170 Cleanup (2/2)
”We've brought more than enough food to last us a good while longer, and we now have a decent trade route to get more.”
”That would make two then. Two trade routes.” Ronnie smiled, no doubt happy to correct the king who always did the same to him.
”My cousin?” Corco guessed.
”Yes, captain Atau has sent us word through a runner a few days ago. He has established contact with the cities of the bronze coast and managed to evade the ships of Borna through the open sea. However, since Borna controls the east coast from Porcero to Port Ulta, he had to moor in Tocllaraju, all the way to the south of the eastern coast, just north of the Eternal Ice. Though since Port Ulta has been infested by those of Borna and Cahlia, he has been forced to take the land route through ice and snow. Without any accidents, the supplies will reach the city within a half moon.”
*So about two weeks,* Corco thought with a widening smile, happy he would not have to resort to drastic measures.
”That's perfect! That means we're rid of Pacha's pressure and can develop at our leisure. Now my good uncle has no more power over us.”
”That... would not quite be the case.” As he felt Ronnie's unease, Corco's grew in turn.
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”...who's in trouble?” he asked in a deepened voice. ”Brym? Inri?”
”No, young Brymstock has done well indeed. Although he is in the constant presence of Duke Herak's men, he has managed to strike a deal with the northern king. His safety has been guaranteed, as has that of our property in the northern kingdom. The younger sister is safe as well, untroubled in the capital as she replaces her brother in her work.”
”Wait, 'replaces'? Fadelio still isn't back?” He should have felt shock, but he felt almost nothing. To Corco, the idea that Fadelio was in any trouble he could not solve felt almost surreal. Still, Ronnie confirmed his fears.
”Although Lady Tamaya has attempted to free her brother, it appears as if her attempts have so far not yielded any results. She seems to have been unable to save her brother, the ghost warriors or any of the trapped craftsmen. By now, she has been forced to return to Qarasi Castle. Still, they are safe, protected by Lord Nasica.”
”...for now. What's Pacha been up to?” More information. He needed much more if he wanted to avoid a hasty decision, one based on emotions.
”Still stuck in the Narrows. He has attempted another storm at the castle, with no results but a few thousand lost commoners. Though Tamaya has sent reports that the peacock king may grow restless soon.”
”Well... fuck. I actually wanted to wait this nonsense out until he runs out of patience and supplies. Then we might be able to strike a decent deal with Pacha and avoid a long and costly war that would only benefit the outsiders. Turns out I was too naive again, huh?” A sad smile formed on Corco's face. Of all the things he wanted the least, a civil war among his people was high on the list. Him being the aggressor in it was even higher.
”Then what are your plans?” Tentative, Ronnie asked.
”What else? We go on the offensive.”
”...but the mercenaries are still... troublesome.” Although they had avoided the conversation up to now, they really couldn't do so any longer. Corco sighed as he realized the same.
”Yeah, I've gotten a report on my way here. So Mason tried his luck, did he?”
”Indeed he did. Though I suspect Nahlen was holding the troops with mixed loyalty in the camp outside until it was too late, there is no proof of any wrongdoings from Nahlen's side. Thus, he has not been held for now.”
”Good, he can't be.” Corco tapped his upper lip, as always when he thought hard. ”We're still at war, and our cold war is gonna heat up again soon, despite winter. We can't have any infighting now.”
”So Nahlen will go unpunished?” Ronnie's eyes turned sharp. Clearly he was unhappy with the king's decision.
”I can't well demote him without any proof, can I?” An unmoved Corco shrugged. ”How will I justify that in front of the other mercs? If they're not convinced of his guilt, I'll look like a tyrant and the mercenaries will only make more trouble. No, Nahlen will get a promotion. I'll keep him close to me, in charge. With responsibility, he'll get enough chances to make mistakes. No worries, you'll see him punished soon enough. Just not for this.”
Still unwilling, Ronnie showed a rare frown.
”Then what about Mason? Will he be pardoned as well? Nahlen has insisted on his release, that he be tried by the mercenaries.”
”Good, let's do that.” Corco clapped and smiled. This was easier than he thought.
”...Master Corco, with my respect, that is nonsense! Mason is Nahlen's man. If we hand him over, he will receive no more than a slap on the wrist and they will be able to plan their next move from the shadows, maybe already during the upcoming conflict.”
”Who says Nahlen gets to judge him?” Corco grinned a crooked grin. ”Nahlen's not the leader of the wolves, no matter how much he wants to be. I'll let Dedrick decide what to do with Mason. He'll know what's best for him and he'll make the right decision.”
For a while there was silence in the room. As Ronnie stared at his ice-cold tea, Corco went through his next steps in his head. It wouldn't be fun or easy, but his chances seemed better than even.
”Then that means we'll to times of war once more?” Ronnie asked at last, with a tired voice and slumped shoulders. As a proper man of science, he would enjoy peace far more, a quiet place to search for whatever truth he eyed that week.
”We never really got out of the war in the first place. Rather, I aim to end this nonsense as soon as I can.”
”But our army is much smaller, mostly made of mortals. While Pacha might lack control over his emotions, he still commands twice our numbers, and all proper warriors with cultivation, rather than mortals with guns.”
Although Corco felt like Ronnie underestimated the power of guns in a large battle, he wouldn't need to make Ronnie nervous here. The guy wasn't a soldier anyways.
”We don't need to fight him directly. No need to crush his army, which is made up of my people anyways. All we need to do is make him move from his spot, create enough space for Fadelio and the craftsmen to get out of Nasica's territory. Once they return south and Pacha loses his last bit of leverage, he loses the war.”
”Make him move? But he is entrenched in the Narrows, with no way past. We cannot even oppose him in his entrenchment, how will we force him into action.”
”Well, you know what they say: You gotta fight uncle with uncle. Have someone call Tamaya back. Seems like I'll have to make another trip right away.”