Chapter 181: The Tactical Situation (2/2)
Judging from the uniforms, noble crests, and manner of armaments, Mike assumed that they constituted the entourages of whatever dignitaries were assembled. Considering that there was even a handful of individuals bearing the royal symbol of Almir, it was clear that this meeting was a lot more important than he'd originally anticipated.
[Maybe they are finally starting to get serious about this war.]
After getting directions from a woman dressed in the administrative uniform of the University, Mike headed through a set of double doors that led into a wide conference room.
”Ah, Mr. Rasmussen. Good of you to join us. We've saved you a seat over here.” The Headmaster spoke as entered, motioning towards one of the twelve high back seats which ran along the table. The man himself was sitting at the head, and the other ten were occupied. Other than a pair of guards manning the door, no one else was in attendance.
Mike surmised that this constituted the military and administrative leaders of the city. Prince Matthew had taken the seat of honor opposite of the Headmaster, and the intervening seats were filled with a collection of generals, merchants, and bureaucrats from the looks of it.
One particularly grizzled man, with a tangled grey beard and an eye patch growled as Mike sat across from him. ”What is this, Alexander? Are we allowing children into our strategy meetings now? I thought we were having a serious discussion on the defense of our city, not entertaining whelps who still smell of their mother's teat.”
Murmurs of agreement followed form other sections of the table.
The Headmaster gave Mike a questioning glance, as if to ask permission. Having already resolved himself on this issue, Mike quickly nodded his assent.
”General Hargus, I would first like to remind you that we are not in the barracks, and you will keep a civil tongue while at this meeting. Second, Mr. Rasmussen here was invited by me for the simple reason that he represents one of our most valuable war assets at this time.” Alexander replied in a calm, but stony tone which brooked no disobedience.
His words caused a ripple of whispers among the assembled councilors, who were evidently attempting to guess his identity. Hargus, for his part, looked unrepentant. ”What military asset could he represent?”
Sighing, the Headmaster continued, ”You are looking at, and by the way insulting, the Dragonknight Michael Rasmussen who single handedly foiled the traitorous attack of Viscount Wendel upon this very University. In the process of doing so, he and his mount killed or captured nearly 500 Tennundian soldiers, reclaimed a stolen naval airship, and rescued Princess Andrea from her kidnappers. He is a master swordsman and a Tier 3 mage who has deigned to help us in our time of need, so I would very much appreciate it if you would reign in your arrogance for the duration of this meeting.”
With every word, Hargus grew increasingly pale, so that by the time the Headmaster had finished, he looked like a ghost. He bowed his head to Mike, and mumbled, ”My deepest apologies, Sir. I meant no offense.”
[Clearly, you did.]
The room was holding its breath after the stunning revelation that one of the legendary Dragonknights was walking among them, although Mike noticed that a few of the observers weren't fully surprised. A current of tension was present, as they waited for him to respond.
[Are they worried about me killing him for the insult or something? I know that kind of thing was fairly common in novels, but I can't imagine it really happening in real life.]
Anyway, he wanted to get on with this meeting, so he spoke accordingly. ”No offense taken. You are not the first to dismiss me for my age, nor will you be the last.”
The general sighed a breath of relief. ”You are most generous, Sir.”
”Now that we are all acquainted with the Dragonknight representative, let me go ahead and introduce the rest.” Alexander began listing the various members of the council, starting with the slender gentleman to Mike's right, who was apparently the representative of the city's docks.
Mike had never been good with names, and promptly forgot most of them, instead getting a feel for the composition of the council. Military members like Hargus actually constituted the minority, with only the Headmaster himself, in his capacity as Marshal, and a Sun Elf woman who commanded the local navy, standing for the capital's fighting forces.
While the Adventurer's Guild was represented in their capacity as a quasi-mercenary force, the rest of the table was made up of the heads of various mercantile enterprises, the city mayor, and a priest from the Theological Committee. This turned out to be an organization formed from the various churches and religions which permeated the capital.