Herald of Steel

“… we must have an army to be able to negotiate from a point of strength.”

Pasha Farzah’s words made many in the court produce a convinced look, with Ptolomy particularly nodding his head with great alacrity. Alexander’s words had really made the man overconfident about his abilities.

Lord Assazd on the other hand wanted to desperately shut it down. He was still not done gaining control of the court and found such a huge battle to be too great a gamble. If they won, then it would be all right, as the commander he would of course be the biggest beneficiary.

But if he lost- it was not impossible to even lose his life.

Given the great advantage he currently held in court, he did not need to take such a huge risk.

However as much as he wished, he also could not just snap the idea down- he was not like Alexander, bold enough to directly challenge Ptolomy even at the risk of burning the whole bridge down.

‘Tsk… fine! I will just pretend to agree now and convince Ptolomy to change it later.’ So he figured he would just play for time, paying some lip service for now.

“Then let it be as His Majesty wishes. We will arrange for the army to gather while talks continue.” Lord Assazd thus heavily declared, much to Ptolomy’s glee, seeing which very much displeased the man.

So he could not help but take one last shot at discrediting the main culprit.

“That being said, Lord Alexander, do you not think this was quite the poor way for you to announce such a move… in front of everybody?” The conniving lord curved his eyes into a crafty grin, flashing his palms animatedly and chiming,

“Surely a far cleverer way would have been to stealthily gather our army and then surprise Ameneheraft at the last second, this would have put far greater pressure on him, forcing him on the backfoot. But now…”

Lord Assazd shook his head like he was admonishing a small child, “With a year’s time he will have all the time he needs to prepare. Hehehe, and to think you were the one who said he has far more men than us. Hmmph! It seems tales of your battlefield brilliance had been greatly exaggerated.”

The reasonable words struck many, including Ptolomy hit quite hard and the impressed look they had on their faces quickly drained, giving rise to doubt and blame.

Surely Alexander could have made the suggestion in private for much greater efficacy.

“My lord worries too much. Did you forget who am I?” In response to these doubts, the man simply boisterously strode forward like a fearless lion, flaring his nostrils and smirking with extreme arrogance,

“Hmmmp! I am Alexander! There is no battle I cannot win! I defeated Amenheraft twice against overwhelming odds, making him run, tucking his tail between the legs… so why should the third time be any different? They can prepare for a hundred years and they will still fall just like the walls of Thesalie.”

The court instantly and visibly shivered at Alexander’s words- especially hearing the phrase- the walls of Thesalie- this held a very big significance in their life, with their language even having many proverbs referencing it.

Basically the structure was considered an impenetrable bastion, impossible to penetrate.

In fact, it was considered such a formidable obstacle that there were many in Adhania who still discarded Alexander’s claim that he had broken through using brute force. It was too much for their psyche.

They instead claimed Alexander had won in through trickery and subterfuge, and as proof referenced how the gates to the city were opened even before the second wall fell.

However most of these delusional people were generally discarded by all sound minded nobles who found the overwhelming amount of evidence to suggest Alexander had broken the walls directly and subsequently the people’s will to resist.

And being now reminded of that feat caused many to shiver, either in excitement or fear. Some noble ladies even sent blushing looks at Alexander, the hauntingness of his speech striking them right in the heart.

While Alexander was not done yet, as he decided this was the perfect time to make his most controversial statement of the century.

So imperiously flashing his palms, he declared, “And do not fear Lord Assazd, I am simply not being arrogant or overconfident. I have a plan to deprive Ankoot of any significant reinforcement.”

The bold words instantly made the already hooked court further widen their eyes with curiosity, and this time it even included the man himself. Only Pasha Farzah who knew what was going to really happen, felt his palms get clammy in nervousness, something he could not remember the last it happened.

It was with a thumping heart that he listened to Alexander address the crowd, “Fellow lords and ladies, particularly esteemed Pashas and their representatives- know that we are at a pivotal point in history for Adhania. Whatever action we take now will have everlasting consequences for all of us. So I ask you… to take a look at how weak the royal family has gotten!”

“…???…” Perhaps for the first time in their life, both brothers- Ptolomy and Amenheraft produced the same stunned look on their faces. They almost had a hard time understanding the words because they could not have even imagined Alexander saying something like that.

And as they listened, their shock continued to turn to anger and dismay,

“Look at how the royal family has divided itself through infighting. Son killing father… brother killing brother. Fathers disowning daughters. It has become weak to the point the Grand Temple was looted and the temples have split in terms of faith.”

“Now many of you will blame me for doing this. That this is simply the pot calling the kettle black. And I do not deny this. They did happen while I was there.”

“However… before you spit at me- ask yourself this- why did the Great Father allow me to succeed? Why was the Goddess Gaia able to marry into the Great Father’s pantheon?”

“The answer is simple- because the rot was already there! The royal family was already getting corrupted, and Alozmer’s action proved that more than anything else. Those of you who have gone through it know more than I.”

“So I ask of fellow Pashas and even Matbars (Marquiss), why do you want to bleed for them? Why waste so much men, money and material? Just so that you can be like that?” Alexander accusingly pointed at Lord Assazd who was standing right beside Ptolomy, an extremely dumbfounded look masking his face.

The man, for the life of him he could not figure out what his opponent’s angle was.

Because these talks were so treasonous that the man was willing to bet his entire fortune that Alexander would not be getting out of the court alive today, no matter who or how many objected. Thus for all intents and purposes, it appeared to him as if Alexander had figuratively set him on fire at the stake.

This stunned look however suited Alexander perfectly- because it gave him the chance to say his piece without getting interrupted. Determined to make the best of the limited time, he forcefully emphasized,

“Instead of fighting to be the ingratiating fool that wipes the ass of a weakened family that was barely protect itself, why, oh dear Pasha do you not declare yourself to be independent? You each rule a province as big as Tibias itself. You can be easily kings! Bowed and respected throughout the lands. So why do you continue to bow and….”

“Shut up!”

“You… You scoundrel!”

“Traitor! Reb… rebel!”

“Treason… This is trea…”

“Wha… what am I even hearing?”

Alexander’s windows seemed to have finally closed as the whole court erupted with the fury of a million suns, shocked and astounded beyond any words. The very ceilings of the halls seemed to be reverberating with cries so loud and incredulous cries that no one had ever heard them.

Perhaps not even when Alozmers had ordered Lady Laila to be burnt at the stake caused this much commotion.

“Silence! Silence… I ask for silence!” However Alexander was not yet done, and straining his loud voice to its utmost limit, added this last piece,

“I know, I know this is a great shock for you. Separating from a rule that has governed you for over a millennium is and can never be easy.”

“Questions such as how will you perform that Jtaama, how will you come to the Grand Temple, how will you not be cursed by the heavens and even from where you will get your salt and legummum…. All these are valid concerns that need to be answered.”

“However know that this is the best chance for you to gain your freedom- be the master of your lands- you will no longer need imperial permission to gain more land, no longer will you need their blessing to marry and make alliances and no more will you need to send a tenth of your entire income as tithes!”

“All these blessings and more await for you… only if you swear independence right now…”

“The royal family is perhaps the weakest that it has ever been. They won’t be able to do anything to you anyway. I have destroyed most of their most fervent defenders- first when I sacked the capital and then at the Battle for Adhan. Otherwise Amenheraft would have never honored the treaty despite controlling so much of the land.”