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 8: The First (Pathetic) War Council
“They were useful, that I will concede. But this hardly compares,” Tezuka stated. “They have no reason to help us. In fact, they have everything to gain in betraying us: bounty, and a clean record.”
“I think they deserve the benefit of the doubt,” Fuji countered. “They helped Shishido when there was no reason to. They’re good people.”
“We’re talking about a rebellion against the sovereign Regent. We need to proceed cautiously. We cannot afford to trust anyone without being entirely certain of their loyalty.”
“Your argument has merit, Tezuka,” Inui said, “but, considering our situation, any additional help is beneficial and they seem, for the most part, to be willing to help.” Tezuka looked skeptical. “Also, they have deep ties with the illicit underground; it could prove useful.”
Kaidoh hissed, interrupting their conversation. “Doesn’t matter. The decision is not up to you.” Without another word, Tezuka nodded and walked off to seek out their prince immediately.
Leaving the other three behind, Tezuka headed for Shishido’s office where Oishi was currently discussing matters with the Lord Ellestor. Before he reached his destination, however, Kamio, Kikumaru, and Momoshiro blocked his path.
“We want to tell you something,” Momoshiro said bluntly. When Tezuka made no move to push past them, they took it as a sign to continue.
“We can help,” Eiji said. “We want to help.”
“Why?” Tezuka questioned.
Kamio snorted and rolled his eyes. “You high-siders…”
“The Regent is corrupt,” Eiji elaborated. “Guess who generally feels the brunt of that? Us! We do! At least you high-siders still have food and shelter. For us, it just gets worse and worse every year. Do you get it?”
Tezuka’s stoicism was unaffected, but he nodded. “I don’t believe in a difference between high-siders, as you call them, and low-siders. But I respect your sense of justice. I will inform Oishi.” He moved forward and the group parted to let him pass.
When he was gone, Eiji scratched his cheek in confusion. “No difference between high and low-siders? Who’s he kidding?”
Momo slapped him on the back. “Hey, did you guys hear that? We have a sense of justice!”
“Yeah, that’s new,” Kamio muttered.
Eiji nodded. “Weird guy.”
“Yeah.”
“I think I’m scared of him.”
“Yeah.”
Thirty minutes later, they held their first war council…of sorts. It was a pathetic sight (and Shishido said as much), with only ten people sitting around the Lord Ellestor’s office with a detailed map of Paralon laid out on the table in the center of their circle.
“Jagroth and Berridge,” Oishi announced. “First, we need Atobe and Yukimura.”
Shishido nodded. “It’s a start.”
“Yukimura, all gods willing, should be amenable if I can just speak with him.”
“You weren’t planning on going yourself, right?”
“It’s too dangerous,” Tezuka said, “and there isn’t a necessity for your personal attendance.”
“Yes. Send us out in your stead,” Inui suggested.
Shishido agreed. “You’ll want them to apply to you,” he said, “to remind them who you are.”
Oishi shook his head. “It’s delicate negotiation. Besides, I don’t want to remind them of my status; I want them to agree to support me of their own volition because they believe in the cause.”
Shishido rolled his eyes. “They don’t need a personal visit from the Royal Heir to believe in the cause. Everyone hates the Regent already anyway.”
“It isn’t safe,” Kaidoh said, breaking his usual silence. “If they turn you down, they could just as easily turn you in.”
“The worst thing that could happen is for you to be captured. You are the direct claim to the throne. We need you to be safe,” Fuji pointed out calmly.
Oishi hated to admit that his life was indeed such an asset, but he recognized the truth in their warnings. He nodded resignedly, “All right.” Looking down at the map, he asked, “How long would it take to get to Berridge?”
“A little over two days, I would say,” Ootori answered.
“And Jagroth?”
“Four or five, depending on the weather.”
“I wouldn’t suggest waiting for Yukimura’s answer before you talk to Atobe, if that’s what you’re thinking,” Shishido commented.
Oishi nodded slowly, then shook his head. “You’re right; it’ll take too long.” He chewed his lip thoughtfully. “Atobe’s not going to agree unless we can offer him something. Without Yukimura’s support, Jagroth will hold off.”
“What will you offer him?” Tezuka asked.
“You can’t offer too much; he’ll hold you to it. But it has to be significant enough to persuade him to join,” Shishido said.
“Other than offering to review the border policy and to renegotiate the situation with the southern tribes if I should come to power, there isn’t anything more that I can offer.”
Shishido was shaking his head. “It’s not going to be enough.”
“The border policy is pretty bad. The council at Atavis is reviewing another change. Atobe’s been lobbying; I saw him twice at court so far this year.”
“But we don’t know how long it’ll take for the council to actually make the changes. And we can’t afford to wait around to see how Atobe will react,” Shishido countered.
“We could use the time in between to amass support in other areas. With more support, it would be much easier to persuade Atobe to join,” Ootori added.
“That’s the problem. Jagroth is crucial. No one’s going to join, barring Yukimura and a few others, unless they hear that Jagroth is in first.”
“We need Jagroth,” Oishi said. “Jagroth and Ellestor will give us two of the seven Great Estates. And Berridge is strong; the smaller provinces will look to Yukimura. With Atobe and Yukimura, the others should follow.”
“It would give us the south, but the north is still untouchable. The further away you get from Atavis and the Regent’s court, the less influence he has, but four of the Great Estates are in the north. We’ll have no holding there,” Shishido said. “We should start talking to the lords of the smaller provinces now.”
“No, we should focus on Jagroth and Berridge for now,” Fuji suggested. “Further action should be decided once we know if we’ve successfully secured our main support.”
“I agree,” Inui added. “The north is out of our reach for now, but the position may change if Jagroth and Berridge join. Furthermore, success convincing the northern lords would be dependant on Jagroth and Berridge in any case.”
“That’s true,” Shishido conceded.
“Jagroth will simply have to depend on how good a mood Atobe is in when the case is pleaded,” Oishi said. “What about Berridge?”
“Yukimura most likely won’t be looking for favors, but still, it’s a tricky negotiation,” Shishido said.
Ootori nodded. “The Regent sweetens his dealings with Yukimura to keep the area under his control. Yukimura doesn’t really have any direct problems with the Regent the way that Ellestor and Jagroth do.”
“Yukimura’s sense of morality exceeds what he sees on the surface,” Oishi said adamantly. “I’m certain he can be persuaded so long as he understands the pervasiveness of my father’s corruption, whether its effects can be felt in Berridge or not.”
“Let’s hope your faith in Yukimura’s scruples is not misplaced,” Shishido said. Oishi gave him a wry smile. “Ootori and I are due in Savond by the end of the week. So which brave souls do we send out as our ambassadors?”
“I’ll take Jagroth,” Tezuka offered.
“Are you sure?” Oishi asked hesitantly, but Tezuka nodded firmly. “All right. Inui. How about a trip to Berridge?”
“I hear they have an excellent exotics market,” he replied, glasses glinting.
“Well, what about us?” Kamio asked suddenly.
“What about you?” Shishido fired back.
“We can help, you know!” Kamio said.
“This is simply diplomatic, there’s no need for your influence,” Shishido said.
Momo snorted. “From Ellestor to Berridge? I’m guessing you’re planning on just going in through the main road, right?”
Inui adjusted his glasses. “Is there a problem with such a route?”
Momo, Kamio, and Eiji all laughed. “It wouldn’t be if you weren’t currently a fugitive,” Momoshiro said. “Honestly, don’t you people have a knock of sense? Don’t tell me you’ve never heard of the Sieve. Man, you high-siders sure have it good.”
“The Sieve? What’s that?”
“Berridge’s ports are practically national treasure,” Eiji explained. “There’s a heavy guard around the area, especially the main roads. Ordinarily, it’s there to ensure the safety of any cargo going in or out of the province. But, they’ve all probably been warned to stay on the look-out for you, no, all of us, now. That means the main road is out of the question.”
“The Sieve’s the only option,” Kamio said. “It’s an alternate route to get in. Problem is that, well, it’s Wild. To get past all the nasties, you need to find a guide to take you through.”
Momo tapped his chin thoughtfully. “If I remember correctly, Itsuki’s still making runs, right?”
“Itsuki?” Eiji repeated. “I guess it’s worth the risk, but he’s gonna badger you to death with questions, you know.”
Momo nodded. “Yeah, but the poor guy can never tell when he’s being lied to. It’ll be all right.”
“People actually maneuver through a Wild territory? How do they get past the dragons and sand traps and things?” Ootori asked, wide-eyed.
“I’ll let you know when I get back,” Inui said, scribbling something down in his notebook.
“What about you, Tezuka?” Oishi asked. “Will you have problems getting in to see Atobe?”
Tezuka looked tense as he answered. “No.” When he failed to elaborate, Oishi just nodded, trusting his judgment.
“There is one other thing,” Eiji said seriously.
“What is it, Eiji?” Oishi asked.
“There’s someone else that I think you should talk to.”
“Who?”
“Kawamura.”
“The leader of the rebellion,” Shishido mused. “That has merit.”
“Do you know him?” Ootori asked.
Kamio shrugged, “Not personally, but we have connections. We can definitely get you in to talk to him.”
“I’ll go,” Fuji chimed in. “It sounds interesting.”
“I’ll take you in,” Kamio offered.
“I’m coming, too,” Eiji added. “I want to check up on something.” He looked up at Oishi and blinked at the happy expression on the other man’s face. Confused, he looked down at the map and chewed his lip.
“All right,” the prince said, placing a deep blue pin on Ellestor to face off against the sea of red pins in the north of the map. “Make your preparations; you leave come first light.”
If you would like to provide feedback on this story, please feel free to e-mail me at: poutonly@gmail.com.