226 Change in Fortune (1/2)
After Wacoca and his father had decided their future directions, they had spent the afternoon on schemes. After much deliberation, Rasacopa would continue its cooperation with the southern kingdom. Rather than share all the spoils with others, they would keep more for themselves, and strengthen themselves for all the other colored kings to see.
Thus, once the progress was apparent and the other kings became aware of what they had lost, they would be much easier to convince of the Green King's course. After all, they were pirates in the end. They weren't all that interested in power, and would choose profits over it any day. Maybe the blue king would still try to fight back, but in the end, he was far too weak and didn't have much say in the matter. Without the other kings to back him up, he would be easy to suppress.
However, their decision also meant that Wacoca couldn't savor the air of his home any longer. As a result of their continued cooperation with Corco, Wacoca had to continue on his way, to transport the king's men over to the city whose harbor they had just entered. The green and splintered wooden planks of the port had begun to curl up, even they eager to escape from their dreary home.
In the distance, Wacoca could see the flimsy palisade wall of the city, almost covered by the mud houses that had been stacked on top of one another in a haphazard manner. The view reawakened memories of his first time here, when he had come together with his master Corco. Not much had changed here, though the same couldn't be said for himself, or his companions. As if on cue, a grating voice reminded him of his more recent, less pleasant company.
”That's it? Just another barbarian village.”
When Wacoca turned around, his scowling eyes were blessed with the foul image of the man called Dedrick. For whatever reason, King Corco had deemed the foreign mercenary the best choice to lead his military operation in the west. The foreigner was not happy with his assignment either, and had spent most of his time aboard with bragging, drinking and cursing. It didn't help that Wacoca had decided to get more involved in the operation to strengthen the alliance. Now he would be forced to deal with the braggart even more.
”Commander Dedrick, are we docked yet?” another voice came from behind. The young Paec was one of Saniya's local soldiers, as far as Wacoca had been told. Throughout the training and throughout the last war, he had stood out among his peers and was now the most highly ranked local soldier within Corco's army. At least in his case, Wacoca could understand why the talented young officer would be assigned to this special mission. Though it didn't help Paec's cause that he seemed to idolize the drunkard mercenary next to him.
”Almost there,” Dedrick said and spied down to the planks below the ship. ”I hear that the sailors have a nice tradition. They call it shore leave. Whenever they moor in a new town, they spend seven days and seven nights to sample every bar, every casino and every whorehouse in the place. I think that's a suitable way to discover new places and people, something our army should strive to learn from. Let's have a good time once we're on land again.”
His crooked grin was met with enthusiastic clapping from the young officer and with another scowl from Wacoca. Frustrated, the captain listened to more grandstanding from his cargo until the gangway was finally lowered onto the pier and he was allowed to leave the ship. Down on the pier, they were greeted by the local lord's servants.
For now, he and the two leaders of the military expedition would go together to visit Chatra Huemac, Corco's brother-in-law. The rest of their troops would stay behind for now. They needed to at least announce their arrival before they unleashed an armed horde of foreigners onto the city.
One short march through the city later, they arrived at the massive complex of the lord's manor and showed off the southern king's seal at the entrance. Although Wacoca expected to wait at least until their identities would be confirmed by someone inside, they were let through right away, much to his surprise.
*Maybe Lord Huemac has told his guards that he has been waiting for us,* Wacoca thought, but once more the unexpected happened.
Instead of the Master's mansion, they were led into one of the smaller courtyards off to the north. Even so, Wacoca expected neither a slight nor a trap from the guards who led the way. Since he had already walked these paths, he knew what sort of mansion this was: It was the home of Huemac's concubine, and Master Corco's sister, Lady Yasimi Prima Pluritac.
After a lengthy march through the halls and gardens of her private mansion, they had been brought before their host for the day. The lady awaited them standing in front of a large array of servants, maybe too excessive for their status.
”Prince Wacoca greets Lady Yasimi,” the prince said, and bowed deeply to his teacher's sister.
”Yasimi Prima Pluritac greets the Green Prince,” his host answered, with much more courtesy than a pirate could expect to receive on Chutwa's shores.
Just like he remembered, Yasimi was a tall woman, her posture and conduct impeccable and her dress elegant. However, there were many more changes than similarities that he had noted along the way.
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”Lady Pluritac, it appears your home has become far more homely since the last time we met.”
Indeed, during his last visit, Yasimi's mansion had been left bare, without any decorations. Even for the more austere senses of the Chutwa, it had appeared sparse. The empty, dim halls of stone had spoken of Huemac's neglect for his concubine, as had the few old and useless servants.
Now however, the halls were illuminated by bright lights of warm coals and wooden fires. Carpets and plants had been spread along the walls and floors and brightened the atmosphere just as much as the new servants which busied themselves throughout the halls. Now that they had said their greetings, Yasimi herself led Wacoca and the two warriors to an expensive set of ornate wooden furniture to take a seat, while said servants began to set the table with dried fruit, tea and rice wine for the guests. At the same time, Yasimi explained her change in fortune.
”As it turns out, a wife's treatment improves if she can prove valuable to her husband.” A small smile formed around her mouth, not in the least bit cynical. Rather, she seemed amused by her own joke. ”Since my brother last left Hueatlan, I have become the linchpin for the very lucrative cooperation between the southern kingdom and my husband. And once he took a closer look, my husband also realized my talents in other areas of business. I have been handling my dowry since my arrival here, and have fared quite well with my initial investments. Of course he would treat me well after all of this. His future wealth depends on it.”
”Yet now the wealth is threatened by others, isn't that right?” Dedrick tried to steer the conversation towards the goal of their journey. While he sounded serious for once, he still took the rice wine in his front and downed in one go. Though of course, the controlled Yasimi ignored the mercenary's lack of propriety and followed the flow of conversation anyways.
”That would be correct. Not too long ago, we only needed to deal with the Flowing Water Sect. They alone are not a large threat, to be honest. With just them as our opponents, we could hold out behind the city's palisades for months. With the weapons brother has sent us, we could hold for even longer, even defeat them in open combat.”