A Time of Tigers - From Peasant to Emperor
Chapter 1664 - 1664: The Counter Assault - Part 5

"You know me not?" Tiberius said, his chin on his hand. "Well, I suppose I arrived at the Academy a little after you'd already left. But rest assured, King Germanicus. I know of you. And I'll make good use of you. You require instructions, do you not? I shall give them to you. You need think no longer."

"I will take no instructions from you," Germanicus said.

"Hoh? But you were so keen earlier?" Tiberius said, feigning hurt. "Are we really to begin our relationship on the wrong foot?"

"You are a snake," Germanicus said. "You speak venom. I mislike snakes. They wait in the grass, and use their venom to bring down the strong."

"A rather clever way of hunting," Tiberius said. "Do you fear my venom then, little King of the Treeants? You declare yourself afraid of me? King Wyndon is afraid of me too, aren't you?" He said, patting the King on the head. "But see, King Wyndon and I came to an agreement. He seeks someone to defend him from his fears, and I am such a man. I am an Emperor who stands for the people. You need fear no longer, Germanicus."

"I fear no one," Germanicus said, and one could well believe that he truly meant it. "But I do give in to anger. You make me angry. You are weak, and thin. You present no challenge to me."

"Do you believe that? Or are you too blind?" Tiberius asked, crossing his legs.

"I will not fight with him," Germanicus said, turning to Tavar.

"That is an incredible shame. I had very much wished to fight alongside you," Tiberius said.

"…You will not have to share a battlefield if you do not wish to," Tavar said. "Our way extends the full length of the northern edge of our country. You will find different places for yourselves, if you so wish it."

"I have already found my place," Tiberius offered. "I have come to inform you men of it. I do believe that I will be taking the Skreen. It presents a rather pleasant location for a man like me."

"We already have General Satorius in the Skreen," the Chief Strategist said impatiently. "You are needed elsewhere, Tiberius. We will have you head towards the Pendragon lands, to stop Blackwell from securing their Capital and Queen Asabel's hold along with it."

Tiberius waved a hand and laughed. "You are old, aren't you? How did you earn your position? I don't see much at all in you, old man. It might be about time that you retired."

Justus stirred. "I would ask that you treat my comrade with more respect, Tiberius. He is owed it. There is a reason that he holds the post that he does."

"Yes – I know that reason. It is because his old boney fingers refuse to let it go," Tiberius said. "If it had been competence and competence alone that awarded such positions, would it not be Minister Hod that ought to hold such a post? Am I wrong, General Tavar?"

Tavar said nothing, for he could not deny it. But nor could the Chief Strategist himself. "Pure ability is not all that this role requires," the Chief Strategist said. "Minister Hod might well be competent, but his personality – just as yours does – presents particular problems."

"Ah, I see. It's a problem of personality. Then, perhaps your problem is a lack of personality?" Tiberius said. "I do not trust your maneuvering, old man. General Karstly will be on his way to the Skreen by now, to tear apart your General Satorius, and crush him against General Skullic's walls. That is a man that I desire to do battle with – General Karstly."

"Karstly is in the Pendragon lands," the Chief Strategist said back.

"Ah, is he?" Tiberius said. "And what good would he be doing there?"

"Pursuing their original goal of securing the Pendragon Capital, naturally," the Chief Strategist said. "If you wish to find him, and do battle with him, then by all means. Follow the direction I send you in, towards those Pendragon lands, and you will undoubtedly find him soon enough."

"You still suppose that their direction is the same. You do not see the tendrils of change caused by Oliver Patrick's victory. Do you think that men like Blackwell and Karstly would fail to make use of the sparks that he had sent flying?" Tiberius said.

Something about the way he pointed that out suddenly seemed convincing. Tavar's eyebrow twitched, and the Chief Strategist grimaced ever so slightly.

"Those expressions tell me that you haven't done much in the way of considering," Tiberius said.

"Why are you quiet?" Germanicus said. "Do you not have the information to silence this fool?"

"Ah, you look to them to defeat me, Germanicus? I had thought you would be the type that would wish to lay hands on me yourself," Tiberius said.

Germanicus let out a low growl. "If you allow him to keep talking, I really will kill him," he warned Tavar.

"I have no doubt of it," Tavar said. "Alas, I do fear, Lord Blake, that Tiberius might be right in this. Blackwell will be making changes in accordance with the victory that General Patrick secured. I do not believe that he will be so quick to let go of Ernest now."

"Who would he send by way of reinforcements, then? Broadstone?" The Chief Strategist said. "No. Broadstone doesn't suit him. Blackwell will want to make use of the sparks, rather than really conserve the position that he has…"

"Blackthorn," General Tavar said, almost at the same instant that the Chief Strategist had thought of it.

"He's looking to expand more…" The Chief Strategist said, pinching the bridge of his nose between his eyes in thought. "He's supposing that, if he repels one more siege, then with Blackthorn well placed, he will expand towards the West and towards the South… That damned man. He's certainly operating on a deal of arrogance."