A Time of Tigers - From Peasant to Emperor
Chapter 1472 - 1472: A Passing Breeze - Part 3

"You do not have any idea of what his intentions are, Patrick. You have no need to defend him. You two were far from being friends. He decided to act for foolish reasons, and he chose a foolish course of action, and this here is the foolish result," Karstly said. "Lord Blackwell is very much in agreement. You do not impress me by showing empathy for a young man that you were once at war with."

Oliver bristled. "I am not trying to impress you, General."

With an amused hand, Karstly waved him away. "You're always so quick to anger, Ser. If only I had the time to play with you for a little while longer. But alas, if I had said I would do something, then I shall. Until later, Patrick."

"…What are you thinking, my Lord?" Blackthorn asked, drawing near him, once Karstly had firmly disappeared.

"No pleasant thing," Oliver sighed. "This is the last thing I foresaw happening. We knew there was a potential for danger, but surrounded by as many knights as he was, this was never a happening that we expected."

"Nor the man himself, I do wager," Verdant offered. "He was acting rather out of character, to pursue something of his own accord. It must have been quite the curiosity. I do have the feeling that there was more to the man than I knew to recognize…"

"I had that feeling as well," Oliver said. "I might have judged him a deal too harshly in times past. As far as organizing this tournament, he has been an invaluable ally. The success of it, I'd say, is due at least seventy percent to him."

"I would dispute that number, my Lord, but I would not dispute the fact that he has been invaluable. His hand has made our accommodating of the nobility all the easier," Verdant said. "I think you put it rightly, when you call him an ally. For this was a battle of a different sort, was it not?"

"And would you extend that metaphor to call him a causality of such a battle?" Oliver said.

Verdant shook his head. "I would not. This is a thorough tragedy. We ought not to have lost a man of such station in a battle like this."

"The question then comes who did it," Oliver said. "There is the assassin himself, of whom we have a description of – but then there is the paying of such an assassin, and of the other assumed hired killers and arsonists. Jorah – do not stand on duty. Nor you, Firyr, nor you Karesh. I am all too aware of the fading light. We have three hours, at best, in which to see this done. I do not want to see Lord Blackwell failed."

"…Aye, he's got quite the temper about him now," Firyr said. "We'll all be dead if we cock this up, Captain."

"That wasn't the reason I was thinking of," Oliver said icily. "Blackwell is right. If this is not solved before sundown, then the chances of it being solved are vastly diminished. As soon as dark comes, we'll have a hard time keeping an eye on those plains. I intend to use every resource that we have available to us."

"Every resource, my Lord?" Jorah asked. "Should I summon the men? Kaya is still keeping a watch on the arena. The duels are set to begin soon."

"…I am afraid that we will have to withdraw our men from the proceedings," Oliver said. "It is not a decision I make lightly. I know how hard they have worked to earn their positions. But this is a matter more important than any competition. A good man has died, a valuable ally. Nothing is more important than seeing that resolved."

To his surprise, none of his men flinched at that. Firyr who had worked so hard to get as far as he did, nor Jorah, nor Karesh, who knew very well how much the battings likely meant to Kaya. They were resolute in their duty. Oliver found himself touched by that fact.

"Will you be asking for the Lady Felder as well?" Jorah asked.

"Ah… yes. I imagine she will have finished her round of competing now," Oliver said, with a touch of regret for the fact that he had missed it. "We will utilise our best men in the search. Thirty of us, perhaps, is about as much as I can justify sending out, without causing the upset amongst the crowd that Lord Blackwell fears. The rest we will send in aiding the perimeter."

"You'd be putting them under the command of Karstly, my Lord," Karesh said, twisting his mouth at that fact. Apparently, the youth had not liked the way Karstly had acted in the wake of Ferdinand's death either.

"It is a burden that they will have to bear," Oliver said. "As keen as he is to test our patience, Karstly is competent, and in the doing of his duty, at least he is reliable. We will expect no more of him than that."

"Then, I will see everyone summoned," Jorah said, turning to leave. "Fetch them with me, Karesh. It'll be quicker with the two of us."

"Wait. See a message delivered to Queen Asabel as well," Oliver said.

"…Are you going to tell her what happened?" Blackthorn asked doubtfully, cocking her head to one side. "Didn't Blackwell tell us not to tell anyone?"

"She would be insulted if I did not ask, considering what has happened. Besides, she's as much an ally as anyone else. We can rely on her. Tell her what has happened, and tell her our intended course of action. She can add to it what she wishes to," Oliver said.

"…Er, do I have to go and speak to her?" Karesh said.

Jorah sighed. "For the sake of diplomacy, I think I had better."

"I could involve myself, my Lord, if you so wished," Verdant said.

Oliver shook his head. "No, you and Blackthorn shall assist me in beginning our chase. We will do what we can before the others arrive. We're going to be relying on Nila rather heavily, but there ought to be some things that we can dig up before then."