112 Uninvited Gues (1/2)
For once, things had gone according to plan for Corco. Even though he had been worried at first, the entire festival had started swimmingly. Without any complaints or any interruptions, the lords of the south-western estates had mingled inside Rapra Castle's inner garden. Even his cousin Mayu had played nice, clearly intent on accepting Corco's olive branch. In a measure to restart their relations, Mayu had framed of Corco's achievements in the context of Sachay's progress, which would serve to make the young king popular among the lords, more than he had been already.
Every time the lords marveled at the cups made from crystal glass and enjoyed the cocktails Corco had fixed up for them, it brought a genuine smile to the king's face. In fact, over the past few months he had set aside some extra time and effort just to get the bitters right and was happy to see it become such a rousing success. Even so, the cocktails and crystal glasses were only appetizers for what was to come.
Better yet, the arrival of the siblings from the Verdant Isles marked a major milestone in his reign. Here they were, even though Corco hadn't expected them to answer his invitation. If things had gone on like this, he would have been able to fulfill all of today's goals without any troubles. Even uniting the south in one fell swoop would have been entirely possible. Everything had started on such a nice note, but of course, the good times never last.
The arrogant stance of the pirate in Corco's front spoke of this meaning louder than real words ever could. Corco had hoped that with the appearance of the first of the Villca heirs, he would be able to establish a link with the east as well, just like he had managed with the west. However, now it seemed as if all of his plans had fallen flat. Weary of the intruder, Atau had positioned himself in front of his cousin, his massive mace ready to strike.
”No one without an invitation will be let inside!” the captain shouted.
”But I have my invitation right here.” With an eerie nonchalance, the bandit who had introduced himself as Uchu Villca held up a piece of paper in between his fingers. ”The invitation is even signed by the king himself. I assume that would be the small fat man behind you, warrior?”
”What did you just call your king, bastard? And you're faking the king's invitation too? You're really itching to get your head smashed in, huh?” With a wide grin, the captain stepped up to swat away the annoying fly. Before things could escalate further, Corco was forced to step in.
”Wait!” he said. ”A king's invitation, fake or not, should not be taken lightly. So let's see what he has to say in his defense. You can still smash his head in late.”
”I'd like to see him try,” Uchu returned.
”...maybe it's time to stop showing off. You're in my castle, surrounded by my guards. Most people here in this yard are accomplished cultivators. Do you think you're immortal or something?”
Rather than answer the king's question, the audacious bandit only stared back, up and down, to judge the man before him. Ready to face the inflated ego, Corco began to step up towards his newest guest. Only two steps however and he could feel his shoulder getting held back by Atau. The warrior was unwilling to see his cousin in danger and so put himself in between the two parties once more.
”So you're supposed to be the king then, huh?” Uchu said at last, a dismissive sneer plastered all over his face.
”Am I not to young master Villca's tastes?” Corco replied in a dry tone.
”Aren't you the guy who beat the invincible hero to death, according to the songs? I thought you wouldn't be this fat and short then. And I didn't recognize you without that crown of yours.”
Annoyed enough to play politician, Corco put on a fake smile to hide his anger.
”Okay. I don't look much like a king and you don't look much like a noble son with the terrible teeth and cheap clothes. Now that we're done insulting each other you might want to tell me what the fuck you're doing here, apart from ruining my banquet of course? Depending on your answer I might even allow you to leave with your head.”
A strange smile formed on the bandit's face, one which somehow made Corco uneasy, as if a terrifying beast hid behind the casual attitude.
”I'm here to take part in that banquet. I'm a guest like anyone else. Doesn't matter if I'm not wearing your fancy clothes either. I'm more nobleman than any of these fattened seals,” he said with a gesture towards the southern lords who had started to form a crowd behind Corco.
”How dare this scrawny bastard!” Up until now the lords had been patient in their observation, but now that they themselves were attacked, all of them had lost their calm at once. Stirred up by the bandit's little prod, it seemed as if the high-honorable lords of Sachay were about to pick up pitchforks and torches for a good, old-fashioned lynch mob.
”No one moves!” Just as Lord Queru Huaman got himself ready to either tackle or quarter Uchu, the king spoke up again. His loud voice carried over the crowd and managed to suppress the stirring, at least for the moment. ”Who dares speak judgment or start a fight on my land!”
With the words of authority spoken, no one was willing to charge forward and insult the new King of the South any longer. However, the lords still stared at the bandit like a pack of hyenas around a fresh carcass, so the onus was still on Corco to clean up the bandit's mess and give everyone a satisfying conclusion to this mess. Thus, the king began to question the bandit.
”You say you're a guest, but I'm sure I didn't write an invitation for any 'Uchu Villca'. Plus, even if you were here on invitation, it's probably best to wipe that smug smile off your face before one of the surrounding lords loses his temper and challenges you to a duel. You really wouldn't want that, I can guarantee you.”
”I wouldn't mind, for sure. That's how I got my invitation after all. To be fair, it really isn't mine, not really. It used to belong to my little bro, Khune Villca. That is, before I took it from him. All done through a duel, just like you rich folk like it.” Still unfazed by the vicious stares around him, the bandit sneered again, in defiance of laws and traditions.
”Bullcrap!” Atau shouted, to mirror the thoughts of everyone around. ”A common bandit, fight in an honorable duel? How would some common bastard ever even meet the young master of Cashan?”