Chapter 70: No Ivory Tower

Viv pushed the door to Varska’s tower with some effort. The hinges hadn’t been worked in a while.

“I’ll help,” Marruk said.

“It’s fine,” Viv grunted. Better not let Marruk Doorbane near. The air hit her. It smelled musty and a bit off. The tower had always carried the fragrance of flowers before.

The first floor had been ransacked but not destroyed. Only the oldest and rattiest loveseats remained. A few pieces of fabric were scattered across the room, mostly undyed local works. The windows were shuttered. Viv made to open the nearest one but Marruk held her back gently.

“Opening the window yourself is the number one way of being shot by archers in a city. Let me do it,” the Kark said.

//Marruk is correct.

//Although the risks are small, let us remain cautious.

//At least for a week.

“Alright, alright!”

Viv’s steps left footprints on the stairs’ dusty floors. The second floor, the one belonging to the housekeeper, had been emptied of food and valuable cooking implements. Varska’s room had been on the third floor. It was completely empty.

//I estimate that most of the stolen furniture can be found in the surrounding residences.

“They can fucking keep it.”

Varska’s tea room had been deprived of its sets. The table was still there. All around, wardrobes and cupboards leaned with open drawers like drooling rejects, lustre long gone. Marruk opened the window to let the air and light in. It did not do the room any favors.

Viv crashed on her favorite couch. She didn’t feel the need to check upstairs and see hundreds of hours of magical flora rotting in their pots. The smell was enough.

“So. Yeah.”

//Would you like to talk now?”

“I feel like a stiff drink and being left the fuck alone. Nevermind. I messed up. I was too defensive, too conservative. Too slow. I should have been much more aggressive to force the enemy caster to react. Most of my spells are variations around ‘throw destructive black mana at things until they die’ as well. I should have expanded my list. As it was, I only did half the damage I could have done and our side suffered as a result. ”

//I respectfully disagree with your assessment.

Viv cut short, surprised. Solfis was always the most critical of her teachers during everyday practice.

//Your assessment was that you saved too much power instead of using it.

//If you had used more power, the battle would have been won much sooner.

//If you had prepared more spells, the battle would have been won sooner.

//Is this understanding correct?

“I guess?”

With the windows open, the freshness of lilac leaves replaced the scent of dust. Viv’s adrenaline decided that it was a good time to make its exit. She yawned. Her exhaustion was more mental than physical, and only the fear of a mass lynching kept her from requesting a nap.

//Your Grace, listen carefully.

Viv forced herself to wake up.

//Every decision in battle or politics is a choice between several options.

//This choice is made with incomplete and often incorrect data.

//When you planned the reconquest of Kazar, you and I aligned on a training regimen.

//We worked on your defenses.

//You practiced with great rigor.

//You could not have worked on this and developed yourself offensively at the same time.

//Thus, an arbitration was made.

//I believe that at that time, it was the correct decision.

//Any plan must strike a balance between refining the path to success and eliminating the points of failure.

//The acquisition of men and equipment increased our chances of success.

//Keeping you alive eliminated the most critical point of failure.

//Thus, you worked on keeping yourself alive.

//And it worked.

//As is, I estimate that you are responsible for close to fifty percent of overall enemy casualties.

“Seriously?”

//The enemy wore heavy armor.

//It helped against everything except for you.

//You did well, Your Grace.

//You accounted for ambushes and the sniper, hence your caution.

//As a result we have suffered minimal losses and you are unharmed.

//This is close to the optimal result.

“When you put it like that…”

//You are correct in identifying what needs to be done next.

//It does not mean that it should have been done before.

//I am stating the obvious since your mental abilities appear to be impaired right now.

“Hey!”

//Heir’s moping successfully ended.

//Returning to main objective.

//We must consider the next step in your indoctrination of the locals.

//As well as your personal training.

“There will be no indoctrination.”

//Prince Lancer will return next spring, summer at the latest.

Viv fell silent.

//Barring any catastrophe on his side, he will come to avenge his shame, destroying the city in the process.

//This time, there will be no fields to return to.

//He will see to it.

//Unless, of course, you manage to stop a far superior force with what we have on hand.

//This endeavor will require a mobilization of the local population at an unprecedented scale.

//We must therefore consider the indoctrination of the locals.

//Or you could leave them to their fate, of course.

Solfis’ malevolent gaze lowered on Viv as he stood by the door. He waited for her answer with alien patience.

“How do we proceed?”

//Today’s battle had over 90% chance of victory.

“Wait, really?”

//Yes.

//It would have been unwise to spread that belief, however.

//The memory of a desperate struggle will serve the meatbags well.

//Human nations are built on beautiful deceit.

//But please consider that the prince’s first attack could have theoretically been repulsed with massive casualties.

//And the risk of quick retaliation.

//During today’s siege, the enemy was missing two hundred trained troops and most of their elites.

//At the same time, we had acquired material and almost a hundred trained soldiers.

//When the prince returns, he will have a decisive force.

//You must prepare to oppose him.

“We’re already fully committed, I don’t see how we could get more at this stage.”

//Your role is not to come up with every solution, Your Grace.

//Your role is to gather allies to do it for you.

//There will be a purge, then the harvest must be completed.

//During that time, the meatbags of Kazar must be led to accept that the prince will return.

//And that they must work to prevent his success.

//All the details can come later.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

“Are you sure that he will come?” Viv asked. “I will assume that it will happen no matter what, I’m just curious as to why you seem so confident.”

//I agree with the point that Denerim made.

//My algorithms also return that an Enorian candidate for the throne may not leave a rebellion unresolved.

//Not if they wish to wear the crown.

//Your very existence undermines his claim.

//The prince will come for you, one way or another.

“You also kind of want me to kill him, don’t you?”

//Of course, Your Grace.

//Few things please me more than crushing a man’s dream before I crush his ribcage.

//Especially provincial, thin-blooded upstarts.

//One is allowed to enjoy his work.

//And I enjoy my work more than most.