78 Plans for the Future (1/2)

With a bang, the shabby door to the secret room burst open. Almost ripped from its hinges, the door crashed into the wall behind it. The first noise had already been enough to let Fadelio and his sisters look up in shock. The second seemed nothing less than excessive.

”What the actual fuck is going on here?!”

The warrior could hear the shouts of the uninvited guest long before he could see him. From the upper floor of the Stone's Throw, there was still a long corridor to go through before he would reach here, into the heart of Emperor Titu's shadows. However, the rising staccato of stomps told him that he wouldn't have much time to prepare before he had to face the intruder.

”Don't say a word,” Fadelio implored the girls he had just discussed future plans with. Half turned to the door, he remembered something and swerved back over to Tamaya. ”That goes especially for you,” he added for his unpredictable sister.

It was all he could do before their inevitable doom arrived. Another bang and the final barrier burst apart to reveal their master, First Prince Corcopaca Titu Pluritac, in the flesh, and mad as anything.

”Triumvirate?! What made you think that was ever an option!?”

”sorry- I- couldn't- couldn't stop them...”

Short on breath, Olacu the rat was shoved into the room as well. There was a swelling under his right eye and his clothes were torn at the sleeves, held down into an uncomfortable posture by Dedrick, the mercenary knight. At least the bartender had put up a token fight, though of course there was no way the two would have found this place if they hadn't been led by someone, not before someone would have informed them of Corco's arrival. In the end, Olacu had been quick to give in to the threats.

”Laqhis, calm-”

”Calm!? You wanna see fucking calm!?”

Fadelio stood up and approached his lord. As he got closer, he bent his knees and showed his open palms. A vain attempt at peace, he was sure.

”This helps no one. What if this place gets discovered?” he asked his friend as he tried to make himself sound as reassuring as possible.

Even though there was copious sources of light within the luxurious hideout of Emperor Titu's shadows, none of it reached the prince's lowered face. Dark shadows lingered, to prove his deep seated anger. He breathed audibly, in and out, in an attempt to regain control, something he had always desired, even back in Borna. In the end, Corco's trust for his friend won out over the suspicious nature he had trained over a lifetime of betrayal.

”Right. You get five minutes to explain yourself. You best have some great fucking answers for me.”

Fadelio looked around the congregation of onlookers in the room. He knew the talks would be rough. This talk wouldn't be something for bystanders to witness.

”Leave us alone, please.”

”Brother..,” Tama began cautiously.

”Out. Now.” The stern reply made his sister come to her senses. She returned a short nod before the two sisters left the room without a word.

Meanwhile, the still wordless Dedrick looked towards Corco, who nodded as well. At least there was still enough trust between them for Corco to allow a conversation without any backup. A short time later, everyone else had left and the two friends were by themselves.

”Please have a seat first.”

Fadelio showed the prince to the large conference table he himself had sat on before. The heavy oaken furniture was a recent addition, still fresh enough to emit a pleasant smell. It was, in fact, a simple assembly of four smaller tables, in imitation of the one they had set up back in Arcavia, in their days as the Fastgrade Merchants.

”Nah, I'm good here.” The terse Corco crossed his arms.

The warrior just nodded at his friend's insistence. He knew that Corco had a habit of walking off his anger. It helped him think as well, strangely enough. Back in Arcavia, Corco had worn down a neat circle within the floorboards in his study, just by marching off the same track every time he got lost in thought. For now however, he just stood there and afforded his warrior an expectant frown, ready to hear his excuses. Unlike his master, Fadelio had taken a seat again before he answered.

”You might think that the compromise on offer sounds remarkably like the one Chaupic offered us before the funeral, but none of this was planned by the prime minister. It was my idea.”

”Okay, so then how does everyone think it came from me?”

”Of course they would. After all, I handed them letters containing the ideas, written and signed by you personally.”

”Ooh, is that how it was. Strange that I can't remember any of it. Is this what amnesia feels like?”

Corco stared him down with narrowed eyes, but Fadelio remained calm, despite his outrageous answer.

”...the letters were forged, by me.”

A second of uncomfortable silence, before Corco lifted his foot. Fadelio knew what would be coming. As the prince began to walk circles around the table, he prepared himself for the inevitable firestorm.

”Are you fucking serious!? You knew I'd never agree to any of this, right? That's why you did it behind my back! Why betray me like this, now that we've almost achieved our goals!? After all we've suffered over these seven years!?”

Fadelio didn't react. He only stared back. He knew what he had done was nothing short of betrayal and that there was no way to excuse it, no matter how noble his reasons might have been.

After the prince had raged through the room for a while, he stopped stomping around and accusing his attendant. Instead, he looked over, from a distance, a dull pain in his eyes.

”Why?” His voice didn't sound angry anymore. He sounded bitter, and he sounded hurt. Fadelio knew that this would hit his friend hard, but it was something he had needed to do. If they wanted to reach their goals, there was no other path than compromise. He would need to make Corco understand that. For that, he needed to be blunt.

”You will not be emperor. Everyone in the capital knows that, and you know it as well. Viribus hates you. His motives don't matter either. The truth is that you can't compete as long as the old man is still alive.”

”I've been doing pretty well so far, right? Last night, the old man had to risk his reputation to suppress me. Once he loses that, the path is clear. We can just drag things out, keep fighting-”

”Viribus can do this forever if he has to. His reputation isn't going to weaken that quickly. He'll still be the great defender of Medala after a month, but our position is weakening already. When Lord Saqartu gave his final speech, it was a lifeline for us. It's the only reason the lords stayed united under your command, but words are cheap, even your uncle's. Sooner or later, the first will defect, and then the next. After that, we're right back where we were when we reached the capital. Plus, twice already Viribus tried to push the idiot Pacha to become emperor, and twice you came up with outrageous plans to prevent him. Just how many more of these can you pull out of the lake before you run out? Can't be too many left, right?”