173 Disruption (1/2)
As a tense day drew to a close, Divitius Ichilia left his study to enjoy a glass of mulled wine with his wife son. It was something he always enjoyed, even more so on these cool days of winter, when even Huaylas, city of eternal spring, could be described as 'frigid'. However, just as the door closed behind him, his most recent guest ruined all of his plans and extended his day further.
”I know, brother. I have heard.” There she stood with her usual composed posture: Spuria Ichilia, the self-proclaimed empress mother. Though the title was unjustified, Divitius let his sister have her little vanities.
”Heard what, dear sister?” he asked calmly. Back in the day, back when she had begged and pleaded their father to become the emperor's second wife, Divitius had been against the decision. How could the young lady of House Ichilia be second choice to some southerner brat? However, she had insisted and eventually gotten her will. In the process, their relationship had been damaged as well. They barely had any contact until a few years back.
When they reunited, she had come to him with her megalomaniac plans to take over the throne. Ever since she had begun her affair with that numb skull Caelestis, Spuria had become a different person. Her new-found perspective, as well as decades of unrequited love, had made her bitter, self-satisfied and greedy for power. While the first two were little more than annoyances, the third was deadly.
”That little bastard boy has somehow managed to sneak his way past the lonely islands, and he has landed an army. On our land! How dare he!?”
Although the woman had lost control, they had found some strong allies and had gotten lucky a few times as well. This, bit by bit over two decades, they reached a position where for the first time in centuries, the throne was within reach of House Ichilia. All he had to do was reign in his sister, her weak husband and her spoiled son, until he could do all the heavy lifting.
”You are well informed, sister,” he said with a smirk. ”Much better than one could expect form a woman who is only a visitor in this place. Where did you hear that?”
Although she shrunk a bit under her elder brother's gaze, her posture soon returned to the prideful stance of the empress mother.
”This empress has to be informed, since her own brother is unwilling to support her, or her son. His own nephew.” Sometimes, he really felt like he had undertaken a thankless task.
”And how could I show support, even if I was willing? Your precious son, my nephew, has declined any help I have offered him. What else can I do when the brat does his best to push away his family, his firmest support?”
”Do you dare call my son a brat again!? That brat will remember those words once he ascends the silver throne at last. Then you will be sorry for your slights!” There it was, her beastly scream. With her raised finger, she looked like she was about to put a curse on his immortal spirit. Really, what had those Pluritac bastards done to his idealistic sister?
Of course, he could have told Spuria that Pacha's ascension was anything but guaranteed. That her title of empress mother was unreasonable and completely broke with tradition. That their constant breach of customs had caused him all sorts of headaches with the lords under his control. Or maybehe could have mentioned that the brat obey the command of House Ichilia whether he liked it or not; because if Pachacutec became emperor, it would only be with his support, only with his help, and only utterly reliant on Huaylas. However, for now, he would sit and wait, to see that brat be taught a lesson and learn some humility. So in the end, he held back his real thoughts.
”Please excuse my indiscretion, dear sister,” he said and bowed. In the process, he pretended a frown. This new Spuria always enjoyed when she could force others to act against their convictions.
”When you show such deference, how could this magnanimous empress mother not forgive?” she answered with a self-satisfied smile. ”As for your previous excuses: Even if my young emperor has not asked for your support, it can still be given.”
”The problem is not so much that he has not asked for support. He has expressly forbidden his own house from any interference. And he has surrounded himself with sycophants who wish to escape the influence of Huaylas, the influence of House Ichilia. Even if I look beyond this insult and decide to work together with these local lords, what happens if I offer support now? House Ichilia will only be perceived as weak, and our influence will be reduced further. Have you come to know me as a man who is wont to be pushed around, dear sister?”
As she understood that she would not easily get what she wanted, Spuria pursed her lips like a child. Unsightly for such an old woman.
”Already the false king has taken his barbarians and brought them north, all the way across the Narrow Sea. He has been brazen enough to attack the northern lands, so who knows if he will be brazen enough to go further and march onto Huaylas. A single day of forced march could bring him all the way here, so this is no longer an issue that only concerns the kings of the Triumvirate. I understand that Pacha can be a bit prideful, but there is no time to change his mind. Brother, we need to act, and we need to act now.”
”We do not need to do anything.” he waved off her words and began to walk away, to enjoy his well-deserved rest for the day. ”They are my men, and I will well and good do with them as I please. Even if your son becomes emperor, they will still be my men. You would do well not to forget this.”
For him, the matter was done with his final word, but the empress mother had other ideas. With small steps to retain her straight posture, Spuria walked alongside her brother.
”Divitius Ichilia, do not forget yourself. You speak of me and my son as if we were strangers, as if we had forgotten our commitment to the family. Yet it will be due to us that the house will ascend and become the greatest force on the Twin Isles. It is only your pride that it would not be you to prevent you from seeing the truth. Your pride has always threatened to hold you back. In that regard, you are quite similar to your nephew, in fact.”
At the uncomfortable comparison, Divitius stopped and turned to face his sister. The least he could do was hear her out.
”This time, there is no room for vanity. Now we stand at a precipice, the empire can develop in any of three directions. With the strength of Huaylas you will be king maker, if you wish it. I know you have already made your preparations along the southern shores, while Pacha himself has no presence in the Narrow Sea. Whether he wants your help or not, once you have given it he cannot very well deny it any longer. Don't let your pride get in the way of the family's advances.”