Book 3, Chapter 47 (1/2)

Test

Richard huffed out a breath of turbid air, quickly getting his chaotic mind back on track. “Becoming partners is a pretty decent price for a steady alliance,” he said after some thought, “But I can’t afford so many rune knights right now.”

“You can consider it a loan,” Fuschia said, “You are a royal runemaster after all.”

“A loan?” Richard looked flabbergasted.

“Yes, you’ll have to repay her on a specific schedule.”

“What about the price for an alliance only?”

“There is no such option.”

He took in a deep breath, “Alright, deal! We’ll be partners.”

He was in desperate need of a strong ally right now. His status as a royal runemaster wasn’t an all-pass card, while the Church would only protect him for a year. Even the current conditions were only effective in Faust. He didn’t dare to leave the city at the moment.

As for their being partners seeming more a transaction than anything else, Richard didn’t believe that was completely the case. He still remembered that Gaton had once suggested this to him as well. It seemed like these so-called general terms were tailor-made for him, although they still squeezed quite a bit.

“A quarter of it for down payment. The agreement will only come into effect when my Lady receives it all,” Fuschia threw Richard off once again. “You have to be quick,” she added on, “You never know if there are others preparing their own rune knights.”

Richard was at a loss for how to answer, but fortunately the three knights chose that specific moment to return from their task.

“The corpses are piled up together, but we separated the heads. Should we hang them up?” Asiris asked wretchedly.

Richard shook his head, “No need. Ship the corpses out of the island to be collected by their families. Also, inform all the branches that looted the offerings to return them within whatever deadline. If they don’t, the case will be dealt with like treason.”

“You want to reclaim the offerings?” Fuschia cut in, “I don’t think that’s possible. I heard that most of the offerings were forcefully bought off by powerful families once they were shipped off the island. Nearly nothing is left.”

Richard laughed, “I know. And Alice was one of the buyers, no?”

“Yes. We can get the offerings that were bought by the Earl, but a majority are untraceable. My Lady has less than a tenth of the total.”

“Forget it, she can have them. Treat it as a part of the down payment.”

Richard wasn’t expecting to reclaim the offerings at all, he was well aware that most had been resold. The only reason for doing this was the other families of Faust who meant ill; this way, they wouldn’t be able to openly support the traitors unless they were prepared to explain their interference in another family’s affairs to the Emperor and the assembly. Treason was not tolerated in any family. If one wished to support a rebellion in another family, they had to do it carefully in the dark.

……

Once Richard was done settling the affairs of treason, Asiris stepped forward, “If I’m not needed for anything else, I have to head back. Cyrden won’t be able to last long.”