Chapter 480: A Deal is Made

"What are your orders, Your Majesty?" The captain paused, hesitating to ask the next question. "Will we fire upon the city?" Holding his hands behind his back, he dreaded the answers, hoping that he wouldn’t have to fire on the Empire’s own citizens. There wasn’t a doubt in his mind that Alfred loved the Empire and its people, but the way he had been speaking previously made him nervous.

Staring at Jaslo, he took a deep breath and closed his eyes. Taking the telescope, he watched. He saw the Severian troops hunkered between alleys and roads, using the building as cover. Looking past them, he saw the people of Jaslo. Some walked on the streets, trying to go about their lives as normally as possible. In contrast, others peeked through the curtains, terrified of the invading force, the sight evoking memories of when the Empire first invaded the city.

"Send a messenger to the Severian host. Please tell them I wish to speak with the person in charge. Give my word that I won’t harm them if they agree." Loosening his grip on the railing, he sighed. Although he wished to fight, it would be stupid to do so. He wanted to destroy Severia, but he couldn’t make it so they didn’t have a fighting chance against Lisa.

’I’ve lost sight of the original goal.’Bitterly chuckling to himself, he stared at the city. The primary objective of the war was to instil fear in the world. Now he didn’t know what he wanted. Revenge, the warning to the world, or simple chaos. A loud splash came from the right, and a few minutes later, a rowboat sailed past heading towards the dock.

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"HIS MAJESTY WISHES TO TALK WITH THE MAN IN CHARGE OF THE SEVERIAN MARCH!" The soldier shouted, scanning the port. "NOTE! TRICKING HIM WILL BE SEEN AS A SIGN OF AGGRESSION! YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES TO STEP FORWARD!"

Octavius heard the shout and frowned, "General. Is it a ploy?" One of the commanders asked, staring at the fleet that surrounded the port.

Twelve warships. If we take a guess from the size alone, I would say they can normally hold seven hundred men each if filled to the brim. But with such a short distance to their objective, I don’t think they would have bothered making the trip comfortable and probably tried to put more in." Octavius coldly said. Looking back at the walls of Jaslo, he frowned, "By now, General Hardly will know the trick I pulled and will march this way."

Clicking his tongue, he groaned. His plan was fine on paper. The Ammarys should never have been able to get naval domination with the invading fleet heading to their shore, but seeing Alfred so close, he knew that something had happened.’The Marquess wasn’t lying. They have a weapon for the sea.’It was simple to understand.

"I will talk to him."

"It’s too dangerous. You know we can’t trust the Ammary Emperor. He is a trickster, like Khors."

"I do not have a choice." Octavius leaned closer to his ear, "We will be surrounded within a week or two. It is the only gamble we have." Looking back up at the fleet, he nodded, "Have eyes watching me at all times. This is a port; I’m sure you can find the tools needed to do that. You see me die, take control." Patting his shoulder, Octavius pushed past his men.

"This is General Octavius. Commander of all Severian forces, and sword of the Cosmatos dynasty." With a voice full of pride, he took his helmet off and stared down at the soldier Alfred sent. "I do not come as a hostage but as an equal discussing terms. Is this clear?"

The soldiers looked at one another and nodded. Ovtavius smiled and carefully climbed down to the sailboat. Getting in it rocked slightly, nearly tipping him out.

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Alfred watched from the bridge as Octavius climbed aboard. Looking around, the General showed no fear as he clutched his sword. Two soldiers moved forward, trying to disarm him, but as soon as they got too close, they were pushed away. "I came as an equal, I will not disarm myself for you."

Before the rest of the crew could draw their weapons, Alfred raised his hand, "Stop." With a single word, everyone held their place, freezing. "Octavius. A great name you have, General." Octavius looked up and smirked, going to the edge of the ship so he could be seen by his soldiers on the shore.

"Your majesty." Looking around, he raised his hands in confusion, "Why not come down here. There is so much room, and I don’t like looking up unless it’s to God or my liege."

Alfred chuckled and shook his head, "I’m not an idiot, Octavius. I’m fine up here."

Octavius smiled and shrugged, "So why have you summoned me. Do you wish to surrender Jaslo to me and Severia?"

"Let’s stop with the fake arrogance." Alfred’s smile vanished from his face, "I’ll break the situation down for you. The convoy you sent to invade my home is gone. Destroyed or scattered. The Grand Templar who led it is dead, stabbed through the eye by me. You have a city that is surrounded by the sea and will soon be surrounded by land."

"And you know General Hardly isn’t dead, how?"

"Because it was too quick. And you would have definitely shown me his head if he were dead." Alfred answered quickly, "Listen, whilst I would love nothing more than to butcher you and your men in my city, sending your head back to Julius, that is not the right course of action." His voice was hateful, clenching his teeth after he finished. Clearing his throat, he calmed down, "But if you and all your men die here, Lisa will have a clear path to Severia and the Holy Seat. I want your Empire to collapse, but not at the cost of bringing a second Prodora into the world."

"So what. I surrender. Without a battle." Looking around the deck, he noticed the cannon. Walking over to it, like he owned the ship, he stroked the barrel, "This is your new weapon?"

"Would you like to see it?" Alfred asked with a teasing smile. Looking at a group of sailors, he nodded towards them. Pushing the cannon and aiming it into the sea, they quickly loaded it, crocuhing to the side and covering their ears. Alfred did the same, lifting his hands, watching Octavius’ reaction.

BANG!

Octavius stepped back, covering his ears at the deafening noise and looked into the sea. Seeing the water shoot up into the sky, he took a deep breath and chuckled. "It’s quite something."

"Yes, it is." Alfred pulled his hands off his ears. "And I have enough to destroy your entire force, protecting the port." Octavius opened his mouth, and Alfred raised his hand to stop him, already knowing what he wanted to say, "I’m not an animal. I won’t bombard my own people to destroy you." Leaning forward, his eyes turned empty, a cruel look on his face, "That is, if I have a choice to go about this another way."

Octavius watched and frowned, seeing that Alfred was serious. Looking back at the port, he spoke, "What do you want?"

"Return home. Leave my lands. I promise a safe journey for you and your men. Once you’re outside my lands, if you wish to continue your meaningless campaign, I will happily oblige and see to it that you and the rest of your allies are destroyed, even if it means Lisa succeeds."

"You know I have no authority over this choice."

"Yes, you do." Alfred replied, "You are in charge out here, not Julius. Besides, you were never the force that was meant to take Brookhaven; it was the fleet you painstakingly put together, and, well, that’s gone now. You already lost this war."

Octavius smiled and shook his head, "You misunderstand, Your Majesty. This war isn’t about taking Brookhaven. There is only one goal. To ensure your death. Once that happens, our mission is over."

Alfred smiled and pushed off the railing. Walking around, he lowered the steps onto the deck and walked before Octavius. Lifting his hand, he stopped his men from making a move. "I’m here. Kill me. But do that, and not a single Severian troop will be spared. How many are inside Jaslo? Five Thousand. Ten. Fifteen. More. All of them will die. Adding to the losses at sea, can Severia survive the Lisaponic onslaught?"

Octavius thought for a moment, stroking the tip of his hilt. Staring into Alfred’s eyes, he didn’t see fear, but a taunting look that aggravated anyone who saw it. Breathing deeply, he pulled and seathed his blade over and over, eventually stepping back.

"Won’t do it." Alfred smiled and stepped back, sitting on one of the cannons, "Of course you wouldn’t. It’s stupid. You already know what I say is the truth." Holding his hand out, he smiled like an old friend, "Do we have a deal. Will you leave my home?"

Octavius stared at the hand and took a deep breath. With a shaking hand, he took it and shook it firmly. "We have a deal."

"Brilliant. Now then, I will escort you back to the shore and make sure you leave." Alfred pulled his hand away, "But I can’t just trust your word, so you will stay as my hostage until all Severian troops have left Ammary territory. Once they have, I will release you."

"I’m not a hostage."

"You already lost. You don’t have a say, Octavius." Looking at the crew, he smiled, "LOAD THE CANNONS! SIGNAL THE OTHER SHIPS! AIM AT JASLO!" Looking back at Octavius, he raised his hands and shrugged, "Disagree and they will fire. My hands are tied right now."

Octavius watched as some of the crew hesitated to follow the order. Alfred also noticed and looked at the Unyeilding behind him. With a nod, the soldier understood and went below deck. Returning with a line of Unyielding soldiers behind him, they took over, following the order without hesitation.

"You have thirty seconds to decide." Silently counting down, Alfred stared at Octavius, who looked around. Seeing the cannons being pushed into place, aiming at the city, he looked back at Alfred, unable to tell if he would actually let them fire.

A bead of sweat rolled down his head, and, gritting his teeth, he nodded a single time. "Okay." Octavius sighed, "Okay, but swear not on any God, but on your son’s life, swear on Edward’s life, that you will follow your end of the bargain. If you trick me, may he die a painful death."

Alfred frowned, leaning forward and grabbing Octavius’s collar. "Never. Mention my son again." Staring into the general’s eyes, he took a deep breath and, through gritted teeth, spoke, "I swear." With a nod to one another, Alfred looked around, "IGNORE MY PREVIOUS ORDER! SEND WORD TO THE REST OF THE FLEET!"