Disclaimer: The author of this fanfiction does not, in any way, profit from the story. All creative rights to the characters belong to their original creator(s).
The Reclamation of Paralon
by Pout
Chapter 4: Ellestor
“Good Gods! You’re all covered in shi-!”
“Shishido!”
“I refuse to bow. It’ll put me downwind of you. Your smell is positively rotting!”
“Shishido!!”
“Oh, you look disgusting. And you call yourself royalty!”
“Ryou!!”
“Well met, I suppose, Shishido, Ootori,” Oishi said smiling as he hopped down from the cart to meet their hosts. “My friends, let me introduce Lord Shishido Ryou of Ellestor and Ootori Choutarou, second son of the Lord of Savond.”
“Hold on, let me back up,” Shishido grumbled.
Beside him, the man named Ootori smiled welcomingly and apologized for the Lord of the Grand Estate of Ellestor. He gestured for them to enter the manor. “Why don’t you-”
“Take a bath!”
There was an irritated hiss. “It’s not like we like this.”
They entered the manor and Shishido began gesturing to his staff. “Make sure to burn the rugs later.”
Ootori smiled broadly. “Welcome to Ellestor.”
Two hours later, Lord Shishido heaved sigh of relief. “Much better.”
The group had bathed and the clinging smell had been combated with heavily scented perfumes.
Eiji and Momoshiro were beaming at the lavish treatment and the fine clothes they were given to wear. Kamio, on the other hand, had already pocketed a number of the finer knickknacks and was trying to decide whether or not he could swipe the silverware while they were still eating.
At the head of the table, Prince Oishi presided over the meal with the Lord Ellestor to his right in the seat of deference.
Shishido Ryou was a man of medium height, with short brown hair and pretty, pouting lips. He was straightforward to the point of bluntness and wholly unsympathetic, with a soft spot for the man sitting to his right.
Ootori Choutarou was tall, with ash-colored hair and the sweetest, kindest smile that seemed to forgive everything. He was gentle and caring and perhaps everything that the Lord Shishido was not. As the meal was served, Momoshiro dared to aim a few favorable glances at the taller man only to find Lord Shishido glaring back at him threateningly. Eiji had to kick his friend in the shins under the table before he gave it up.
“So, you really did wade through a sewer?” Shishido asked with a look on his face that was at once disgusted and disbelieving.
“I thought we had moved past that,” Fuji said, still smiling.
“Apparently not,” Tezuka sighed.
“I remember you, Tezuka,” Shishido said suddenly. “You were friends with Atobe.”
Tezuka’s soup spoon paused on its way to his lips. “I would not call us ‘friends’ precisely. Acquaintances, perhaps.”
“Atobe?” Fuji inquired. “As in Atobe of Jagroth? I didn’t know you knew him, Tezuka.”
Shishido snorted. “The conceited bastard.”
“Shishido,” Ootori chastised.
“So, I know Fuji from Eilis and I met Inui at the palace. Who are the rest of you people?”
Eiji choked and Momo sputtered as Kamio cleared his throat and said, “We’re…merchandise specialists. The name’s Kamio Akira. That’s Momoshiro Takashi and Kikumaru Eiji.”
Shishido frowned as he examined the three men. “So you’re crooked.”
“Shishido!”
“I’ll give you 500 silvers if you can get the Kisarazu twins out of my province. All you street rats know each other, right?”
“Shishido!!” This time the prince joined in the chastising.
But Momo started laughing and Kamio just shrugged his shoulders and smirked right back at the Lord Ellestor. Eiji was giggling as he shook his head and replied, “There’s no way we’d make a play on the Kisarazus! Are you kidding me?”
Shishido sighed. “It was worth a shot.”
Momo snorted and swiped his left eyebrow with his right hand. Eiji and Kamio started to snicker. Kamio flicked the side of his nose with his thumb and scratched his cheek. Eiji shook his head slightly and tossed his bangs out of his eyes with a lilting: “Hoi.”
“What was that?” Inui asked, undeniably curious. “Some sort of secret code?”
“It’s crook-speak,” Shishido accused.
“Can you really carry on conversations like that?” Fuji smiled.
“Is it a universal code?” Inui asked. “Or does it vary city to city? Is there a grammar or is it contextual?”
“Inui,” Oishi intervened before the man could get on a roll. “You can interrogate them later.”
The statistician nodded and pulled out a small notebook and jotted something down within its pages, most likely a note to finish the questioning later.
“All right,” Shishido said, “Now tell me all that’s happened.”
So Oishi described the assassination plot at the palace and the subsequent chase. “We went further north to Mambaran, but…”
“The Lord Mambaran is one of the Regent’s men,” Shishido finished with a disapproving shake of his head. “I can’t wait to crush him. Him and his slimy son, Hiroku, too. I’m sure you saw the state of things in Mambaran.”
“It’s unacceptable,” the prince said firmly. “I hadn’t thought it was that bad until I saw it for myself.”
The northeast region was currently experiencing a disabling crop infestation. The resulting food shortage was painfully apparent in the crippled work force and the overwhelming population of the underprivileged roaming the streets.
“We were lucky. We got out of the city just before the guard arrived.”
“Mambaran is close enough, it’s a wonder the Royal Guard wasn’t dispatched immediately.”
“Most of the Royal Guard is already stationed in Balistor and Strasie,” Tezuka supplied.
“Strasie? What’s happening in Strasie? The kingdom is going to the shi-”
“The kingdom is in trouble,” Ootori rephrased. “It really is terrible, My Lord. Did you pass through The Hook? They’re in trouble there.”
The prince nodded gravely. “We saw the flooding.”
“The water damage has also destabilized the surrounding cliff area,” Inui added.
Ootori frowned. “You mean the High Rise? It’s a highly populated area.”
“Yes, I calculate the ledge will fail within the next two years.”
“Two years? The flooding will subside by then, won’t it?”
“The dispersed population from the plains has migrated to the High Rise. With the additional weight of the new tenants, structural collapse is imminent.”
Eiji’s eyes were wide as he glanced around the table. The others looked grave, but defeated. “That’s it? Can’t we do something about it?”
Shishido snorted. “Like what? Pass out flyers? Nothing’s going to get an entire community to abandon their homes, especially if there isn’t anyplace for them to go.”
“Nothing short of an order of evacuation from the capital would be effective,” Fuji said.
Ootori nodded slowly. “And they’ll never issue such an order because it would mean leaving the mines unmanned.”
“It’s really that corrupt?” Kamio asked angrily. “They’d let an entire community fall, literally, just for another year of profit?” It was a question that needed no spoken answer.
Shishido tapped his chin thoughtfully. “What are you thinking, Oishi? Do you plan to reclaim Paralon?”
Without hesitation, the prince calmly met his eyes: “Of course. It is my kingdom.”
After dinner, they retired to their rooms for the evening to rest after a rather harrowing adventure. Shishido and Ootori saw their guests escorted to their rooms, then walked together to their bedroom to settle in for the night.
“What do you think, Choutarou? Should Ellestor back him?”
“He seemed pretty determined at dinner. And Paralon desperately needs a new regime.”
Shishido nodded. “I’ve known Oishi for a long time. He hasn’t changed one bit.”
“And that means?”
Shishido shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“Just say it,” Ootori said with a look.
Shishido hesitated slightly, but answered, “The Regent never gave him a territory. He’s never really governed before.”
His partner smiled. “And I suppose you’re the big expert?”
“Mother died three years ago. At the very least, I have three years worth of experience over him.”
“In that case, Atobe has at least five years now, so that makes him-”
“Don’t even finish that thought, Choutarou.” Ootori chuckled. “It’s just that taking over as king after an uncontested succession is one thing; taking over after a coup is something else entirely.”
“You’d rather we stuck with the Regent?”
Shishido glared at his partner. “A revolt will necessitate war. The corruption is widespread; he doesn’t have the backing to mount an attack.”
“You heard him: he’s going to take back the throne. Would you let him do it alone?”
Shishido frowned heavily.
“This isn’t really about whether you think he can do it, is it, Ryou?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
The younger man smiled gently. “You’re worried about him. You see a younger you in him.”
Shishido snorted and scoffed at the idea. “Idiot,” he said as he opened the door to their chambers. “I don’t see me. I see you.” He pulled the other man in for a light kiss then pushed him through the open door.
“Me?” one could hear Ootori question from within. “Should I be jealous?”
“Idiot,” was Shishido’s gruff reply as the door shut with a firm click behind them.
The next morning, Eiji was woken up from his comfortable sleep by the sound of polite knocking on his door. He was surprised for a number of reasons: one, he had a door, two, he had actually been sleeping comfortably in a bed and not the cold, grimy floor of a cave.
He hopped over to the door and opened it a crack to see who it was.
A young servant boy greeted him and announced that he should come down to the dining hall to break his fast. Eiji smiled and replied that he would be down shortly. After dressing and hiding all of his weapons in the folds of his new, clean, expensive clothes, he headed out.
Upon opening the door, he saw a familiar figure coming down the hall. Eiji smiled and waved. “Shitou! ‘Morning!” He immediately berated himself: That’s the Prince! You don’t go around just calling out-
“Good morning, Kikumaru. Please, call me Oishi. I doubt we’ll have any problems here in Ellestor.”
“Ah…good morning…” Eiji trailed off. He couldn’t find it in himself to do as he was asked. Calling the prince by his name seemed like a noble’s trick for certain. Instead, he asked, “How do you know we won’t have problems here?”
Oishi smiled. “We’re safe here in Ellestor. It’s far enough south and Ellestor is a Grand Estate, even my father will have to think twice about entering forcefully.”
“And they’d have to track us here first,” came another voice from behind them. “Fuji may not be a stealth mage, but he’s useful.”
“Useful, Tezuka? Is that all you can say?” The mage and the swordsman joined them as they headed down the stairs. “Do you think Lord Shishido will already have made a decision?” Fuji asked quietly.
Oishi showed no reaction but answered calmly, “Most likely. Shishido doesn’t like to hedge. Let us hope for the best.”
Breakfast was tense. There was an obvious air of anticipation hanging over the company, but Oishi was correct in his prediction; the moment the last plate was cleared, Shishido briskly headed for his reception room, obviously expecting the others to follow.
Eiji and Momoshiro exchanged bewildered looks. Are we allowed to go, too? Eiji mouthed. Momo shrugged before Kamio gave them a shove and they hurried to catch up.
Shishido gave them a look but Kamio strode confidently into the room and plopped himself down in a plush chair with Eiji and Momoshiro doing the same.
“It’s fine,” Oishi said.
Shishido seemed to consider throwing them out for a few more minutes before finally nodding to the servant at the door to leave them. The door closed behind him and Shishido took a seat beside his lover.
“It’s going to be an ugly war,” he said bluntly.
Inwardly, Oishi let out a sigh of relief.
“You won’t have enough men,” Shishido stated as he spread a map of the kingdom across the table before them. “The nobility is nearly completely corrupt.”
“You have Ellestor,” Ootori said happily.
Shishido scowled, “Of course he does.” Ootori smiled placatingly until his partner rolled his eyes and continued. “Yukimura will follow you. And maybe Atobe if you catch him on a good day,” he snorted. “Ellestor, Berridge, and possibly Jagroth; that’s a weak force to try and move with.”
Oishi thumbed his lower lip in thought. “Some of the older lords are still loyal to my mother’s line. They will follow me if I could just meet with them.”
“Even so,” Shishido rationalized, “they’re lords of small lands with small populations. If they have armed forces at all, which I doubt, they’re probably rotational militia.”
Oishi nodded and frowned. “Ellestor, Berridge, Jagroth.”
“Jagroth if Atobe cooperates,” Shishido corrected.
“Jagroth is still having problems with the southern tribes and the border policy,” Inui said. “Lord Atobe will be more open to the idea if you can offer him a better policy.”
Tezuka shook his head. “He’ll only be agreeable if you can guarantee victory.”
Shishido snorted. “Atobe doesn’t like to lose.”
“Despite his arrogance, he does care for his people,” Tezuka corrected. “He would never put his people in danger unless he was sure that the outcome would be worth the effort.”
The Lord Ellestor’s eyes hardened. “What is that supposed to mean?” Ootori put a hand on his shoulder and he settled for glaring at the warrior instead.
Oishi ignored them and asked, “If we had Ellestor, Berridge, and Jagroth, plus what forces we can muster from the smaller provinces, how many men would that be?”
“Approximately 30,000 men,” Inui answered.
“And the royal forces number…?”
“The royal forces, including all branches of the royal detail, include up to 65,000 men.”
Oishi sighed as he rubbed his forehead. “What chance do we have against them?”
“There is less than a 5% chance that we would succeed,” Inui answered, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose.
“Well, that’s great,” Momoshiro mumbled.
They all stared down at the map. Ellestor, Berridge, and Jagroth were all southern provinces, situated under the dividing waters of the Belt which cut the kingdom in half east to west. Ellestor sat to the east, Jagroth, far south on the western fringes of the Pentashé Desert, and Berridge, just under the Buckle, the large lake at the midpoint of the Belt, located roughly at the center of the kingdom. The smaller provinces likely to side with the Oishi bloodline were also mostly southern provinces.
The capital city of the kingdom of Paralon, Atavis, was situated in the north above Belt River, cradled by the high peaks of the Okrait Ranges. The palace, also called Paralon, was obviously the seat of power in the kingdom. But it was apparent that the northern capital lost its influence the further south one went.
“Assuming Atobe’s cooperation,” Shishido said, “we have a rough holding over the south.” He placed a red pin over Atavis. “Paralon at Atavis is swarming with corrupt nobility, however. That includes, the Lord Gallinot, the Lord Devitar, Lord of Westor, the Lord Manimi, the Lady Hevina, Lord of Teshino, Lord of Sampstone, the Lord of Fallimar, the Lord of Blau, the Lord M’lin, Lord of Leu, and the Lord of Camstone. Just to name a few.” For each name, he placed another red pin on the map. The red dots blanketed the entirety of the northern half of the kingdom, heavily clustering around Atavis. “With the added forces of these supporters, the numbers change drastically.”
“Inui?” Oishi asked.
“With the inclusion of these local provincial forces, the Regent will command an army of approximately 185,000.”
“I’m guessing that 5% chance just went down a few notches,” Kamio said sourly.
“To 0.8%,” Inui filled in.
No one had to make any sarcastic comments to feel the weight of that statement.
If you would like to provide feedback on this story, please feel free to e-mail me at: poutonly@gmail.com.