it?
Beating the shit out of your father.
...
...
Oh, geez. Color awed--how did nobody ever think of just defeating my father?! Valen grumbled.
Well, thats why Im here, Sylas grinned. Was supposed to be everyone and he was likely to go easy on us... but damn. I have a feeling hes gonna make work for it.
Father will never voluntarily surrender or make it easy, Valen said. It goes against everything he believes in.
Im as blind as you are to your fathers beliefs, Valen, Sylas said. But he will make it easy. He loves this Kingdom, for better or for worse, but neither he nor his Queen could see past whatever holy promises they were given when you were a boy. They canonized you virtually from the cradle, and worked with that thought in mind ever since. To them, you are the cure to the poison thats rotting these lands. Naturally, they are quite stupid, but thats irrelevant. The core of their beliefs, whatever context exists around them, is you. And so long as this armys goal is to put you on the throne, they will create the perfect scenario for you to win the hearts of everyone.
... you sound like you have t my Father before, Valen said. As though you know him.
I know n like him, Sylas replied simply. Devout, dogmatic, yet almost evilly pragmatic.
And what if youre wrong?
Well, all this would have been pointless, eh? Sylas cracked a grin, glancing at him. Are you having doubts, lil Prince?
No, no doubts, Valen shook his head, facing forward. Since the day I t you and when you promised the throne... my doubts were equal to yours. Im just curious, is all.
Its no good to trust anyone that blindly, Sylas said. Should I beat it out of you?
You can try, Valen chuckled playfully. It will take an awful lot of beatings for to have anything short of absolute trut in you.
You hearin this, kiddo? Sylas glanced back where he saw Ryne smiling lightly.
Im hearin it, old man, she replied. What? Pressure getting to ya?
Could you stop picking up my jargon? Sylas grumbled. If everyone starts talkin like this, I wont be special no more.
You have plenty other things to feel special about, Ryne said. You can afford to share a few with us mortals.
Yes, indeed. You are a spiting image of a mortal, Sylas said. Too bad you cant see it in the mirror.
Ouch. That was a good one, Valen exclaid softly. Even I felt a faint sting.
You... you would tease a blind girl so? Ryne mustered a fake whimper, though it was hardly a convincing one.
Ill have to introduce you to the Queen at least once, Sylas said. So that you can pick up on a few tricks for the future. Youre godawful at it.
... strange silence befell the three as Sylas looked to the side where he saw two young people tossed in the fires of embarrassnt. He missed the sensation--at least, he thought he did. The truth was that he couldnt quite even recall what embarrassnt felt like. Or sha. Ti, as it turned out, has ways of simply grinding down a soul to its singularities. And sha and embarrassnt werent there.
Shes a fascinating woman, the Queen, Sylas said, changing the subject sowhat. Your father and she fit eerily well together.
How co? Valen asked. Though he had seen his Father and the Queen together many tis, they never gave the impression of a particularly well-fitted couple.
He dreams, she executes, Sylas said. Were it up to your Father alone, he would have raised you into a weapon and protected you while you beca the King. A fine way, indeed, but would simply perpetuate the sa systems in place that led to this ss. This way, though, the whispers get flushed out, and the faces grow unmasked. It will be quite beautiful, I imagine, when that day cos. Anyway, Ill take a nap now. Watch them be n or whatever, or you two can go and chat in private where you wont be embarrassed so easily by an old man. Good day to you children! Sleep beckons!
Reviews
All reviews (0)