115 Three Kinds of Trouble (1/2)
”This could get ugly.”
Throughout the day, Atau had retained an unhealthy level of tension. Together with a number of Tamaya's warriors, the captain had placed himself beyond the edges of the banquet, close to the bandit Uchu, to the intruder. Although he had never been tasked to do so by anyone, Atau wouldn't leave critical work like this to strangers. Ever since he had met Tamaya and her ghost warriors, he had disliked the woman and her position within Corco's staff.
No servant should have this much personal power beyond a lord's reach. If it had been Fadelio or another member of the old Fastgrade merchants he wouldn't have minded so much, but to him, the strange young woman was an unknown, no matter who her brother was. Tamaya's unpredictable nature didn't help matters either.
As a result of his own suspicion, he had condemned himself to the corner of the banquet all by himself. He didn't really regret that he would miss out on the food, since he had tasted more than enough of his cousin's attempts over the past days, but it was a shame that he couldn't mingle with the community in the garden's center.
As the host, Corco himself couldn't get involved with the lords either. For the entire first half of the banquet, he would have to stay in one place and wait to receive the well-wishes of his guests. Only once night had fallen would he be allowed to return the favor, visit the lords at their tables and talk about the issues he really cared about. No matter how much they wanted to change the stiff rules of Medala, for now they still needed to keep their reputation among the lords, so the king would have to leave all contact with his guests to his servants.
That very role should have fallen to Atau. As the one who had spoken for the king throughout the first year of his reign, he would have been the one to represent him tonight as well. However, now his own suspicion had sidelined himself at a crucial moment. All the while, he had watched his brother Mayu butter up to the other lords in the center throughout the day. If nothing else, the start of the duel was a good way to shake up the status quo and get involved in southern politics again.
When the bandit stood up to accept his brother's challenge,the captain watched from the shadows with great enthusiasm. Encouraged by the development, he went after Uchu, in anticipation of things to come. However, before he could do anything, he saw Tamaya march towards himself. Any hope of a coincidence was destroyed when the girl insisted on eye contact, despite his best attempts.
With a sigh, Atau gave in to his fate.
”Captain Atau, King Corco has ordered me to ensure young master Epunamo's safety,” the servant woman started.
”Yeah, I'm about to go over and make sure none of this crap happens. Might be fun to see Epunamo's teeth knocked in, but it probably makes for a poor impression of the king's banquet.” After another sigh, Atau resumed his original plan, but once more Tamaya proved an obstacle. This time she went further and pushed her body in front of the captain whose patience was running out fast.
”What else, woman?”
Despite his own cranky attitude, Tamaya still retained her unreadable smile.
”It seems as if Captain Atau has misunderstood. King Corco has ordered me to ensure that nothing happen to young master Epunamo. Captain Atau should try and stall for time as best as possible, while I get my men in position to intervene. Or is that too big an ask, warrior?”
”Right. And once I try to stall, maybe I'll just solve all of our problems by accident, huh?” Without a care for the mortal woman's frail body, Atau grabbed Tamaya by her shoulder and pushed her out of the way. Unwilling to acknowledge her stumble he marched on, towards the center of the square, where he had already missed his chance to grasp the initiative, thanks to the servant's pointless attempt at power politics.
Already Atau's brother Mayu had positioned himself in a circle of Sachay's lords, in between the two hopeful combatants Epunamo and Uchu.
”Since it appears as if the two noble men cannot come to an agreement, who are we to deny them their great brawl? This lord will come in to officiate the battle,” Mayu concluded his attempts to take control.
”And why would House Saqartu be in charge of anything here?” Disgruntled, Atau pushed himself through the encirclement and stepped in between the duelists as well. As soon as his words rang out, Mayu turned to face his brother, the hint of a confident smile on his face. Right away tension the shifted. With the arrival of a second Saqartu brother, two conflicts brewed in the center of the circle, rather than just one.
”Someone will need to step up and assume control of the proceedings,” a calm Mayu replied. ”We cannot have a brawl without proper supervision, after all. Since King Corco cannot sit with the other lords for now, that role would fall upon this governor, as the highest ranked noble within this city.”
”...so you're saying that you're higher ranked than Corco? That's a bold statement if I've ever heard one.” Narrowed eyes, Atau stepped up to the unfazed Mayu.
”Of course not. I would not want to create trouble for my cousin. However, as the host of the banquet and the nominal king of the present lords, Corco cannot leave his position at the head of the banquet until night has fallen. For now, we will have to solve this issue between ourselves. Who else would be more suitable than this governor to take charge of the proceedings?”
Tired by yet another political play, and a repetitive one at that, Atau rubbed his eyes with one hand. Though of course, his exacerbation was only half earnest and meant to put a focus on Mayu's strong claims.
”Are you trying to imply that you are the highest rank here, Lord Mayu? Higher ranked than the lords around us?”
At last, the young lord's smile became cramped. No doubt he was just as much reminded of their childhood arguments as Atau was.
”You do not intend to imply that you would be higher rank than me, do you? Even if he represents a king, a warrior is still nothing but a warrior.” Mayu barked.
”No, what I'm saying is: If your standing isn't any higher than that of the other lords, what makes you the natural candidate to officiate a brawl?”
Although the governor title gave Mayu some administrative duties, he was nothing more than another one among the lords. In Medala, even the emperor was only the first among equals. No one here would look to kindly on Mayu's claims if he continued his insistence on a higher rank. As such, the governor switched strategies.
”Of course this would be down to this governor's good reputation among the lords of the south. No matter what those northerners in Arguna say, the south still has a governorship after all. We do not need any outsiders to help us decide our internal matters.”
Once again Atau got annoyed. He felt reminded of the days of his youth, when his older brother would employ similar cheap word play to get a leg up on the straight-forward Atau. However, that had been many years ago. Moreover, Atau's time as Corco's diplomatic envoy hadn't been for nothing either. He still didn't like diplomacy and he still didn't feel comfortable in the role, but by now this matter was something he could deal with himself.
Pensive, the captain scanned his surroundings. All these lords of the south-west wouldn't be much help. Not only had many of their houses strong, long-standing ties with House Saqartu – which would shift their bias in Mayu's direction – the lords themselves were also far too drunk and far too bored. How else could it be that a group of old-honorable Medalan lords would stand around in a circle and accompany the impending bloody conflict with claps and jeers, like boys huddled around a street fight? Rather than rely on their unreliable help, Atau chose to follow his instincts and attacked Mayu's, House Saqartu's, greatest weakness and biggest blemish of recent generations.
”Good reputation? Who do you have a reputation with, Lord Mayu Saqartu, huh? You think anyone north-east of the Mayura River respects you or your 'reputation'? The north-eastern lords were already close to independence before, ever since the end of the civil war. After father died, House Saqartu has no more influence on any of these eastern estates. Not only that, House Villca has formed a perfect counter weight while you were busy training up an army to enforce your will and authority on the lords around you. In a conflict between the sons of House Villca, why would your word matter any more than that of anyone else here ?”