Silence! I Kill You!
Year of the Golden Gilled Boar, 1983, Veeratha, Naesu 6th
If disbelief was a person, I was it. I wouldn’t say Litoc shrank, but he was unable to meet my eyes. Jakeli looked at me expectantly. The most unbelievable reaction, however, came from Hanni.
She laughed so hard that I felt like there was a joke somewhere and I wasn’t in on it. I felt like slapping the cousins. It probably would have been within my rights too.
“I’m going back to our quarters Jorj.” Hanni said, still laughing.
“This has got to be the most misguided of all the misguided notions the two of you had.” I started. “What part of ‘I don’t want any part in this’ made you think I wanted to be a part of this?”
“You’re already a part of this. You made yourself a part of this when you came up with these ideas.” Said Jakeli.
“I came up with those ideas to distance myself from all of these! Haven’t I made that clear enough or do I have to put another arrow through you?” I thundered.
Unlike Hanni, I did not find this funny at all and if reminding the prince just what I was willing to do to get what I wanted, then so be it.
“Now, Jorj, ‘ear us out first, will ye?”
“Litoc, you above all should understand why I don’t want to be a part of this. Why you’d even consider this is beyond me!”
“Jorj, it’s not his fault. I brought it up. But we do need you if this is to succeed. People of your… talents seems to be in short supply.”
“I should not have stayed. It’s like Hanni said. You people are hopeless! It’s not hard. You’re royals! If you can send agents to another kingdom to watch and report back to you, you can send somebody else to do whatever it is you think only I can do.”
“It’s not ‘cause we think only ye can do it, well not only that, but we don’t think anyone else can oversee the whole thin’ without compromisin’ us.” Litoc explained.
“It’s true. As we deliberated with the loremaster, we came to understand what’s at stake here. We cannot risk the process to just hearing whatever the wind blows our way. After we make a move, there will be a reaction. It’s like you said, it may happen at once, it may happen later but whatever happens, we need to know soon enough. Without additions, or deductions.” Jakeli elaborated.
“I still don’t see why that’s my problem. If it’s about my demand, you can forget it.”
“A plan this big, makes one susceptible ta certain… overtures.”
“Oh, you think I won’t sell you out? What makes you think I won’t just walk up to this Amreth person and offer him my plans instead? I would do anything,” I eyed both of them, “anything to live a peaceful life. Free from all these. If you insist on disrupting that, watch me do exactly what I say!”
“Ye won’t do that Jorj. We know ye won’t.”
“What’s that supposed to mean? Is that a threat? Is that what this is?”
“No one is threatening you, or anyone you care about Jorj. We just need someone who will not bend to overwhelming temptation. You will not see combat. In fact, you will be far from it. You will only pretend to be an innkeeper, listen to the people there, receive reports, send accounts, give orders as you see fit. Nothing dangerous.”
“Only for a year or so, Jorj. ‘s’all we’re asking.”
“I’m well aware how long it would take, it’s my waving plan! Litoc! Can you hear yourself right now? I have children to look after. Children!” I said, fuming.
“We will take care of them. I’ll treat them as my own until you get back. In exchange, I, we, will give you everything. Everything Jorj.” Jakeli said.
Ah, shit. Here we go again.
“You mean you’re keeping them hostage? Do you really think I’m that dumb?”
“It’s not that Jorj. We knowin’ goin’ there might pose some problems. Ye can take them with ye if ye want.”
“Unbelievable!” I spat, shaking my head and walking away.
“Ailian Jorj,” Litoc called after me, “Just think about it. we ‘ave a bit o’ time!”
“I’m done dealing with the both of you. We’re going first thing tomorrow. And you,” I turned to Litoc, “you can go do what you wanted to do. Go get yourself killed while you’re at it.”