90 Capital (1)

"I'm confused." Nikolai declared as he went through some reports in his carriage. "Why is no one interested in that much Infused iron? It's essentially priceless." He tossed the sheaves of paper onto the seat beside him and stared out of the window. Hills in the distance caught his eye and Nikolai realised they were only a few days from the Capital. He'd made this journey many times in the past few years, most of the time by air, but he'd accompanied his mother enough on the road to recognise the familiar landmarks.

Etenani shrugged and leaned back into the padded seats, groaning softly at the comfortable sensation. "Don't know boy. All these nobles are mad anyway."

"You're a noble as well Master." Nikolai mumbled. "Shouldn't you take this more seriously? It's your House that's in trouble."

"What more can I do? I roped you in and you've reached out to everyone you can. The assassination has twisted things in an odd direction, and all the Grand Dukes and Duchesses are playing with their cards hidden. What did your new family say?"

"The Grand Duke was… cold." Nikolai frowned. "Or I should say indifferent. He kept hinting about the Lakes and mentioning countering Avarian influence. How they're connected, I have no idea. Do you have any idea Aunt?"

Natalia snorted and rapped her cane against the wooden floor. They all jumped at the sound and Jarek slid further behind Nikolai to stay out of her line of sight. "That punk refuses to say anything. Says it's for the good of the Empire and I should trust him. But whatever he knows, it has him excited." There was a sharp glint in her eyes and Nikolai guessed she must have seen something through her Truth Seer vision.

"There were no hints?" He stressed the question, probing for information but Natalia simply shook her head and pursed her lips. It made her look like a shrivelled prune.

"If I knew something. I would tell you. What about your girl?"

"Elya's been very busy." [More like evasive. Whenever I try to bring up the election she comes up with some excuse and dashes away. Has her father told her to keep things a secret?]

"So she's been told to keep quiet? Typical of her father. That punk likes his schemes. Unfortunately it looks like we can't rely on House Suzdal."

"Fair enough. I'm surprised you are so willing to go against your House on this."

"It's not like I can cast a vote." She shrugged. "And if I'm honest a big war with Senro is far less interesting than messing around in the Duchies. I've heard they have some fine vintages in their vaults."

Nikolai pursed his lips, refusing to respond to her glowing eyes and his Master's emphatic agreement. He checked the small map in his hands and confirmed they were on track before turning to Etenani. "Does your employer have any other tricks up her sleeves?"

"She's still a Princess boy. Calling her my 'employer' doesn't do her justice."

"Justice would mean she was spanked for her arrogance."

"What did you say?"

"Nothing. Nothing at all." Nikolai coughed and looked away from Jarek's suspicious gaze. His apprentice was far too sensitive to sound. His ability to hear words even at a distance was almost a Talent.

Almost. In the end, it turned out he was just more sensitive to sounds than others.

"No boy. The Princess doesn't have any other tricks. My relatives are unable to make headway themselves and we may have to rely on the secession of the Illyri Dukes to sway the electorate."

"We have no proof of that though." Nikolai pointed out. "And even the Suzdal's who would benefit the most stake in having a stable northern border, would demand some form of assurance beyond the letters of my friends."

"I'm sure the Princess has already planned for it. Even before I left, my cousins informed me of a few of their ideas. They've already made inroads amongst many of the minor Houses. No one believes in the trade opportunities a new province of Illyri would bring. Like you said, without proof they won't risk offending the great Houses they're allied to on the off chance of a secession. However, the thought of capturing that much infused Iron has them chomping at the bit. Even a little piece of the pie means significant wealth."

"The small players won't be enough to swing the vote." Nikolai scratched his cheek and turned to Natalia "Demidov remains silent?"

"I asked one of my old friends but all that's in the Grand Duke's head is playing with his concubines." Natalia spat out the window. It took several careful explanations before she stopped expressing her distaste against the poor floorboards of the carriage. Unfortunately, a muffled curse indicated she got one of their guards and Nikolai stuck his head out to see who their pitiful colleague was.

The poor Suzdal Knight who just approached the carriage to chat with his guards, stared up at him with teary eyes, far too young to be considered a proper knight. Nikolai offered him a handkerchief and sent him on his way.

"Punks." Etenani and Natalia spoke at almost the same time and Jarek snickered at their surprised looks.

"Looks like the weather's great today." Nikolai remarked and refused to look back at the elders. They were bound to be shooting each other terrifying glares.

"Listen boy. The election is important, but Orlov's behaving very strange." Etenani poked him in the arm and Nikolai glowered at the old man.

"The Grand Duke?" Nikolai asked and Etenani nodded. "I've only met him once. During the rewards ceremony after the war. He struck me as a taciturn fellow. A lot like Elya's father actually. Huh is there a Grand Duke training course where they learn to make stony faces and make everyone uncomfortable." Natalia coughed, clutching her mouth as her body spasmed and Jarek scrambled to give her some water, but Nikolai waved him off, knowing the old woman was laughing. "It wasn't that funny." He mumbled.

"You don't know Grand Duke Orlov very well then." She said once she gained control of her smile and went back to her usual sour expression. "He may be taciturn but there's a temper within him unmatched by anyone. He flies off the handle at the smallest thing and his relatives go out of their way to keep him calm. I've heard the Orlov's commissioned a Master Mage to inscribe illusions which would calm their Grand Duke in his study."

"Another mad noble." Etenani pointed out and took a swig from a flask. [I'd thought I confiscated all his liquor? How does he keep finding time between his bouts of sobriety to sneak more alcohol.]

"Aren't we all nobles Grand Master?" Jarek asked.

"Call him old man." Nikolai ruffled the boys hair. "Yes. We are, but Master has this belief that the higher one's station the less sane they are."

"It's not a belief. It's backed by facts. Take a look at the Son of Heaven."

Jarek blinked at the sour expressions on everyone in the carriage and timidly grabbed at Nikolai's sleeve. "Is the Emperor a 'Bad Man'?"

"No." Nikolai shook his head. "He's just a little… eccentric."

Jarek gasped. "If even the Khan says so he must be very ektrinkik."

"Eccentric." Natalia corrected and Nikolai rubbed his apprentice's head again.

Harder.

"You'll meet him soon enough. I've been asked to attend an audience after we arrive in the Capital. But before that, what do you mean if even I say?"

"It means he knows you very well." Etenani slurred, alcohol slopping onto his freshly laundered coat. Natalia frowned at the spectacle and swatted him with her cane.

"What kind of example are you setting for the children? Behave and drink properly."

"You're just sad I have some now that the boy's cut us off."

"I just asked you be sober for the journey. I didn't want to clean my carriage." Nikolai sighed at their stubborn expressions. "I really don't want to clean it again. It took days before the smell went away."