A Time of Tigers - From Peasant to Emperor

Chapter 592 Plotting By Candlelight - Part 4

"Why get involved with me, though?" Oliver mused. The words sounded almost bitter when he said them. He simply couldn't understand why he'd been spared a helping hand, despite having not really spoken to the Minister of Logic before. Enjoy more content from My Virtual Library Empire

"I think he was honest in his reasons when declared them," Verdant said. "It would sound like a lie coming from any other man, but given the eccentricness of the Minister, I'm more than inclined to believe him. He simply wants to raise up the strong, because he believes it to be necessary."

"Princess Asabel too," Lady Blackthorn pointed out. "Wasn't that... strange?" She asked, stealing another glance at Oliver. She hadn't been privy to Oliver's meeting with Asabel a week before, nor – like everyone else – his encounter with her when his sickness was at its worst.

If even Oliver found it odd that she had come to his aid so strongly, no doubt an outside observer would have been thoroughly baffled.

"It was..." Oliver said. "I've put her in a difficult spot. I wonder if I can be of use to her, despite her claiming she wished for an alliance?"

"My Lord, a mere glance at your strength would tell you that," Verdant said.

"But we are not at war. Or at last, Asabel isn't. Not yet. What can I do when I'm not on the battlefield? My name is too stained to be useful. Isn't peace the time of politics?" Oliver asked.

"A sheathed sword bears just as much meaning as one in use," Verdant said. "The threat of an action is just as potent as the action itself."

"None were to expect this," Oliver said gently. "I am rather glad that more were not there. With poison on their weapons, we could not have fought effectively, not without worry for our own. If not for Princess Asabel being so close on hand, Verdant might have been their victim."

"A fact that I shall not quickly forget," Verdant asserted heavily. "I shall not allow myself to be ignorant of poisons for much longer. The Academy is a wealth of information, after all, it would be my own weakness if I failed to educate myself on the matter.

I should have antidotes prepared for the most common of poisons, just in case... Though I think it unlikely that they will strike using such bold means again. They could not afford to, not with so many eyes already on the Academy."

"We should guard the Lord more stringently," Jorah suggested, speaking up. "We should have a man on his door in the evening, just in case."

"And what of your classes the next day?" Oliver asked. "Do not fret so much. It is unlikely that they will come again and even if they do, I shall not go down so easily. Focus on your training, Jorah. In time, I would like to be able to follow me on whatever these missions are that Skullic sends my way."

That declaration brought a change in the air, from both the force with which Oliver said it, and from its implications.

"You think they'll let us out with you..?" Jorah asked in surprise. "From the declaration, I thought it to be a target for you alone..."

"We will have it bent for our purposes," Oliver declared. "Opportunity lies here again, I can sense it. It was meant to be another pitfall, but it shall merely serve as lumber for a bridge. Build your strength and then these missions in true combat will make you even stronger, if you have the heart to take them on. I would not force you."

"I'd do it," Karesh said firmly. "I'd do it now, if you'd let me. I know it'd be more sensible to train with the goblins, and work our way up, but we're too weak as it is. We need to take risks. I'm ready to go as soon as they call you, my Lord."