117 How to Salvage a Disaster (1/2)
Mere minutes ago, Corco had thought that his banquet had been thoroughly ruined when he had been gifted the Villca son's head, and when the remaining Villcas had hijacked his party for their own private war. Oh, how naive, how innocent he had been. If there was one thing he had learned today, it was that there was no limit to how much the best laid plans could get screwed up.
His head filled with these thoughts and a million more, the king marched through the empty yard, towards the cracked plaster of the inner walls. Where there had been revelry before, now it was quiet enough for him to hear the gravel crunch beneath his feet. Shortly after the cannon had been fired, Corco had his warriors clear the yard under the pretense of security. However, of course he wasn't too worried about the safety of his guests, not after they had done their best to ruin his plans for a fancy dinner. For now, his top priority was to find out just what had gone wrong to cause all of this mayhem.
”We're sure no one got injured?” he asked while he stared at the heavy iron ball which had lodged itself into the inner wall of his castle. Curious, his fingers extended to touch the spot where the smooth metal met with the burst plaster.
”Yeah, there were two twisted ankles from the shock, but if you ask me, it's their own damn fault for being so useless. Everyone else is fine.”
A simple nod from Corco acknowledged Atau's answer. ”Send them some ice to cool their injuries. No matter how useless you might think they are, we've aimed to make a good impression all day and I'm not throwing that away now. In the end, it's our negligence which caused all of this to happen.”
”No master, it is mine,” a voice came from behind. One simple turn and Corco was confronted with the newest member to his staff, Tamaya di Pluritac, leader of the ghost warriors. As usual, the silent girl had managed to sneak up behind them. This time however, she wasn't in her familiar posture, upright and casual. Instead, she was kneeled down on the ground, her head lowered into the dirt.
”What in the fuck are you doing? Get up,” Corco asked in disbelief as his eyes grew large at the bizarre, ancient ritual.
”This servant cannot comply.” Rather than follow her master's order, the stubborn girl pressed her head even lower. ”It was due to this servant's negligence that King Corco was put in mortal danger, and almost perished.”
”No I wasn't,” the king replied, baffled at the girl's strange insistence. ”What mortal danger?”
”But if the cannon had not been redirected, King Corco would have-”
”Been fine. Nothing would have happened at all. You helped me design tonight's entire setup. My seat during the banquet's first half can't even be targeted from any of the towers, or any dangerous position for that matter. Even the powder was kept separate from the cannons. We specifically made sure no sort of attack could happen.”
At last, the girl raised her head again and looked back at Corco, a dark spot of earth and a blank stare of understanding on her face.
”Still doesn't excuse the screw-up, if you ask me. You shouldn't go easy on her just because she's a woman.” Although Corco couldn't deny that his cousin had a point, he wouldn't waste his time with infighting, not at the moment.
”I'm not interested in the blame game,” he replied with a stern glare. ”We can start playing that one as soon as we get through tonight without any more incidents. What I want to know instead is what exactly happened, and why, so we can readjust our plans.” Again Corco looked back to the kneeling Tama. ”Now you'll either get up and get your hands fixed, or I'll make sure that your worst fears will come true, whatever those may be.”
At last, the girl had managed to wake up from her state of self-loathing. As they held onto Tama's arms, Atau's shovel-like hands pulled her back onto her feet like a child, before she managed to squeeze out an answer.
”Of course, King Corco.”
With trembling hands, the girl dusted off her dress, though her attire had little chance for improvement at this point. Covered in streaks of dirt, grime and soot and ripped in multiple places, the expensive cloth wouldn't be useful as much more than rags anymore. However, rather than the silk dress, the king was far more worried about something else.
”How are your hands?” he asked with a frown.
”Impeccable,” she answered, and hid her red and swollen fingers behind her back.
”Girl, you should leave things to us until-”
”No!” An emphatic shout interrupted Atau's interjection. After a few seconds of silence, Tama continued on, almost desperate. ”For the moment, my own knowledge will be indispensable. As soon all the loose threads have been woven together, I will care for my own health. Please King Corco, any further delay could prove catastrophic.”
Although Corco really wanted to send the girl away, her own appearance reminded him of himself, of all the nights he had spent without rest, as he wrote down every single piece of knowledge in his head, in defiance of his swollen wrists. No matter how sorry he felt about it, he couldn't ignore Tamaya's determination.
”Fine. Cousin, can you get someone to bring some ice and bandages? We'll do the first aid here and then a proper checkup later.”
”Sure thing. Make sure she doesn't do any more stupid stuff until I'm back.”
With a final jab at Tama, Atau went past Corco and away into the bowels of the castle.
While his cousin's steps turned duller in his ears with every step, Corco focused on the essentials. The faster they got this mess cleared up, the sooner the stubborn girl would get proper medical attention.
”So where's Epunamo's attendant now?” he asked.
”Our warriors have him secured, together with Princess Sumaci.”
For a moment, Corco had forgotten about the nosy princess and her role in the whole debacle. He decided to brush over it for now.
”And what about our mercenaries?”
”Dedrick's men were, in fact, mostly unhurt. They received some minor injuries, but can be back in service this very day.”
While they talked, Corco waved Tama to follow along and marched to the center of the yard, the place where tonight's second great drama had taken place.
”No, make sure they take a couple days off. I won't have anyone with a possible concussion responsible for my security.”
”Understood,” a shadow's voice replied from right behind him.
*Maybe I should just keep her talking, that way she won't sneak up on me anymore,* Corco thought.