99 Dangerous Signal (1/2)

Ivan watched as his army marches home. They were now fewer and in their faces were looks of men who had been defeated.

He was defeated. When he set out from Nirvana, he had a strong army to destroy Timothy's soldiers and a valuable hostage to destroy Timothy's will.

Now his army were fewer, weaker and on the verge of mutiny. The valuable hostage was also gone, taken from his hands.

He sat on the grass and noticed that someone was behind. With a turn of his head, he confirmed that it was Braun.

The Baron went closer and bent both knees into a squat. He grimaced and grunted. ”It's hard to be old. My joints are killing me”

Ivan examined the Baron beside him. He was old, wrinkly and smells like an old man.

”Hey, tell me Braun. Is Timothy better than me?” he asked. He wanted to know the reason for his defeat.

”He is” Braun answered without hesitation. ”If he isn't, then he wouldn't have defeated you. I'm not insulting you Ivan, but this is a humiliating defeat. Hundreds died, more than a thousand defected, we lost Erik.” He paused and sighed deeply. ”And you further destroyed your father's image by spreading that rumor.”

Ivan's pride was touched by Braun's answer. He wasn't in the mood to argue with the Baron so he just shrugged it off.

”What happened Ivan?” Braun again sounded and he looked at him. ”What happened in Wismar? Those three years changed you. Why are you so close with the Wismarines?”

He snorted a single laugh to Braun's question. He had noticed the antagonistic way Braun had been looking at his turban.

”Nothing happened. I just saw the strength of the Wismarines.”

He lied. He couldn't tell Braun that the reason for his closeness with the Wismarines is a woman.

Sarah was Skall's sister and he fell for her. Even though he already had a wife, their marriage was loveless and purely political. At first, he tried to play his role as a husband and there was actually a time when truly loved his wife. But after his wife's pregnancy ended in stillbirth, they became distant.

And then that's when he met Sarah. She was kind to him and offered him solace when he was grieving for his unborn child. He didn't notice it but he fell for her. The next thing he knew, he was working for Skall.

He knew that the Wismarines were using him. He was smart enough to at least notice that. But he couldn't let go of Sarah. He had long decided that after everything was settled, he will divorce his wife and marry Sarah.

Braun chuckled. ”You saw the strength of the Wismarines? I don't think that's it Ivan. I think it's because of a woman. Rumors travel fast even if they have to cross borders.”

He flinched after hearing Braun. It seemed he can't hide things from the Baron now. ”So what if that's true? What are you going to do about it? What can you do about it?”

”Nothing” Braun answered. ”I can't do anything Ivan. I will also not bother to lecture you about the shamelessness of such disloyalty to your wife. But this really shows the difference between you and Timothy”

”What do you mean?” he asked, slightly annoyed by Braun's crassness.

”They say women are either men's greatest strength or greatest weakness. Timothy is being strengthened by the Vanadian Princess, while you are destroying yourself for love. I bet this will cause a scandal. Your wife's family is powerful and you having an affair will surely stir the public.”

”But she is…”

”Powerful? Also a Princess?” Braun put a hand on his shoulder. ”It doesn't matter who she is. Love is supposed to strengthen a person. If you are getting weaker instead, then you are doing something wrong.”

He was annoyed and he swatted Braun's hand from his shoulder. He stood up. ”Thank you for the conversation Baron, but we are still a long way from Nirvana.”

He turned away and left.

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”Erik?”

He was sleeping while sitting on the chair when a hand touching his awakened him. He opened his eyes and was overjoyed when he saw that Sylvie was finally awake.

”What happened to your face?” she asked.

Erik shook his head in confusion. He touched his face with both hands. ”My face? Why?”

She gave him her usual mischievous grin. ”Your face is not dirty, your hair is not long, your disgusting beard is no more, and your clothes” she eyed his clothes and acted like she was surprised. ”Don't' tell me you are actually decently good-looking!?”

Erik laughed. ”You have just awakened and you're making fun of me already”

”Of course. I wouldn't waste my time not making fun of you”

Sylvie then tried to push her body into a sitting position. When Erik saw her grimace from the pain, he couldn't help but click his tongue.

”Don't push yourself. Your wound is deep.” He said as he helped her sit.