Naram-Sin is heavily conflicted. He has tried his utmost best to be at the middle, to py both sides until the political disputes pass but it is getting more difficult. If either sides suspect him, they will have his head for it, but what can he do? Pick a side? Which side? The odds are massively against the king, but Naram-Sin guts seem to disagree. If it were a month ago and the king had failed to react to his territories been usurped by Ulric Von Hohenberg, Naram-Sin would have concluded he is a coward. But now? Now his silence seems deadly. The taxes, the high wages for low soldiers almost on par with elites of other nations. He is pnning something. Something sinister. And that feeling is precisely why Naram-Sin opt to remain in the middle, trying to py it safe, but then out of nowhere the king wants him with him on a visit to Mittelreich. Something like this shatters all of his efforts. Been seen with the king in such a public official occasion would more or less mean he has picked a side. Unless he does something really major to betray the king and assure the grand mage's side of his fealty, without the king knowing, he is in trouble.
"What's on your mind?" the whore nestled in his arm asked.
"A lot of things."he replied, knowing he won't be saying more.
With how well the king pays, the whore business has gone up again, and it isn't cheap. That's what happen when you put a lot of money in hands of horny men. Some, he is aware, are saving to buy sves and with the way things are going they could be able to do it in a year or two.
The wind brought in the chilling air through the open window and suddenly they heard the flutter of wings of an escaping pigeon from the direction of the window. It wasn't significant, and none seemed to be aware of it, but then after a few minutes in, Naram-Sin spoke up.
"You can go"
The chuckle that escaped her lips held a hint of amusement, like a fleeting breeze in the room. "This is my room," she gently reminded him, her tone carrying a mixture of warmth and defiance.
"And I still have 2 hours left in my time, so I say leave"
Her confusion etched across her face as she sat up, trying to decipher his intent. Realizing the seriousness in his eyes, a spark of anger ignited within her. With a swift, irritated movement, she snatched a piece of bedding, clutching it to her youthful chest as she left the bed. Her whole back remained exposed as she walked out the room, the rest of the bedding sweeping the ground.
"Fucking brat," Naram-Sin grumbled beneath his breath, the words heavy with irritation when she left the room and closed the door a bit too loudly.
She couldn't be older than his second child. If only this wasn't the capital...
He watched as a shadow mage came from the shadows of the wall, safe from the windows.
"Message from Ulric Von Hohenberg"
┌─────── ? ───────┐
I stood on top the capital's walls with mother as we watched thousands of people digging ditches outside the capital, where hopefully the battle will be fought.
The air was filled with the ctter of pickaxes and the rhythmic thud of dirt hitting the ground. Men, women and even children. While some were digging, others were transporting water with donkeys and horses drawn carts from the distant waterfall to the front of the capital. The kids were mostly pying but they came out to work. 20 bronze coins for a day's job was too much of money for many to ignore. Even though I could easily make them work for free I decided to pay them for it. If this kingdom is going to work, money must be in the hands of the citizens.
"You do know the grand mage is capable of earth magic?" mother asked.
"Then he will spend mana trying to set it right." I said. "That's still a win"
"And he is also capable of water magic"
"But not more than you" I said turning to her.
She didn't turn to face me, just kept looking forward, but her face twinged a bit in smile before returning to its usual impassive cold features.
It made me chuckle. She has become more carefree when it's just us two but out in public she remains the ice queen.
We continued watching and in the distance we saw dust of a fast approaching group. They bore the banner of the kingdom. Mustapha.
The people working heard the thunderous hooves and saw the clouds of dust. They paused to see if it was the rebels attacking. Some sprinted closer to the gate for safety, others hurried their kids into the city immediately not willing to take any chances. It was till they saw the kingdom's banner that many rexed.
Soon Mustapha came to view, leading the thousands. They had to slow down because of the many wide ditches that had narrow the path to the gate.
"Are those yours?" she asked, referring to the demi-humans who were riding between the knights and soldiers.
"Yes" I said.
A moment of silence enveloped us as we observed the newcomers making their way through the city's gates into the capital.
"You truly have changed" mother said. "All your life those beings use to...disgust you"
She paused and turned to me. "It's like you are a whole different person" she said, her smile sad.
I didn't say anything to that, to avoid incriminating myself. She loves me, I know that. She trusts me, but every now and then I see it in her eyes--suspicions and doubts. She wants to believe but common sense is holding her back.
It's only a matter of time and it won't matter. Just have to hold on long enough. Just a little bit time.
