"You planned all of this," Jarvo said, as he escorted me out of the high sage's private suite the next morning.
"If Max kills the high sage and claims his throne, someone will need to step forward and claim to be the legitimate heir to the high sage. As first consummate, I'm now in a position to do that."
"Why do I feel like I've been set up."
"Perhaps next time, you'll think twice before you toss someone into the high sage's harem."
"I fear there won't be a next time. If you can't convince the Finger States to fight with us, then we will fall. Even if the emissaries I dispatched to the Land of Nomads return with a sizeable army of mercenaries, we'll still be outnumbered."
"Miship says he'll lead his army into battle."
"It's Landish tradition. The high sage leads. He doesn't follow."
"He knows nothing about war."
"He's studied Landish battle tactics. And he'll have people to advise him."
"How big an army will you be able to assemble?"
"Around eight hundred men, although it will take time for those from the outlying districts to arrive here. I also dispatched one dozen emissaries with enough gold to recruit four to eight hundred mercenaries from the Land of Nomads. If you and your remaining three allies join us, we'll have more men than Max has, if your report on the size of his army is to be believed."
"Don't be surprised if Max brings more than two thousand men to the battle."
Jarvo looked at me. "You know something I don't?"
"I know something of the man behind Max. It wouldn't surprise me if he's built a larger army than we're expecting."
We reached the palace's main hall, where the party celebrating the high sage's ascension had been going on for the last two years. Over the course of the night, that two year celebration had ended. The only people in the hall were Shu, Patera, Vomeir, Bokham, and some members of the palace guard. Shu spent the night in the harem, catching up with old friends and doing who knows what else. I'm not sure where Patera and Vomeir spent the night, but they looked happy, if not well rested. Bokham didn't look happy or well rested. He looked like a man that spent the night worrying about my welfare. No big surprise considering what happened the first time we were here.
I looked at Jarvo. "What happened to the party?"
"Rumors of war bring parties to a quick end. Even in Landish."
"I don't believe the Finger States will join you in your war with Dunre."
Jarvo nodded. "Nor do I."
"Tell your generals that the Queen of Vassa and the First Consummate of Landish offers them sanctuary within her borders. If they retreat south, to Vassa, instead of back this way, they won't be slaughtered. I don't believe Max will pursue them into the Finger States." That was because my father hadn't given Max permission to attack Vassa. Yet.
We reached the others and stopped. Jarvo turned to me, and bowed. "Your offer is most gracious, Your Majesty. I shall inform our generals of it."
"My motives are entirely selfish," I said. "The remnants of your army will strengthen mine, and that will improve my chances when Max decides to move against me."
"Perhaps we'll surprise you and drive Maximillian Bedard back from our borders."
"I look forward to hearing such news, Counselor."
With that said, I gathered my people and left. I had been there for less than a day, but accomplished everything I hoped to achieve. It was time to meet with the other leaders of the Finger States, find out if we were going to war.