Tyrant of the Ruined Sun-Chapter 88: The Inner Circle and Anastasia’s Worries

Walking through the gilded halls of the Imperial Palace after the unsatisfactory culmination of the War Assembly, I, along with Horus, Darius, Leonid, Isaac, Hekan and a few other high ranking and trusted military men were making our way to the Council Room, when I darkly asked, my fury not hidden in my voice "Do any of you care to tell me how long have cowards been promoted in my armies?"

Steadying himself after a momentary hesitation one of the three high ranking officers who took on the weight of Hamilcar's duties since his departure replied "My liege... Though they may seem inadequate right now, they are in actuality the cream of the crop of our coming officer corps. They are simply too young and inexperienced for the moment, in a few years they..."

"A few years?" I asked, half turning my head back to them, glaring with my mad filled eyes, silencing them instantly as we reached the room.

Immediately taking our seats, Darius was the first to speak up, saying "Though you are right in your anger, my liege, I'm afraid I must side with the three generals this time."

Turning to him, I calmly command "Explain."

Nodding, he quickly began in a loud voice so that all could hear "Sire, after the near complete destruction of the Northern Army, the heavy reinforcement to the Southern Army and then the purges we did across the entire empire's military to route out the spies, the disloyal, the inept and the corrupt, we found ourselves in a desperate need for new officers both high and low ranking. That's why we had to promote those who you saw today, but much like the generals said, my liege, they are all the top of their classes in strategy, martial prowess and even..."

Rising my hand in a gesture for him to stop, interrupting his long winded ramble, as I asked "Classes? You mean those men were just graduates of the academy and not field tested?"

"Indeed, sire." Darius seriously answered.

"B-But they truly are talented, sire. And in just a matter of thr... no two years they will all be more than ready to face all and any foe!" Another of the three generals quickly exclaimed, fearing I would grow even angrier, upon hearing this information.

Yet contrary to their thoughts, this knowledge did not irk me but the exact opposite. Having realized that those before me earlier were still boys unchristen by blood and war, I actually calmed down considerably, as I nonchalantly said "Very well then, I will trust your judgement."

The three breathed out a huge sigh of relief that didn't even manage to be fully released, before they tensed up again, as I said in contemplation "Actually... Have them ready themselves to accompany the army in two days time."

Shocked, they trepidatiously asked "The army? You mean your army, my liege?"

"Obviously." I coolly replied, as they all internally questioned 'Seriously?! Wasn't he about to rip them apart only a moment before?'

"... Very well then, sire." The three bowed in unison.

Nodding at the conclusion of the first issue at hand, I turn to Horus by my side and say "Bring the maps and all the other relevant materials."

This being a highly confidential meeting, the customary attendants and servants that would have usually done this kind of work were not allowed in.

"Right away." He rushed to the cabins lining the walls of the room. Soon enough the table before us was covered in a large, highly detailed map of the empire, with four onyx carved soldiers resting atop it in the four cardinal directions, in addition to one golden soldier atop where the capital was, and then a red statue where the rebellious city of Apethus lie.

Seeing this, I instantly remove the onyx soldier statue in the south, saying "The Southern Army is already embroidered in a war with the Murathicus Tribes, so we can instantly count them out."

Swallowing heavily one of the men asked apprehensively "My liege...Maybe we should..."

I cut him off, answering vehemently "No, the Southern Expedition will not be canceled, paused or delayed. And the Grand Marshal will also not be recalled."

"...Understood." The man replied.

Returning my gaze back to the map, I remove the western onyx soldier as well, explaining "The Western Army will remain on standby considering the recent events that happened there."

The men all nod hearing this, as Leonid calmly stated "Then that leaves us with the Northern, Eastern and Imperial Armies."

"No. We only have the Imperial Army." I declared, before clarifying as I removed both the eastern and northern statues "We have no idea on the state and current situation of not only the Eastern Army, but the eastern region in it's entirety, so at least for the time being we can not depend on the eastern forces. As for the Northern Army, they will also remain on standby..." I momentarily paused, before continuing "In case of any unforeseen circumstances."

"...Do you expect an attack from the Luminous Empire, my liege?" Darius inquired.

"I'm not certain". I answered, before asking in return "What do you council Grand Vizier?"

Flashing a smile that vanished as fast as it appeared, Darius calmly thought for but a few seconds, before replying "I do not believe they would be bold enough to commit to an invasion after their last disastrous series of defeats. But small incursions into our territory, plundering our trade caravans or possibly even raiding a few border towns and villages are quite likely."

"They would dare! Even when we have a non aggression pact for five years with them?!" A few of the more hot blooded officers and generals snarled out with rage.

Looking at them, Darius simply replied "The words on a treaty are only as strong as the arm of the one writing them."

Hearing him, the men quieted down. Frustration boiling through their veins, as they dejectedly thought 'Our land was finally about to spread it's wings to begin claiming the heavens, but obviously something had to get in the way! Something HAD to swoop in and clip our wings!'

It was my voice that broke them away from their trance, saying "We will deal with it as the situation unfolds. For now let us focus on our following actions. Leonid." I called out.

"Sire." he replied, standing up.

"As stated before you will immediately begin the mobilization of the entire army, but prepare only for 90,000 of the men to march out in two days time. The rest will remain in the city to serve as garrison for the time being." I ordered.

"Two days, my liege? That could prove to be..." He attempted to argue, but I instantly shot it down, my eyes blazing in unveiled hate and madness, saying "For every day that this rebellion still lives, a grain's weight of recognition is added to their cause and a resounding slap of humiliation is struck upon my and the empire's honor."

The men quieted down upon hearing my words, before I reiterated in a non negotiable tone "Two days Leonid. No more, no less."

"Understood." He responded saluting, his tone resolute.

This chapter is updat𝙚d by freeweɓnovel.cøm.

"Isaac, when is the shipment of those additional supplies from the west arriving?" I asked, shifting my gaze to him.

"In at least ten days, sire. But I can make it happen in eight." He replied.

Frowning, I thought for a moment before saying "They will have to catch up to us on the road then."

"It shall be done." Isaac assured.

"But will that be enough? Our supplies were already stretched thin by the Southern Expedition, can we even handle another long term war?" One of the officers voiced out.

"It won't be another long term campaign. I shall end this war in two months in the maximum. This I swear." I declared, before anyone else could utter another word of doubt.

"Oh, but you need to deliver only half of them, the rest will have a discreet change of destination." I commanded quickly, turning to Isaac with an amusedly scheming voice.

"Where to, sire?" Isaac questioned, his lips slightly curling up as well.

"To Qayan." I answered cryptically, my deranged eyes gleaming in a Machiavellian light.

***Scene Change***

The meeting lasted all night long and even stretched into early noon the next day, before the men had to rush out and begin the necessary preparations, the chief of whom being Leonid who would be one of the leading generals in this campaign.

He ran around the entire capital all day long, going from barracks to barracks, from warehouse to warehouse, from one battalion to another, furiously barking orders left and right making sure that all would be ready in time. He only returned home late in the night, planning to sharpen his weapons to clear his mind, a habit he developed early in his mercenary days.

Yet this simple wish of his was thwarted the instant he opened the door, when he sensed that the house was empty. An odd thing since his sister should have returned hours ago.

"Ani?" He called out of habit, but the usual response never came.

Paranoid dread instantly clutched at his heart, and he instantly spun around, ready to flip the whole capital upside down if necessary, when suddenly the voice of the one he feared for sounded out.

"Brother! You're finally back!" Anastasia exclaimed.

Turning to face her, he exhaled a long breathe of relief, as he asked, a hint of worried rebuke in his loving tone "Where were you at such an hour?"

Anastasia was wearing her signature white mask, still uncomfortable with the looks everyone gave her if she didn't, while a large plain white cloak with the symbol of the clergy on it's left sleeve did what it could to conceal the curves of her devilishly seductive body.

"I was praying in the Grand Temple." She gently answered, as she ran to his side.

"At this hour Ani?! What if..." Leonid was about to launch into another one of his overprotective tirades, when Anastasia's impatient voice slashed through his coming words, asking with barely restrained panic in her voice "Who cares about that right now? It was the only thing that could distract my mind off all the rumors I heard today! Brother is it true? Is it true that you're going to war? That the uncle of the emperor is in open rebel..."

Leonid's rough hand covered his sister's mouth, quieting her down instantly as he soothingly said in his harmonic voice "We'll talk inside."

Once inside, Leonid said "Ani, be careful where you speak such words. The empire is now in a civil war, and we can't be sure of who to trust nowadays."

Stunned, Anastasia gasped "So it's all true?!"

Sighing, he replied "It is. But where did you even hear all of this from?"

"Brother the entire capital is swarming with these rumors. I'm more surprised that you didn't know this." She explained.

Sighing yet again, he lifted his hand to pinch the space between his eyes as he thought 'I was too focused on the preparations that I must've not noticed.'

Stepping beside him, Anastasia gently asked "Brother?"

Seeing the deep uncertainty and fear within her eyes, he led her to the table where he began explaining everything to her in detail, of course remembering to stress to her that what was said here today could not be repeated again.

By the time he finished, though Anastasia tried to give him a reassuring smile, putting up a brave front, her slightly pale complexion gave away her hidden distress. Her veiled anxiety of losing the small semblance of peace she had finally found. So he asked "Ani, tell me. Are you satisfied with our life here so far?"

Though confused by his sudden question, she still honestly replied "Yes, I am."

Smiling, he replied, his tone assuring "Then don't worry, because we will absolutely win this war. I promise you that."

Hearing his pledge, and knowing how her brother never broke his word, especially to her ever since they were children, she couldn't help the small smile that emerged upon her lips.

Seeing this, Leonid felt incredibly energized yet again, as if he no longer needed to rest his mind and was ready to head to war right this instant. But before he could do anything, his sister's hesitant voice sounded out again, embarrassedly asking "U-Umm brother...What of the Northern Army? Is it going to join you and the emperor as well?"

"Huh?" Was all he muttered confusedly, as he silently wondered 'The Northern Army? Where there rumors about them as well?'

But upon closer look at Anastasia's angelic face that was no longer hidden behind her mask, Leonid noticed a subtle tinge of a blush clawing it's way up her cheeks; and then suddenly the image of a dual saber wielding, raven haired, black eyed man appeared in his mind and he begrudgingly understood, his mood instantly souring as he replied, almost sulkingly "Don't worry, your little pen pal was ordered to remain at his post and defend the northern border for now. So he's gonna be perfectly safe and out of harm's way for the initial stages of the war at least."

And though Anastasia could hear the dissatisfaction in her brother's voice, she couldn't resist the happy smile of relief that manifested upon her lips, further irritating the now fuming Leonid.