Herald of Steel - Chapter 1611: Pasha Vivizan’s Last Stand
Chapter 1611: Pasha Vivizan’s Last Stand
“…. if Amenheraft stays too long in Adhan, we might even be able to take him hostage!” Alexander’s frank revelation of the plans caused a stunned silence to fall on the Adhanian court, the men shocked by the words.
“You…”
“Scoundrel!”
“Shameless!”
“So low!”
And then it was followed quickly by a large chorus of howls and denunciations as the whole court booed. What Alexander was asking went against the very spirit of decency.
The man at the center of it however only shrugged off the words, finding the rejection was mostly coming from Amenheraft’s camp. He just kept sharply staring at the man in charge, subtly pressuring him to concede.
“I… We… we… this is not a small matter….we… this is a grave matter. We… will…”
“Excellent! A splendid idea, Lord Alexander. Hahaha! I fully approve – my men will begin the levy at once!” Pasha Farzah, grinning broadly, stepped in just as Ptolemy began to hesitate, his booming voice cutting through the tension like a blade.
And the king, already uncertain, faltered under the sudden wave of enthusiasm, his words catching in his throat. His condition further worsened as immediately afterwards he felt a soft, warm touch to his plump hand, and a dangerous whisper cooed right next to his ears,
“Mmmm… attacking Ankoot now is indeed the best opportunity. We can finally put an end to this long civil war. My dear.. It is time you won your throne from the usurper!”
The hyper potency of the words did not need to be reiterated. As a meek, weak prince being urged on by his women to prove himself…. the sweet, saccharine voice of his dear queen and that proud, encouraging look she was giving him, Ptolomy found himself unable to utter a single word of objection.
In fact, he never stood a chance.
The best he could do was stammer, “We… we… will leave Lord Farzah to organise it then!”
“Your Highness!” The words sounded like a thunderclap out of the blue to the shrewd Pasha Vivizan, and instantly stepping forward, he cried with quivering lips, “Are you going to tear the peace treaty? And so openly? Did you not give us your words? Please defend the honor of your divine lineage!”
Now, Pasha Vivizan was not exactly afraid of a war with his opponents. However he was very much against such a thing right at this moment.
As Alexander already pointed out, they needed at least some time to regroup. Even simply moving Amenheraft from here to Ankoot- given his critical condition, risked his injury worsening, or in the worst case scenarios even becoming mortal
“….” And you would have to give it to the shrewd man, he really knew where to strike. By bringing up the matter of the honor of Ptolomy’s family, it instantly caused the already hesitant king to become even more confused.
“Snort! What treaty? You shattered it the moment you poisoned our two most loyal retainers and attempted to poison a third!” Fortunately, the Queen Mother quickly stepped in before the indecisive Ptolomy could backtrack on his order, flaring her beautiful nostrils and declaring,
“We are already being too gracious by not capturing you right here right now. This is our magnanimity for the duration of the Jtaama. We even show mercy to our assassins… by the grace taught to us by the Father. But surely know that once the hour the sacred days end….”
There was no need for the regal lady to continue so she trailed off.
“Hmmm, even if you deny that, will you also deny Djose’s attack on Zanzan?” And Pasha Vivizan was not given any chance to rebut her as well, as Pasha Farzah immediately followed up this attack, firmly declaring, “If you can attack one of our allies and still claim the peace treaty exists, then so can we. My lord, you should waste less time speaking and hurry for your home!”
“….” Now, Pasha Farzah was being a bit disingenuous here, as following that fateful attack on Alexander right as he took over Zanzan and Pasha Djose’s subsequent defeat, there was a secret backhanded deal.
As compensation for the whole karfuffle, Amenheraft had agreed to officially endorse trade with Ptolomy, thus letting him export much of Alexander’s luxuries to the rest of the country. Without that, Adhnan as well as Alexander would be far too weak.
However Pasha Vivizan did not quibble about such details, knowing it was not going to move the needle.
The simple fact of the matter was the opponent thought this was once in a lifetime opportunity…a magnificent chance to score in a wide, open field and finish the match once and for all. Thus they were absolutely determined to take the shot. And if Pasha Vivizan was in the other’s shoes, he thought he too would have probably done the same thing.
“Ahem… my lords in courts!” But just because he understood the enemy’s intention did not mean he was going to simply sit by idly and do nothing.
Hence moving away from trying to convince the king who was clearly unable to make up his own mind, he chose to address the present nobles directly.
Stepping up, the old man suddenly raised his hoarse voice to a new peak,
“This old man calls all those present to use their eyes and intellect to judge what has happened today. See for yourself what is right and wrong… and who did what. Lord Assazd’s body has not even cooled and the two traitorous pashas have already gained control of the court… turning your king into a puppet.”
“Look! He cannot even speak a word without their nod! So, who really has benefited from the assassinations? And who is it really that is trying so hard to convince you otherwise? I leave that judgment to you!”
’Damn, old fart!’ As the elder lord’s bony finger directly pointed at a shamed and hurt Ptolomy, Alexander’s eyes flashed a very cool chill, subconsciously shaking his fist. This experienced old lord once again proved why Amenheraft’s faction had chosen him as their representative in their time of need.
He was no sheep, and the way he was able to flip the entire table on its head with only a few words really showed how potent he was. Old age had not dented that head of his a single bit- in fact, it might have even increased it.
So Alexander really wished he wanted to just run up and gut the man instantly. But unable to do so, he was just left standing, pursing his lip unamused.
While Pasha Vivizan continued his address, his voice now turning solemn and cautionary,
“Let me warn you! This is only a war that those two want. You will not be able to benefit from it one bit. All those who participate will find their men taken by that Alexander… he will claim he is a great general so he should lead them. Do not let that happen! He will only send your men to the walls, to be mowed down by my archers. Ankoot might not be no Thesalie, but we are no bowl legged whore either. Snort!”
Pasha Vivizan’s last word were quite vulgar, very unfititng of the formal, regal setting of the present. However perhaps that is why the warning struck. Many nobles who had been Ankoot pictured the study walls surrounding the city and subconsciously shivered at the thought of conquering it.
Needless to say, every Pasha’s headquarters was well defended. And with Alexander openly declaring his intentions, surely those defenses would be bolstered by several times in the several months in would take to actually launch an attack.
Hence, some of the retincent nobles among Ptolomy began to rapidly lose heart at the thought of battle even before it began.
Pasha Vivizan’s heart danced with glee sensing the changing temperament at court, and finished with a extremly crafty smile lingering on his lips,
“And know that if any one of you refuses…I can guarantee you will find yourself killed, ’poisoned’ by mysterious assassins from us.. or Thesos.. or even the moon, but even from Alexander, hehehe!”
“Damn it, old fart! Dam you…” Alexander repeated the same curse in his mind over and over as Pasha Vivizan died out with a snigger, sending the Lord of Zanzan an extremely sarcastic, taunting look.
The old man was very pleased with what he had managed to pull with the meager things he had, if he said so himself.
With the groundworks laid now, and the doubts and confusion sown, even if the enemy could gather an army, it would be child’s play to cause division and discord among them, whether it be through spies, proxies or even false flag attacks and assassinations.
“…..” And both Pasha Farzah and Alexander also clearly understood the implications. However even if they had wished, they could not have stopped the man from speaking.
That would have only made them appear even more suspicious. The only one who could have stopped the elder lord was Ptolomy, and he was still hanging onto the words- ’puppets’ and ’not being able to sit without the two Pasha’s permission.’
This once again made him remember the naked, demaning words Alexander had spoken to him the day Lord Assazd died, and that fire that had just been put down once again suddenly flared up!”
“We still have not figured out the culprit who poisoned our retainers. Lord Alexander, unless you can give me a name, I will not order any army to march anywhere. I must be certain I will be safe!”
