Herald of Steel

Cambyses took her third life today.

She personally charged the menacing bodyguard using her quick feet to close the distance from the right, intent on striking him with her right-handed short sword, and when the man tried to go for a horizontal slash towards her head, she swiftly ducked, while simultaneously flicking her sword from her right to left hand and then brought the weapons into his chest by using a wide, left-handed arc, putting all her mass and momentum into the sharp steel point by using her heel as a pivot and driving the steel point all the way into the heart.

"Arghh…" The man fell in disbelief, his brain still processing how he went from being a healthy, strong, living breathing man just seconds ago to now dying.

Cambyses was that fast.

The ten men behind her also charged and soon the four bodyguards were killed and the gang leader captured.

While Cambyses was busy cleaning the streets, Camius, who had so graciously given Cambyses the name of the street was being grilled.

The 'assistant police chief' sat on a hard lone, chair in front of a large table, being stared at by Alexander and the military brass.

"Camius, what happened at the temple?" Alexander growled, staring pointedly at the man.

"I have no excuse, my lord," Camius only lowered his head in shame.

"Darn right you have no excise." Alexander snarled, "How could you let unknown assassins into the city and kill the priests? What am I going to say to the people?" Alexander smashed his fist on the table with a dull thud.

"My lord, I will resign from my post as assistant police chief," Camius in a guilty voice announced.

"Heh, resign? You think you are fit to be a police chief after this fiasco?" Alexander sneered, his eyes turning with a crescent of rage and ridicule.

"My lord, Camius is new to the city and is still getting the hang of things..so…" Menes, the man's good friend tried to intercede on his behalf.

But Alexander naturally brushed his top general off, "No, the temple is too serious, The people will want someone to be held accountable. And it must be important enough!"

"But.." Just as Menes was about to try and convince Alexander, he was cut off by Menicus, "I agree with the pasha's decision, Although the death penalty seems a bit too harsh, I suggest demoting chief Camius for his negligence."

Menicus certainly found the situation too bizarre, with Alexander being unnaturally strict for a place that he never really cared about before.

When did the love for the temple of Ramuh ever grow in Alexander?

"Lord Menicus read my mind." Alexander was happy that at least someone could keep up with the play and he would not have to waste time convincing his generals.

And then turning to Camius he pronounced, "Normally I would have executed someone in your position. But taking into account our past friendship and your services to me, you will be demoted to the leader of a small patrol unit. Do you accept?"

"The lord is infinitely magnanimous," Camius deeply bowed his head, thinking it was here Alexander would ask him to leave the room and thus end the play.

Or at least that was how the script in the rehearsal ended.

"Mmm, and because you are my friend, you will be made Shordar (Baron). Work hard as a patrol officer,"

Alexander casually dropped a bombshell in a seemingly mercurial twist of mood, making everyone there, even Camius, open their mouths agape in shock.

'This was not part of the play, doc!' Camius lampooned at this curve ball and knew this was Alexander's way of making a bit of fun.

"I thank the lord for this peerage. And I swear to work hard to keep the streets clean," Camius quickly adjusted himself and bowed, with the addition of the second sentence said as a euphemism, the clean streets referring to enemy spies.

"Um, you are excused," Alexander said with a light smile and Camius quickly dismissed himself, relieved that he would not have to be stuck behind a desk.

This little play did not fool any of the military commanders.

Camius's fame as Alexander's spy was already well known among the higher-ups, having seen him work in the camp, in Adhan, and even in Zanzan.

And hence they would have never believed that Camius was just an ordinary retainer under Alexander.

But it was also not meant to.

This play was not done for them but for Alexander's enemies, who would not easily know the ins and outs of his relationship with Camius and thus draw prying eyes from him.

With Camius removed, Alexander then asked his council, "Camius's post will have to be filled,..what do my lords think about Bartholomew?"

"I think he is perfect," Menicus jumped up at the suggestion, understanding that Alexander had already made the decision.

And following his approval, the others too gave their support.

"Um, good." After giving a small nod, Alexander then informed them. "As we speak, my wife Cambyses is leading the police in the investigation. And she has just informed me that she was rock-hard evidence to show that it was the hostile nobles of Zanzan using the various gangs as their arms are responsible."

'When did your wife get to inform you? You were here with us the entire time.' This simple thought ran through all the men's minds and was coupled it the fact that they remembered it had been just a few hours since the crime was reported.

Alexander's wife might be fast, but this was too fast.

So, either she was a prophet with presage as her ability or the more likely explanation, this was all likely staged.

"Excellent! As expected of the pasha's consort, she is as extraordinary as the lord himself," Melodias felt he too had to join the flatter train, as he nodded heavily at the news, smiling wildly.

And the others chimed in too, each with their individual quips.

"We must attack these scoundrels the moment we are ready," Menes bellicosely declared.

"Our fights should be on the battlefield. To think these men are so low," Menicus said in a disgusted tone.

"We must teach them a lesson soon," Heliptos shouted while rolling up his sleeves.

Alexander's little play fooled no one, but it did not need to, as the men played along nevertheless.

Thus even when it was full of holes, because no one had the guts to point out these holes, the story remained airtight.

"Mmm, this vile act will not go unpunished. And we will attack as soon as we are ready," Alexander loudly claimed in an indignant voice.

And then he turned to his archpriest, "Theocles, Cambyses has told me that the Ramuh temple is currently lacking in security. So, please move the coins from the temple to the temple of Gaia. The wealth of the people must be protected."

'Another temple heist!' Alexander's intention was clear to everybody as they all asked, 'Why not deploy some guards to the temple itself'.

"At once, pasha." Theocles too naturally understood the meaning behind Alexander's command and eagerly agreed.

And with these issues addressed, Alexander then moved on to the general situation and after listening to them say that everything was going according to schedule, the meeting was called to an end.

"So, what do you think about today?" Melodias asked as he walked quickly to keep pace with the old man Menicus.

"What do I think?" Menicus seemed uninterested in the conversation.

"I mean attacking the temple, it's becoming a habit of his," Melodias sounded like he was complaining.

And then pointed out, "And then there was Camius, what was that all about? We all know he is his spy."

Menicus simply kept silently walking, seeming as if he was deaf to Melodias's words.

But after a while, in a gravelly voice asked, "Are you dissatisfied with the pasha?"

"Wha..what! No! No, no, no. no. Who said that? I never said that" Melodias seemed very defensive about this grave accusation.

And quickly buttressed that by saying, " Alexander is the one most fit to be pasha, I don't dare have such thoughts."

"Then why are you complaining?" Menicus asked in a raspy voice, by now the men that exited the house and were standing in front of their personal carriages.

"That…I'm not…I just wish he told us a bit more. The temple business.."

"Is none of your concern," Menicus interjected, finishing the sentence for Melodias and then saying, "Whatever Alexander has done till now, he had shown to have the best of intentions for us. If you don't doubt that, then shut up and do what he tells you to do."

​ And Menicus then finished his speech with the words, "And show some tact from next time. You're badmouthing the lord in his own house, are you stupid? Next time, if you can't keep your trap shut, I'll sew it shut for you."

With these threatening words, and a *hmmp*, Menicus then got on his carriage and headed off to his work.