2.45 In Which the Dark Lord Wears the Pants in the Relationship
Now then, I said, exercising my full stage presence to make my tone even more condescending than the question inherently was, what did we learn?
The lesser noblemanlesser apparently because he was running errands for Clan Olumnach in the Gutters, though he was as pale and blond as any man Id ever seenstruggled back up to one knee, breathing heavily and glaring pure hatred at while his clothes smoldered. I had to give the guy credit: most people were crying and begging after one Immolate, but this chap had so actual spine.
None of this is going to get you what you want any faster, foreigner.
Well, youd better hope thats not true, I said reasonably, as that would an all of this has happened to you for no reason at all. If I were in your shoes, I feel like thatd make it all worse. Or such is my best guess, anyway, Im not really sure how you see the world. Its hard to project myself into the perspective of such a loser. But to answer my question, the lesson you should take back to your pals is that nobody can cast spells or swing artifacts while on fire.
I gave him my biggest, most insufferable shit-eating grin.
Coming at with Blessed is not going to help, because I am better than you. You, and everyone you know.
The effort of self-control was visible on the guys face; he made the most fascinating series of grimaces for about four seconds before speaking, but when he did, his voice was impressively even. Impressive for an amateur, that is. Not just anybody can perform to my standards.
Right. Are we finished, then?
He rose stiffly to his feet and I let him, smiling, before I answered.
Not quite. As your masters dithering continues to waste my valuable ti, I am instituting a new policy with regard to his low-level lackeys. Congratulations! You are being robbed.
The highborn curled his lip in well-bred contempt. Of course. Its always about money with you sticky-fingered dregs.
Oh, I dont need your money, I replied with an airy gesture. Nor, before you ask, any heirlooms or valuables you might happen to be carrying. Nothing soprosaic, no.
I grinned hugely, widening my eyes to look deliberately insane, and paused for a beat to nail the codic timing.
Gim your pants.
Behind , Nazralind made a choking noise only mostly muffled by her mask.
The aristocrats face lengthened into an incredulous expression.
You cannot be serious.
You may keep your boots, of course, I said magnanimously, because I am a civilized person. I realize thats a challenging concept to what passes for the nobility in this ruin of a country, but now you have here to set an example. Co now, chop chop, we all have places to be. Drop em.
Eyes widened, he took a step back as if contemplating an unwise attempt to flee. Youyoure not serious!
Five minutes later I had his trousers draped over my arm and we watched the nobleman stalking away through the twilit streets, bare-assed and dangling in the breeze.
That was incredibly juvenile, Aster stated. Im not saying I disapprove, its just sothing I felt needed to be pointed out.
I nodded. Yup.
Please tell you have more of a plan for this than just humiliating that guy?
Humiliation is the plan, I said. I am increasing the pressure, and for guys like him? This is the way to do it. Nothing enrages people like being humiliated. The lower classes are accustod to it; they learn to duck their heads and repress, which is why in countries as badly run as this one you get peasant uprisings every so often. It builds and builds until the people cant take it anymore. Nobles never learn that skill. Highlord Olumnach doesnt care about whats happening to the bandits working for him, much less how they feel about it, but he depends on a layer of these highborn middle managers to run his criminal empire. He will start to notice if they demand action be taken.
Is ruining that guys night really going to be enough pressure to shift him?
Oh, Aster. I shook my head. Aster, Aster, Aster.
Stop that.
Surely you didnt think we were only going to do this once?
She clapped a hand over her eyes, and ruined the gesture by smiling. Oh, no.
Welco to the Dark Crusade, Nazralind said cheerily.
Olumnach kept waiting for another week, during which I pantsed his rich, well-bred lackeys nine more tis. By that point I was pretty familiar with all of them; there werent so many n of good breeding who were desperate enough or sufficiently under Clan Olumnachs control to serve as bandit shepherds. They sure as hell got to know . I suspected it wasnt on the Highlords orders that they started trying to ambush and assassinate with their gangsters, but between Biribo and my own combat capabilities that never went anywhere except to give another opportunity to humiliate them in front of their own lowborn servants. Whom I then sent on their way with a proverbial pat on the head, trying not to laugh at the mortifying retreat of their half-naked overlords.
At this point, I wasnt sure Olumnach was actually going to grant the audience I wanted, but I was prepared for him not to. My preferred strategy still involved coming to an accord with him, but I had learned not to count on Plan A working out. Even though I was risking the opposite by deliberately antagonizing his principal servants this way, I could live with the outco if he tried to double down harder.
The ti-wasting still chafed, but the only other thing I could reasonably be doing around Gwyllthean was talking to Rhydion, and it would be a mistake to pull that trigger too early. I did not need his tin-plated ass underfoot while I dealt with gangsters, and it would be best to involve him in the redistribution efforts once a clearer picture had erged of what Clans were doing what hoarding.
During this period, my gambit with Clan Yviredh really started bearing fruit; the Olumnach Clansguard were making increasingly ham-fisted efforts to chase down and engage my mobile bandit gangs, with no result save to irritate the other Clans whose territory they were stomping through. When I visited, Lady Elidred smugly inford that multiple complaints and petitions had been sent to Clan Aelthwyn about his behavior. A united bloc of smaller Clans would have raised the suspicion of an organized campaign, but her ploy had succeeded: by seeding the rumor that this was already happening, she prompted them all to jump independently on the bandwagon, resulting in a seemingly unconnected string of complaints. I knew Archlord Caludon didnt give half a shit what was happening to anyone in his province, but a pretext to pounce on Highlord Caldirs neck was one of the few things that would definitely prompt him to move.
The pressure was mounting on Olumnach. I was becoming an ongoing hassle he could not afford. I kept the stakes of fighting with low even as I constantly pestered him, creating a single opportunity to redy his problems by coming to terms with . If he took the bait, finally, I could proceed with my next plan.
If he decided he wanted to throw down, I was confident I could win the city gangs over to my side, and killing off his Blessed enforcers in the Gutters wouldnt create the kind of pretext that had prompted the Clans to move in unison as when Gray had been ousted, because everyone knew what Olumnach was doing and nobody was happy about it. Breaking Clan Olumnachs back would cost an opportunity I wanted and add to my problems in the short term, but I was laying plans to make do if it ca to that.
Just as I started finalizing the details of that hypothetical campaign, one of the Blessed highborn surrendered at the first sight of visibly bitter and angry about it, but following his orders. He gave a ti and place at which the Highlord was willing to et.
I let him keep his pants.
You are quite late, Lord Seiji, Caldir spat upon our first face-to-face eting. I would think soone so adamantly determined to prevail upon my valuable ti could deign to appear at the appointed hour.
He did not react save to narrow his eyes slightly when I conjured a Firelight over my palm to see his face clearly in the darkened storehouse, though all three of his guards put hands to the hilts of their rapiers. The Highlord of Clan Olumnach was sharp-featured and the shade of very pale blond that would tend to obscure whether he was starting to go gray. He was a passably handso fellow, middle-aged, with the beginnings of lines around his mouth but not so prominently at the corners of his eyes. A face more accustod to scowling than smiling, that suited what I knew. I could definitely see the resemblance to Arider.
As agreed, we each had three guards; mine were all masked, but this did not conceal the fact that they were won, which may have prompted the sneers from Olumnachs trio of attendants. Or maybe they were just unhappy to see ; Id confiscated trousers from all three of them over the past week, one of them twice. Id brought Aster, Nazralind, and Adelly, my most dangerous hand-to-hand combatants. Not that I was planning on having a fight, here, but I was done taking risks. Adellys hands were full with the package, so she currently had the Lightning Staff slung over her back. Id thought people wearing staffs on the back that way were an invention of video gas, but Kasser had rigged her up a shoulder strap with akornin clips that held it securely while enabling easy retrieval.
I humbly apologize for my rudeness, Highlord Caldir, I said smoothly, bowing, which was paradoxically both out of politeness and disdain for Fflyr customs. Truly, I regret keeping you waiting, but I was unavoidably delayed. I am sure you of all people understand how responsibilities can suddenly spring up with unplanned demands upon ones ti. Indeed, were you a less busy person, perhaps I wouldnt have needed to subject myself and your n to frankly undignified antics to rit a mont of your attention.
All three of the ard n glared at , but Caldir just made an impatient gesture with one hand, his gaze fixed on the object in Adellys arms. Youve brought her, as agreed? Show .
I nodded at Adelly, who stepped forward and set down the heavy jar, then whisked off the cloth covering it. She was in great shape but I wasnt going to make her carry that thing any longer than necessary, even if it ant Highlord Caldir had to bend over to properly examine the guest of honor.
It was one of our good jars, made of the clearest glass, which had previously contained a light sli helping illuminate North Watchs ss hall. The khora-based brine within was remarkable stuff, likewise crystal clear, and had done its job perfectly. Lady Grays head floated in the liquid, hair drifting with the motion, preserved without a speck of decay and with features perfectly visible.
Eyes fixed on it, Caldir stepped forward, and then knelt. I obligingly approached as well, lowering my hand with the light over it to afford him a clearer view. His guards objected to this, surging forward and half-drawing blades, which caused Aster to pull out her greatsword and Nazralind to nock an arrow. There they all stopped, though, eyeing each other while Caldir and I ignored them all.
He stared fixedly at Grays floating face for several protracted seconds before he curled his lip in a sneer and stood. As he straightened his coat and stepped back, his n eased back as well, re-sheathing their weapons. At a gesture from , my guards did likewise.
Not a countenance I am like to forget, for all that I t her only rarely. Sohow, I always knew our last eting would be much like this. Since you have denied the chance of vengeance with my own hands, Lord Seiji, tell this: was it a clean death?
I shook my head. My grievance with this hag was different than yours, but no less personal. She suffered terribly, and for as many minutes as I could drag it out. That, after being broken, humiliated and weak before I began. I think even you would have been satisfied.
His face clenched in a terrible rictus, rage and cruel glee mingling, before he brought his features back under control. Indeed. For that, and on behalf of my sons mory, I give you my thanks in truest earnest.
I nodded, silent. Previously, I had considered one day tipping him off that his son had actually been killed by my assistant cook, maybe when I was almost done using him. Over the last two weeks, though, I had discarded the idea. Id spent that ti simultaneously growing impatient with Caldirs nonsense while laying plans to deal with the much greater powers who would soon be closing in, and I just didnt have enough interest in this fool anymore. Let him think whatever comforted him for whatever ti he had left. He wasnt worth the effort of tornting.
And now, youll be wanting the bounty I placed upon this very head. Caldir straightened his coat again, unnecessarily, and raised his voice. I regret that this transaction may not proceed as you hoped, Lord Seiji.
He looked smug. His enforcers looked smug. I let them.
Yes, matters are sowhat complicated bywell, by the entire rest of our relationship, arent they? I gave him a very bland, polite smile. In point of fact, Highlord, I dont intend to claim the bounty. Not yours, I an; there are three others Ill aim to collect, but allow to open our negotiations by offering you relief from the sum you promised. Not to imply that such a monetary trifle should be of consequence to a man of your prodigious ans, you understand. It is simply a gesture of good faith.
Id talked long enough that they all looked notably less smug. Caldir kept his eyes fixed on , but his tagalongs were glancing furtively around the storehouse, specifically at its two doors and the windows near the ceiling. They were hilariously bad at this. To be fair, this guy and his closest cronies probably preferred to do all their skulduggery from a safe distance; I bet they werent very practiced at being so up close and personal with the enemy.
Yes, well. That is a courteous gesture, my lord, but we must consider how it weighs against the multiple insults and injuries you have inflicted upon my Clan. He cleared his throat, then raised his voice again until he was very nearly shouting. I regret that the prospects for an amicable relationship between us are quite diminished.
I regarded him with a calm smile for another two seconds. Then cleared my own throat and called out into the night.
Ahem! I believe that was the secret signal word.
The doors at both ends, behind his group and mine, opened in unison, and ard figures stepped in. Cloaked, masked won carrying crossbows, which they raised as they spread out along the walls, taking aim at Caldir and his escort. All four had now grabbed swords, but were staring around with expressions of grim realization. Rapiers werent going to help them when they were covered by that many crossbows.
I kept my smile subdued, despite the temptation to give him my anest grin, the one his buddies had all seen multiple tis by now. I had sothing different in mind for the Highlord.
And now you understand what urgent business made late to our eting.
It hadnt been a bad plan, Id give him that. Hed positioned his forces in a loose ring around the chosen warehouse, far enough out that I could easily get through the periter without knowing they were there. Hed even had the sense to use Olumnach Clansguard rather than local gangsters who were already more favorably disposed toward than him. Presumably, they were to watch till I entered the storehouse, then close in so they could hear the signal when he gave it and finish off.
That obviously didnt work on soone with a familiar who wasnt stupid enough to walk into the trap, and whose followers carried stingers with sleeping darts. Locating and neutralizing every one of his ambushers had been trivially easy, thanks to Biribo. Every quiet shot caused a pang of grief for Kastrin, but that was by far the hardest part. It took barely half an hour to circle around, locating every hidden household guard and having my girls send them off to dreamland.
All this served as a reminder that I was tying up a loose end, here, not facing off against a legitimate enemy. Soon enough Id have to fend off foes who knew what they were dealing with, and it wouldnt be this easy.
So, Caldir grated, baring his teeth at .
Your n are unhard, Highlord, I said, keeping my tone even and mild. Theyll be awake in a few hours, quite embarrassed and otherwise none the worse for wear. Needless to say, arranging that was significantly more difficult than just killing them all. Consider it another gesture of good faith, since as you pointed out, I have more ands to make before approaching your good graces. And I have more, still.
I reached into my coat and pulled out the signet ring I had taken from Lord Ariders corpse, contemptuously nudging Lady Grays jar with my toe and making her head slosh about. She was carrying this. Ive asked around and been inford that it is the Clan Olumnach sigil.
Caldirs eyes fixed on the ring, glinting in the glow of the Firelight, and his face twisted again in pain and fury. That isyou will give that to !
He lunged forward, gripping the hilt of his rapier; instantly, all the won surrounding us surged forward themselves, raising their crossbows and taking aim directly at him. The Highlords guards, to their credit, tried to arrange themselves around him, but their bodies couldnt possibly block every shot.
Please! I raised my voice and one hand. Ladies, enough. A little consideration for a grieving father, please. It goes without saying, my lord; a Clan sigil belongs with its clan. I brought this to return it, not to taunt you.
I stepped forward, holding out my open palm with the ring upon it. Slowly, as the Highlord breathed heavily in his struggle for self-control, my forces eased back, lowering their weaponsnot fully, but no longer directly aiming to kill. Caldir gathered himself and reached out, taking the ring. He managed enough self-control not to snatch it in haste, simply gathering the signet from my palm before stepping back.
He stared at it for a second, then closed his fingers, squeezing so tightly his fist trembled. Only then did he tuck the ring gently away inside his coat, raising his head to et my gaze. The man couldnt bring himself to thank , for which I couldnt entirely bla him.
That makes I made a show of counting on my fingers. Three kindnesses I have done you in the last handful of minutes, Highlord Caldir. Four, if we consider the fact that I hold your life in my grasp and have refrained from squeezing. Please understand that I am only so gauche as to point it out aloud because you seem like the sort of fellow who mistakes rcy for weakness.
Caldir was still staring at my face. His shoulders lifted and fell in a deep, slow breath; I was getting the impression that he was better at regaining control than maintaining it. I got to see the process yet again as he slowly straightened up, smoothing out his expression, and finally favored with a cold, cunning little smile.
I see. You want sothing. Sothing you cannot simply take by force. Ahh, I understand. You seek legitimacy! A place within the hierarchythe one thing a foreign lord cannot seize with swords, magic, or coin.
A reasonable guess, my lord. Not correct, but not entirely wrong. In fact, I think you and I understand one another better than you realize.
You begin to interest , my lord. Very well, since it seems I am your guest in any case, do elaborate.
I gave Grays final resting place another disdainful nudge with my boot, setting her aslosh once more. This grasping, venal creature never understood the value of money the way you and I do, Highlord. Even as she devoted her entire existence to scrounging and hoarding it, never showing more than a kind of base animal cunning in its pursuit, she failed to grasp what it was: nothing more than a ans to an end. Such a low specin has no ans of comprehending a higher purpose than satisfying base, animal desires. But you and I, Caldir Olumnach, understand what it ans to have a legacy. To be part of sothinga greater cause than survival or greed. The value of a naa heritage, a reason for being and for acting that impels us to beco sothing greater than what such a common thug, no matter how jumped-up, could even envision.
What a bunch of bullshit. Luckily Id forewarned my people that I was going to go full ham on this guy and pander heavily to his sensibilities, or Id probably be costing myself loyalty with this speech. Caldir, of course, began to look thoughtful, as if I were really making sense to him.
Perhaps I have misjudged you, Lord Seiji. I confess I entertained doubts that your title was legitimate, but you speak as one who indeed understands the aning of noble blood in a way that even the common folk of this country do not.
Yep, called it.
I would hardly bla you, Highlord. Circumstances have compelled to conduct myself in a manner rather unbecoming a gentleman of good breeding. Perhaps that, too, you understand. After all, why else would n like us beco involved in cri, if not toward a greater purpose? It is my understanding that Clan Olumnach rightfully holds the fief of Dountor did, once, before it was usurped by the Aelthwyns.
He curled his lip in distaste. Terms such as rightful are loaded, Lord Seiji. It would not be politic of to say such things where they might be overheard. After all, there is no more effective way to steal power than by working through rather than against the system.
Oh, to be sure, I assud it was sothing of the kind. Forgive , I might be projecting my own history a bit onto yours. The theft of my legacy was less legal and more brutal. Still, I have only to look around this island to see that Clan Aelthwyn are inept and unqualified guardians of the land.
I gather a similar fate befellClan Seiji?
Clan Omura, I corrected gently, smiling. But yes.
He nodded, still watching with a knowing glint in his eye, the expression of a man who greatly overestimated his control of the situation he was in. And now you desire my help. But not, it seems, to reinstate your Clan on Dount?
I shook my head. Like you, I an to begin by avenging myself against those who have wronged , and reclaim what is mine. Obviously, I require certain resources to do this. And I will have to take those resources on a long journey in order to achieve it. My ancestral lands are Well. Farther from here than you suspect.
I see. Regardless of the feasibility of that, there remains the matter of what has passed between our Clans already, Lord Seiji. You have cost more than the current generation of Aelthwyn scum, in material resources and respect, if not formal prestige. Step by step you have stolen what is mine, and now you threaten while begging for my help.
I think youll find too prideful to begas, I note, are you, even with crossbows aid at your heart.
Caldir half-smiled with the right side of his mouth, and inclined his head montarily in acknowledgnt.
Indeed. Begging does not beco n of good breeding.
Precisely. And I could argue over who has stolen what from whom, my lord. After all, it was my efforts that ousted that beast Gray from Gwyllthean, and you lost not a mont in swooping in to seize all that I had liberated.
You snatched a final victory over her after I had spent years softening her grip!
Thats one way to look at it, surely. Another is that you had years to break her, and failed to, while I achieved it in weeks. Please! I held up one hand to forestall his angry rebuttal. We both know we could argue this all night, Highlord, and it would be nothing but wasted breath. The point is that it would be an argunt; there are cases to be made for both sides. It is not so clear-cut as one of us having unilaterally wronged the other. Rather than dwell on fruitless questions, let us instead consider the matter of where we stand now. And how we might, together, achieve both our goals.
Oh? He raised one eyebrow. You wish to help , now?
Ive already said I am too proud to beg; I am also too intelligent to imagine I could get the level of cooperation I need from you by threatening your life, my lord. So let lay it out. You need for Clan Aelthwyn to be brought low, while you simultaneously regain the prestige and resources to regain the fief of Dount. As I understand the system established under your King and Convocation, dislodging a ruling Clan from governorship would require them to have failed in governance so utterly that not only do their superior and subordinate Clans agree on the necessity of removal, but also that they havent the ans of forcibly resisting their ouster. Do I have the general shape of it?
He grimaced, but nodded once. There arenuances, but in broad strokes, yes. The strict prohibition of Fflyr highborn fighting one another always favors the incumbents, unless they begin the hostilities.
I nodded in return. Then it seems to that it would spell the doom of Clan Aelthwyn if the Archlord were to, say, instigate an unjustified attack upon Clan Olumnach, and in the process so cripple his ability to govern that all order on the island collapses. Then, if Clan Olumnach were to decisively vanquish Clan Aelthwyns forces and go on to restore order on Dount, the King and Convocation would have, effectively, no choice but to acknowledge you as the rightful Archlord of Dount.
Caldir nodded slowly, making a pensive expression as if this hadnt been his entire plan all along. Indeed, that could work. And such a crisis could be both instigated and easily resolved by whomsoever controlled all the bandit and criminal activity upon the island, is that it? Then it does raise the question of why I need you, Lord Seiji.
I gave him my politest smile, again. Why, because I control those bandits, Highlord. And those I havent already taken from you, I easily can. Within the week.
His expression hardened.
What I think you have not considered, I smoothly continued, is what would happen in the aftermath of such a successful coup. Presumably you thought to continue business as usual, with yourself in control of both the formal governnt of the island and all its criminal activity. And perhaps that could workbut there is a better way to go about it, Highlord. What if you could establish yourself as Archlord of a province with no organized cri?
Hah! He expelled a short bark of derisive laughter. Your people must be even fonder of fairy tales than we Fflyr, if you think the elimination of cri is remotely possible.
Oh, to be sureonce removed from Dount, it would begin to crop up again. That vacuum will always be filled by soone, and it would fall to you to deal with it in whatever manner you choose. But think of it, Highlord. For that very reason, to expel all banditry and cri from a province under your control would be an unmatched achievent. No one would expect it to be perfect, or to last permanently. Simply by doing it at all, you would gain prestige and favor well beyond that afforded to the governor of one island. The kind of political clout a man of ambition and wit could parlay into far greater power than the fief of one outlying province. After all, why content yourself with restoring the honor of Clan Olumnach, when you could advance it beyond the greatest achievents of your forebears?
He regarded through narrowed eyes, face now a mask of contemplation. You sing a pretty song, Lord Seiji. In this sche you have laid out, you take on the lions share of the work and the risk, while I reap all the benefits. That raises the opposite question of my previous one: why do you need ?
It cos down to what happens after. I require a replacent for my Clans forces, and I have found them in the bandits, gangsters, and miscellaneous dregs of Dount. Doubtless they are an unimpressive set of specins to you, but you will have already noticed that bandits you previously controlled with ease have suddenly been running circles around your Clansguard. I am capable of shaping them into a fighting force to be fearedone more dangerous than Clan Aelthwyn will understand, I promise youand once my ancestral holdings are retaken, I can reward them as one does ones best vassals, with lands, prestige, and a comfortable life once the fighting is done. However, all of these efforts will an nothing if I cannot get them ho. I hesitated, then put on a grimace. Its a long journey to my country, and to begin it, we must go north.
Caldirs eyebrows lifted. I did wonder what country you hail from; your features and accent are like none I recognize. Are you truly from Viryan lands?
Let us sayI am from beyond Viryan lands, and know how to get through them. Viryans are predictable folk and easily impressed, if one understands how they think. No, my problem is far more imdiate.
Ah. Expression clearing, he nodded. The eternal gateway to the north. Godspire does not suffer ard forces to pass through their domain.
Precisely. To the rulers of Godspire, I am nothing but a minor warlord leading a horde of banditsprecisely the kind of person they will not allow through their gates. To get past them, I requirelegitimacy, as you said. The kind of prestige and formal acknowledgnt I could be lent only by a legal and recognized ruler, able to negotiate on my behalf with the notoriously, stubbornly neutral city-state to grant safe passage. And for that, Highlord, I need you. I cant work with that imbecile Caludonin addition to being incompetent, hes apparently so kind of warped, sadistic cretin. Regardless of how much it would benefit him to have the bandits removed from his domain, he derives more pleasure from knowing they are here, keeping lifeinteresting for his subjects.
Caldir sneered in contempt, nodding. Obviously, any trash talk directed at Caludon would earn sympathy from him, and it had the benefit of being true: by all accounts, the Archlord was a fucked up piece of work even by Fflyr standards.
And its not as if I can establish myself as the ruler of Dount. Even if that wouldnt defeat the purpose of going ho, all the bandits on this island combined arent enough to face down its unified Clans, which is what I would face if I tried to take Gwyllthean by force, never mind what the King would send from the mainland. No, Highlord, the reality is that in order to realize our ambitions, you and I need each other. I have taken control of your bandits, yesbut I need them more than you do, and if youll work with on one last, grand plan, you will end up better off for them being gone. With your political acun to maneuver Caludon where we want him and then cut a deal with Godspire, and my strategy and training to turn these bandits into a respectable force to win our victories, we can achieve together what neither of us has managed to accomplish alone.
I grinned, putting just enough anger and malice into the expression to mirror the faces he had been making all night, and held out my hand toward him.
Join , Highlord. Let us put aside our quarrel, crush our shared enemies, and part as friends.
Caldir looked down at my hand, then back up at my face, not making a move to take it.
It should go without saying, but as the entirety of this plan rests upon my ability to direct our actions, I will expect my orders to be obeyed.
Just as I expect control of the remaining gangs to be turned over to with no more fuss, I said, smiling and not lowering my hand. My plan is explicitly not to darken your lands one mont longer than I can be of service to you. It is no affront to my pride to submit to your leadership until then.
He considered a mont longerjust to keep hanging, I knew. I bore it without complaint, because I respect showmanship.
Then, finally, the Highlord smiled a cold little smile, stepped forward, and clasped my hand. We have an accord, Lord Seiji. Let us discuss terms.
Clear, boss, Biribo reported so ti later, as we stood in the darkened storehouse. Theyve retrieved the last of their boys and moved out of the area. We got privacy.
I inhaled deeply, and blew the breath out, letting it puff my cheeks and not caring how undignified it was. In fact, deciding I was done standing up for the ti being, I slouched over to the jar and sat carefully down on Lady Grays head. The wide lid on the jar was just barely big enough; it wasnt comfortable and Id have to move soon, but for the mont it just felt right. Welco to my ass, you rotten old bitch.
I was justtired. There had been a lot of details to hash outparticulars of the transfer of authority for the last gangs, percentages and quotas of plunder to be handed over to Clan Olumnach, procedures for him to send us orders and to contact him at need. A bunch of minutia like that, all of it very necessary but extrely tireso.
I hope I dont need to point out that that guys gonna betray us first chance he gets, Lord Seiji, said Aster.
I snorted. Oh, hes not going to betray . He thinks he is, but hes not. Caldir thinks my plan is to leave Dount. He thinks I think a feudal lord in this rathole of a country has the authority to negotiate with Godspire. He thinks he has in a bottle, unable to leave or pursue my own goals until he opens the gate for , which he will never actually have the power to do. Ive already got control of most of the bandits and can get the rest without him, and he knows it; the only way he can turn on is to rat out to the Archlord or the King. And doing that before I get him control of Gwyllthean will lose him everything and gain him nothing. The gangs would all be destroyed and thered be too much attention on him afterward to rebuild them. No, hell wait till I get him what he wants and then betray . Thats the only mont it would make sense for him to do so. Once he has Dount, mobilizing the Clans to crush and the united bandits will just secure his position. He will never get the chance to do that, because Im going to betray him first. Needless to say, ladies, we are not putting that fool on the throne in Gwyllthean. Once he finishes picking a fight with Clan Aelthwyn, were gonna pull back and let him lose it, and good riddance.
This is all a really roundabout way to kill sobody, Lord Seiji, Nazralind pointed out. Im just saying. Weve got contacts among the servants of a lot of Clans, including his. The girls and I can get into Caer Olumnach in one nights work and put an arrow in his eye. Zip zap, problem solved.
Naz, you know better than anyone what would happen next.
She grimaced and lowered her eyes. Yeah, I know. If bandits kill a Highlord, therell be a complete purge of the island.
Exactly. With a grunt, I stood back up; Lady Grays briny tomb was already beginning to hurt. Even dead, she was a pain in the ass. Caldir is our at shield. Everyone knows him as the bandits not-so-secret leader, so leaving him in place and giving orders keeps attention off us while we make preparations to deal with all the other attention thats going to co our way soon enough. Then, once he goes down fighting Clan Aelthwyn in Fflyr politics as usual, therell be no reason for a bandit purge. It buys us so breathing room to maneuver. That ans, for now, I need Caldir happy, and to think hes in charge. Unfortunately, I added with a grimace, that ans were gonna have to bow and scrape a bit. Im really sorry to ask it of you, ladies, after weve made so much progress in getting out from under the Clans collective thumb, but for the ti being I need everybody to play the good lapdog. Caldir needs to believe hes got us firmly under control until the very mont its ti for him to die. Can I count on you all to play along?
Adelly cleared her throat. Lord Seiji Did you really just ask a room full of whores if we know how to manage a useless mans ego?
They braying of laughter from every corner of the room was damn well therapeutic, a sudden lightening of the mood that I hadnt realized how badly Id needed. I found myself grinning right along with them.
Well, fair enough. All right, girls, lets ditch this depressing hole and go sleep in the forest like the civilized scum we are.
Dount wasnt mine, not yet. My initial goal of taking over the criminal underworld was in the bag, but I still didnt have a direct path from that to overt control of the island, and now it looked like I wouldnt even have ti to finagle one before I had to deal with powers on such a scale that control of one island was barely a factor.
I needed to get soone to teach more about the history, geography, and politics of Ephera. Nazralind probably could, she had the right education. Id leveraged Godspire into my plans already, but all I really knew about that city-state was that it was a notorious geopolitical nuisance.
Currently, four days after my negotiations with Caldir, Naz was busy with ink brush in hand and surrounded by discarded papers, carefully drawing on the most recent sheet in front of her. We were back ho in North Watch, loitering in the quiet ss hall long after dinner. Kasser and Harold had crafted shades to put over the bottled light slis, so it was dimr in here but not completely dark. I rather liked the effect; it was cozy. A few groups of people were still hanging out and chatting at so of the tables before bed. Closer at hand, Minifrit puffed away at her pipe while Aster lounged against the table next to and Biribo hovered lazily above Nazs art project, watching it take shape.
Better deal with the beast tribes first, I mused, repressing a yawn. After the Inferno theyre gonna need the help, and also theyre in a weak enough position to be easily taken over. That, and I owe them sothing.
Ive no idea how many beastfolk there even are on Dount, Minifrit said, blowing smoke. There are three native kinds of them, but I think there are multiple tribes of the wolves and squirrels both. That is a lot of additional mouths to feed, Lord Seiji.
Theyre skilled hunters and foragers, Minifrit. Giving them aid will be an initial investnt, but itll start paying off quickly. Not just in food; with their wilderness skills and knowledge of the land, bringing them into the fold will give us effective control over the wild khora, which is going to matter once major powers start coming here and poking at us. We need places to retreat to. Even fully restored, North Watch wont be able to hold against a major military push.
Just so, she said, smiling. Forgive , my lord, I was rely making sure this was a strategy you were executing, and not a sentintal gesture. A guilty conscience can cause nearly as much grief as the lack of one.
Oh, co on. , sentintal?
Dont worry, Aster said, gently nudging with an elbow. We wont tell anyone.
Youre all a bunch of backstabbing ingrates. Anyway, the other thing is that its a natural progression. Bringing in the tribes will be easier than bringing in the goblins, and I still dont even know where to start with the dark elves. I cant even get a handle on the one weve got, much less the whole city of em.
Okay! Nazralind said brightly, straightening up. I think I have it! Co have a look, Lord Seiji!
I stood and stepped over, leaning past her shoulder to examine the sigil she had painted in accordance with the traditional Fflyr folk art of sigil crafting. Supposedly you needed one of these to be taken seriously as an institution in this country, so it was past ti I had one. Traditionally, they were created by noblewon, and Id only recently acquired those, so I reckoned I could be pardoned for being a little late to the party.
I like it, I said, examining the abstract pattern of lines. Cant tell what the hell it ans, but itshmaesthetic, thats the word. Its got a satisfying sort of look to it.
Im glad you approve, she said, grinning up at . So I started with the two glyphs you wanted, and once I got them arranged in a way that looked pleasing I picked two embellishnts. There were any number of those that might be applicable, but more than this made it look allbusy, and cluttered.
Is that a crown line? Minifrit inquired, leaning forward from the other side of the table. I quickly averted my eyes from the risk of looking down her dress; the fact that I had explicit permission to stick my hands in there only increased the potential for a debilitating flashback.
It is! Nazralind pointed at the top part of the sigil, looking up at again. Its the horizontal line along the top there, Lord Seiji. Traditionally, the crown line indicates royalty; displaying a sigil like this while not associated with the King signals your intent to challenge and replace him. So, of course, its almost never used, but I thought it wasapt.
Good instincts, I said approvingly. Is the other embellishnt that cross thingy in the middle there? That doesnt look like part of either glyph.
Exactly, yes! The ascending starwith the long line coming from the bottomis a symbol of the Goddess, used to signify devotion and allegiance to her. Well, theres not one in the traditional Fflyr arts for the, ah, other goddess, so I improvised.
Ah, and thats why its upside down, with the long tail on top.
Precisely! Now, this is just plain ink, but in terms of heraldic colors I think red markings on a black field is appropriate.
Black is neutral, right? Thats what you told . But then you also told people saw your black cloaks and thought it ant you were Viryans.
Lowborn did, Lord Seiji. Most commoners dont know Viryas actual colors; thats the kind of education the Convocation prefers they not receive. So, yes, the fact that black is commonly used as a neutral base against which Clan colors stand out doesnt do the highborns reputation among the lower classes any favors, but Well, with the way the highborn govern, it tends not to end up mattering all that much.
Ill bet. I patted her shoulder. Nice work, Naz. I like it; this is the design well go with. Make a few copies, please. Well give one to Kasser and have him start applying it to stuff. I guess I should have a flag, at the very least.
Its just She hesitated, sighed, and twisted on the bench to be able to look up at without having to crane her neck back. With more complex sigils made from multiple glyphs, it can quickly beco impossible to tell what the original words were. With one like this, made from just two Well, anybody with a grasp of Fflyr heraldryin fact, potentially anyone who can read Fflyr will be able to tell your personal sigil says slis and whores. Are youcertain thats the face you want for the Dark Crusade?
Minifrit and Aster were both grinning.
I am absolutely certain, I assured her. I want my enemies to not take seriously. I want them to laugh and not realize what theyre dealing with until its far too lateand in the bitter end, I want them to perish knowing I never respected them. This is the one, Nazralind. This is what Im about.
I gave my absurd new personal logo another long, appreciative stare, then heaved a sigh and stepped back.
All right, ladies, lets all get to bed. Tomorrow cos early, and our enemies are closing in. We have a lot more people to disappoint before alls said and done.
Reviews
All reviews (0)