81 Letters From a Friend (2/2)
”If you can get House Demidov, that's already a benefit.” Etenani grinned. ”Tuchev is already aligned with the Princess and now you should be able to gain the support of Suzdal.”
Nikolai raised his hand and stopped his Master. ”Let's not bet on that yet. Any instability in the Duchies would affect Arkhangelsk first. The Grand Duke isn't someone who's easily swayed by family and he has more than one daughter after all.”
”Possibly.” Etenani acknowledged. ”But we have some inroads at least.”
Now Nikolai was suspicious. His Master wouldn't push for something this much without some backing ”You're far too confident Master. What haven't you told me?”
”Took you long enough to realise boy.” Etenani chuckled and pulled his chair closer to the table. ”Wulfgar introduced me to some of his… allies while I was up in the Duchies.” He took a sip from his goblet and grinned. ”You know boy, all this hinting and shaded speech doesn't suit me.”
”I know Master.” Nikolai said patiently, pandering to the expectation in his Master's eyes. ”I'm sure the Princess's advisors will be pleased with your training, but I think we're done with playing games.”
”Right.” He burped and slammed the goblet onto the table, ignoring the splashes of alcohol falling onto his sleeve. ”Three of the Ellaran Dukes want to secede.”
Nikolai cursed under his breath. ”Which ones? No that doesn't matter. They're not just seceding though right? That wouldn't be enough for the Princess.”
”All the Dukes along the border want to leave boy. And of course they want to join the Empire.”
”Terms?”
”Provincial Autonomy, cultural independence and the right to install their own Governors. Oh. The Princess demanded they integrate their military structure with ours or something. There was talk about 'equal opportunity enlistment' as well.”
”This is amazing.” Nikolai breathed. ”No it's more than that. Why would any of the Illyri subordinate themselves? Let alone the Dukes?”
Etenani hesitated, swirling the goblet along the table, the silver scratching faintly into the plain wood. Most of the Suzdal Manor was filled with plain furnishings. A severe departure from the lavishness of the capital. ”I can't be sure of the truth, but your boy Wulfgar hinted there's pressure from at least one of the Sages.”
”No wonder Valentina's pushing.” Nikolai remarked. ”You know this just might be possible. It would be a coup if another race joined the Empire. The Avarians would have to lie low for a while once we had ourselves, the humans and the Illyri representing us at the Concord.”
”The chance to stick it to the Crusaders did not go unnoticed.” Etenani said lightly, gesturing for him to continue.
”So who are our opponents?”
Etenani pulled out a small notebook. As expected, he wasn't interested in the details and someone from House Etenani or one of the Princess's advisors would have written down the pertinent information for him to recite. ”The Second Prince has put forth Sagert while the First Princess is leaning towards Marshal Bannosk. Oh!? The Mad Prince is going after Senro and is vehement in his support of Korozhev Orlov…”
Nikolai listened carefully, jotting down notes and trying to recall the names and alliances they represented. He'd never taken a deep interest in Imperial politics and would have stayed away from it all if the Son of Heaven hadn't named him an Advisor.
[Why does it feel like this is the first time he's reading this? I don't think I've ever heard Master say 'vehement'. I need to find more information on the Tribune's election which means dealing with the Imperial bureaucracy, or… Elya did mention she has full access to the Suzdal library as a Scholar. So, I could get her to help me find the details I need.]
A small smile came to his lips as he planned a date in the Suzdal's library, spinning the pen in his hands while his Master's recitation continued.