56 Beyond the Clouds (1/2)
Compared to the revelry which surrounded his younger brother, the atmosphere among Prince Amautu's entourage couldn't have been more distinct. When Corco entered the alcove, everyone in the second prince's camp sat in neat groups of three or four. Across each table rang conversations, yet the quiet exchanges never left the confines of their immediate surroundings. Some guests wouldn't engage their neighbors at all and instead look outside to watch the performances on offer.
Amautu himself sat not in the center of the space, but towards the back, hidden behind his followers. With the strange way the men in his surroundings were dressed, Corco assumed that many of them would be from Chutwa rather than being Medala nobles. A table away, he spotted the green prince Wacoca and his sister, who should have been placed there by Spuria. Even so, Amautu ignored the presence of his prospective wife and brother-in-law, too immersed in the words of a small, gray-bearded Chutwa man to his side. As Corco approached his brother's table, his presence was ignored just the same.
”Brother, thank you for attending my banquet. And thank you for your congratulations. I've come to repay the favor.” Unperturbed by his brother's indifference, Corco bellowed out his greetings. Amautu, his concentration broken, looked at his brother with a frown.
”In a public setting Prince Corco would be advised to adhere to proper etiquette.” Corco's less than formal greeting did not go over well with his brother, as had the interruption it had caused.
”Sorry for bursting in like that, I didn't want to interrupt anybody, but I think that between brothers, we should be able to let loose. I hate those stiff formalities. All it does is create distance. It's idiotic.”
”Prince would do well to rethink his words. Ceremony has value inherent in itself. To abandon ceremony means to walk down the path to barbarity,” the old man next to Amautu barged in on the talk between the brothers.
”Prince Corco, please meet my teacher, the great scholar Ichtaka.” As Amautu's face lit up, the scholar offered a restrained nod in greeting. Meanwhile, Corco tried to remember what eastern he had seen him in, in a different life. Ichtaka's entire being screamed 'wise old man from the mountain'.
”Right. Hello. You're wrong, but it's still nice to meet you.” Though the prince didn't think much of the disagreement, the table went silent for several uncomfortable seconds, as if he had announced that the sky wasn't blue. While Corco still tried to understand the overreaction, the third man at his brother's table bit back.
”As expected of a man who would disrespect his mother and shame his brother. There is no respect for ceremony either. You do not deserve to call yourself prince, barbarian.” Considering the middle-aged man's accent and his long hair, he seemed to be from Medala. Before, Corco had been thrown off by the white bathrobe and beard combo which was so typical of the western scholars.
”Now, now, fellow Tacao. No need to judge too soon. Let us hear my brother out,” Amautu calmed his ally. At the same time, Corco's eyes narrowed, unwilling to take abuse from some random stranger.
”Are you saying I can't criticize my own younger brother when he hasn't respected his dead father in six months... and then mocks his death in public? Spuria Ichilia is not my mother either, if you haven't realized. I have no reason to respect that woman just because she somehow sneaked a 'mother' into her official title.”
”Rather than rush ahead like a mad bull, prince should have phrased his chastisement through proper etiquette. Family relations are complex, and it is often difficult to tell which acts would be appropriate where. Only through ceremony can we determine how to take action without a loss of order. When one chides a brother, one should do so in a measured fashion. If one has been determined as one's mother, one should serve them accordingly, with respect and love. If all follow ceremony, would it not create peace and harmony?” After he was done with his little speech, Tacao looked over to see the old teacher nod his head again. However, Corco was eager to interupt their little circle-jerk. He really couldn't let their nonsense stand.
”Right. So your ceremony is gonna govern every aspect of everyone's life? At that point we're nothing more than machines. I have looked into your books, you know? Some of them at least. Your view on ethics is as disgusting as it is sneaky.”
”How surprising that a man who even failed to be admitted to a barbarian school would so confidently refute the great teachings of the ancients!” When he arrived at the table, Corco had already noticed the fidgety warrior behind Amautu, just like he had noticed the little gesture his brother had given to force the man into action.
”Oh, is this not Quirinu di Pluritac? How surprising that Prince Amautu would let a simple warrior sit at his table, let alone a deserter.” As soon as he saw the man, Primus went on the attack. Once he had heard about Fadelio's run-in with his fellow warrior, the young master had insisted on a detailed description of the traitor.
Rather than let his newest followers speak again, this time Amautu stepped in himself.
”Warrior Quirinu sits at the table on my request. This prince was interested in brother's time on the Arcavian continent. In fact, Warrior Quirinu tells illuminating tales about brother's studies abroad. He told us how brother would not be allowed entry into the foreigner's academy, for they had determined his lack of knowledge. How brother would then be forced to become servant to a lowly merchant, of all things. How he abandoned the warriors under his command to save himself. These allegations are disturbing indeed. Would you not agree, brother?”
”An outright lie!” Primus shot back. ”How could the word of a mere warrior weigh more heavy than the word of a prince?”
”This prince has no reason to doubt the warrior's report. What possible reason could he have to tell lies?”
When Primus took another step forward, about to refute, Corco pulled him back. Throughout the conversation, a dark grin had sneaked onto Corco's face, in defiance of the utter hypocrisy before him. This one, he would handle in person.
”You're kidding me, right? You're talking about the warrior who was sent into exile in service of the crown prince, then betrayed that crown prince, then ran back home, got that crown prince's title and status removed by lying about the prince's death. Now he serves the second in line of succession and lives in an enormous mansion he was gifted his new master. Yes, what possible reason could he have to make sure I would never get back into power?”
”No one can know what exactly happened abroad, so none of prince's accusations can be confirmed.”
”None? Really? So he doesn't live in the former great general's mansion, who happens to have been my attendant's father? So he didn't lie to the Ancestral Hall about my death?”
For a second, Corco's eye began to twitch, brought to a boil by his brother's bullshit. Now more than ever, he was determined to take everything they threw at him, and fling it right back into their faces.
”Of course these matters need to be determined, just like brother's status and education should.”
”Good, then let's determine them right now. How about it? I debate your good teacher over there to see whether or not my education is sufficient.”
”There is no need to bother teacher Ichtaka with some insignificant youngster. I will debate Prince Corco,” Tacao asid as he stood from his seat.
”Sure. Let's go with ethics and ceremony, since that's something we have already determined to disagree on. We'll have the other lords determine the winner. If I lose, my good brother, will get his wish and have me admit my lack of education. If I win, I'll have you hand me the traitor, to punish appropriately.”
At the mention of the stakes, Quirinu's eyes went wide in panic. He knew Corco much better than anyone else on the table, so he would never believe that the first prince would make such a bet without ensured victory.With a whisper, he tried to get involved.
”Maybe Master Amautu should rethink-”
”This Prince agrees. Brother should use this chance and be enlightened by the wisdom of the ancients.”
Even so, Quirinu's attempts failed.
”In that case, this Lord will be in your care,” Tacao said, accompanied by a proper bow.
”Lord?” Surprised by the term, Corco took a good look at his opponent for the first time. A bad feeling crept up his stomach, as if he had danced to someone else's tune the entire time.
”It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Prince Corco. Lord Tacao Calvu Betucio gives his greetings.”
As he looked over to his brother's sly grin, Corco's stomach sank. In his anger and overconfidence, he had just agreed to publicly oppose Medala's Governor of the North.
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After the foreign invasion from the north, called the great storm, had been held off by the nobles of Medala under the leadership of the Pluritac clan one hundred years ago, the imperial court in Arguna had taken full control over the country. In order to consolidate their power, the Pluritacs installed four governor families to rule the four corners of the empire. Lord Saliena at Porcero governed the east, Lord Ichilia, Spuria's brother, governed the west and Corco's uncle Sonco governed the south. At the moment, the Governor of the North sat opposite of Corco.
Once the debate had been announced, the young artists had been forced to free up the stage on the central court. They had been replaced by two simple chairs, on which sat the two opponents, Corco and Tacao. All eyes of the surrounding lords and ladies rested on them in anticipation, Amautu's more than anyone's.
”Master, was this truly wise?” Quirinu's voice quivered, his eyes always focused on Corco's calm posture.