619 Ducks In A Row
“We’ll done, my King,” Draco commented as he stared at Lawrence.
Benzo began to encircle him as he spoke; “Why does he look so stiff, though? Hey! Faux King! Wanna go slap your wife around with me?”
“He can’t react to you, Benzo,” Marco explained with his usual placid expression; “He can barely hear you. I’ve designed his mark to purposely do that.”
“Why? Won’t that make anyone who interacts with him suspicious?”
“He’ll be fine. He’s more or less programmed to respond as basically as possible. He’s not ‘Law’ any longer, but he’ll be enough to convince the people that Ruscovic supports me. But without that pesky personality of his.”
Doctor Stein shooed Benzo away as he looked over Lawrence, then told his King that there had been no permanent damage caused by his torturing. Benzo taunted him several times, but all Lawrence did was stare off into space. They all found it amusing, except for Sheri.
She had been standing off to the side with a disapproving look covering her face. No one but Marco had noticed, until Benzo started to talk about using the Ruscovic King as target practice. Sheri snapped at him, telling him to not forget that Lawrence was still a King, and that Benzo should watch what he says.
They started to argue, but Marco interrupted; “Does seeing my brother being actively mistreated distress you, Sheri? And if so, why?”
Sheri sighed loudly; “It does, Your Highness. What if a servant overhears them? Or sees them mistreating our ally’s king? Won’t that raise questions? Ones that would be difficult to answer?”
.....
Marco grinned at her; “You make very valid points, Sheri. Benzo, don’t toy with my brother anymore. At least not until we start phase three.. Then, you can play with him and Shasta all you want. Anyone that I feel betrays me..”
Sheri averted her gaze as Marco turned to Draco, and donned a sinister smile; “Speaking of play things: how is my beloved wife doing?”
Draco grinned and bowed to his king; “She begs me for death daily, Your Highness.. Thank you again, for your most gracious reward. Although I must admit, I don’t believe she is sound enough to see her brother for your coronation any longer.”
The darkness in Draco’s smile made Sheri shiver as she watched and listened to their exchange; “That won’t matter. I wasn’t planning on taking your toy away, so don’t worry about keeping her presentable. I’ll just tell Victor that his sister is visiting our children. Speaking of, did you find them?”
“Aye, My King. I made it quick, as you instructed.”
Marco nodded; “Good. I don’t want anyone to challenge my new children’s rule..”
Before Sheri could ask what ‘new’ children he was referring to, Marco turned to Norvis; “Have you finished cutting down all of the forests outside of the capital?”
Norvis grinned; “Aye, my King! The only bit I left was the chunk right around our walls. No one will be able ta grow anythin’ fer decades to come. Not unless you want them to.”
Marco grinned as he nodded; “Good. Making the people dependent on us for food is only a tiny part of my plan, but crucial to it. If we control all of the food and water, then the people will have to support me: if they want their families to survive.. We can’t have any rebels that pop up capable of feeding an army, now, can we?”
“No Sir!” Norvis yelled enthusiastically; “That black stuff from the soldiers we mixed in will Definitely stop that. Even if anyone tries to fight back, they’ll starve before they can!”
“What about the Highlanders?” Sheri asked.
Everyone in the room looked at her, but Sheri didn’t flinch. It was the subject that they all danced around because it was the only part of Marco’s plan that hadn’t gone how he’d wanted. The spies were supposed to kill Tidas, but failed. Or at least kill the Highlander King so the Council members he’d bought off could take power, but none of it had worked out.
The ones he’d paid off were either killed, or had turned against him once Skye and Tidas had shown up. Marco didn’t seem too put-off by it, but the delay in his complete control of Alcon did force him to alter his plans slightly..
Marco turned to Doctor Stein; “Were you able to assess the situation in Dragonhorn?”
The doctor grinned; “Oh aye, My King! The bones are mostly intact, and will do nicely for my project. Although, I still think it’s unnecessary.”
“How so?” his King asked.
“The amount of soldiers we could make from the Ether and Dark magic you’ve provided me is quite substantial. I believe my efforts would be better suited to expanding your army, rather than make one single-”
“I’ve already explained to you why it’s necessary,” Marco cut in; “Dragons aren’t easy to deal with, especially That one. Once she learns what she is, we’ll need something of equal size and force to deal with her.”
Marco leaned forward on his throne; “There’s a reason I tried to kill her before she grew too big, but my future wife ruined it. So now, we must improvise. Do you understand, my good doctor? This is required.”
Stein nodded enthusiastically; “Oh aye! Aye, My King! I’ll get started as soon as the other bones are delivered.”
Marco grinned; “Good. I know you will not disappoint me, Doctor..”
He turned to face Sheri; “Does that answer your question?”
“Not really, but I can add two plus two. Is that the same solution for Sai?”
Marco smirked; “Only if they’re stupid enough to turn me down.. I feel as though Sai will have a similar outcome to the Highlands, but it doesn’t matter.. None of their struggles against me will matter I will control their ports. Otherwise, our friend in the Fire Nation won’t have anywhere to dock.”
Sheri didn’t speak as her mind raced.. ‘The Fire Nation? Why are they getting involved? It must be that prince..’
“Has Tokuga sent word yet?” Draco asked out loud, interrupting Sheri’s train of thought.
Marco scoffed; “That man is a fool. Like he could Ever manipulate Skye? He has no respect for my future Queen.. I don’t care what happens to him-make sure Ahriman knows that. Tell him the only thing that matters is that the Gift is Received.”
“What does that mean?” Sheri asked, knowing that his words were a reference to the Catalyst legend.
Marco’s smirk grew; “You’ll see. All you need to know is that by the time Skye returns: she’ll have another power under her belt.”
“How can you be so sure?”
Marco lost his joviality; “Why are you questioning me?”
Sheri shrugged; “Just curious, is all. You’re the one that insists that I keep a bond with her, so don’t I kinda need to know these things?”
Marco narrowed; “Technically, you shouldn’t know anything about their time in Sai, but it doesn’t matter. I’ve explained the legend to you before. I’m sure that if you used that pretty little head of yours, you’d realize how.”
Sheri felt her cheeks grow warm as Benzo and Norvis gave her sideways looks. They knew that their King occasionally joined her at night, and that it wasn’t something that she was comfortable talking about. After a few exchanged glares, Sheri quit speaking, and just listened.
“Good girl,” Marco commented when he saw her shrink back, then clapped his hands; “Now! Onto the topic of my announcement..”
Norvis stepped forward; “I’ve already reprogrammed the monitors used fer the Mage Trials broadcasts. The camera we’ll use will shoot the feed back ta the relays, and the signal will be sent out everywhere!”
Marco sat silently for a moment before a wide grin stretched across his face; “How far can the signal reach?”
Norvis puffed up his chest; “All the way ta the Highlands, My King! I could go even further! All the way ta Ruscovic, if ya want!”
The darkened smile on Marco’s face grew; “No, no. Just to the Highlands will do.. We might be able to illicit a reaction out of them, if they see the broadcast.”
“Yeah! Right into a war!” Benzo happily yelled.
Marco shifted in his seat; “War? Probably not, but a decisive battle, most certainly. The only worry I have is that weapon Tidas had told our Father about. I need to know it’s destructive capabilities before I can make a sound decision. Has there been word from the detachment you sent after the Dragonhorn survivors yet?”
Doctor Stein shook his head; “We lost contact with them. One is making it’s way back now. Once it gets here, I’ll be able to find out.”
“Good,” Marco replied; “I want to know what countermeasures they used to take out one-thousand undead soldiers in such a short time. That could be problematic if Tidas manages to survive his trial.”
“Did we get everything you needed from Moonshire?” Norvis asked nervously.
Marco grinned at him; “Aye, Norvis, you two did well. All of you have done very well so far. Enough so that you’ve all earned a reward! What would you like?”
Draco grinned as he bowed; “Thank you, My King, but I have my reward already. But a personal Shaman to heal her as I please would be appreciated.”
Marco let one of his rare laughs out before he replied; “I can definitely accommodate that, Draco. Granted! What else? Norvis? What would you like?”
“I simply wish to be at your side for your announcement, My King. That is reward enough for me.”
“Suck-up,” Benzo muttered, inciting a glared from Norvis.
Marco had heard him, and clicked his tongue at him; “Now, now, Benzo. Be kind to your brother in arms. Or did he steal your request?”
Benzo dropped to his knee and bowed his head; “No, My King. I believe you already ken what I want.”
Marco smirked; “And you shall have it. Although, since it’s such a large announcement, it will have to wait until my coronation. Is that acceptable to you?”
Benzo grinned broadly as he looked up to his King; “Aye sir! That’ll do just fine by me!”
Marco’s smirk grew; “I’ll tell you what: since you’re being such a good sport about waiting, I’ll make Zas give you the metal and sash. He’s the Third Pillar, after all. It’s only right that he be the one to pass the reins of the RMC to you himself.”
Benzo puffed up his chest as he was all but guaranteed the Commander of the RMC position. Sheri lightly shook her head, feeling sympathy for the soldiers that would experience going from a commander like Tidas, to Benzo. She wasn’t paying attention when Marco called out to her, until she felt the back of her neck burning.
When she snapped her head up, Marco had his eyes narrowed on her. She swallowed hard, but other than that, she looked unnerved. As they stared at each other, Sheri could feel the effects from her mark fade as her king asked what she wanted.
Not sure of what to say, she requested leave time; to be used whenever she wished. When Marco quirked an eye at her, Sheri figured that being as honest as possible was for the best..
“Look, I need a break from you guys every once in a while-”
“What? Why? We’re fuckin’ delightful!” Benzo cut in with a snarky expression.
Sheri glared at him before pointing at each one in turn; “You! Are nothing but a narcissistic asshole! Norvis is a whiny spaz! Draco, despite Looking normal, is Eerily sadistic, and don’t even get me started on how fucking gross Stein CONSTANTLY smells!”
Sheri turned back to her King; “All I need is time to myself, When I need it. This job isn’t exactly easy.”
Marco studied her for a few moments before he smiled wide; “Alright, Sheri. I grant you an open-ended leave time. It will last for forty-eight hours, and you will be left alone for those two days. I won’t even have a Tamer assigned to you. How’s that?”
Sheri nodded; “Thank you, my King-”
“Just remember,” Marco added with a threatening look in his eyes; “I can Always find you through my mark..”
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