"This could get ugly."
Throughout the day, Atau had retained an unhealthy level of tension. Together with a number of Tamaya's warriors, the captain had placed himself beyond the edges of the banquet, close to the bandit Uchu, to the intruder. Although he had never been tasked to do so by anyone, Atau wouldn't leave critical work like this to strangers. Ever since he had met Tamaya and her ghost warriors, he had disliked the woman and her position within Corco's staff.
No servant should have this much personal power beyond a lord's reach. If it had been Fadelio or another member of the old Fastgrade merchants he wouldn't have minded so much, but to him, the strange young woman was an unknown, no matter who her brother was. Tamaya's unpredictable nature didn't help matters either.
As a result of his own suspicion, he had condemned himself to the corner of the banquet all by himself. He didn't really regret that he would miss out on the food, since he had tasted more than enough of his cousin's attempts over the past days, but it was a shame that he couldn't mingle with the community in the garden's center.
As the host, Corco himself couldn't get involved with the lords either. For the entire first half of the banquet, he would have to stay in one place and wait to receive the well-wishes of his guests. Only once night had fallen would he be allowed to return the favor, visit the lords at their tables and talk about the issues he really cared about. No matter how much they wanted to change the stiff rules of Medala, for now they still needed to keep their reputation among the lords, so the king would have to leave all contact with his guests to his servants.
That very role should have fallen to Atau. As the one who had spoken for the king throughout the first year of his reign, he would have been the one to represent him tonight as well. However, now his own suspicion had sidelined himself at a crucial moment. All the while, he had watched his brother Mayu butter up to the other lords in the center throughout the day. If nothing else, the start of the duel was a good way to shake up the status quo and get involved in southern politics again.
When the bandit stood up to accept his brother's challenge,the captain watched from the shadows with great enthusiasm. Encouraged by the development, he went after Uchu, in anticipation of things to come. However, before he could do anything, he saw Tamaya march towards himself. Any hope of a coincidence was destroyed when the girl insisted on eye contact, despite his best attempts.
With a sigh, Atau gave in to his fate.
"Captain Atau, King Corco has ordered me to ensure young master Epunamo's safety," the servant woman started.
"Yeah, I'm about to go over and make sure none of this crap happens. Might be fun to see Epunamo's teeth knocked in, but it probably makes for a poor impression of the king's banquet." After another sigh, Atau resumed his original plan, but once more Tamaya proved an obstacle. This time she went further and pushed her body in front of the captain whose patience was running out fast.
"What else, woman?"
Despite his own cranky attitude, Tamaya still retained her unreadable smile.
"It seems as if Captain Atau has misunderstood. King Corco has ordered me to ensure that nothing happen to young master Epunamo. Captain Atau should try and stall for time as best as possible, while I get my men in position to intervene. Or is that too big an ask, warrior?"
"Right. And once I try to stall, maybe I'll just solve all of our problems by accident, huh?" Without a care for the mortal woman's frail body, Atau grabbed Tamaya by her shoulder and pushed her out of the way. Unwilling to acknowledge her stumble he marched on, towards the center of the square, where he had already missed his chance to grasp the initiative, thanks to the servant's pointless attempt at power politics.
Already Atau's brother Mayu had positioned himself in a circle of Sachay's lords, in between the two hopeful combatants Epunamo and Uchu.
"Since it appears as if the two noble men cannot come to an agreement, who are we to deny them their great brawl? This lord will come in to officiate the battle," Mayu concluded his attempts to take control.
"And why would House Saqartu be in charge of anything here?" Disgruntled, Atau pushed himself through the encirclement and stepped in between the duelists as well. As soon as his words rang out, Mayu turned to face his brother, the hint of a confident smile on his face. Right away tension the shifted. With the arrival of a second Saqartu brother, two conflicts brewed in the center of the circle, rather than just one.
"Someone will need to step up and assume control of the proceedings," a calm Mayu replied. "We cannot have a brawl without proper supervision, after all. Since King Corco cannot sit with the other lords for now, that role would fall upon this governor, as the highest ranked noble within this city."
"...so you're saying that you're higher ranked than Corco? That's a bold statement if I've ever heard one." Narrowed eyes, Atau stepped up to the unfazed Mayu.
"Of course not. I would not want to create trouble for my cousin. However, as the host of the banquet and the nominal king of the present lords, Corco cannot leave his position at the head of the banquet until night has fallen. For now, we will have to solve this issue between ourselves. Who else would be more suitable than this governor to take charge of the proceedings?"
Tired by yet another political play, and a repetitive one at that, Atau rubbed his eyes with one hand. Though of course, his exacerbation was only half earnest and meant to put a focus on Mayu's strong claims.
"Are you trying to imply that you are the highest rank here, Lord Mayu? Higher ranked than the lords around us?"
At last, the young lord's smile became cramped. No doubt he was just as much reminded of their childhood arguments as Atau was.
"You do not intend to imply that you would be higher rank than me, do you? Even if he represents a king, a warrior is still nothing but a warrior." Mayu barked.
"No, what I'm saying is: If your standing isn't any higher than that of the other lords, what makes you the natural candidate to officiate a brawl?"
Although the governor title gave Mayu some administrative duties, he was nothing more than another one among the lords. In Medala, even the emperor was only the first among equals. No one here would look to kindly on Mayu's claims if he continued his insistence on a higher rank. As such, the governor switched strategies.
"Of course this would be down to this governor's good reputation among the lords of the south. No matter what those northerners in Arguna say, the south still has a governorship after all. We do not need any outsiders to help us decide our internal matters."
Once again Atau got annoyed. He felt reminded of the days of his youth, when his older brother would employ similar cheap word play to get a leg up on the straight-forward Atau. However, that had been many years ago. Moreover, Atau's time as Corco's diplomatic envoy hadn't been for nothing either. He still didn't like diplomacy and he still didn't feel comfortable in the role, but by now this matter was something he could deal with himself.
Pensive, the captain scanned his surroundings. All these lords of the south-west wouldn't be much help. Not only had many of their houses strong, long-standing ties with House Saqartu – which would shift their bias in Mayu's direction – the lords themselves were also far too drunk and far too bored. How else could it be that a group of old-honorable Medalan lords would stand around in a circle and accompany the impending bloody conflict with claps and jeers, like boys huddled around a street fight? Rather than rely on their unreliable help, Atau chose to follow his instincts and attacked Mayu's, House Saqartu's, greatest weakness and biggest blemish of recent generations.
"Good reputation? Who do you have a reputation with, Lord Mayu Saqartu, huh? You think anyone north-east of the Mayura River respects you or your 'reputation'? The north-eastern lords were already close to independence before, ever since the end of the civil war. After father died, House Saqartu has no more influence on any of these eastern estates. Not only that, House Villca has formed a perfect counter weight while you were busy training up an army to enforce your will and authority on the lords around you. In a conflict between the sons of House Villca, why would your word matter any more than that of anyone else here ?"
Rather than hold on to his contemptuous grin, this time Mayu answered with a full-blown sneer.
"Brother, there is no need to get personal. This lord understands that you desire to show your prowess. You feel slighted after you lost the fight for the position of patriarch. However, this is neither the time nor the place to restart a war that has already been lost. Unlike you, this lord only wishes to solve conflict between southern nobility. After all, the northerners stir once more, eager for another war. These are matters of great importance and not something a warrior should get involved in."
Only for a moment, Atau's eye twitched. As always, the little bastard did his best to push all the wrong buttons. Only a few months in the past, Atau would have just smashed the brat's nose in and stormed off. However, the grueling tour of diplomatic games had left behind its traces. Not only had he learned patience and self-control, he had also acquired the very weapons which would help him fight back against Mayu's attack on his reputation.
"It's never been part of Yaku custom to appoint the highest-ranking noble to officiate the brawl. The official can be any noble, lord or warrior, chosen in agreement between the two brawlers. Isn't that right?"
He looked around the lords in the surroundings, who had gone quiet. However, they didn't seem concerned or intimidated. Rather, they had given up their boisterous attitudes to better listen in on the new conflict between the Saqartu brothers. Many sported shallow smiles or barely contained fits of laughter while they watched in silence. At last, one of the lords spoke up to prove that not all were so indifferent to the big picture.
"Indeed. In the end, the brawlers themselves are to choose the official for their brawl. Those are our traditions. It seems unreasonable for Lord Mayu to demand the position based on standing then."
In defiance of his compatriots, Lord Queru had stood out to help Atau make his case. As soon as the Lord had spoken, the captain turned to see his brother's smile melt in the evening sun. So long as no one supported Atau's claim, it would have been easy to ignore. Even if he represented the King of the South, Atau was only a warrior in the end.
However, Mayu had never expected just how much Corco's influence in the south had grown ever since he had stood up for the Medala Empire and its lords during the war for succession. Many were sympathetic to Corco's cause and general attitude. Plus, quite a few lords had already gained from their new trade relations with Saniya. For once, not everything went in the self-important Mayu's favor. Even his most bitter stare wouldn't change Lord Queru's intervention any more.
"In that case, wouldn't it be best to let the combatants decide for themselves? How's it look, anyone have a problem with my officiating?" Although the first hurdle had been cleared, there was still a long way to go. Next, Atau had to become the brawl's official and thus get into a proper position of authority. By then, he could drag proceedings out for as long as he wanted, at least until the eldest Villca heir had sobered up enough to regret his impulsive decision.
For a good while, Atau looked on between the two sides of the central arena. Despite his plans, neither of the combatants made any attempts to confirm the warrior's claim. To his right, the bandit Uchu still retained his cocky grin. Behind the bandit stood Iqtana Villca's third son Guachimine. While he still held eye contact with Atau, the bandit bent back to listen to the noble son's whispered advice.
Even though he had met Guachimine before, Atau didn't expect any support from the bandit's side, not after they had almost clashed at the entrance. With no other option left, the captain turn left to Eupunamo. To his surprise, things didn't look any better over there. Straight like a spear, House Villca's oldest heir simply stood there by himself, nothing more. Not even his warrior attendant was there to support him. At some point throughout the evening, the warrior must have disappeared into the crowd. Even though Atau had led some good negotiations with Villca's eldest heir before, for now the young master was too focused on his brother's killer to even acknowledge anyone else. Tension rose as the two brothers stared at each other with more silent words than could ever be spoken out loud.
With his hope almost crushed, Atau received support from the side he had least expected it from.
"Fine, the big guy with the hitting stick can stand to the side. I don't care." With the same indifferent grin as always, Uchu answered Atau's prayers. It was the last straw for the already frustrated and impatient Mayu.
"Ridiculous! How dare some lowly bandit ignore the primacy of House Saqartu!" the arrogant fop screamed.
"It is as Official Atau has said. The lords of the east have no interest in House Saqartu." Rather than the supposed oldest heir of House Villca, it was the youngest son Guachimine who stepped forward to confront the Governor of the South. "Ever since the weak attitude of the Saqartus has cost us victory in the war with the north, the eastern lords have had enough of this so-called governorship. We stand here to represent all lords of the east, and we will not cave to the weak dictate of Puscanacra. Even more, we don't know you. We have never so much as met you. If the late Governor Sonco had requested to officiate, it would have been a different matter, but Lord Mayu has yet to even visit the eastern lords since his ascension to governor. In contrast, Official Atau has spent most of the year in travels all across the east. He has proven to be fair, earnest and competent, a real man of the south. That would be the reason why Lord Uchu is not interested in Lord Mayu's so-called 'primacy'."
"What he said," the bandit added without a care in the world. Frozen in place, Mayu's eyes grew larger and larger while his white-knuckled fists began to shiver. Never would the arrogant brat have thought that he wouldn't get his will, that even after he had taken so much from their father, the people would still pick Atau over him. However, status wasn't everything. In the end, the man behind the title was still the most important factor to determine someone's worth. His status as official confirmed by the bandit before him, Atau ignored his now irrelevant brother and stepped ahead, in between the combatants.
"In that case, I would like to make a few declarations before the start of the duel. For now, it would be best if we negotiate a short delay in the battle." Although he was now in control, Atau's first words were met by jeers and boos from the surrounding lords. "Anyone got a problem with this?" the captain shouted with a swift look around. "Look up into the sky, the sun's still up! What kind of stargazing brawl would this be without the stars? Maybe we shouldn't disrespect the Divines, disrespect Pacha and disrespect tonight's host in such a blatant manner, just to satisfy our blood lust."
Fitting for the occasion, the evening's rays deepened the shadow's in Atau's furrowed face, to enforce the power of his words. As he looked around, one by one the bloodthirsty lords halted in their complaints. Not even Mayu dared speak up at this point, no doubt in fear of further humiliation.
A delay would be the best solution for now. It would be at least another hour until sundown. By then, Epunamo should have calmed down enough to rescind his pointless and risky challenge. Even if the young master didn't, nightfall would mark the start of the banquet's second half. At that time, Corco could get involved himself. With his authority and penchant for dramatic speeches, his cousin should have no trouble defusing the situation.
Atau really didn't like the political stuff, but after a few bumps in the road, he had managed to achieve his goals, or so he thought. However, one unexpected voice wiped away all of his hard work, without a trace. Even more, the words were as simple as they could be.
"I disagree." Hard, dry and low was the sound from deep within Epunamo's throat. By now, he no longer stared at Uchu, but instead glared over to Atau, with the same deep hatred and iron focus in his eyes as before. "I don't care if they're House Saqartu or House Pluritac, neither of the snakes will officiate any of my duels."
For a bit Atau tried to blink away his confusion, to no avail. Only a good bit later did he regain his thoughts, though at least he was faster than the rest of the stunned spectators. Although he didn't understand what kind of demon had overcome Epunamo, for now the captain would have to try and salvage the situation as best he could.
"I'm confused. Young master Epunamo, we have had very fruitful discussions before, haven't we? I guarantee that the king has only the best of intentions for-"
"Enough!" the embittered Villca heir shouted. "Your king cares for no one but himself. Don't believe me fooled by this charade. I know that my father had an agreement with the northerners. Now I also know about the sincerity with which this agreement has been concluded. Never would the northerners have planned my father's assassination, of that I am sure. Your king is a liar and a cheat. In fact, from the very start your king's goal has been the usurpation of the entire south!"
A scowl and a finger of accusation accompanied Epunamo's bitter speech. A frown on his face, Atau tried to refute the ridiculous accusations.
"Young master, no matter what you might have heard, I guarantee-"
"In fact!" Epunamo interrupted again with narrowed eyes, "who is to say that your northerner king did not collude with this bandit here, to help wipe out the prestigious sons of House Villca? Wait until sundown? The bandit does not deserve such respect. All the noble lords here! Who amongst you is willing to oversee the contest? Who will not get in my way, and watch me take revenge on the bastard who killed my brother!?"
Enraged, Epunamo's last words were thrown into the crowd of bloodthirsty bystanders. It didn't take long for the first lord to take the bait, eager to see a spectacle.
"This lord would offer his services, if it may please." With confident steps, Lord Ogulno walked past Atau and Mayu to enter the central circle. With one short speech from Epunamo, all of the warrior's authority, all the attention he had worked for so hard had evaporated into nothingness. Things had gone from bad to worse. There was no way to prevent the duel any more.
Anything beyond here would be in the hands of the shady Tamaya, and in the hands of the Divines. Atau really didn't like their chances.