A Time of Tigers - From Peasant to Emperor

"Then be such a Tiger, Hod," Tavar said. "Why waste your talents here? You do not wish to be Minister, or carry our ministerial duties. Why stay, with all your wants?"

Oliver had a feeling that he'd walked in on a conversation that was very much about him. Hod narrowed his eyes in annoyance and folded his arms. He was a sharp mind, that Minister of Logic, but Tavar was relentlessly stubborn. They made for poor conversational partners.

"We have discussed this, General," Hod said. "It needs not be rediscussed now. There are more important matters at hand."

"I will yield only now, but you can not run away forever, Hod," Tavar said, folding his arms too, unaware that he was perfectly mirroring the younger man. The pair struck Oliver very much like father and son, though as far as he was aware, there was no relation between them.

"You," Hod said, pointing at Oliver. There was irritation in his eyes now, and with as sharp a mind as Hod had, seeing him irritated was always an unnerving prospect. He could expertly pinpoint the right words to say just to make a person squirm – Oliver had seen him do it more than once before. "Are you prepared?"

"As much as I can be," Oliver said.

"Sort your affairs out in Solgrim. You do not want to be distracted mid-campaign. You want to have faith that your village can survive without you there," Hod said.

"I have employed three hundred more men to be trained and to take over from those that are already stationed there," Oliver replied. "There should be able to hold the walls while I am away. Besides, I have people there that I trust to take care of it."

"Nila Felder and Greeves Golfingle, is it?" Hod said. "Yes, I have looked into them both, and they seem competent enough. The merchant is of particular interest. An amusing friend that you have. Someone to take control of the shadows. Though, I suppose that the huntress of note as well.

There's Tiger in them both. They've made quite the little empires for themselves."

"They are doing well," Oliver agreed uncertainly. There always seemed to be something extra with Hod. "At the very least, I am proud of them."

"Will she be the woman, then?" Hod pressed, confirming Oliver's suspicions that there was likely something else.

"Hod…" Tavar said, even more exasperated than earlier.

"Whatever do you mean, Minister?" Oliver asked.

"You are of age now," Hod said, not blinking an eye at the obvious discomfort that both Tavar and Oliver were showing. "You have acquaintances that you are close with – some simply happen to be women. I think many neglect just how potent a woman can be in shaping a man's power. Marriage is a weapon, to be used as such.

I urge you to pick someone appropriate, before your youth takes over, and you make a mistake that harms your future."

"You?" Tavar said incredulously. "You're giving this sort of advice? You've never shown the slightest bit of interest in a woman in your life, Hod! And now you're bringing it up to him? At least sort out your own social life. Gather some friends, for the sake of the Gods, if not for yourself.

To seek solitude as much as you do isn't healthy."

The General had lost himself enough that he ceased to call the Minister of Logic by his proper title, and simply reverted to terms that he was more familiar with. It confirmed Oliver's suspicion – the two had to be close. Even though they were seldom seen together, there was a certain closeness there, and that wasn't something that sprung up overnight.

"What? I am the Minister of Logic," Hod said. "Of course, I would offer logical advice."

"It is beyond your field!" Tavar said. "You've no experience in it yourself."

"I do not spend my life on the battlefield either, yet you still rely heavily enough on my predictions. Marriage is not this social affair that you seem to be reducing it to. Marriage is a careful move of the chess board, a means of strengthening your position. That is very much something I can offer advice on," Hod said. "Young Patrick is characterised by his emotions.

That would be something that many would advise that he change, but I acknowledge the strength he draws from them. I also too acknowledge the weaknesses that are likely to crop up. I would not wish for him to make the same mistakes as Skullic."

"Uhm…" Oliver was at a loss. He knew that Minister Hod was a volatile man, but for him to go so far that he would drag Skullic into it… That was a step too far, even for him.

"Skullic… I acknowledge… did not move with wisdom," Tavar said ever so carefully. "And yet, despite the consequences of his marriage to someone so far inferior to him socially, I can not bring myself to openly fault it. Indeed, it did not win him influence, but the presence of the woman is particular. She has had an effect on him.

She reigns in the troublesome parts of his personality, and she has made his House stronger for it. A marriage does not simply need to be for political strength, there are many other aspects to a relationship that make it beneficial."

The Minister of Logic went quiet. He was usually so quick with a reply. To hear him fall into thought for even a second was a rarity. Five long seconds passed, before he piped up, and simply nodded. "I shall concede this point, Tavar. If it is as you say it is, then the advice I was going to give might be unwarranted.

It is not political strength that has made Oliver Patrick so interesting, after all."

"..." Both Oliver and Tavar were shocked to hear Hod concede the point on anything, but something about the way that he had conceded gave the distinct impression that the Minister had somehow won out over them both regardless, though they knew not how.