Herald of Steel

Ptolomy was chosen as the head of the rebels just for being born in the right womb and not because he was the best choice.

Hence he was not the sharpest tool in the shed, not by a long shot.

So, it was easy for Alexander to twist Ptolomy's mind, especially when his narrative fits the latter.

"Brother, you can't be seriously thinking that uncle Barzan was tricking you right?" From atop a horse chirped feminine voice, trying to defend the old man.

It was Hellma and having recovered from her fever, she had rode into the city on horseback.

"Women should stay out of men's business," But Ptolomy just flashed his palm to shut the girl down.

Alexander was also not about to let anyone sway Ptolomy's mind.

So he taunted Barzan, "Old man, you claim to be always truthful to Highness Ptolomy. Then why didn't you warn your master that he was being manipulated? Tell us, we are interested to know."

Alexander asked with a smug look on his face.

'Because the idiot wouldn't have listened anyway. He had already fired or killed any detractors that tried to counsel him. The only thing I could do was stay with him and try to minimize the damage as much as possible.' Barzan cursed in his heart, knowing that he would never be able to say this out loud.

So he lied, "The nobles manipulating my liege is a complete lie. They serve their liege with utmost loyalty…"

Alexander here quickly cut him off, "Utmost loyalty? Heh, then why did they not send their armies to defend their king? Why did His Highness need to call us, the Cantagenans? The very fact that I am here is solid proof that your 'outmost loyalty' quote is complete horse crap."

Barzan realized too late that he had a slight mistake by lying and Alexander had him by the throat by now.

And Alexander knew this as he attacked, "Hehe, Barzan, for someone who claims to be so loyal to Highness Ptolomy, you sure are apologetic towards the nobles. Why is that?"

"That…" Barzan attempted to speak but got cut off again.

Alexander swipe his hand across and scolded, "Shut up! Don't insult our intelligence. Everyone clearly knows why you are defending them. It's clear as day to even a three-year-old child. You took bribes!"

"What! You…you!" The old man became so angry that he was having a hard time forming coherent words.

"Is it true? Barzan, did you take bribes?" Ptolomy asked in a wounded voice, finding it hard to believe the man who cared for him from his birth would choose to betray him.

While Alexander laughed darkly in his heart, 'Haha, ohh, you so sweet naïve child!'

"Your highness…." Barzan's defense was again cut short.

But this time not by Alexander but by Hellma!

"Come on, brother! This is uncle Barzan we are talking about. Are you going to trust a man you just met over him?

This reminded managed to restore some of Ptolomy's confidence in Barzan while he looked at Alexander in askance.

'Smart girl,' Alexander commented.

Then he said, "Okay let's say you didn't take any bribes. This is unlikely, but let's just say it is."

Alexander made a point to drive home the fact that Barzan likely had his loyalty compromised.

After that, he continued, "Then you have to concede that you somehow did not notice how the nobles were just using His Highness Ptolomy. Somehow you managed to miss how the nobles tricked him into allowing foreign powers into the lands, Somehow you managed to miss how the nobles made King Ptolomy sign away his country's land to its rivals. Something an illiterate who was a slave just five days ago can see."

Alexander then quickly made a point not to blame Ptolomy, "Of course, His Highness is to not to be blamed for any of this. He is still young and no one could have performed the way he did in times of such crisis. To be able to bear such great responsibility takes great courage. And any peccadillos he might have is only due to his retinues not being competent enough."

At last, Alexander finished his attack, "So, you have two choices Barzan- One- you say you took bribes to help the nobles, Cantagena and Tibias carve up Adhania. That will be treason and you will be made an example of."

"Or second - you can claim incompetence and that you truly had no idea about anything. In that case, you are guilty of negligence of duty, and that punishment lies with the king."

"So choose." Alexander then folded his arms as he anticipated a response.

But no such response came.

Only an uncomfortable silence.

"Well, what's your response Barzan? Are those things Alexander said true?" Ptolomy the impatient could not hold his temper any longer.

But Barzan only gave a rueful smile and said, "I will leave Your Highness to determine my guilt."

To be suspected of such grave crimes at such an age, when he had done so much and sacrificed so many things for his boy, broke the poor man's heart.

He did not feel like defending himself, partially because there was nothing to defend against, everything said against him was wishy-washy and made up, and also because he felt whatever he said would not ultimately matter.

He knew the boy from the day he was born and understood he had already proclaimed him guilty.

But just because Barzan didn't want to defend himself, didn't mean others didn't want to defend him.

Particularly it was Hellma, along with the urging of other retinues who raised their voices to Ptolomy, reminding him it was all just baseless conjecture and he shouldn't be hasty.

And credit to Ptolomy where credit is due, he did seem inclined to follow their suggestion.

For a brief moment.

Because Alexander instantly launched a deadly counterattack, "Your Highness, let me paint for you two pictures."

"In one picture, I stay behind with the army, train the populace and help you successfully defend against Amenheratf's assault, thus securing you the greatest city in the world."

'In the second picture, I leave with loot from the Temple of Ramuh and march upto Agnirat. It's only a hundred and fifty kilometers from here and even in bad conditions, we can make it in at most two weeks, far earlier than Amenheratf can ever hope to catch up."

"We then dump the billions of ropals we took from the temple in front of the city and ask for ships and safe passage to Cantagena in exchange for giving city lord Inayah the ropals, which we are confident she will agree to."

This was a naked, unmasked threat by Alexander saying he could leave Ptolomy to hang out in the open to dry.

Then Alexander gave a light smile to Ptolomy and said, "I would very much like the first picture to come true. But I cannot do the things I said I would do if I am constantly judged and interrupted at every step."

"Did you know Barzan tried to frame and beseech my name by saying I had commanded the soldiers to ****, murder, and plunder! What a liar!"

Then not giving anyone the chance to intervene Alexander presented his sheathed sword to Ptolomy, "It is time to choose your fate, Your Majesty."

"Choose him and you will become a puppet of the nobles and be slowly replaced by Pasha Farzah as the true king of Adhania."

"Choose me, someone, who has no roots in Adhania, someone who has no political support, someone who can only rely on you and you will gain a powerful ally who will not betray or replace you."

Alexander then shook his sword in front of Ptolomy to tempt him to take it and kill Barzan,

"What! No brother. Don't trust Alexander. Trust Uncle Barzan," Hellma literally cried tears as she pleaded with her brother to have mercy.

"Shut up!" Ptolomy snapped, at his sister's incessant meddling in men's affairs.

Then he fiercely grabbed the sheath and *clang*bought out the naked blade in a single motion, the clean steel reflecting his maddened, red-eyed countenance.

Ptolomy had made up his mind.

"Hehe, young master is doing the right thing," Barzan seemed to be surprisingly taking it well as he even started addressing Ptolomy by the title he used to endearingly call him before, 'young master'

Then he turned his head full of thick white hair to Hellma, "Princess, please do not blame your brother. He is only doing this because commander Alexander has demanded my head in exchange for this support to the young master."

"For this poor old bones to be able to die for young master's cause is my life's greatest honor. So please do not cry." He then lovingly placed his hand on the young girl's head, making the fourteen-year-old break into sobs and tears.

"Oh, my only wish is that I would not be able to see young master's great accomplishments in the future. I guess I will have to settle for seeing it from Aaru." With one last sigh of regret, Barzan got off his horse and then turned to Ptolomy and said, "Then, please do it, young master."

Ptolomy on the other hand was unmoved by these theatrics.

He had already made up his mind and clutching the steel sword tightly to the point his hands had gone white, he approached Barzan with bloodshot eyes and got ready to behead him.

'Hehe, naive fool,' Alexander gleefully danced in his heart at Ptolomy's stupid decision.