A Time of Tigers - From Peasant to Emperor

It was much to take in at once, and it did not help that Lombard's words quickened, as he sensed a resolution start to mount from the Ministers, even pausing to look over his shoulder as he spoke. But nonetheless, it was better hope than Oliver had been given previously. Some sort of solid foundation, a rock to cling to, something approaching a future. Something to rely on.

"Thanks, Lombard," Oliver said, appreciating it. "That will serve me well. I'll keep it all well in mind."

"More is due to you," Lombard said, "merely survive. Chaos can not continue forever. Soon order will have to take its place. You will find stability eventually, boy. Simply hold."

With those words, the two of them approached the Ministers in the concluding of their discussion. More than a few heads turned to see Oliver Patrick marching free. After hours of seeing him chained, he seemed a more dangerous man. It did not help that Ingolsol's aura leaked off him, a terrible excitement, intertwined with Claudia's rage.

Hod acknowledged their approach. "Welcome, young Patrick. You look far better without those chains."

Oliver with in line with the Lords now, as he stood by Lombard. If he looked to his left, he would have seen the faces of some of the most powerful men in the country. Half of them he owed a favour to, and the other half… the other half he knew to watch himself around.

In a different time, such a situation might have brought with it a terrible amount of unease, given their posts, and their positions. But on that day, none seemed as powerful as they had before.

None in his head held a position higher than the executioner, for there seemed to be little that they could do to him that was worse than death… Other than that stunt that had tried to pull with the Redborne girl. That still left a sour taste in his mouth.

"It certainly feels better to be free of them, Minister," Oliver said. "I must thank you for your defence. I did not expect any such support."

Hod sniffed. "This was not personal, Patrick," Hod told him. "It was objective. The future winds seem to blow your way. I would be a fool to ignore them, and cast aside that which was powerful, and to ignore that which was just."

"Nonetheless," Oliver said. "I thank you, Minister."

"Tavar, surely you see that there is worth in this," Lazarus continued talking, ignoring Hod and Oliver's interactions.

"I do not even see the worth in my own position, Lazarus," Tavar growled back. "We have been sullied today, painted with a tainted brush. I am unsure who I am most disappointed with."

"They still argue," Hod noted, "about the King's decree. Tavar is unwilling to force you to do anything that could be construed as a punishment. As well I am."

"The quelling of violent uprisings, and the like?" Oliver asked. "What Lord would I be serving in that?"

"Gargon," Hod said, casting a distasteful look towards the man. Gargon bore it, his pudgy cheeks reddening, as he mopped his brow free of its sweat.

"I did not think the Gargons were a particularly militaristic house," Lombard noted loudly. "The High King must be seeing something in them that the rest of us are not." Your next read awaits at My Virtual Library Empire

"Indeed," Hod said, "but given that such logic escapes us, we can not in good faith seek to emulate it, no matter how disloyal it might make us look to the King. Regardless, as far as this argument, I believe I can solve part of it. General Tavar," he said, interrupting.

Tavar was in the middle of heatedly pointing his finger at Lazarus, his teeth showing like an angry bear. He paused as suddenly as he'd started, regaining control of his emotions in a fraction of a second. He was soon stood upright, glancing towards Hod with cool eyes. "As far as the King's first suggestion, that Oliver be removed from conventional classes.

Why, that's a most excellent idea, is it not? The King himself proposes that Oliver be tutored privately, given his talents."

The General's eyes widened. He glanced at Lazarus. The Minister of Information fumbled. "That's not at all—"

"That's a splendid suggestion," Tavar said, the anger leaving him for just a second. "The High King is wise indeed. Yes, it makes sense on multiple levels. Many students are uncomfortable around Oliver, given his strength. The boy has missed several years of education, so it would be unreasonable to throw him into normal classes in the first place.

Given his propensity for strength, he should be given special attention, as any student who shows a particular want for progress should be. What do you think of such an arrangement, Oliver?"

"Sounds awfully good to me," Oliver agreed with a smile. It wasn't that much of a boon sharing a class with other people. He'd been considering skipping out on some of the more practical lessons as of late. Private lessons would do more than remedy that.

"Then, it's settled!" General Tavar said before Jolamire or Lazarus could interrupt. He looked awfully pleased that there'd been a way of resolving it without the Ministers losing face, and without directly rebelling against the High King, despite the position the man had put them into. That was only true for the first part of what the High King had said though.

"Now… In regards to that second point the High King brought up, perhaps you might have a suggestion, Minister Hod..?" He said hopefully.

Hod glanced at Oliver. "I am not opposed to doing something of that nature, General. It would prove to be a good and valuable experience. No doubt the sort of thing that High King wished to instil in me."

"Indeed," Hod agreed, nodding, his smile returning properly now and his sense of playfulness with it. Games like this were Hod's favourite sort. "The Minister once more looks to cultivate the best for our students with his suggestion, and so we shall follow suit.

Yet, given our experience as educators, we can assume to be able to put things into action better than His Majesty, however impudent that might be. Even the wisest of Kings can do no more than heed wiser counsel, after all. And so, we shall make adjustments to it. Once a month, Oliver Patrick shall take on such a responsibility, and it shall be done under a more… proper command."

"I would take responsibility for such a thing," Lombard said, "but I am wanted back in the East coming the beginning of next week."

"I might have a suggestion on that front," Tavar mused. "A more appropriate one. It would seem that the care of a student is better left to a hand at the Academy. Whilst General Skullic does not officially teach any longer, he is still quite firmly a member of our staff."

"You would put him under Skullic?" Jolamire said, incredulous. "That doesn't abide by the demands of the King at all! Skullic is a worse maverick than the boy himself! There's no sort of order to be gained from this! Nothing good. None will be happy, especially not his majesty."

"Demands?" Tavar repeated, a growl in his voice. "I was under the impression that these were mere suggestions, Minister. Or perhaps the title of Minister is ill-suited to you, when you seem negligent in defending the position of your own post?"

There was little Jolamire could say to that. He'd overstepped. His face reddened. The sweat that already covered his forehead only continued to thicken. A worse day for the man it would have been hard to imagine.

"Wise suggestions, General, if I do say so," Hod agreed. "Changes to the benefit of all who study here at the Academy. If Oliver Patrick himself is fond of them, then they cannot be construed as punishments, and nor can the High King suggest that we did not take his advice well in hand, for both suggestions have been implemented, only in a more… appropriate way."

The Minister of Logic had secured his victory, it seemed. With that last final jab from Jolamire and Lazarus overturned, there seemed to be nothing more that the two Ministers could offer, besides a despondent air and two pairs of glowering eyes.

Still, they could not leave it to rest there. After three hours of trial and then another hour spent concluding it, they could not have been more invested. To let it all end with nothing to gain, it hardly seemed appropriate. Not least with the work that they'd put in the week before.

"I did warn you, General," Lazarus said gravely. "Whatever you may think, as your Minister of Information, I did warn you."

"As did I," Jolamire agreed. "The Minister of Logic seems content to paint us as the villains, but there is no villainy in the pursuit of peace and stability."

"There is, if it only leads to further weakness. There is if you disregard justice in order to achieve it," Hod said mercilessly. "Regardless, it is done."

"It is indeed," Tavar said, glancing at the darkening world outside the window. To have spent so long on the proceedings. It was to be expected, at least to a degree… but not this long. None could have predicted what a tumultuous time they would have been in for.

None could have guessed just how many important people would be inserting their say into what should have been a somewhat minor trial of a mere Academy student in his third year.

All Oliver knew was that he'd likely had a considerable amount of people that he needed to thank. That, and once more, his world would be changing once more, just as violently as it had so many times already. Change, as he'd learned, brought with it opportunity. Only time would tell whether he would be able to take proper advantage of it.

Verdant had said something a little time ago, a comment at the dinner table, something about the gravity of competence. Once again the priest's words had bordered on premonition. Oliver had been naïve enough to believe that he could get stronger in silence, without affecting the world around him. Recent events just went to show how wrong he was.

But with time, he was set to get even stronger. Just what effect would that have? He shuddered to think.

VOLUME 2 – PART 1 END