泡芙影院

Chapter 76

A cold tension hovered across the table. The warriors eyed each other cautiously, making no rash movements.

Clunk.

The knights approached their masters with their shields and swords in their hands in preparation as if a battle was only moments away from breaking out.

\'This is tough,\' Urich thought to himself, shaking his head with a smile as sweat dripped from his chin. There were more than twenty soldiers behind the dukes, not just any soldiers, but knights. That was only the number of knights he could see right now, and there could have been many more hidden away.

\'If Lungell and Harmatti join forces to attack, it would be overwhelming just to protect Pahell. Keeping my life would be difficult.\'

Urich\'s arm muscles tensed, ready for action.

\'How many can I take with me?\'

Urich wanted to do everything in his power to help Pahell fulfill his dream.

\'It\'s not about some grand reason. He is simply my friend.\'

He had witnessed Pahell\'s struggles from the front row. Urich didn\'t understand him; Urich never had to push forward as he lamented his weaknesses like Pahell. Urich was always strong, so he was able to break through any obstacles that stood in the way of him getting what he wanted.

\'Pahell is weak. He can\'t do anything without someone else protecting him.\'

But Pahell kept moving forward despite falling and crying. That too was a form of strength.

"Pahell, I\'ll make you king. Even if it means killing everyone here."

Urich whispered as he puffed his chest, readying himself for battle. He was fully intending to drench the banquet hall in blood with his axe and sword. He envisioned the scene: intestines hanging on the table in place of the food, severed heads rolling around the banquet hall, himself drenched in blood, fierce eyes glaring. A beast lurked behind Urich.

Clap!

Someone broke Urich\'s concentration with a clap.

"Stop it. What is this?" Duke Lungell clapped his hands, signaling the knights to back off. He had a cunning smile on his face.

"Duke Lungell. Make your intentions clear," Duke Harmatti demanded with a clear frown on his face.

"Duke Harmatti. I swore not to harm the prince and his party within my territory. There will be no fighting tonight."

"You\'ve chosen the wrong side, Duke Lungell. This night could have ended the civil war."

Duke Harmatti also signaled his knights to back off. The thick tension melted away.

Duke Harmatti claiming the throne without any waste of his power? That is simply terrifying, no way!\' Duke Lungell thought, sipping his wine. He believed it was better to wear out both parties, regardless of who ultimately became king.

\'Even if Duke Harmatti wins, it will take at least a decade to recover from the aftermath of the war. That’s more than enough time for me to grow stronger.\'

Wars cost a fortune. It was not uncommon for nobles to go bankrupt after wars. Duke Harmatti was no exception, as he was already spending lavishly.

\'Even if Pahell wins, he won\'t be able to exercise power immediately. He’s going to have to build everything from scratch, and if I offer to help as a chancellor, he couldn’t possibly turn me down.\'

Duke Lungell made up his mind.

"Prince Varca, Duke Harmatti," he looked at the two men.

"Duke Lungell\'s duchy declares neutrality in this civil war. And, we will also protect all nobles who wish to do the same," Duke Lungell said as he spread his arms.

"Duke Lungell!" Duke Harmatti stood up abruptly, slamming the table. Duke Lungell coolly looked at him.

"Do you want me to pick a side instead?" Duke Lungell raised his glass toward Pahell.

\'Is he saying he\'ll join the prince if I threaten him?\'

Duke Harmatti thought angrily, suppressing his boiling emotions that were on the verge of exploding.

"Haha, do as you wish, Duke Lungell. If neutrality is truly what you want, then I can\'t force you to take sides."

Duke Harmatti laughed as if he was never angry in the first place. He also raised his glass, accepting Duke Lungell\'s neutrality.

\'Cunning, Duke Lungell, to declare neutrality here.\'

Duke Harmatti glared at him, wanting to tear apart his smug smile. He wanted to hang his disgusting head on the castle gate with his long intestines laced like a decoration. Just the thought of it brought a bit of ecstasy.

\'There is no need to get on Duke Lungell’s bad side and turn him into an enemy. After winning the civil war against the prince\'s army, I\'ll need his cooperation. Without him, I can\'t control the kingdom.\'

Duke Harmatti was a politician as well. He knew how to ally with distasteful partners. He laughed, accepting the neutrality.

"Prince Varca, do you accept my neutrality?" Duke Lungell asked Pahell.

"I have no choice but to accept," Pahell nodded obediently.

"I thought we were going to have a showdown. This is how it ends?” Urich grumbled, sheathing his weapons.

The heat of the imminent battle had faded. There was no fight. Force was always a last resort, but without it, there was no negotiation power to sit at the same table. It was clear that Urich\'s presence had influenced the negotiation, compensating for Pahell\'s lack of brute presence.

\'That barbarian is not to be taken lightly. I might have been the one losing his head.\'

Both dukes shared the same thought as they imagined the prince’s barbarian beheading them with his axe.

"There shall be no violence tonight. Instead, let\'s toast to the bright future of Porcana," Duke Lungell proposed a toast. The other two men raised their glasses.

The negotiation ended. Duke Lungell used his position to declare neutrality, planning to use the weakened post-war royal authority to his advantage. He intended to gather the neutral nobles and build his own force during the civil war. No matter who wins, they would need to rely on Duke Lungell, who would maintain his power and influence without suffering a loss like the two parties of the royal dispute would.

Both Duke Harmatti and Pahell accepted Duke Lungell’s neutrality knowing exactly what his intentions were. Making him an enemy would lead to defeat in the civil war.

‘He managed to turn himself into a third force in this dispute just like that, on the spot.\'

Pahell observed the experienced politicians. He was frightened. These men were the people that he would have to deal with for the rest of his life if he became king.

* * *

Pahell\'s party quickly crossed the duke\'s territory with their horses moving at a fast trot. Anxiety and discontent were evident on the mercenaries\' faces.

"What\'s going on? We have the Empire\'s support, yet those nobles acted so arrogantly?" Bachman spoke up, baffled by what had transpired in Lungell\'s castle.

\'We nearly died back there. We were completely surrounded with no escape.\'

Had the negotiation failed, they would have been annihilated. Bachman spoke with evident anger.

"Nothing comes easily in this world, Bachman," Urich laughed on the back of Kylios. Pahell was on a different horse since he was good with any horse which wasn’t the case with Urich. No other horses other than Kylios were willing to let him on their back.

"How can they be so brazen when the prince has the empire’s support on his back?" Bachman and the other mercenaries thought. They were unaware of the conditions set by the emperor and just as ignorant about complex political dynamics as Urich.

"Damn, we’re being chased, right? My butt\'s killing me." Bachman shifted uncomfortably. They were rapidly ascending a mountain trail, exhausting both the horses and themselves.

"Perhaps."

Urich looked at Pahell, who then explained to the mercenaries.

"Duke Harmatti wants to end the civil war as quickly as possible and capturing me would do just that. He’s not going to miss this chance."

"But Duke Lungell sided with us. He let us secretly escape the castle."

Pahell\'s group had exited through the castle\'s back door, riding from midnight till dawn. Dawn was breaking in the distance.

"That’s only because me getting caught and the civil war ending early would only inconvenience himself. Duke Lungell wants the civil war to drag on, because if it does, no matter who becomes king, the royal power will be weakened."

"Ha, such a great noble," Urich chuckled. He had seen everyone\'s desires clearly—Duke Harmatti, Duke Lungell, Pahell—they were all competing to fulfill their desire. The groans of the oppressed common people seemed to echo already.

\'Widows and orphans will overflow.\'

Urich looked at the quiet farmhouses on the foot of the mountains. Without men, they seemed empty, and the women were busy chopping wood to prepare for the winter.

"If Duke Harmatti finds out we\'ve escaped, he\'ll send his men after us. But we left much earlier, so as long as we maintain our pace, we won\'t run into them."

Pahell\'s words had an air of confidence. They had put enough distance between them. As both parties were on horseback, there was no reason to be caught. Pahell reassured the uneasy mercenaries.

"We didn\'t get the best deal possible out of Duke Lungell, but the situation isn\'t that bad. Just the fact that Duke Lungell declared neutrality is a big blow to Duke Harmatti. He\'ll return and prepare for a full-scale war, spending his fortune to reinforce his army."

The mercenaries\' expressions lightened at Urich\'s words.

"Let\'s take a break here. The horses are tired too."

Pahell announced, showing his unparalleled ability to read a horse\'s condition. The mountain ranges were risky for even the horses. If they were pushed beyond their capacity, they could have very well gotten injured. The mercenaries caught their breaths as they dismounted their horses.

"I was really nervous back there. If we had fought back there... it would\'ve been dreadful."

"Even leader Urich couldn\'t have taken on all of them."

The mercenaries reminisced about the tense situation at the castle. Although it wasn’t obvious because they were overpowered by Urich\'s presence, they were trembling. None of them were ready to risk their lives in such a disadvantageous fight. After all, they’re unanimous goal was to survive and collect the reward.

\'Maybe I should\'ve brought the northerners.\'

Urich pondered as he saw the lowered morale. The mercenaries\' spirits plummeted in unfavorable situations. They preferred victorious battles.

"Hey, Gidwick, where are you going? Just shit somewhere nearby."

Bachman called out to a mercenary who was heading into the forest.

"My stomach\'s churning. It\'s going to stink, are you sure? I’m two seconds away from exploding."

The mercenary grimaced, clutching his stomach. The others jeered at him.

"Fine, fine. Go take care of it quickly."

Bachman waved his hand, already covering his nose. The mercenary strode into the bushes.

The mercenaries either napped or ate, while the horses grazed. Only the sounds of insects and birds filled the air.

"It\'s quiet."

Urich commented as he urinated under a tree. Wiping his hand on his trousers, he looked around. Something felt off, as if he missed something. Thinking hard, Urich quickly pulled up his trousers.

"Did the guy who went to take a dump come back?" He asked the mercenaries.

"Gidwick? No, he\'s not back yet. He ate a ton of greasy food back at the castle yesterday, so it’s no surprise he has bad diarrhea," Bachman replied.

"Go look for him right now," Urich ordered in a serious tone with his voice growling low.

"Why? He\'s just taking a dump."

Despite his questioning attitude, Bachman stood up and grabbed his weapon. The mercenaries, who respected Urich as their leader, followed his command. It had become a habit to act first since questions could be answered afterward.

"There\'s no smell. Unless he went really far, there\'s no way the smell wouldn\'t reach my nose. Especially if it\'s diarrhea. That stuff reeks."

Urich commented. The mercenaries flinched and searched the bushes.

"There\'s no sign of him. He\'s not responding to our calls either."

The searchers reported. They slowly realized the situation.

\'Gidwick has betrayed us.\'

The mercenaries erupted in curses.

Snap.

Urich broke a sapling, and the splinters dug into his hand.

"Smoke!"

Smoke rose in the distance. It was in the direction that Gidwick had run off to. Smoke signals were the most basic form of communication.

"Get back to the horses! The chase party is coming!"

If Gidwick betrayed them, all predictions became useless. Duke Harmatti must have quickly organized a pursuit team. The distance was much closer than expected. Urich\'s ears twitched, distinctly picking out the sound of horse hooves in the midst of all the commotion.

\'There’s at least thirty.\'

There were many hoof sounds. Urich frowned. The number of enemies was a problem, but the bigger issue was the mercenaries\' low morale. The anxiety spread like a highly contagious disease. Those who had fought with Urich since their gladiator days showed their readiness to fight, but that wasn\'t nearly enough for the situation.