Chapter 173: Preparations

Sven knew he was losing. Looking at the white expanse as he rode back home was enough proof. He expected to be able to spend a day or two in Helstia and get a feel for things, but it was a complete humiliation. That being said he knew it wasn’t over yet. He would eventually win against Helga, but now wasn’t the time to think like that.

First, he had to finish his blood feud. That was the main priority. Only when those two were dead could he even think about making himself King. He sighed. Why did he have such ambition in the first place? Sven didn’t know. Was it when he found out a woman had become a Queen before he was a King? Was it when he wanted to end his blood feud and take those two lands?

He shook his head. He was at a loss. But he still was clear on his goal. Take control of those two lands before Helga can give them away. It would be hard, but if he played on her desire enough, he may be able to please her enough to give it. For now, all he had to do was act like an obedient dog. She knew he wasn’t truthful in his pledge but he was useful enough to not remove. He just had to remain that way.

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"I have heard some... funny things." Helga sat at the head of her most powerful vassals and warriors. They all held their breaths not daring to breathe too loudly. Their eyes never left the cold blue jewels that looked at them with utter disdain. "Would anyone like to repeat it?" It was like talking to a child who had said something bad, but no one laughed and could only gulp as cold chills ran down their spins.

Helga looked around and raised her hand gesturing to the group to speak up. Whilst she would usually take some enjoyment out of it, she couldn’t feel anything but annoyance at the very thought someone would try and take her place without her knowledge. "No one." She gave a soft smile after saying that. "Then I will. Words about holding my place whilst I am away seem to have been spoken."

She put a disgusted face on whilst looking down at them. "In what world did you think any of you were qualified to dare sit in my seat?" With a huff, she looked away and tapped on her chair. "That being said, despite how incompetent and unqualified you are compared to me, someone must hold my seat whilst I am away, or anarchy and traitors will arise."

Despite their fears, a couple straightened their backs and took small steps, in hopes of being picked. Helga looked at them. She had gotten a list from Ivar after Sven’s departure of those who spoke to him and those who didn’t. Those who did were already ruled out. After that, it was a choice between her most faithful but Helga already had a choice. "Ivar." The list was simply so she could know who to trust during her war. Out of all her followers, Ivar had been one of the few to pass with flying colors. Despite that, he had gone above and made himself useful after the tests.

Ivar walked forward. His face beamed with pride at being picked and falling down to his knee, he looked back with a victorious look plastered on his face. "You have proven to be somewhat competent. You will take my place. You already know what to do when I am gone. Don’t fail me."

"Of course my Lord." Ivar bowed even deeper facing her but the smile on his face never left.’One step closer to her.’It was a massive victory and he knew that he could mess up. If he did, he couldn’t guarantee his life.

"Good." Standing up Helga walked forward. "We shall leave in two days. Have your bannermen ready to march west. We shall meet up with those who have already left." With her final piece she left the room and only then did Ivar rise. Looking back at the people in the room with him he smiled at their dissatisfied eyes.

’He is like my new Halfdan.’Helga smiled happily on her way out.’But better.’She had always been wary when Halfdan was by her side. He held no true loyalties to her unlike Ivar and was the only person who made her feel an ounce of fear. Unpredictable and impossible to read. Whilst he may have been smarter, Ivar made up for that with blind loyalty.

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Touching the stone ground at Nakhla, a lone bishop knelt down and held his hand on it. "How I have missed the feel of the earth." Bishop Blackwood wore a satisfied smile as he stood up. His caramel hair absorbed the sunlight that attacked his body and he couldn’t help but bask in its warmth for a while.

Hearing the armored footsteps from behind he saw his guard coming down following behind and he knew it was time to move. Looking at them he smiled, his face not showing an ounce of malice. "You understand your mission, Bishop." An Elder walked up next to him from behind the Inquisition guard making Blackwood nod.

"Of course." It was a playful response and the old man frowned upon hearing it.

"This is not a joke. The Church’s influence has become weak here. One wrong move and you will disappear."

To the cold voice, Blackwood sighed. "You do me a disservice." Blackwood turned to face the city before him. "The fact I am here is enough to show how serious I am."

"Cardinal Francis has placed a lot of trust in you for this; even going behind His Holiness’s back to send you here. Walk with me." The elder paced forward, and Blackwood walked alongside him as they made their way through the clean streets. The sound of laughter and shouts as people bartered with the street stalls was a stark contrast to the state of the city months ago.

"There are many who think appeasing the Blessed One is the best cause of action, but they are fools. He may be touched by our lord, but he holds no respect for him. The way he interacts with those heathens is evident enough."

"Elder." Blackwood cut in with a calm voice. "It is best you don’t voice your thoughts so loud here." Looking around the old man sighed and nodded.

"You’re right." He spoke in a hushed voice, realizing his mistake. "While allowing a degree of freedom for the Blessed One is still necessary, we must shackle him to the church. Speaking solely on the monetary losses we have gotten after Archbishop Raven’s tenure in power is enough to realize how far our power has slipped."

"The problem is the clergy has been upended here. Loyalists to the Blessed One have been placed in power. Those corrupt fools, whilst a stain on our glorious church, would have been useful to use." Blackwood could only feel regret at the loss of people who would have been easy to control.

"And it is why Cardinal Francis has sent you." The elder cut in with a powerful voice. "The means by which you secure the seat does not matter. The Cardinal and a few others will provide you with the support you need but it still won’t be easy. The Blessed One is the least of your concerns here."

"What do you mean?" His confusion was evident and the Elder sighed.

"You have studied the forces in the Empire that are of concern correct?" To his question, he saw Blackwood nod. "Whilst the Blessed One is an open threat, he must move carefully in every action he takes. It is easier to watch for him. But there exist forces here that are unseen. Two to be exact."

"The Underwells and the Ex-Safrid Regent, Adrian. The Underwells as you know have mastered the art of espionage and whilst the previous Kingdom didn’t even matter in the eyes of anyone until recently, they have honed the craft to near perfection. They were and still are the most dangerous weapon here. It’s a shame they have been stuck in the backwater Kingdom for so long. If they were in the Severian Empire, the Years of Darkness may have never happened."

It was immense praise and Blackwood was shocked by it to the point where he stopped and looked at the old man in disbelief. "You can’t be serious. Sure the Kingdom has now become the Empire and became something we can’t ignore anymore, but are they truly that dangerous?"

"More than you think. Every aspect of the Empire has their fangs in it and the current patriarch of the family seems to be one of the best in its history. So when I warn you to be wary of them, it is not empty words, but a warning I want you to keep close to your heart. Anything offered to you that has not been tested by a trusted member of your circle, do not accept. Anything. No matter if it’s the smallest crumb of food or a drop of water."

Blackwood gave a deep nod in understanding, his calm smile now gone. "What about the man you spoke of? Adrian?"

"He’s a tricky one." The Elder spoke with an annoyed voice. "We didn’t really know much about him until recently. Thanks to the delay we caused we had time to compile enough intelligence. As I said we didn’t know much, he didn’t even appear on our radar."

"As you know the conquest of the Safrid lands had many aspects that allowed the Kingdom to win so easily and form the Empire, but what we didn’t know was the entire inner court of the Sultanate had been usurped by him to pave an easy path for the war. His network within the conquered lands is expansive and in Almaris, nothing moves without his knowledge."

"Tread carefully around him. He’s dangerous, not so much as the Underwells, but he can’t be looked down on." Blackwood could only give a bitter laugh as he grabbed his forehead.

"This does not look favorable." He spoke once more with his playful voice and the calm smile returned to his lips.

"Do not worry. They are not omniscient. Though they have a wide net, it is hard to track a single person forever. Do not worry too much, just keep the warning in mind."

The Elder stopped and looked back at the ship. "Meet with those on our side here. Whilst the Underwells may know who they are, it will be safe. They won’t dare make moves against so many operatives of the Church unless they wish to go against us. As for me, I must leave soon and return. My lack of presence will be noticed if I stay too long."

Blackwood nodded and clasped his hands together giving a religious bow towards the old man. "May Sol guide you on a swift and safe return." The Elder returned the bow, leaving Blackwood alone with his guard.