A Time of Tigers - From Peasant to Emperor

"That is… A good point," Greeves admitted cautiously. The three of them had been beyond stunned when he mentioned slaying a Boulder Crab – but only after Nila had explained to them what it was, and just how strong they were likely to be. "Hunting monsters, though… I can't help but think there's got to be a better way of doing this. They're meant to be a threat, not a fuckin' farm animal."

"Oh! I can guess where you're going with this," Judas said happily, pleased to be able to offer some input in their scheming at last. "You're on about helping different villages under threat, right? Dealing with infestations, and selling the corpses. I'm right, ain't I?"

"No," Greeves said. "I wasn't thinking that. That'd be too much travelling for the boy. Those will be requests all across the country. Then again… The political value of those killings would be as significant as one of these monthly missions that he's been assigned to…"

The merchant fell into thought as he considered it. It was certainly a salient point.

"Are the monsters there really going to be of the strong sort, though?" Oliver asked. "I can't imagine Gorebeasts and Hobgoblins invading a village if there isn't some sort of mage driving them."

"You'd be surprised," Nila said. "There's all sorts of horror stories about different infestations that get out of control. Especially in areas where there's been violence, or lots of deaths. The monsters seem to really spring up there."

"Violence and lots of deaths… That sounds an awful lot like Solgrim," Oliver said cautiously.

Nila nodded. "We had a few issues with goblins and the like. There was something of a goblin invasion, but we were lucky enough to get no Hobgoblins. After battling against the Yarmdon and Francis, we're not going to be overrun even by a hundred goblins."

"A hundred goblins?" Oliver said incredulously. "You didn't… Did you?"

There came a shrug from Greeves. "It was a minor affair. Lombard and his lot were there to help. We didn't lose a single man. Just a slaughter, really. When you expect it to happen, it ain't as much of a threat.

Ever since what happened, Ferdinand has been visiting once a fortnight to check on things, apparently feeling guilty." Stay updated through My Virtual Library Empire

"He'll be here tomorrow morning too," Judas put in.

"Ah, yeah…" Greeves said, as though just remembering. "I suppose I better get into the habit of calling you Oliver now, eh? Only a handful of us know the proper truth. The villagers are convinced that you were Dominus' son, and given what happened, I don't blame them. Half-convinced of it myself, to be honest."

"I suppose so," Oliver said. "Though, I hope we can still speak like this, when we're alone. It makes life a good bit easier. My retainers might be good people, and loyal, but it grows tiresome having to act as a noble should."

"Boy, you never even acted like a peasant should. Didn't show poor Lombard even a lick of respect until you outranked him. That ain't justice," Greeves said.

"I'm pleased..." Nila said. "I was a little worried that you would be more noble than anyone else now, and that you wouldn't be able to talk to us like we used to. Still, I think, Oliver Patrick is a much kinder name than Beam, isn't it? It must have been awful to wear a slave's name all those years."

"I chose to wear it," Oliver said. "Until I achieved something, I did not wish to return to my old name. It would have been an insult to it."

"Still you haven't returned to it," Greeves said, "even though you're causing waves across the entire bloody country. When will you be satisfied lad? Aye – it would be better to call you your true name when we're alone. What is it?"

"Something like 'Arthurious'?" Judas guessed.

"Too on the nose," Greeves said dismissively. "It'll be a powerful name though, I have no doubt."

Even Nila too seemed excited by the prospect. "What is it?" She asked.

He very nearly almost said it. His mouth had already parted, and his tongue worked to pronounce the first syllable. But something stopped him. Like a curse. It seemed almost as though it would undo the magic that had finally worked its way into his life. "Not yet," he said.

"You mean you don't trust us yet?" Nila said, doing her best not to look hurt.

"No. I mean I don't trust myself yet. I haven't done enough," Oliver said.

"Gods be damned, you're an odd sort," Greeves said, shaking his head. "How can you hold yourself to such a standard? It's no fuckin' wonder you cried when a pretty girl held you properly."

This time, it was Oliver's turn to grow red. He was well aware of how childish the notion of holding onto his name was. The merchant, as ever, thrust a sharp tongue through where he was weakest. There was nothing he could say in his defence. Even Nila too found herself blushing.

"Fine, I'll stop teasin' you both. It's too fuckin' easy. Makes me feel as bad as kicking a dog. Should we leave it there for the night then, eh? It's late enough. I expect you'll want some rest from the road," Greeves said.

"I suppose so," Oliver agreed.

"Being half a country away is definitely inconvenient. We'll only have you until mid-afternoon at best tomorrow, eh? Well, I suppose that's enough. We've a few schemes in place that we can dwell on. I'm excited for it," Greeves said. "C'mon Judas.

You get home to your wife, you lout."

"Ahhh, true," Judas said, standing up from his seat by the fire. "Felly is going to be furious with me…"

With Greeves, there went his guards, all of them streaming towards the door. The merchant gave one last half wave with his hand, before he plunged out into the night, leaving Oliver alone with Nila, and with his new house, each room bigger than any home that he'd ever dwelled in before.