Herald of Steel

Alexander listened to how Lady Ezaya expertly handled the appointments with some amazement. He did not think the lady would be that capable, shielding him from all the headaches.

"That is fantastic my lady! Then would it be possible to hold a meeting with Pasha Farzah this afternoon?" Afterward, hearing the name of the Matrak lord, Alexander eagerly posed so, for obvious reasons.

"I will see it arranged it now," And the lady in question readily nodded her head, ready to head out. But just before she left, she sweetly added, "Ahhh, and please call me Ezaya, master."

"....." Alexander did not reply with a yes or no, but only a cordial smile. Given their lineage and the fact they were older than him, he was of the mind to treat them with their due titles.

Lady Ezaya quickly returned with the appointment confirmation, and as Alexander waited for the due time, he took the time to soak in the sight of the magnificent pink colored Life Sea from his balcony, sipping on a cool, refreshing glass of wine while thinking back on all the things he had discussed last night.

'Ptolomy is a problem. Assazd is a problem. Mirzah is a problem. And lets not forget… the problem called Amenheraft still exists. Fuck! It feels like I am surrounded!' And remembering all that had transpired, he cursed as such in his mind…in a way that was uncharacteristically quite vulgar.

….

Knock! Knock! Knock!

"You stinky brat! Its been so long! What! Did not feel like seeing this old goat's face?"

As Pasha Farzah was let into the room, he greeted Alexander amicably with this boisterous roar, thunderously approaching him with huge steps and giving a bear like hug.

And feeling squeezed by those tree trunk like arms, Alexander felt his chest being a bit suffocated and his breath take out… despite the fact he was at the prime of his life while Pasha Farzah was in his twilight years.

Just the old man's enormous height and weight made if feel like he was built like a bull… and Alexander for the first time understood why weight classes in marital tournaments existed.

But while feeling constrained, the Lord of Zanzan was also glad to find Pasha Farzah being hale and hearty as ever- with that same silvery beard and hair, glowing eyes, and bright, rosy cheeks.

His exquisite tunic appeared to strain against his muscular build as his entire body excluded a kind of magnetic aura.

It seemed Lady Inayah's concerns about his deteriorating health had been greatly exaggerated.

"My apologies, my apologies, Lord Pasha. But I am just told you were busy with your granddaughters. So… hahaha…."

The two men exchanged a few more of such small pleasantries, such as Alexander congratulating the man on finding such a suitable son in law for his beloved daughter as well as keeping a handle on the royal court, while Pasha Farzah praised Alexander's own accomplishments, frankly barking out with a swing of his firm arms,

"Bah! You don't have to patronize me, brat! I admit I cannot hold a candle to you. Just the fact you took Tibias… will be enough to have your name in the history for a thousand years. And who is going to read my name even after a hundred? Bah… I will become shit like the rest of the soil!" The old man took a large swig of his drink as he said this, whaffing it down like it was nothing… almost as if trying to douche his envy.

"....." While silently watching all this, Alexander only lightly smiled.

Pasha Farzah was usually not so crude.

In fact, his day to day this high lord was extremely refined in speech and manner. It was only when he was angry or amidst friends and family that he showed his true thoughts.

"So tell me.. how did you do it? How did you take the whole damn thing so easily? Tell me everything!" Finishing his glass and waiting for a refill, the strong lord then posed Alexander the million dollars, his eyes shining with curiosity.

As a military man himself, how could Pasha Farzah not be eager to hear the legendary exploits from the horse's mouth himself?

"...Hahaha… I am my lord already has heard many recounts. But if you really want to know what changed… well I would have to say the new weapon we used."

Alexander did not have the intention to go into the details of how he completed his military campaign… both because of a lack of time as well as many of the strategies being considered a closely guarded secret.

Thus he only added a succinct recount,

"I am sure you already have heard about it- the catapault. It throws rocks the size of small boulder across a large field. The walls of Thesalie were certainly very strong… but not strong enough. They were forced to break under the constant barrage of our new weapon."

"And once we breached the fortress city…. we had basically won. The incredible news sent shockwaves through the country such that a lot of the Tibian nobles simply lost the will to fight then and there."

"The later few fights were really just desperate stands the Tibians took with the aid of Amenheraft and Matbar (Marquiss) Kyaum. But they soon got annihilated and… we won."

Pasha Farzah was clever enough to understand Alexander had left out a lot of the important details. But rather than focus on it for now, he turned to muse in a light, unsurprising tone, "Hmmm… so they sent soldiers to aid the Tibians?"

Of course by 'they' he meant his son in law and the rogue Matbar, but at the end of the days, the news seemed to only mildly perturb the old man.

Alexander on the other hand was honestly expecting a lot more vehemenance, thus clenching his teeth, complained,

"Yes! It was about eight to ten thousand men. They were even led by Manuk, that ball headed snake. Snort! is Kyuam here? I wish to have him chewn out in the court!"

Alexander still remembered being swindled out of a good 100 horses by Manuk and that man… and thus was itching to get something back.

"...." Pasha Farzah did not encourage or discourage such as move, but judging by the gentle, knowing smile he gave, it seemed he was extremely skeptical of Alexander's chances.

Perhaps that is why he chimed to once again congratulate Alexander on his success, both for Tibias as well as Galiosos, and finishing by breathing a sigh of relief, "It is good you are here, brat. They will be a lot more afraid to act up now."

Alexander did not need to ask who 'they' were.

But simply solemnly nodded, "Mmmm… that is why also why I bought 5,000 men with me. I was skeptical of the security here. In fact, it was really Lady Nanazin's idea. Ohhh… and she said to thank you for saving her."

This last bit alluded to the fact that Pasha Farzah was the one who had convinced Ptolomy to allow the lady to move to Zanzan…and if he had not, well most likely she would not exist.

"....." Pasha Farzah only gave a small, understanding smile, but did not comment.

This gave Alexander the chance to take advantage of the lull to raise a critical issue.

Thus smoothly raising his lips into a thin curl, he first buttered the man up,

"My lord, I am very happy to hear of Princess Mikaya's marriage with Rusti. Getting another Pasha to our side… is a feat perhaps even more impressive than my conquest of Tibias. Hahaha, congratulations, congratulations…"

And then, slightly wrigging out his hand, laid out his true intention,

"So I was thinking of doubling that joy by Lord Farzah letting me marry Princess Azura and Princess Azira. What do you say?"

"..."

Much to Alexander's surprise, Pasha Farzah did not immediately show any reaction. In fact the man simply stock there still, with a frowning, ruminative face.

It was such that it almost perturbed Alexander because he had guessed given how protective the old man was of his dear granddaughters he would have raged at the concept.

By all accounts Alexander's family was quite low and base in terms of blood and status. And in this time period, this was the same taboo as having a mixed marriage during segregation.

Such a joining was thus begging to be shunned by every strata of society.

'Did he become so angry that he has burst a fuse?' Alexander hence even cautiously wondered so, almost readying himself in the case Pasha Farzah hurled something in absolute rage.

".... How much… how much dowry do you have in mind, brat?"

Yet contrary to all expectations, not only did Pasha Farzah not reject Alexander, but he seemed to tactily approve!

It was an open secret Alexander did not lack money so by asking this, Pasha Farzah was making his position crystal clear. He had already agreed and was now ready to hash out the small details.

Alexander's heart instantly leapt at those words, so much that he in fact struggled to keep a straight face.

"What amount does my lord have in mind? I confess I have no idea of the range… for a true, high born princess. Say nothing of two!"

"...Just say that you will make them happy!"

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