Chapter 337: Fahad
Dominic did a quick mental calculation of all the new infrastructure they would need to house all these new arrivals, then nodded.
"Yes, that will work very well. As long as your numbers are right, anyhow. Axbridge is easily fifty times the size of Stansia Province, so the number of nomads will add up quickly if there are enough to pose an issue in your nation.
I would appreciate it if you could sort out the bandit groups before they reached our borders, though.
I’m certain that King Cygnia would agree with that." Dominic noted.
Prince Fahad chuckled. "I am quite certain that he would. But that will be part of the treaties and negotiations that will be starting later. The civil war in Dagos, and its aftermath, are of great international concern.
We also have reason to believe that the Skiple Royal Academy has been compromised. Many of their Elders are missing, as well as recent graduates and some senior students."
Dominic nodded. "I knew that already, we killed some of them who were leading armies of mind controlled monsters, the same as the groups that invaded Cygnia not long ago.
We couldn’t be certain whether they were exiles or defectors, but we found items issued by the Academy on many of the dead."
"They didn’t self-destruct? Normally, they put a protective spell on themselves to destroy their bodies after death." Prince Fahad asked.
Dominic nodded. "Some of them did. Some didn’t get the chance."
"How does a mage not get a chance to raise their protective spells?"
"Trollish club to the back of the head. It’s surprisingly effective when the mage thinks the troll is their ally."
Fahad winced. "That’s just nasty. Have you had many issues with such forces?"
Dominic nodded. "A few. Prince Russel currently has a cavalry force out hunting them between here and Mitfield, Prince George of Mitfield ran across some on his way here, and we’ve heard rumours of dozens more groups.
Your suspicion that the Skiple Academy might have been compromised could very well be right.
But the monsters that they collected will be an issue long after the mages organizing them to attack have been eliminated."
"I’m sure that it will come up in the meetings. Prince Russel should be on his way back already, as everyone is showing up early.
I wasn’t informed of who would be doing the negotiations. However, he is in the area, and he is the older sibling, so it will most likely be him assigned as Cygnia’s delegate for the meetings. It is uncommon for the host to also be the assigned representative, after all. It’s simply too much work." Prince Fahad explained.
Dominic nodded. "I can see how that would be the case. The duties of hosting a major event can take up every waking minute, even with guests as undemanding as yourself and Prince George.
If it was a pair of pampered Noble Negotiators, I can see our staff working themselves to the bone just trying to keep up with the demands.
But that reminds me of a fun story. Did you know that the first trip I took with Princess Alexis as her advisor, they put me in a separate tower on the other side of the Burton Palace?"
The Prince snorted in amusement, then tried to play it off as a cough into his sleeve.
"Don’t tell me that they sent a bed maid to your room after you were married?" Prince Fahad wheezed.
"No, this was before we were married. Fortunately, for the one that they did send to my room. Though, she did end up poisoned, so it’s not all fortunate for her. But that’s another story for another day."
"So, you were the Princess’s personal Royal Advisor before you were wed? I’m not certain that I follow the timeline of your adventures after leaving Wavemates." Fahad asked.
"You could say that I made a speed run of positions within the Cygnia Royal Palace this year. I started as an Apprentice Weaponsmith, then Royal Sorcerer, then Gunsmith, then there was a war, and they gave me the title of Duke about the time that I got married to the Princess."
Fahad nodded slowly. "I immediately regret asking."
Dominic smiled. "They let me invade Dagos and I made new mortar launchers."
Fahad rolled his eyes. "I actually knew that part already. And about the high altitude airships with magitech cannons."
"Those worked even better than expected. I know that there were some concerns about other inventions, but the airships were a masterpiece." Dominic agreed.
"Just remember that flamethrowers and magitech shotguns are violations of the conventions on war." Prince Fahad joked.
"So, I have been informed. That was one of the considerations when we were making man portable mortars. However, the scholars determined that they were lethal artillery and not intended to wound or maim."
Fahad was more concerned about what an entire unit equipped with portable artillery would look like on the battlefield. That wasn’t even a sporting advantage.
Times might be changing with technology, but some things were sacred.
But that advantage did explain why Cygnia suddenly had so little trouble keeping Dagos in check, after the invading armies had nearly reached the capital mere weeks earlier in the conflict.
"Should we join the others?" Dominic suggested when he realized they had gotten sidetracked.
"Ah, certainly. Prince George should have had plenty of time to catch up by now, and they are certainly waiting on us." Fahad agreed.
Indeed, they were. The door to the smoking room was open, and there was a maid waiting outside the door for them.
"My Lady, Prince Fahad of Axbridge has arrived." The maid announced the moment that the two men stepped into the hallway.
"We definitely kept them waiting." Dominic whispered.
Fahad winked at him. "I’m blaming you. No offence, but your wife terrifies me."
The maid frowned at the interaction. Weren’t those two getting along far too well for a pair of Nobles who had only met a few minutes ago? She would have to keep an eye on them, in case there was hidden history that she should be aware of.