150 Spread Thin (1/2)
Dim like night, the light of day wormed its way through the drawn curtains. At some point, a single sliver of sunlight had found its way past the northern blockade and opened the path for its brethren, to create a path between the window and the weathered map in the room's center.
For once, the windows in Qarasi Castle's command room were barred. Although they needed lamps to light up the room even under the midday sun, they had already underestimated their enemies once. Never again would Corco allow himself to be surprised like he had been these weeks. Thus, he would never again assume that he knew anything his enemies didn't. Since they were about to address vital information, they would do so even in the dark, heavy air of a closed room, just in case the Bornish had come up with a spyglass of their own.
If nothing else, the information in the center of the table was more than worthy of protection.Atop the heavy oak sat a map of Yakuallpa and the surrounding waters, with several wooden figures strewn around it. For a moment, Corco's eyes left the map and assessed the figures collected in the room, positioned around the table.
Across from the king of southern Medala stood Dedrick and Tamaya. It had been a long time since he had seen the mercenary and only a short time since he had seen the spymaster, but for both he had hoped to not see them for a much longer time. After all, their meeting wasn't planned, it had been forced by the army in the north. Finally, scrunched up in a chair the corner, sat Ronnie and pretended to sulk.
Only just did Corco manage to prevent a smile at the bad acting, before he returned his view back to the issue at hand: They had to take inventory of their situation, and adjust their plans, as they had done so often in the past year.
”Still no word from the opposite camp, I take it,” the king began.
”Words they have enough, but they're not getting a move on,” Dedrick replied with a smirk. ”They're always talking about monkeys and whatnot, sending idiots over to scream at the walls and anger us out of our defense.” As If he had heard something especially funny, the fake knight's smirk turned grin. ”You'll actually like this one. You know what they say about you?”
”Hrmhrrrm.” Somehow she had kept quiet until now, but at this point, Tama could no longer stay quiet. After she had audibly cleared her throat, she hit Dedrick with her best stare of disapproval.
”What, you think Laqhis hasn't suffered his fair share of insults back across the sea?” Dedrick asked, his grin retained.
”The king does not need to know these minor issues.”
”What are they saying?” Rather than start a pointless discussion, Corco mirrored Dedrick's grin and switched topics.
”They call you false prophet. I think they're saying that you converted back in Arcavia?”
”Well, at least they're being creative,” Corco scoffed at the laughable attempt at propaganda, while he looked to the center of the map, where two figurines stood opposite one another. One represented his own men, the other Pacha's band of robbers. ”Though it might not be the best use of their time.”
”Why not? they're not attacking either way,” Dedrick shrugged. ”Haven't even gotten near our walls since you showed up.”
”Our food situation is good though, right?”
”For the moment there are no problems, at least here in Qarasi,” Tama said. ”The king's fleet has brought more food from the east, so our supplies will last us for a very long time. However, it appears as if further trips north will be impossible for now.”
”The Bornish.” From the two figures to represent the armies of the kingdoms, Corco's eyes turned east on the map, to the ships scattered along the eastern coast. ”Seems like Pacha has struck some kind of deal, huh?”
”Or someone in his staff did. I won't believe the idiot would come up with a plan like this. He's got us boxed in well,” Dedrick replied. For a while everyone shared a frown as they thought in silence, before the mercenary continued. ”We can't handle them with our own fleet?”
”That's risky, and pointless. For now we still have more numbers on the eastern sea, so we can probably force our way through once. Still, they have the better cannons, even more so after we removed half of ours to use them in the field.”
”You're not taking them back, are you?” Dedrick played shocked. With his eyes bulged out and his mouth pulled down like an old religious idol he looked ridiculous. Dedrick really wasn't a good actor.
”Even if I wanted to I couldn't. We need them in case Pacha attacks again, so they're stuck here. But even with the cannons, our position out east wouldn't look too good. The Bornish cannons are longer range and more powerful than ours. So far, it seems like they have fewer ships than us, but our losses from any engagement would be more costly. After all, we're trying to move cargo, so any sunk ship would take tons of supplies with it.”
With a lazy movement, Corco pushed two of the ship figures off the table. Although he expected a splash, they landed with a dull thunk.
”We can't move supplies safely, yet they don't need to move supplies at all. They only need to disrupt ours. At the same time, any ship we lose can't be replaced. On the other hand, they're not even close to full strength. Don't forget, our enemies aren't only the Bornish. They've also flown the banners of Cahlia, so two of the largest naval powers of Arcavia have allied. If we manage to defeat their ships and beat them back, they can just come back with twice as many. We can't. We don't even have a dockyard on this side of the world.”
”In that case, it appears as if Captain Atau would be stuck as well, at least until we can negotiate with the new arrivals,” Tama said. Though her voice was flat, at least Corco heard none of the schadenfreude he had expected.
With worry, the king looked to the Medalan ships far out at sea. Somewhere on the Weltalic Ocean, his cousin drifted along, chased by the Bornish fleet. Of course there was no better navigator than Atau, but Corco really couldn't see a clear way out of Atau's dilemma. Rather than think about issues he had no control over, the king stifled a sigh and continued their meeting.
”Have we had any contact?”
”We have tried to open communications, but the Bornish either didn't understand Yakua, or pretended not to. Most of the Arcavian fleet has anchored in the north. Their leaders should be far away, so no one of importance would be south.”
”Negotiations in the north? Sounds like a job for the kid, huh?” Dedrick chimed in.
”Only if they're willing to talk.” Again Corco stared down at the map, again to the little figures. In Porcero, surrounded by Bornish ships, sat a single blue figure of the Southern Kingdom. ”It seems like the Arcavians came with a plan in mind. They already have some agreement with Pacha, I'm sure of that. You think we can beat their offer? Knowing Pacha, he's probably sold half the Empire to patch his bruised ego.”
At the thought of his annoying uncle, Corco could feel his face pull together.
”Then what happens to Brym?”
”Nothing, I guess.” The king's face relaxed. ”Brym's a smart kid, smarter than all of us, maybe minus Fadelio.” In the back of the room, Corco heard the genius alchemist clear his throat, but he decided to ignore it.”The brat can take care of himself. He's got some of your men with him for personal protection, and we've got a lot of allies in the east. And don't forget about our good old friend Saliena. That guy is far too shrewd to side with anyone, especially not in a war so far away from his home. So long as we bring him business, he'll at least guarantee neutrality in Porcero. After all, what sort of international harbor can they be if they can't protect our goods and people?”
Though Dedrick opened his mouth, Corco raised his hand to continue.