126 Opponents (2/2)
”Wait, that makes no sense. Why wouldn't you tell me?” he asked with a whisper.
”I'm curious myself right about now,” Corco said, and looked down to the girl who had already regained her composure. Although Tama dragged her body back to her feet with difficulty, her face was once again an unreadable mask. As he saw the red marks on her neck, he understood just how heavy Atau's hand had been. However, this was not the time for sympathy. He would clear all issues between the two, right here and now.
”Although King Corco ordered me to involve Captain Atau in the operation, this servant found it more prudent to use the warrior without his knowledge, lest the mad bull destroy the king's divine plan. As it turns out, my fears were more than justified,” she said as she rubbed the red streak marks across her neck.
”What did you-”
”Sit! Fuck me, if anyone here says another word out of line I'll make them governor of the tiniest island I can find!”
With a heaving chest, Corco looked between the two opponents. This was just about the worst outcome he could think of. At this point, two of his closest allies were a minute away from mutual destruction. It was time to air out the room. For the moment, he waited until both members of his court had taken a seat, opposite each other of course. A sigh aired the king's grievances.
”Okay, so what is all of this pointless infighting about?” he asked Atau first.
”That woman can't be trusted. Even if she followed your instructions this time, she still didn't tell me anything.”
”Tama,” Corco looked over, hoping for a better answer.
”King Corco, it has become more than clear that Captain Atau cannot control himself. If he had been informed of our plans, there was a chance he would have ruined them.”
”I distinctly remember telling you to get Atau involved, and my memory is pretty good, so don't bullshit me. When it comes to combat, he knows what he's doing, and I trust him more than anyone. There was no reason to involve him in a secret combat mission.”
”But the captain was involved, King Corco.”
”I'm right here. No reason to lie in my face like this.” With a low growl, Atau pushed his body forward, closer to the unfazed girl across the table.
”Captain, I am loathe to tell you the details, but you were in fact involved in our plans. After all, you made sure the bandit Uchu saw how his brother Epunamo had spied on him. Thus, Epunamo would also know the time of Uchu's departure.”
Again Atau stopped for a second, as realization dawned on his face.
”During the banquet, it was one of your people who told me about some suspicious guy hidden in Corco's path!”
”Indeed it was. Any like a splendid warrior, captain found young master Epunamo and presented him to young master Uchu. I believe like this, I have fulfilled King Corco's orders,” Tama smiled back.
Just as Corco was about to explode again, the door to the room opened without warning.
”Can't you knock before you enter!?” Already fed up with the pettiness of his people, the king's head shot around to admonish the newest intruder on his victory lap. To his surprise, it once again wasn't Quato who had come back with the tea.
”Everyone seems quite busy. Shall I come back later?” alchemist Bombasticus asked with a smile.
”Ronnie, sorry about that. Please come in.”
”As the king demands,” he said, and placed a tray loaded with a teapot and several cups on the table between the silent combatants. In ignorance of the atmosphere around him, the alchemist began to set up the cups and pour the tea.
”So how is that Tawo guy?” Corco asked. For a moment, the addressed Ronnie looked at the king, before he returned his attention to the tea.
”I've tended to the man's wounds, but I am no doctor after all. However, he will live. Even so, I am still unsure why Tawo was tasked to only injure the bandit.”
”Wait, you knew about the plan as well?” Atau asked as his eyes bored holes into the back of Ronnie's skull.
”Oh, Lady Tama, are you hurt? This looks dangerous.” Ignorant of the captain's anger, the fake doctor noticed the spy's fresh bruises instead.
”Nevermind that, where did you hear about our plans?” Tama asked in a shrill voice as she jumped from her seat. What Atau's anger hadn't managed with all its force, Ronnie's care handled with ease. At last Tama had lost her composure.
”Oh, Tawo told me, just now. Tough I am still unsure about the exact reason for the plan, I am sure master Corco has things under control.” Once all cups had been filled, the alchemist looked back up, to see everyone stare at him, frozen in shock. How could the assassin Tawo talk about his attack to a complete stranger?
”What can I say?” Ronnie asked, a sparkle in his smile as if he had waited for their reactions. ”I am almost as talented with words as I am with alchemy!”
”Anyways, you two need to get your egos back in check.” While Corco ignored his friend's boast, he picked up his tea at last. ”This is no way to handle politics. Tama, by your own admission, the attack didn't go well. The shot was supposed to hit the torso, but went low instead. If the attack had gone the slighest bit more wrong, you would have killed Uchu.”
”Plus, Tawo almost died when he tried to kill the youngest Villca for no good reason. A great warrior like Atau, someone who has experience with firearms, could have prevented a lot of your trouble. Yes, technically, theoretically, in the narrowest sense, you followed orders. But we all know that's bullshit. I won't allow any more word-play like this, or I can't have you around Saniya, or any place I control. Do you understand?” Meek like a wet kitten, the girl nodded her head, before she picked up her cup of tea and took a sip, all without raising her head. Although Corco wasn't impressed by her act, at least for now it would have to do. Still, he would need to do more to restrain her power in the following months.
”Cousin, you can't just go around assaulting our people, even if you think you have a good reason. If you can't keep your anger in check you'll be a liability, even if we're related. You attacked a fucking mortal with your full cultivator strength for fuck's sake! What is wrong with you?”
Even though the captain nodded as well, his head was still high, and he wouldn't even touch his tea. Unlike Tama, he had no interest in appearing remorseful. Atau would know that Corco didn't care about grand gestures. The captain would show his commitment with deeds instead, as was his style. Rather than worry about his present, Atau was much more focused on their future.
”Okay, so the spy girl planned the botched assassination on your order? How does that even help us?”
”Ah, strap yourself in for this one, it's pretty brilliant.” Sporting a wide grin, Corco put down the tea and rubbed his hands.
”So, while the attack was happening, we made sure to leave clues. If Uchu or his little brother aren't idiots, they'll soon deduct how Epunamo sent the killer. Plus, me trying to kill Uchu makes no sense anyways, it just gives Epunamo power, something I want to avoid. Like this, the brothers are pitted against each other and the south-east is in flames. It's perfect. As he looks for even more support from the north, Epunamo will become the leading candidate for House Villca's rule.”
”Meanwhile, a strong south-east supported by the northerners will only unite the south-west. Who will they unite under? Your brother Mayu, who can't even control his own court, or me, who has all the cannons? This way, we already have a firm hold on half of Sachay. At the same time, Cashan still has two possible heirs beyond Epunamo, which makes it easy for us to get involved and control the region in the future. All we need to do is hold the Narrows against Pacha. This is just about the best-case scenario we could wish for. Aside from an all-out war against every estate, this is the fastest way for us to win over the south. We'd lose that all-out war, by the way, so don't even think about it.”
”Wait, but didn't the bandit get shot? What if he died?” the captain asked. In truth, Corco was glad they could move away from their problems and focus on their achievements, though he was sure that his cousin was just eager to prove his insight, and thus his worth. Still, with a raised finger, the king continued.
”Ah, we used less powder in the pistol, and an iron ball. The wound should be shallow and the ball wouldn't have transformed as much as a lead ball would, which means less damage. Plus, there's no lead poisoning either. The guy's a cultivator, so he should be fine.”
”And what if the assassin loses? How do we know this Tawo guy is a decent fighter?”
This time, the smile on Corco's face froze. It was an option they had considered, though he really didn't like their considerations.
”We don't, of course. Still, even if Tawo dies, our goals are achieved. If they can identify him, he would be Tawo d'Ichilia, a warrior under the Ichilia clan. A man who tried and failed to take over Saniya in the past, but now returned to my city under order of his newest master. Although if Tawo died we'd still have trouble with the bandits in our backyard, at least Uchu wouldn't suspect us. Instead, Epunamo with his connections to the north would once again become the prime suspect.”
”As expected of King Corco, truly brilliant!” With a clap and a bright voice, Tama made herself visible again. However, Atau was still focused on his cousin.
”So that's it? Now we got the south just like that?” he asked the most critical question. In response, Corco looked to the back of the room, where a map of Medala was hung up behind his desk.
”Well, I guess that would depend on how Uchu takes the message we prepared for him, and how the north reacts. Let's just hope they give us enough time to prepare. Because time is all we need.”