90 The Lord of Saniya (1/2)
With a satisfied groan, Sawo di Pluritac stretched his hands over his head and greeted the midday sun. After a late start to the day, there was nothing like a hot bath in the bathhouse to freshen up his spirits. He had been quite stressed in recent days; and for good reason. For today, he just wanted to forget his troubles and relax.
”Administrator Sawo, there is a message from the south.” His attendant Iyo, always annoying, interrupted his peaceful day once again. Sawo knew well enough that the princeling had gone south to Puscanacra, but the constant nagging from the servant about offered help from the Ichilia clan was little more than an annoyance at this point. He was more than capable of dealing with some short brat, no matter what the rumors said.
*That dwarf defeating the great Prince Pachacutec in duel? Ridiculous.*
”Can't this wait? It's dinner time soon and I have barely eaten all day. My cousin has brought a cook from the capital. I hear he can create all manner of delicacies.”
”Lord Sawo...”
”No!” An imperious wave of his hand interrupted the whiny voice. Once the noise had been silenced, Sawo turned to look at the upright posture of his assistant, always correct. Truly a perfect servant to the Ichilias. However, Sawo had no interest in being servant to anyone. No, he had much bigger plans. ”I will not hear any more of this. Are we in a hurry? Are you worried about your new master Corco, or how he will see you? Believe me when I tell you: The brat is nothing to worry about.”
Even when he had stood right in Sawo's front, the childish king had turned tail and run away. As far as Sawo was concerned, King Corcopaca had no honor, no courage and no strength. Never would Saniya's administrator hand his city over to a brat like that. No, his plans were much too grand to accept servitude under someone so lacking.
”Sawo d'Ichilia!” the boot licker said with more urgency in his voice. As always when he wanted to be heard, the servant reminded Sawo of their backing, of the reason he was here. Of course he should also know that Sawo hated nothing more than be reminded of his heritage as a watchdog of the Ichilia clan. However, he wouldn't stand for these insults, not any longer. Eyes narrowed, he marched over to the servant.
”What did you call me? Say it again and I'll have you whipped to death.”
In response to the threat, the servant made a simple step back. Wide-eyed, the coward stared at Sawo, who began to grin, finally free of his constraints.
”Why do you think I've been recruiting those warriors non-stop? Why do you think I've been working with the bandits and pirates, cut them in on my deals? It's all for this day. If those princelings, or anyone else, think they can control me any longer, they're at fault. This is my city! No one will rule it but me! Within the month, House Sawo will rule over these lands as the eighty-eighth estate of Medala! So maybe you should learn your place and think about who puts the rice on your table.”
While Sawo made his declaration, his voice gained more and more in sharpness. No longer would he be an obedient dog to the Ichilias. Rather, he had his own plans. If they wanted to work with him after his ascension to lord he wouldn't mind. However, he wouldn't take any more orders, from no one, never.
”Lord Sawo! Lord Sawo!” Just as he imposed his will onto the weak-hearted official, another annoyance closed in from Sawo's back. At least this one had used the right form of address.
”What!?” he shouted towards the skinny warrior who came running from the outer city. As soon as he had reached his goal, the former fisherman stemmed his hands onto his knees to catch his breath.
”Speak damn you!” With a kick to reinforce his words, Sawo convinced the man to hurry himself up. There was little time. Before his cousin's banquet started, the lord of Saniya would have to put on his new robes.
”There's attackers!” with large eyes, the sweating soldier uttered in a single breath.
”Nonsense! What attackers?!” Another grand gesture and the lord of Saniya threw the bothersome servant to the floor to continue his preparations for a relaxing day, but Iyo's inopportune voice ruined his plans like they always did.
”Those attackers would be King Corco's returning troops,” the bothersome official said.
”How would you know?” Annoyed, the lord turned to the servant, his clean robes swinging in the sea breeze. With a smile on his face, Iyo fixed his posture before he picked up where he had previously left off.
”Administrator Sawo, there is a message from the south. The southern river king reports that a large number of troops under the Pluritac family banner are moving north and towards Saniya.”
Angered by the man's incompetence, the Lord marched over to the official to give him a shove and a good slap.
”Tell me this stuff sooner! How come I only hear of this now, as they arrive?” As he berated the little bastard, Sawo looked down on the official's sorry figure on the ground. That should teach the scoundrel to withhold information from his lord.
”The distance between Puscancra and Saniya is not very large... and administrator was busy with his bath.” Through the pain, the official smiled, as if the greatest crisis to their success was some sort of joke.
”Out of my way, useless bastard!” He pushed away the useless servant and turned, to find his warrior who had recovered from his previous shove. ”Go barricade the gates! Don't let those bastards inside and wait until I've arrived at the walls!” With that, the lord of Saniya retreated back towards his castle, to ready himself for war.
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By the time Sawo arrived atop the walls, ready in full lamellar and equipped with his trusty axe, the foreign invaders had already taken formation outside the gates. Several hundred steps from the walls, the foreign soldiers were set up in long, thin rows of men, armed with strange pikes.
*What an atrocious formation, clearly their commander knows nothing of warfare.*
Maybe not all hope was lost. Although their troops looked disciplined and well-equipped, they were commanded by a child and Sawo had the defensive advantage. All he had to do was fend off the invaders to defend his new lands. After all, who would still support a King without any lands? Once Corco was repelled, he could cut a deal with Puscanacra and make sure they wouldn't get themselves involved. This would be easy enough.