A Time of Tigers - From Peasant to Emperor

"Friendly competition with the livelihoods of your villagers on the line as stakes? I thought you cared for this place? Do you know how reckless a decision that was?" Skullic said.

"It wasn't done with the intention of losing," Oliver said.

"Oh, but of course, there's some grand strategy in play that guarantees you victory, is there? Foolishness, the lot of it. You should know by now that no such strategies exist. None can reach that far, and when they can, it ceases to be strategy, and it is called a tactic instead," Skullic said. "You are reaching too far for this to be called a tactic.

There is too much that can come falling down on you. You've risked your position, and the only bit of estate that you have, giving you the noble title that you bear. How will Blackwell respond when he sees that you've been making wars with his son in his absence?"

Oliver shrugged. "Somehow, I don't think he'll mind too much."

"Is that right? And what gives you such overwhelmingly unfounded confidence? Are you that knowledgeable of Lord Blackwell, after having spent a few months on campaign with him. How much of that campaign was actually spent fighting under Lord Blackwell directly, might I ask? Precious little, would be my assumption," Skullic said.

"So… Are you proposing some sort of alternative to what we have already set in motion, General?" Oliver said.

"Hah! If I could, your mistake wouldn't be as damnable as it is," Skullic said. "The course that you have set now is one that you are forced to stick to. You have dug your grave by your own hand. What a waste of potential. You ought to be set on the battlefield permanently, if you would look for conquest whenever it is that you stand still."

"I would point out, General, that standing still is not an option for us," Oliver said. "We can know no peace, whilst there is a target on our backs. Unless you have come here with a plan to rid us of the High King, we will continue to greedily snatch whatever bit of strength is dangled in front of us."

"…You know very well I have no such plans," Skullic said quietly. "You have grown too bold in your absence from the Academy. When your doors are not secured, and there are other ears to hear it, you must not speak your treasonous thoughts, lest they be used against you. As you yourself point out, the position of this village is weak.

If you give them due cause, they will level all that they have against you, in the name of false justice."

"They already attempted to do so, did they not?" Oliver said.

"But they were rebuffed," Skullic said. "By a merchant, and a girl. And then a Queen in turn. I wonder how amusing that tale sounds to the High King, when he realizes he has incurred another failure? Likely far from as amusing as it sounds to the rest of them."

"What a grand joke," Oliver said dryly.

"And that there is the girl," Skullic said, picking Nila out from the gathering of people himself. He knew enough about her through Oliver to identify her, even on his first time meeting her. "A girl that has more sense than you. It seems that this fool of a boy propositioned you, and you managed to talk him down.

You have my respect for that – there are few that can turn him away when he has set his mind on something."

"You make me sound an animal," Oliver said.

"Are you not exactly that? That beast that sits upon your flags as your sigil has infected you. You have become it in its entirety," Skullic said, shaking his head. "There's no training to be had for you. With age, you only seem to grow more problematic, like a dangerous dog. And what am I to do when I have attached my name to you?"

"Share in my glory?" Oliver tried. "Surely your House has received its fair share of fortunes for my victory in the Verna?"

"…Not nearly as much as you seem to believe, if you're expecting it to allay any of the other problems that you have caused," Skullic said. "Some fools congratulate me for the work of my student – but you're no student of mine. You've never listened to a word that I've said. The best that I could call you is a horse that I have bet on. Little more."

"And now that this horse that you have bet on is causing trouble? Is it to be put down?" Oliver asked with a smile. "Is that why you have come here?"

"...I came here, in part, to assess the damage," Skullic admitted. "I had expected to find a village half-burned. But whether your repairs have been quick, or the defence was that stalwart… It is not nearly as bad as I expected it would be. Again, the praise goes to your defenders – and your friendship with the Pendragon Queen. See, there was advice that I offered, wasn't it?

To maintain your relationship with her? And though you did not listen on my account, you should surely now see that it was not advice offered on a whim – there were results to it. If only you would listen in other regards."

"Have you worked through your list of complaints?" Oliver asked.

"I am sure I will find more, the longer I stay here," Skullic said. "What a mess you have created, boy, what a damnable mess…"

"And how long might you be staying for?" Oliver asked.

"We shall," Skullic said. "As much as a pain as you are, I would not leave you to go into the fire by yourself. I will assess the damages to what degree I can. Lord Idris, it would please me if I could have a report from you. And the merchant Greeves, as well as the Lady Nila Felder. I will require meeting with the both of you as well.

I find myself to be lacking much of the information that I wish for, and I do not trust this boy any longer to provide me with what I need. He'll talk in circles, and try to obscure the proper state of things."

"I would be most willing, General Skullic, if my Lord was in agreement," Verdant said, looking Oliver's way.