A Time of Tigers - From Peasant to Emperor

"How on earth are you teaching here then?" Hod asked. "I would have thought you'd have been hung by now, as per the laws of the king."

The Minister of Information clenched his jaw so hard that Oliver thought he might growl. The old man sucked in his neck like some odd sort of bird, ready to swoop down on Hod, who still sat with his legs dangled over the arm of his chair, as he incited violence from all of his peers.

"Both my Ministers make a valid point," Tevar noted. "What of the other two?"

The Minister of Coin sniffed in distaste. "I find it vulgar that we would allow something so uncultured within these walls. Patrick has raised his boy to be as feral as he. I would not see the Academy turned to the same state of unrest as in the days of him. If the boy cannot control his temper, then he will never be of use to our society, regardless of skill."

Tevar nodded. Oliver hoped it was in mere acknowledgement, rather than agreement. "And you Gavlin, what do you say?"

Gavlin leaned back on his iron throne, as he cracked his neck, and threaded his hairy hands together. The man's beard was as coal black as his hair. Hod might not have been intimidated by him, but anyone else likely would be. The man had a distinctly menacing aura to him.

"Boundary?" He asked Oliver. He made it clear that it was a question.

"Taboo!" The Minister of Information cried. The Minister of Coin was soon voicing his agreement.

"Indeed – taboo. These kinds of vulgarities that the boy brings in his wake, they should not be entertained, Tevar."

"The boy did not ask the question," Tevar pointed out – with such low-hanging fruit, he did not need Hod to do that for him. "Gavlin did."

"And if young Patrick here has already exceeded the Second Boundary, then what use is there in the taboo?" Hod said. "Or are you so religiously maverick that you'd cling to tradition even in situations when such things are riddled with flaws?" He directed that pointed question to both the Minister of Information and the Minister of Coin, making them both shift uncomfortably in their seats.

"I do not care for your logic in this, Hod. There are things more important than mere sensibilities. There are rules that should not be broken. Laws that should not be touched on. If this boy here is of the Second Boundary, then it is a tainted achievement, brought about by his Father breaking the taboo. Either way, it should be scorned, not celebrated.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

It's filthy," the Minister of Coin said.

"Ha! An Academy founded for building strength in the youths, and you would expel a boy that was too strong? You would label him a muddy duckling for getting too strong too quickly?" Hod said. "In a time when our Eastern borders are on fire, that is what you're suggesting, is it, Jolamire? You'd rather the Kingdom burn to the ground than have things shift from your tradition?" Hod asked.

He attacked viciously with his tongue, but Oliver could hear no anger in his words, despite their sharpness – he merely jabbed at the vital points in the arguments, and slew them, as others might with a sword.

"As I've said a thousand times before, we had merely need send the mercenaries in before the situation in the East becomes too volatile. Though, I fail to see that such a thing is necessary yet. Lord Blackwell has been sent to lead the defence, has he not? As oafish as the man might be, he's sufficient to drive away a few Eastern savages," the Minister of Coin said.

"Pah, trust the Minister of Coin to try and solve everything with mercenaries and money. You mean to rely on the very man who you currently aim to spite. Look at the pin on his chest, dullard, and recall Blackwell's announcement! He's taken the young heir of Patrick as a ward," Hod said pointedly.

Tevar grunted in acknowledgement at that. "He makes a point, Jolamire. We would make ourselves appear intolerant if we handle this with too firm a hand."

"And weak, if we handle it too laxly," Lazarus, the Minister of Information put in gravely.

"Then, have the boy answer the question," Gavlin said.

"We've argued this, to go against tradition—" Lazarus began, with Jolamire nodding resolutely along with him.

"Bah," Hod said. "There is only a certain amount an argument can carry, it would seem. These marble-headed men wander in circles. We've already discussed this! Move on, you dullards!"

"Hod, enough," Tevar said, holding up his hand for quiet. He spoke firmly, but without the fury in his voice that he'd commanded early. Meekly, Hod obliged, but he did so with a smile, as though certain that he knew Tevar to be on his side.

Oliver briefly stole a glance at the man who was speaking so furiously in his defence, once more noting his youth. Hod caught him looking, and pulled a taunting face, the sort of thing that might scare a child, and then he winked, breaking out into a broad grin.

"Tradition has its place. Lazarus and Jolamire have both pointed out its worth. But in times of violence, tradition does not make the most staunch of walls. If Dominus has already taught his son of the Boundaries, and indeed, if the boy has already exceeded them himself, then it is no real taboo that we commit in its discussion," General Tevar said, his voice grave, but his decision firm.

"Tell us what we already know then, child."

"Indeed, I exceeded the Second Boundary some months ago. I will not have you tarnish Dominus Patrick's good name with your assumptions, though. He did not break your taboo. He did not tell me of the Boundaries until I had exceeded them," Oliver said.

"Rubbish! Hog! You lie! You lie as easily as your father! My mind is made up already," Jolamire hissed. "This here is a poison!

Remove it, Tevar, before it rots the body!"