A Time of Tigers - From Peasant to Emperor
Chapter 1888 - 1888: Blessings and Curses - Part 5

"You did not inquire as to Queen Asabel's purpose," Oliver said. "Now I have stated it. She means to come west, with the might of General Blackwell's army as an initial escort. Now that we find our freedom, I plan to go on ahead to meet her, and you, of course, being the honourable Prince that you are, would not begrudge the privilege of escorting Queen Asabel to the lands of your father? It's the sensible thing, is it not? It is recklessness on her part to come forth, even with Blackwell as her protector. We are to carry out a most obvious duty, in removing her from the path of danger, and allowing her to continue west."

"She means to speak to my father?" Prince Hendrick said. "To what purpose? Does she not know that a letter would be far quicker."

"Then you have your answer. It's a purpose that she would deem inappropriate to place in a letter. The same purpose that you and I have danced around already. The purpose of peace between our two sides, and alliance," Oliver said. "Could I be any more upfront with you, Prince Hendick, than that?"

Prince Hendrick retreated back into his room, the well-furnished place that it was. Oliver had barely managed to close the door before he had been set upon by the Prince's questioning – and that was exactly where the two of them had stayed for nearly the entirety of their conversation. Now Prince Hendrick needed the support of a good chair. He fled to a well-cushioned place in front of the roaring fire, decorated in a rich red cloth, rather well suited to the House that he belonged to.

Oliver went after him, and took another chair without comment. He lowered himself down into it with a sigh. "...I might not get up again," he warned with a yawn. "Gods be good, I'm tired… These have been a long few weeks."

He couldn't help leaning back further into it, slouching in the presence of that Prince. He started to unbuckle his gauntlets too, and he tossed them down on the floor.

"...You are an oaf," Prince Hendrick said in wonder, seeing two flashes of the man in one. There was that confidence that came with overwhelm – enough spirit to corner even a Prince. And now, in between that, there was childish honesty. The man was every bit as exhausted as he claimed to be, and he hid none of that from his would-be enemy, as he laid in his chair, seeming very much as if he was about to go to sleep.

"Apologies," Oliver said. "I'm making a mess, but I shall clean up after myself before I leave."

"Then you had best find yourself a broom as large as a kingdom, for it is the entirety of the Stormfront that you would have to clean up," Prince Hendrick said.

Oliver smiled at the joke, and closed his eyes, apparently quite intent on napping. The gaul of the man was something that Hendrick found hard to believe, amongst all else that came with him. He'd fenced his way into Prince Hendrick's room with his words, and he'd claimed a chair for his victory, making it quite quickly his own, as he removed his boots too now, and warmed his frozen feet by the fire.

"...I wonder whether this siege would have been a different thing if it were done in summer," Oliver said, to no one in particular. "The cold – I'm not sure if any could have endured it as well as we that know the Ernest winters."

"The Emerson lands find themselves equally as cold," Prince Hendrick said. "Or, need I remind you, that Ernest itself sits on Emerson lands, and we find the Black Mountains to continue all the way to the sea? Try the same cold, with the sea wind whipping through you. That's a true winter, Oliver Patrick."

"That sounds miserable," Oliver said. "I refuse to imagine it any further."

They sat in silence for a time, with Oliver committing to his nap, seeming well on his way to a proper slumber, and Prince Hendrick sitting quietly in thought, almost to the point of relaxing himself, as he was finally allowed free of that overwhelming presence that had forced him into this position in the first place.

"The capacity of an escort, you said?" Prince Hendrick tried lightly.

The response was immediate, telling him that Oliver hadn't truly been as close to sleep as he'd feigned. Or, at the very least, he was sharp enough still to stir properly when it was required of him. "That is indeed what I said."

"Presumably to defend against all manner of attack, be it Tiberius, or otherwise?"

"Now you understand why it would be useful for us," Oliver said.

"...And my benefit would be my freedom, and that of my men. Your benefit would be the same, to wash your hands of us."

"Indeed," Oliver agreed. "We could leave Ernest more safely than it was before, without a potential enemy sitting and waiting, ready to disabuse us whenever there comes a siege."

"What of after?" Prince Hendrick said. "After we bring Queen Asabel to entreat with my father, would you have me return into captivity?"

"That would be a rather difficult thing to enforce," Oliver asked. "I will ask for no such thing. I hold no ill will against you, Prince Hendrick."

"You almost seem like you're looking for an excuse to free us…" Prince Hendrick said.

"Is that how it seems?"

"That is indeed how it seems."

Oliver gave no more reply to that.

"Then, discuss with me the nature of these expectations. Our presence, it would merely be to defend Queen Asabel?" Prince Hendrick asked.

"That is so. You will assist our own men in matters of defence. That, surely, lies well within the code of honour, does it not? You would not wish to see a Queen cut down on her way to discuss peace."