A Time of Tigers - From Peasant to Emperor
Chapter 1697 - 1697: The Cause of a Tempest - Part 5

"Who was the man that rode with him? The giant, with those paints on his face?" Oliver asked. The man's horse had been almost as big as he was. To the point that Oliver was almost convinced that it was a different species altogether. Some offshoot on the ancient mammoths that were said to live all the way to the west of Yarmdon territory.

"That would be Germanicus, I do suppose," the Minister of Blades said. "The information that we've been given seems to be correct. I had doubted it – he is not the sort of man that would willingly engage in something like this. But it does seem as if the Treeants have forced him into the position of King."

"So that's the King of the Treeants?" Oliver said. "He seems… Strong."

He gave that announcement with the slightest of frowns. It was a strength different to the normal sort of evaluating strength that he got from evaluating a man's position amongst the Boundaries. It was more like Gar's strength. Something that was difficult to define unless it was felt up close, in battle, man to man. Though Oliver had the sense that Germanicus wasn't the sort of foe that he would wish to do individual battle with.

"Strong, indeed," the Minister of Blades said. "He was strong during his time at the Academy. Overwhelmingly so. He belonged more in the Academy's forest than he did in the grounds itself. You had best be wary of his like, General Patrick. Do not assume your skill as a Sword could overcome him. I do not think my own capacity could – not anymore."

"And during your time at the Academy? Could it then?" Oliver asked.

"Even then, I was wary of him," the Minister responded. "He had injured his Professor, in asking the man to duel him. He'd said that he wished to learn more from the man. The result forced his withdrawing from the Academy, but if he had stayed, I do not think that he would have stopped his duelling. One day, his duels would have landed him at my door."

"Hm," Oliver said. "I shall be wary of him then. And their number?"

"A hundred thousand strong, possibly," the Minister of Blades said. "Perhaps less. But it is around that mark. They'll move slowly, for the weight of their own men. General Blackthorn's assumption that we have a few weeks before they arrive is accurate. Two weeks from today, maybe, if we are lucky. More, if they decide to alter their strategy."

"More, if we can attempt to slow them," Oliver said.

"…Can we?" The Minister asked. He pointed at the column that was still marching on. "Our antics just now did not serve to slow them."

"One does not need to kill horse and rider in the same blow, Minister," Oliver assured him. "Our presence here is enough."

"And those villages that you intend to beseech for their support? What of when you bring a horde of cavalry to their door?" The Minister asked.

"We shall find a way," Oliver said.

"I do not question you because I mistrust your strategy. I have seen its efficacy. At least, the strategy you employed against the Emersons," the Minister said. "I only worry that it will step too far into the realm of recklessness, against the likes of Tavar. Any other foe, and I would have no question for you. But, General Patrick, I can not understate that you ought not underestimate Tavar. The Academy walls might make him seem dusty to the likes of the realm, but he has not lost his sharpness."

"You have a great amount of respect for him," Oliver noted.

"A respect that he has well earned," the Minister said. "Perhaps you will not understand until you feel it yourself. But there's a man that in the likes of strategy, even managed to earn Hod's respect. Does that mean anything to you?"

"…I suppose it does," Oliver said. "Hod is rather terrifying, after all. Though I wish the man was less of a phantom than he currently appears… We could rather do with his assistance."

"Hod will do what Hod always does," the Minister said. "That is, exactly what he wishes. Tavar knew how to handle him, but Tavar is likely the only person in the kingdom that could. If you understand Hod well enough to know to fear him, then use that understanding to give Tavar the same degree of respect, if not more."

"I shall bear that in mind, Minister," Oliver said.

The Minister of Blades nodded sternly. "As long as you keep it in the back of your mind, that is all I can ask. Tavar is a fearsome creature. It is worth the caution. There are likely two whole hours before that sun begins to set today. What more would you have our men do?"

"Well, I think it's best that we go in and bother our enemy some more. We can't very well have them ignoring us," Oliver said.

"'Ignoring us', is it?" The Minister of Blades murmured to himself with a shake of his head, feeling very much as if his words had drifted over Oliver's head, with that silly little hat that he was wearing, in the same way that the gentle wintery breeze was brushing off all of them. "Very well. Prepare yourselves, soldiers. This time, I do not think it will be so easy."

Lasha wore a rare – and rather small smirk – as she saw the interaction. "Even knowing it of you, Oliver, and with them expecting it, you still end up bothering people."

Oliver barked a small laugh. "I suppose so. But then, I suppose this to be a degree of recklessness that I have not toyed with in a good while."

"You just fought twenty thousand Emerson men, heavily outnumbered," Lasha pointed out.

"Oh. Nevermind then," Oliver said. "Perhaps if I said this is the first time in a while that I've done it willingly?"