Chapter 85: Not impossible
Thaedric is angry, very. He could not believe he had been checkmated like that. "To think he has something like this planned!"
"Well It was really good. He planned it well and walked you into it. He’s very good." Malak said from his place at the table where he was eating.
Thaedric groaned. And he had no choice but to accept. It’s not like he could just refuse something like that in full view of the court. He did commit to crime after all.
"So what is your next plan?" Kagerou asked, he was leaning against the wall looking sleepy.
Thaedric stopped. ’What is my next plan. I don’t have much choice but to go down there but that just means certain death. Even my other didn’t go and pull in her Overlords’
He draw a chair and sat on. "My plans. I don’t know what my next plan is. Erestor has left me unbalanced."
The Cockatrice Clan. One of the four powerful Clans that made up the four provinces Dominion of Vaidika. It didn’t originally belong to the Hydraeus Clan but they won it in a war with the Great Clan of Thorne in the northern region.
Now it is rebelling against them and wanted to return to its original Dominion. It is also the only Clan that was rebelling so openly.
"I cannot win a fight with them," the idea of fighting them was even laughable to Thaedric. "It is impossible. I have no armies."
Thaedric smiled. "Erestor is pretty good. Send me to the Cockatrice, in the hopes that they kill me and us the opportunity to rally forces around himself in the name of revenge. Hereby getting more control. More power."
Kagerou looked as if he only understood half of what Thaedric was talking about and Malak, he just shrugged.
A sharp knock on the door drew their attention and Kagerou’s sword as well. "Who is it?" He asked as he made his way towards the door that opened before he reached it and in swept the Clown and Urlk.
"You are late." Thaedric said.
The Clown stopped. "You knew I was coming?"
Thaedric shrugged. "A guess. You must have heard by now. Where the High Elder placed me."
"Yes. In a very difficult place."
"Come then. Sit with me and share your advice."
The Clown made himself comfortable while Urlk stood by his side. "I should tell you all I know about the Overlords and their provinces. Let us start with.
"The Basilisk Clan. Their province lies in the Blackstone Mountains, a rugged, unforgiving range with scarce resources. They are the least richest but strongest in terms of the raw power of their armies and the only loyal Overlord you can count on. Unfortunately, he’s locked at war with a nomadic clan that’s affiliated with the Capital. They wanted their province. It is also where our army is right now. And that’s why they can’t be moved easily."
"Also why the High Elder didn’t send me to them."
The Clown nodded. "Going where you could gain the support of the military. He don’t want that. But if you die by the Cockatrice hand then he could gain their support in an act of vengeance."
He continued. "Then we have the Gorgon Clan. They like to to play mysterious from their mist-shrouded wetland with twisting waterways but they pull a lot of strings in the shadows. Communication from them have stopped a while ago and all our messengers didn’t return. Infact, another group of messengers and some forces will be going again soon. Don’t expect anything from them.
"Lastly we have the Naga Clan. They are the most loyal to your mother till they stop and started playing neutrality. It started with the death of their heir during the rebellion war your father sparked. Your mother has tried several times to reach out but the responses were always cold."
Thaedric sighed. An headache was building and he welcomed it, maybe it would distract him from what he knew was an hopeless death for him in the future.
If Cockatrice Clan doesn’t kill him then he is very sure they’ll hand him over to other Great Clans as leverage for themselves. "Tell me, Clown. Can I win a fight with the Cockatrice. No, the question is, can I bring them back to my mother."
He cleared his throat. "It depends. My Lord. It’s not impossible."
"You don’t sound so sure about that."
"The Cockatrice will not stop their rebellion unless you show them strength and you have no armies."
"I could get the support of them other Overlords. Just one of them would be enough. And that mean I’ll bring back two Overlords."
"Which Overlords will follow you? You don’t have much of a high reputation I’m afraid. Bandits and fallen are preying on your people outside the capital. There is no constant patrols to keep them in check. Every towns and cities that falls outside the provinces are directly under the the capital here."
Thaedric sighed. Things are even more worse than he thought. He must do something before everything turns upside down. He racked his memory for any and it came to him. "Wait. Am I not a lord of a town? I seems to remember something like that."
"Yes my Lord. You are the Lord of Falstor. It’s a big town some days from here. And rather rich from the metals they mine. It’s a gift from your father."
"Ah, father." If Thaedric could remember he had written a letter to that town to manage their affairs themselves and not to bother him. What a fool Thaedric.
"Can I raise an army from there."
The Clown shook his head. "It’s something but we are talking about provinces here my Lord. At best they’ll see you as nothing more than a boy playing at war games."
"That’s what I want to hear, ’it’s something’ something small can turn into something big. Now, tell me everything you know about the Overlords. All of them. Everything you ever learned about them."
Thaedric looked at his companion and smiled. "Why don’t you sit? Be like Malak and stuff your mouth. It’s going to take a while."
