Herald of Steel

The pinning of all the nobles' death on just a hundred or so handful of guards was just a paper construct, beautiful to look at from far, but it would crumble at the slightest poke of scrutiny.

Although there were many nobles who came forth as eyewitnesses as to the guilt of the executed palace guards, and this was verified independently by neutral parties, the most glaring flaw of that recounting was that all these nobles were staunch supporters of Ptolomy.

Of course, this inconsistency was explained by claiming that nobles belonging to Amenheraft's faction were all absent from Adhan for the following three reasons.

One- Many died in the first battle when Amenheraft tried to capture Ptolomy.

Two- Many fled the city with Amenheraft when the city fell.

And third- Many were killed in the melee ten days ago.

And all this was true, as many nobles did die in those instances, but it was also true that Alexander killed many of them in their homes, as evidenced by the presence of a large number of dead women and children who never fought in battle.

But for now, it seemed that the nobles were willing to turn a blind eye to this, retracting their fangs and closing their eyes, as they waited for their venom glands to fill up.

They didn't buy the cooked-up story and only bid their time to strike.

Responding to the list of 'shooting for the moon and hoping it lands on earth' demands made by Manuk, Alexander pointed out his side's objections,

"Three years is too short- eight years is the minimum we can do."

"And it will be you who will have to give us sixty thousand tonnes of grain."

"Zanzan will be mine, no questions asked."

"Tariffs for the provinces can be discussed."

"The captive nobles can be released as a show of goodwill… if you are willing to assent to some of our demands."

"And killing me and taking the twin princesses are not something we will bother discussing."

"If you insist on Azira and Azura, then let's stop here. There's the door," Pasha Farzah pointed to the way out, showing his true feelings about that particular demand.

"That's right. Amenheraft should have taken them with them when he had the chance. The princesses will stay with us. Where they are safe!" Alexander bolstered Pasha Farzah's stance.

"Fine, we are willing to temporarily let the guardianship of the princesses be passed onto you," Manuk in a fake reluctant voice relented.

"But," he quickly added, "we want you to give up that stupid idea about Zanzan."

"Our stance of Zanzan is absolute. From now, till the end of time, Zanzan will be the fief of Pasha Alexander and his family." Ptolomy spoke in an imperious, absolute tone, showing they will not budge a bit on that point.

"Hah, you think I will ever let a filthy slave rule my territory? The territory my forefathers have poured their life's blood and sweat into?" Pasha Muazz bellowed in indignation.

He turned to glare menacingly at Alexander and sneered, "Do you know that I hunt your kind for sport! The miserable squeals they make when my dogs tear you mongrels apart, hehehe."

Drool started coating the fat, slimy mouth as the man cackled in delight.

"Then why don't you go and defend Zanzan from my army? And then we will see who hunts who?" Alexander said this without even bothering to look at the overweight man, instead paying more attention to the nails on his hand.

"You…." Alexander's reply made the Pasha immediately choke on his laughter and he found it hard to control his temper.

Being a religious fanatic, he considered all people outside of Adhania heretics and blasphemers.

He also found anyone of not nobility to be base and irrelevant, and he saw slaves as just inanimate objects. no different from the rocks and stones scattered all over Zanzan.

And congratulations to Alexander, for he was all three, thus completing the holy trinity of hatred for the Pasha.

As to why the Pasha was here and not defending his territory, well because almost all the men that he could have defended the city with were here, in Adhan, either captured or buried.

This, he had no one to defend the city with!

So, embarrassed and incensed, the Pasha only huffed and puffed at Alexnader, unable to throw any real threats toward the man.

"Pasha Alexnader, shouldn't bother hunting this waste. You have a much bigger target, that pretender that dares call himself the son of Ramuh," Ptolomy smiled and joined Alexander, taunting not just the Pasha but his lord too.

"…..we can understand reality." Manuk spookily started.

"And although we vehemently oppose it, we will allow that lowly mercenary leader govern Zanzan…. for the time being…until the day comes we can overthrow and replace him with its rightful ruler." Manuk let out an exasperated sigh as he said this.

And he was joined by the man beside him, who looked both furious and helpless.

They had come to the negotiations having a basic idea about what Ptolomy wanted and they knew the opponent's primary focus was on Zanzan.

And although they tried to halt this with all their might, the groundwork set by Ptolomy and others for this particular maneuver had been too solid.

Amenheraft could think of no way to dismantle it.

Using the astronomical money Alexander had stolen from the temple, he had made Ptolomy bribe all the pashas, all for the purpose of pushing this armistice and recognizing him as the ruler of Zanzan as opposed to Muazz.

And although the other pashas didn't outright accept the second demand, neither did they outright refuse.

They tacitly agreed to let Alexander become a pasha, though openly they said they would never recognize him as one of their own.

In this way, they intended to make Alexander become a pariah while also expressing their displeasure at the king for so casually replacing one of their own.

This was because civil wars in Adhania were not uncommon, in fact, the current royal family had gotten into power when it replaced the previous ruling dynasty with its branch family, very similar to how Ptolomy was attempting to replace Amenheraft, but, even if the nobles chose the wrong side in such conflicts, they wouldn't lose their title, at least the big ones.

Some may have to pay reparations or even might have to concede some territory, but death was usually spared unless they perpetrated some heinous crimes.

And even then, only the small and minor nobles would be executed, just as a warning to others to get in line.

So, for Ptolomy to so blatantly tear up this unwritten rule angered the pashas and although they didn't outright oppose the decision, all of them decided to excommunicate Alexander from their ranks, meaning trade with him would be restricted or totally banned, they wouldn't make any treaties with Alexander and they would exclude him from all their social gathering, restricting with social connections and partnership opportunities.

This they reasoned would shunt and cripple Alexander as the way noble houses grew and became stronger was by trading and forming alliances with other houses.

And if Alexander was unable to meet the nobles, unable to go to various parties to know who was who, and which nobles did what, then he would simply wither away and die.

Or at least, that was what they thought and only time would tell how right or wrong they were.

The group was unable to come to any amicable terms about Zanzan, and the issue was left in limbo, with Alexander vowing to take over the city, while Pasha Muazz vowing to make life 'hell' for him.

With these hot words exchanged and tempers flying, the men decided to take a small recess, where they breathed in fresh air, ate some snacks, and talked among themselves to devise strategies.

And soon, the men met again.

"About the money,.….we are also willing to give Amenheraft a loan." Pasha Farzah opened the next round with the issue of money, tapping his finger on the table as he said so.

"Loan?" Pasha Muazz frowned at the word.

Loans meant loan sharks and although he was one and quite liked being one, he didn't like the idea of owing money to one.

"Yes, loans," Alexander repeated. "We are aware of the financial difficulties of Amenheraft. And although they are enemies, King Ptoloomy is boundless in mercy and benevolence and someone who never forgets familiar…."

"Get on with it," Manuk voiced in frustration.

"Hundred million with a ten percent interest." Alexander offered.

"Five hundred, no interest," Pasha Muazz raised all five of his stubby fingers.

"We will sell two hundred million in Legumum. And two hundred million will be loaned at two percent" Pasha Farzah stated in a final tone.

Legumum was a contraceptive plant that was highly desirable, and grew only around the Life Sea, meaning Ptolomy had a complete monopoly on it.

And thus him willing to exchange it for ordinary goods made it a very profitable trade for Amenheraft.

"Fine, but the two hundred million must be given first," Manuk cleverly demanded the loan first, his intention transparent.

"We will give you the half loan after the first hundred million roplas worth of trade is done. And the rest after the completion of the trade," Pasha Farzah wasn't to be swindled.

"Fine, but we want fresh Legumum. Not from stock years ago," Manuk demanded, which was assented to.

"Now, the topic of Jtaama…" Pasha Muazz turned to Ptolomy for his decision.