A Time of Tigers - From Peasant to Emperor
Chapter 1751 - 1751: A Long Slumber - Part 8

"It was a mere fork," Blackthorn said. "We would not lose a city to such a minor tactic."

"Yet you very nearly did," Hod said. "There is no shame in it, General Blackthorn. I am not here merely to insult you. You are outmatched. But it is Tavar that you fight against. Tavar, and King Germanicus, and an army of a hundred thousand. It is only natural that you would find yourself in the place that you did. I will congratulate you sincerely on surviving as long as you did. I was not certain that you would be able to."

General Blackthorn studied the man with narrowed eyes. "You speak always with the same tone of condescension. Why do you not say what it is that you really mean, mm? You look down on us – but you wear a coat of sweat from merely crossing through the city to reach us."

"That is merely how my voice sounds, General," Hod said. "You may relax. I have no qualms with you, currently. You have done all you can. I shall reserve my disdain now only for Karstly."

"Karstly? What does he have to do with this?" Blackthorn said.

Hod shrugged. "I will explain the position of Karstly and Skullic's armies later. For now, I will merely say that the man has served to irritate me. What good am I if my pieces refuse to obey my command, mm?"

"Pieces, are we?" General Blackthorn said, his rage swirling again. "Do you think I would be the mere piece of the likes of you, Minister?"

"Why ever not?" Hod said. "Do you pursue victory, General Blackthorn, or do you simply pursue excitement? I do not relegate you from command. I am not here to take over from you. I am simply an added instrument in the realm of strategy."

By the time Oliver came down to meet the two of them from the north wall, they were still arguing.

He couldn't hide his smile of relief in seeing Minister Hod. "Minister!" He called out as he came up the stairs.

"Ah, yes. General Patrick," Minister Hod said, raising a hand in greeting.

"I knew it had to be someone like you," Oliver said. "Causing that much of a stir on the battlefield. I don't know how you manage to take such a degree of command without me seeing you."

"Necessity creates the strangest little avenues of potential," Hod replied. "I hope you do not mind me making use of your men."

"Mind? We would have lost without your assistance. I only have gratitude for you," Oliver said. "Ah, you're here as well, Verdant. How goes it? You haven't acquired any more wounds, have you?"

"I thought you might be making your way here," Verdant replied. "It seemed the quicker option as far as meeting you. And you need not worry. The wounds of today have only been minor things."

"Is theirs not a more sensible reaction to my arrival, General Blackthorn?" Hod said.

General Blackthorn growled in response.

"Is there some sort of issue?" Oliver asked, confused.

"Not everyone seems so willing to accept an outside hand on their battlefields," Hod said. "You, at the very least, have the sense to acknowledge your weakness in strategy."

"…But of course," Oliver said, still confused. "General Blackthorn, surely you don't mean to attempt to turn the Minister away? Has he not already demonstrated our need for him, in coming to our aid as he did today?"

"I would also argue against turning Minister Hod away," the Minister of Blades said, speaking up, joining what had become an impromptu meeting of the higher command, as they reflected on the battle of the day.

"What fool has gone around spreading the notion that I would turn him away?" Blackthorn said hotly. "I recognize his worth. I just don't particularly like him."

"…Well, there's not much I can do to fix that," Hod said with a shrug. "Very few people do indeed like me."

"If that's the only issue," Oliver said. "I can't see what we're having an argument about. We are far better placed here as a defensive force with the Minister on our side. Fighting both Tavar and Germanicus at once, we are naturally inclined to struggle. If we can find assistance in the realm of strategy, are you and I both not freer in our operations, General? If we can focus entirely on the wall in front of us, which should at least always be able to guarantee the victory of the north and south walls. That is an exercise in control."

Hod nodded towards Oliver, seemingly as a jab at Blackthorn. "That you need to take lessons in strategy from General Patrick – does that not point to a problem, General?"

"Enough of it," Blackthorn said. "I tire of this talk. I have not spoken against the usefulness of the Minister. He will take up his post as Chief Strategist, as he is entitled to. And we will do what we can otherwise."

"There we are," Hod said. "A conclusion that should have been natural from the start. If only you knew how quickly I had to ride to get here. And to have to put together a victory right off the saddle of my horse? Gratitude would perhaps have been something."

"At the very least, you've got my gratitude," Oliver said. "It's a mark of relief for me that you're here. I have had the feeling that Tavar has simply been feeling us out these past few days. Victory seemed a questionable prospect. But with you here, I think we've got something closer to certainty."

The Minister of Blades grunted in agreement.

"Whilst I am flattered that you hold my abilities in such high regard," Hod said. "The fact that I will be staying here is due to that particular issue. Even with myself included, operating to the best of my abilities, it is a question of whether we might be able to march Tavar and Germanicus or not. I do not think I am being too pessimistic when I suggest that the best thing we might be able to achieve here is a draw."

"A draw?" Oliver said, pulling his eyebrows together in a frown. "With both you and General Blackthorn and the Minister of Blades all together?"