A Time of Tigers - From Peasant to Emperor
Chapter 1714 - 1714: The Emperor - Part 8

That, Karstly did not reply to. Samuel wanted to jump in on behalf of his Lord, to shout up in defence. How were they mortal men meant to fight against the likes of Tiberius? How would anyone dodge a trap that was so perfectly laid to blind them? How could that be expected of them?

But he held his tongue, for he knew indeed that was exactly what Karstly expected of himself. To have been outdone so thoroughly, the young General would not like it.

After a few minutes of thought, with them simply watching Tiberius from a distance, marching ever closer to the Skreen, Karstly perked up with a sudden realization. "I did not see through Tiberius' antics. But you did, Minister. How? How did you know to be here to warn me?"

Hod looked at him. "For the same reason that I knew you yourself would be here."

"Because you were informed of it?" Karstly asked.

"Was I?" Hod said. "How did Lord Blackwell know to find me? How did his crows know where to fly?"

Karstly stared Hod down, looking deep into those terribly terrifying pale blue eyes that the Minister had. Only in seeing Karstly so duel with him was Samuel able to appreciate it for himself. The Minister that had ridden all that way by his lonesome to warn them – he was a monster of his own special sort. A monster that Samuel was very glad to have on his side.

Skullic did not seem nearly so affected by the Minister's genius. Quite the contrary, he seemed used to it, to the point that he could wear distaste instead. "Could you not find it in your plans to see a way of spearing my home castle from enemy capture?" Skullic said to him. "I would have preferred you had warned me in advance. I have left good servants in there, men that do not deserve the harm that is about to come their way."

"Then shed tears for them," Hod said mercilessly. "You have been wise enough to secret much of your workforce out during this siege, your Lady wife included. Thank your own foresight in that, else more would have been massacred."

"…You know that pleases me not," Skullic said.

"And you know it bothers me not," Hod said. "Your own sentimentalities are a problem chiefly only of you. My interest is in winning this war. Or would you rather I direct my attention elsewhere, and leave you with the likes of Tiberius to deal with yourself? Or Emperor Tiberius, as he does call himself."

"Emperor Tiberius?" Karstly said, snorting in scorn. "That arrogant bastard. Does he suppose that he is so far above us?"

"Has he not already proved that he is?" Hod said. "You have failed to match him – and look, he has captured a key castle, and routed out a defender without a fight. He has done that which Satorius failed to do after weeks of prolonged siege. He turned the slaughter of Satorius to his advantage, and has claimed victory in this battle. Strategically, this is our defeat."

"Nonsense," Karstly said. "We have lost no men. They have lost ten thousand."

"Three thousand of which Tiberius slew himself," Hod said. "Do you think he was concerned with preserving the life of Satorius and his underlings? He sees all that do not bend the knee to him as mere obstacles. You have acted on his behalf, and you have carried out his intentions. Indeed, this day, you have served that man Tiberius more than you have served yourself. You dance to his tune, General Karstly. Does that bother you?"

"You know very well that it does," Karstly said fiercely.

"Good," Hod said, without mercy. "Then I shall expect better things from you, or I shall cease to expect anything from you at all. Behold the calibre of opposition that we are made to face, and know that he is only a single piece an axis of the High King's allies that we ought fear. You have not faced Tavar yet, and you know not the monster that is Germanicus."

"They are both as strong as he, is that the claim you make?" Karstly asked.

"They are both as monstrous as he, in their own ways," Hod said. "They are not him. Their strategies and their fighting are indeed different, but they will put a sword to your throat, Karstly, with the same amount of overwhelm and effectiveness."

"You declare me not the equal of even one of them?" Karstly said.

"Is that not natural, Karstly?" Skullic interrupted. "Why are you so afeared by that fact? We lack the experience of those above us. This war presents opportunity."

"Do not compare me to the likes of you, Skullic, you are not my equal either," Karstly said.

"Ah, how the fox does squeal to let the rabbit know that he is beneath him," Hod said. "But you are still a mere fox, Karstly. There are Tigers afoot – are you content to merely be what you are?"

"Minister…" Skullic said, grinding his teeth in anger.

"Yes, yes," Hod said. "I am not in agreement with Karstly's point either. You have misevaluated Skullic here, just as you misevaluated Tiberius. Skullic has been of more use to me than you – he, at the very least, knows his weaknesses, and knows his betters. I cannot swing a sword like either of you men, nor command an army with your vigour. But know that in the matter of strategy, I aim to operate without equal. Mine is a strength that you ought trust, and rely on, at least until you are quite certain that you are above me. Are you certain of that, Karstly?"

"…No," Karstly responded, looking away.

"Good," Hod said. "Then you are at least sane enough to be honest."

They were made to watch, as Emperor Tiberius wandering in through the wide open gates of the Skreen, as disdainfully smug as a cat with his eyes fixed upon a pigeon. If there was ever any doubt about Hod's words and assertion that they had indeed lost this battle, that doubt was eradicated then.