Kismet’s Tale

      The room they were in had this earthly smell to it. The ceiling fan that was in the center of the room blew the top of their heads. Caston, after making a fuss, had someone deliver coffee and snacks. Natalya started to partake on the snacks.

“There isn’t much to say.”

“I was asking, but everything seems fine. The checkpoints are still up, I see.”

“There can never be too much security. That reminds me,” Caston looked at the side. “Does she know?”

“She knows.”

Caston exhaled in relief.

“Young master, that weapon, did it kill the demifiend nest?”

“It should have.”

“I see.”

Caston didn’t say much. His face grew heavy. There was a sense of relief and a look that made him wary. Natalya casts a brief look at the two, then turns away. She continued sitting silently, not minding the sudden changes in their expression.

“They should have been dead. What about the other lords? What do they think?”

“I had discussions with them when it happened. A bright light that seems to be a hammer made of the sun. It came from a distance, but we felt the winds of such destruction. Multiple times we felt like a titan had stomped its feet on the ground. I came to realize that the message sent to us meant this.”

“I made sure that everyone would know. The citizens didn’t make a fuss?”

“Oh, they feared it, but the Patriarch had already announced that this was nothing more than a demonstration of the capability of the Empire. The attacks of the nest of demifiends, and the constant news we gave them had softened the blow of this weapon in the minds of the people.”

“It should end the threat of the demifiends towards us.”

“I hope it will. There are monsters in the mountains, evading our hunters, though there aren’t any in the open fields. I used to recall days where we had to hire the strongest arms to take down a demifiend that is trying to ransack our caravan trains.  Now we barely need such things now that we have our trains and those flying things.”

“Did they employ the airship service?”

Caston took a snack. He bit on it while looking upwards. He followed with a sip of his coffee. Mavin watched him put his cup down and wiped his hand on the cloth on his thigh.

“Only when it is needed. When there are important parcels that need to be delivered, I had our lads take turns. The winds are rather volatile and one of the Holmian folks had given this pack that is worn on the back, which can be deployed to soften their landing if the balloon ever fails.”

“The balloon? I was expecting them to use the airships by now.”

“Ah, you are talking about those ones powered by that strange crystal? Only the Patriarch, Sir Gran and Viscount Logain are allowed to use machines.”

“Border Commander Logain, where is he right now?”

“Sidam.”

“That’s a hundred miles from Kolma. How come he’s there?”

Caston stood up. He took something from his desk, placed it on the table. Mavin took a piece of paper. He turned it and read the contents on it. Natalya took a glance at the document, and then leaned back. Caston waited for Mavin to finish reading the document.

“He’s…extending our borders?”

“Technically, he is legally occupying them.”

“And Dinia is letting us get away with it?”

“Why not?” Caston snorted. “You should have been in Dinia. Young Master. They have been rather slow when it comes to recovering their towns, cities, and even their livelihood. Just three months ago they bought seventy-two thousand cement bags, 50 kg each, and ten tons of lumber.”

Natalya whistled. Mavin grabbed onto his chin with a hand.

“That’s a lot for a community that is trying to recover. I’m surprised that they even have money to spend.”

“Of course it is surprising, not to mention that the transport causes almost put them to poverty again. As much as I like to take pity on them, but they were our former enemies, we cannot be too merciful or they might think that we are pushovers.”

“Let me guess,” Mavin placed the paper on the table. “Sister-in-law provided the young and the abled with food and work?”

Caston wearily smiled. “Indeed, and now those who have been fed and given the opportunity to earn are the biggest supporters. Where was the government of Dinia when they were starving? Who gave them food? Who gave them shelter in the storm? It was us who had the money and the kindnesses.”

“How much land are we going to get?”

“290 miles worth of land.”

“The towns that are joining, which ones?”

“Sidam, Cnieala, Mypetriassa, and Manti are going to join Lazon.”

“Logain screening them? Making sure that no snakes are entering our land?”

“Yes, he is quite thorough about it.”

“I know that he’s securing land, but this is quite something.”

“He is increasing in popularity. But the people love Logain for his valiant efforts, and with the support of our Patriarch. He is taking it far to reap more benefits.”

“Looks like things are busy on his end. What about Gran? Is he taking care of the south?”

“Ah, Alric? Jorvi is the most prosperous of our towns and cities. The difference between the north and the south has been increasing as time passes. He is doing fine.”

“I heard that it’s looking more like Holmia these days.”

Caston nodded. “Five floored buildings made of concrete, and steel beams. The roads are mostly asphalt and fields of wheat are as far as one could see. There is a mining boom and many of our ambitious young ones are leaving to the South to find employment. It is strange that you would find so few these days who do not want to go to the south to join the mining boom. I have visitors from that shithole we call the Imperial Capital, and they are rather surprised about our prosperity.”

“And prosperity brings malice,” Mavin couldn’t help but say.

“Aiya, sadly, but that is why we keep our soldiers vigilant. Young master, do you think that they would even dare?”

Mavin shook his head. “No, they wouldn’t at the moment. They are too busy with their transcontinental railway.”

“I heard that. Will Lazon be included in that?”

“We should be, Old Fred had made sure that the trains that would cross the continents would also end up in Lazon. Old Fred is probably thinking of placing a station in Tolea, Negrela, and Medillo.”

“I understand. Hmm, Medillo huh.”

“Yes, the port should be in construction there in Hueranos.”

“Ah, I heard that it had been reformed to accommodate ships straight from the Empire. The cove there had been carved to accommodate those cargo ships coming from the east. No wonder the Mayor of Parninhena wanted to collaborate in paving the roads there.”

“Will you accept?”

“Hmm, I would need to revisit our budget for the year. He already has Negrela and Medillo and is waiting for me to join this council.”

“Well, if it does happen then this part of the Region will be quite bustling as well.”

Caston laughed out loud. “Hah! Many of our regions are bustling! It seems that our efforts in resisting the monsters in the south have finally bore fruit. Our Ancestors had always foretold it! We are merely reaping the fruits of our harvest! But why are we speaking such boorish things, eh? You look tired, young master.”

“The Capital…it hasn’t changed.”

“Ah, truly, no, I refuse to hear more about the Imperial Capital.”

“Let us not then.”

Mavin continued his chat with Caston until his secretary called for him. Before Caston left, Mavin had asked Caston for a message to his family in Alarava, the Capital of Greater Lazon, that he was coming home. Caston cheerfully agreed, and told his secretary to send the message.

Alone in the office, Mavin walked to the balcony and sat on the benches. Natalya followed, taking a seat, and leaned the side of her head on his shoulder.

“You’ve been silent.”

“I have nothing to talk about.”

“Your visions, do you think you can use them to have insights on what will happen?”

“Hmm, that would be hard. Lazon is rather passive, and neutral on the affairs of the continent. Even when the Demikins started to march, this place remained neutral, and only threatened to bring the wrath of God when threatened by the nobles of the Empire. Perhaps my insights can be used to navigate this region’s sphere of influence, but your people…they are rather reclusive and they do not think much of the outside world unless it benefits them.”

“Or do you not want to offer anything?”

“Maybe. Right now, I just want to be the obedient wife who has been forced into marriage by the Emperor and is married to the young master and heir of the Strongarm Clan! My poor hips shall not last long, the poorest of me.”

“Oh please, it’s not like you don’t enjoy it.”

“I might need to have spare left arms with all the pulling.”

“You really don’t want to talk about those visions huh.”

“I had shamed myself in Tolea and cried like a fool in front of you. Mavin Tomas, I rather not let you think that I am acting like that because I want your pity. That you’d start to care because you saw a broken woman crying in front of you. I do not like that. I can’t help it, but I rather avoid the pain of said visions if I can. I assure you however, that none of the visions will be helpful. At least, without the Nullers or the Magi around. And I doubt Lazon’s Hounds would let them be. Or do you intend to join such a path after coming out of the Capital?”

“No, of course not,” Mavin said. “If I had intended to do that, then I would have not returned so early. There are problems that still need caring in the Imperial Capital, and I’m sure that sooner or later the Emperor will proclaim who the New Emperor, and the New Empress will be in the coming months.”

“Do you think that the Crown Prince will choose wisely?”

“I hope he does. Both are wonderful in their own way. I’m not worried about the bastard, but a new ruler comes with a new problem. Crown Prince Arno. He is a man of morals, and there will be changes if he takes the throne.”

“Is that so? I think the man is a buffoon.”

“That’s harsh.”

Natalya looked away. “So, after this, are we heading straight to Alarava?”

“Not yet, I need to visit Timon Denzel’s daughter to see if she’s doing well.”

“Let’s get going then. I want to spend time near the edges of the headland before we take another damn train.”

“It should take ten hours before we get Jarvisanie, then another hour to the Capital.”

“You should buy me a thicker coat. I heard the Steppe is colder this season, no?”

“I should, hmm, my place in Karbid is rather cold. The manor there should be close to Vilpula Lake.”

“Do you own the lake?”

“Cousin wanted me to have land, so he forced me to have farmland there.”

“You said you only have a cabin.”

“I have a cabin next to the lake. My good friend Warren Vieth and his wife Ada Vieth is in-charge of my fief. Besides, I don’t think Cousin will allow us to live in Karbid for a while. It’s been years you know? He’d insist, and his place in the Capital is rather large so he’d welcome us there.”

Natalya nodded. The two later on left the people’s palace much to Caston’s disappointment. They then visited the hospital in Sahus, and checked on Ava Denzel who was rather busy teaching the orphans in her spare time. After speaking to her for a bit, and asking her to deliver a message to her father. Mavin left the hospital, went to the edges of the headland for a bit of sightseeing, then took their luggage from the people’s palace, and took the next train heading to the Capital of Greater Lazon.

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