Ash-colored Despair (19)
Lucas grinned with obvious disdain.
— Since when did Eastern people start caring about the world?
“It’s time to start,” Tyrone answered calmly. A warning flashed across his face. The horseman with narrow eyes, as if piercing Lucas with his gaze, continued seriously:
— While his lordship was in his hospital bed, the unity of the East weakened noticeably. But the zrams are constantly increasing their strength. If they decide on a war of conquest, the East will instantly turn into burning ashes. Now is not the time to quarrel over trifles.
Lucas wiped the smile from his lips.
- You're exaggerating too much. Zrams, of course, are a problem, but we have the most powerful cavalry army in the empire. Whatever power these renegades have accumulated, we are not afraid of them.
“But even this mounted army is just a rabble without a strong leader,” Tyrone sighed with annoyance. — While the Grand Duke was out of work, the local feudal lords of the East increased their power. Their warriors swore allegiance not to the house of Siekan, but to their rulers. If they suddenly united and rebelled, the East would fall apart in an instant.
Lucas frowned. He had known before that some of the vassals were acting suspiciously, but he had never considered the situation as serious as Tyrone described.
“If the vassals commit treachery, the palace will not remain aloof.” The House of Siekan is a vassal of the Emperor. A revolt against the ducal house is a revolt against the entire empire.
“You don’t understand me,” Tyrone tutted sharply. “We need to prevent a rebellion before it starts.” If it comes to the palace's intervention, the East will already be in chaos. We must first restore order.
Lucas couldn't find anything to object to and fell silent. Tyrone, looking at him sternly, said:
“The accession of a new duke will be a reason to unite the East again.” You, as a member of the Siekan house, must contribute to this.
“So you want me to just obediently submit to the will of my older brother,” Lucas muttered.
“Since you were born the second son, you have no choice,” Tyrone answered with causticity.
Lucas looked at him intently, then perked up and sharply drove away the annoying adviser. He was only fifteen, and he did not want to bother himself now with the complex politics of the East and the responsibilities of his second son.
Defiantly, he spurred his horse.
A little time passed, and under the sun setting to the west, a vast grassland plain stretched out before him.
Stopping at the top of the hill, Lucas looked at the hundreds of horses grazing peacefully, then turned his horse towards the large camp nearby.
Approaching a huge tent, he saw a strong man in a bright cloak run out of it to meet him:
- Welcome! We were looking forward to your arrival!
It was one of the vassals of the Siekan house, well known to Lucas. Jumping off his horse, Lucas rushed towards him.
- Kun Badera! Long time no see.
- A long time ago, my master Lucas. You have grown up.
- And you've gotten fat.
The man laughed loudly and ruffled his hair playfully.
- Still the same sharp tongue.
With a mustachioed face and a calm smile, he looked around:
-Where are the others?
“They’ll come soon,” Lucas replied casually, pointing to the hill. - Too much pressure, so I galloped ahead.
As soon as he finished, hundreds of horsemen appeared on the crest of the hill.
Kun Badera immediately ordered the servants to prepare for the reception of guests. Lucas, doing his duty, headed towards the hill.
Soon Longboat emerged from the carriage in front of the meeting place.
When Lucas was about to approach, he suddenly stopped: Longboat had the second princess in his arms.
The longboat, supporting the limply hanging girl with one hand, slowly looked around.
-Where should we stay? he asked.
Kun Badera, who had been looking at the two of them in shock all this time, jumped up and ran closer with a bow.
- I-I see you for the first time, Your Excellency. I am Kun Badera, responsible for your lordship's horses.
The man, clearly nervous and stuttering, quickly turned around and added:
- P-please follow me. I will take you to a tent where you can rest.
The longboat, pressing the woman's helplessly bowed head to his shoulder, silently moved behind him.
After a short hesitation, Lucas also followed.
Kun Badera led them to the very center of the camp - to where there was a huge tent. The cone-shaped tent, covered with several layers of tarpaulin and impregnated with resin, was furnished inside with an expensive bed and luxurious furniture.
Having looked at everything attentively, Barkas laid the woman on the wide bed. After that, he turned to Lucas and abruptly ordered:
- Bring one of the servants. Among Her Highness's ladies-in-waiting there should be a quarter-dwarf.
“...I thought it was my duty to serve you, brother,” Lucas countered hesitantly.
Longboat, lowering the curtains of the bed, grinned with a hint of irritation.
- And what? Wasn't it I who gave you the order?
“But you entrusted me with a job that should be done by servants!” My job is to take care of your horses, your weapons...
“Your task is to unquestioningly carry out my orders.”
The longboat took a sharp step forward, so that Lucas involuntarily backed away. He grabbed him by the shoulder and, as if to calm him down, smoothed his tousled hair.
“Lucas, you must learn to obey me.” This is something you should have been taught from the day you first sat in the saddle.
Lucas froze like a mouse in front of a snake. Longboat, piercing him with a cold gaze, slowly continued:
“If you dare to contradict, you will get what you deserve.” Do you understand me?
Swallowing dryly, Lucas nodded slightly. Longboat nodded his chin in response:
“Then go and get her.”
Lucas immediately jumped out of the tent. It seems that this trip really did not foretell anything pleasant. He ruffled his hair angrily and reluctantly walked away.
* * *
The pain in my knees rose to my hips. Tossing and turning on the thick mattress, Thalia raised her heavy eyelids with difficulty.
An alien ceiling caught my eye, swaying in the unsteady light of the lamp.
Blinking several times, she slowly stood up. She immediately realized with horror that she was wearing only a thin linen shirt.
Convulsively feeling her legs, she felt the morning bandages - which means that her outer clothing was removed, but they did not go further. A weak sigh of relief escaped his lips and immediately died down when the splash of water was heard very close by.
Turning her head sharply, Thalia froze when she saw Longboat. He stood with his back to her, naked to the waist, and washed himself.
Thalia turned her gaze to her palms, which were taking up water and rubbing them over her neck. Fascinated by the stream that slowly flowed down the sculpted muscles, she barely squeezed out a hoarse cry.
- W-what are you doing?!
Longboat, wiping his face, turned to her. His wet, pale body filled her entire field of vision, and her heart sank.
She grabbed the blanket and screamed:
- Why are you... Why are you naked, pervert?!
Longboat looked down at her and sighed heavily:
— It’s inconvenient to wash in clothes.
- But why here?! — she began to squeal, but then froze.
Longboat leaned over sharply, pressed one hand over her mouth and muffledly ordered:
- Quiet.