Steel and Sorrow: Rise of the Mercenary king

Not a single whisper dared to escape, not a sigh or murmur dared to disturb the stillness. The assembled nobles regarded Maesinius with narrowed eyes, their expressions a mixture of skepticism and disbelief. Was he a fool to propose such a bold notion of northern independence? Could he truly be ignorant of the realities they had just spoken of—the North’s reliance on Southern food production?

Amidst the silent scrutiny, some shifted their gaze toward Lord Harold, as if seeking answers in the depths of his startled countenance. Yet, even fleeting suspicions of his influence dissolved upon seeing his genuine surprise, he was not the one who gave such ideas on the prince’s head. No, the audacious notion had sprung forth from his own mind , like a wild seed taking root in fertile soil.

Was it madness or genius to consider breaking free from the Empire’s grasp? Could the North truly stand on its own against the might of the imperial army, like a lone wolf challenging a pack of hungry lions?

”Maesinius!” Harold’s voice boomed through the hall, cutting through the tension like a thunderclap. He rose from his seat, his bald pate catching the flickering light of the torches ”Have you forgotten our discussions? We rely on southern food supplies to stave off famine. Are you willing to risk our people’s lives for a fool dream?”

The young prince met Harold’s icy gaze with a newfound resolve, his stature seeming to swell with determination. In that moment, he appeared taller, his brown hair framing his face like a lion’s mane.

”You speak of not sacrificing northern blood in vain, yet you would have them march toward an impossible dream?Have you lost your head?” Harold’s words pierced the air like arrows.

For a fleeting moment, bewilderment flickered across Maesinius’s face, as if he were searching for an answer in the depths of his own thoughts. Then, with a defiant smirk, he raised his hand to his head, almost as if to assure himself of its presence.

”Seems like I still have it, Lord Harold,”

Harold continued to stare but gave no retort , just like a child would when staring at something new, saying nothing but just observing .

The prince sighed before continuing

”First and foremost,” Maesinius began, his voice cutting through the air like a clarion call, ”many of us will have to face with the formidable might of the empire’s professional army. Many of you have doubtless heard tales passed down through generations of the empire’s military prowess. Fortunately for us, the empire will soon find itself entangled in a civil war of its own making. My step-mother, the empress, will likely abandon the northern territories, retreating to the heart of the empire, where the Gods’ finger lies ”

As he spoke, Maesinius gestured broadly, ”There, amidst fortified strongholds and abundant grain stores, they will weather the storm, trading by sea and hunkering down like a turtle in its shell. Meanwhile, my brother Mavius will set his sights on the southern territories, seeking to seize the throne by force. I say, let them tear each other apart, while we bide our time and prepare.”

His eyes gleamed with a fierce determination as he continued, ”It will be some time before the empire can muster a cohesive force to challenge us. In that time, we must sharpen our blades, fortify our defenses, and rally our allies. When the moment comes, we shall emerge from the shadows, and attack”

’’What about the food problem’’ Karl than questioned ’’I am sure you must have thought about it . The other may think of you fool, but I am sure you have your reason to speak of that.If we go independent no merchant will travel north’’

Maesinius nodded, at least someone was able to understand his reasoning

’’ Tell me, my lords, did you truly believe that I had not pondered the food crisis facing the north, or that I would propose such an ambitious plan without careful consideration of our circumstances? On the contrary, my lord, I have scrutinized every facet of our predicament and unearthed the solution to our plight.”

The lords’ stare remained fixed, not saying anything, just listening.

”Whether we choose to participate in the civil war, remain neutral, or assert our independence, one thing is certain: fewer merchants will journey to our lands,” Maesinius continued, his voice resonating with authority.

”Under my stepmother’s rule, all grain produced will be hoarded and coerced to prepare for the long conflict she plans to have. Meanwhile, the second prince will ravage the lands he traverses on his march southward. We must prepare for the inevitable famine that will follow .No one will share grain with us ”

His words hung heavy in the air as he elucidated his vision. ”My call for independence was caused by this very crisis. To procure additional grain, we must engage in diplomacy with foreign nations.An option not doable if we are still under imperial land . I have identified one or two potential allies who may possess surplus grain to alleviate our scarcity. Furthermore, we must seize fertile lands to mitigate our dependence on external sources. The territories adjacent to our borders, neglected by my brothers, present ripe opportunities for expansion,they are easy land to grab and at least good enough to produce some food. Nor the bitch in the south nor my other brother will raise a finger to stop us , which means we are to act fast and strongly , and when the civil war will have ended, we shall be strong enough to mantain our borders ”

He paused, allowing his words to sink in before concluding, ”If we are fortunate, we may even persuade one of my brothers to recognize our independence in exchange for our pledge to abstain from the civil war. It is a gamble , to be sure, but one worth considering in our pursuit of a prosperous future for the north.”

’’And in all of this , we will have to kneel to you?You want us to declare you our king?’’ From the deep end of the hall , Mjorn break-shield spoke ,his mouth barely moving , the words more than spoken spat

The prince calmly watched the northern lord ’’Since I came here I have not once ushered the proposition of being your king , I have considered it obvious that the title of king shall be chosen by the northern lord , that however can wait for after, for now we have a war to start and a famine to stop. Other things may come for later.I have no interest in getting a crown , from here on out each action that I will take will be for the well of the North alone’’

’’What about the grain?’’ Karl then asked ’’What person did you have in mind to contact?’’

And there Maesinius stopped a bit , almost reconsidering it as if he still was not sure of it . Then he opened his mouth ’’The Arlanian prince was the one I had in mind , along with some other ’’

The various lords widened their eyes, they never thought that the prince himself would consider joining hands with the killer of his father, be it that they did not really care about him , still it was his father nonetheless.

The prince saw this and gave a sigh ’’Personal reasons come second to the interest of the state . If we can get our grain than it does not matter .And I believe that the prince will be more than happy to entertain such relations with the one that will soon border its princedom’’ As apparently the expansion Maesinius had in mind was a great one if he counted on sharing a border with the Arlanian prince.