Balaras, Day Twenty since Urdin's return

The last entrails of snow and cold had at last begun to properly melt away. Benefits of relations with Sigistans to the north and, most recently, the Estreans to the west were beginning to bear fruit: new merchandise filtered in, earning new clients and patrons; new prices were discussed about and agreed upon. With no immediate adversaries, the Balarians were thus able to devote more time and energy to their newfound enterprises. All of these marked the general's last month of tenure as Custodian of Balaras, before the city would attain the new status of Hospodia's capital.

Meantime, aside from preparations for the upcoming pomp to officially welcome his amir and whosoever he would carry along, Urdin was at length starting to attend to the aspect considered as the second most important in city life: the education system, manifested in the Crescentium Academies--whose sanction and spirited expansion harkened back to the Second Kalifate's era--where a growing number of 'knights of the mind' was nurtured and developed.

To this end, following careful considerations, the general had been proposed and then handed a list of experts; among them Colonel Rahman Alandis--now promoted to Captain "for exemplary feats within the fields of pen and mind"--whose close interactions with people of the lower classes over the months were already gaining recognition from quite a few heads at the top. It must be remembered, however, that such a nomination had almost nothing to do with Senna, who herself already was becoming immersed with other events closer to home.

Rahman, in his new capacity, thus began pointing out the problems that required added attention; first in his list being the relatively swift fath of Balaras itself.

Due to their situation within the Balarians' third--and last--line of defense, the Hospodians' siege equipment had not managed to deal significant damage to the Academies, which in Rahman's view was in itself fortunate. That way, he pointed out, scholarly activities could and did go on with no fatal interruptions.

The problem, therefore, was more on a social scale: many a child thus enrolled in said academies found themselves orphaned one way or another due to the impracticalities of a city under siege, and thus were unable to afford the necessary costs to continue pursuing their budding aspirations. New relief schemes must therefore be envisaged and put into practice soon as was possible, as well as such other details as the academies' place within the new and expanding Hospodian system. The assessment phase of this grand agenda was estimated to take close to six months.

"By which time I shall no longer be in custodianship of this city," Urdin had pointed out during one of the hearing sessions on said agenda.

Rahman had smiled. "Sir, it is known that you have aided in setting many a stone since this city had passed into our possession. Surely the amir would not mind your aiding to set one more."

"How do you think we shall fund that... other stone?"

"By utilizing our new trading boosts. I am quite positive our partners are not ignorant in this field, as well."

"This concerns welfare on a broad scale, Rahm. I will not hear of mismanagement."

"Nor shall such thing ever be committed, sir, insha Allah."

Thus was the go-ahead and well wishes given. Next in turn for that day was Yasnar, who came in with a smiling bow.

"With you I best be direct, Yas. Plans to welcome the amir?"

"Are already underway, General. No unnecessary feasts--my prior encounters with Lord Hospodia have convinced me he's not an off-the-limits spender, while we're at it--but we shall still have amusements prepared."

Urdin blinked. "Of what sort?"

"I have in mind to present an archery competition, winner takes 200 risnas. Would you allow for a melee show as well, with blunted weapons?"

"Has to be with blunted weapons. More than that will make for a disgusting excuse of a show, more so for my tender-hearted nephew."

"The prize?"

"Double."

"As you will. Anything else?"

"It's about time that said nephew master the art of wing display. He would want to show that off, I think; we'll provide the space. There go your amusements--them two, plus a three-course feast in one day. Manageable?"

Yasnar nodded, smiling again. "Insha Allah. I shall begin seeing to them, Sir Urdin. Peace be upon you."

"You as well, Rahandria."

***

A week later, accounts came to Urdin's attention of a possible stiffening at the Hospodian Amirate's eastern front: forays by their neighbor in that region, the Misrian Amirate, had grown in daring, frequency, and numbers. Major Senna and others were doing their best to ward them off, it was further said.

"Gracious!" the general muttered darkly, having read the reports with a trembling hand before his officers (the female Captain Histira included) at an emergency session. He looked fit to crush them. "How can Lord Hospodia still presume to transfer our capital this way? Avoid protecting ones he's been entrusted with?"

"There are wisdoms in disengagement, sir," Khalid of the Balarian mubarizuns added with care. "Preserving forces to fight another day is one such."

"I want to know why, not what! Three divisions in Arenda, retreating before mere raids?"

"Fielding men of such numbers could prove to be a logistical strain in itself, sir. Taking your previous raiding experiences into account--"

This gave Urdin pause. "Trade off space for time, huh... Retreat does seem like a more viable option that way."

"If such is the case," Vreko Darra--another native Balarian land-based officer who had joined Urdin's rolls--added, "those divisions could also be thought of as invaluable resources in covering the amir's orderly withdrawal, so to speak, just long enough for us to either send reinforcements or help safeguard his entrance here... as later circumstances shall reveal."

"If such is indeed the case," Yasnar put in, "we shall have to prepare for the welcoming in a quite different manner. I am no military man, gentlemen, but I do know that one of you shall have to be left in charge of the screen force marshalling out from here. The general himself shall remain here, to help prevent... other untimely incidents."

At this, Urdin looked up, fixing his fiery gaze at the courtier.

"I don't remember authorizing you to dictate when and when not to protect my only brother."

Yasnar paled noticeably, and hastened to lower his own gaze.

"Meant no disrespect, sir," he managed, scarcely louder than a mumble.

"Be that as it may, General," Darra resumed, "Sir Yasnar's suggestion is not without merits. "With the forces of Hospodia being perceived to be on the run after only one generation of successful faths, who knows what might occur here?"

Urdin looked around with airs of dawning shock. There was no palpable dissent.

"Am I then to sit by and watch as my brother's dwindling escorts are butchered piecemeal before this city's walls? The very same city he had fought so hard for?!"

"Disgraceful," Histira remarked.

"Calm, Sir Urdin," another voice joined even as its owner made their way in.

"Velandis! You're way overdue!"

"For this I apologize, sir, but I still would urge for calm."

Urdin thus maintained a seething silence, which lasted until Ukara Velandis had taken his place.

"Contribute!"

"First, lady and gentlemen, let's not all forget to pray for Allah's Guidance. Insha Allah, there shall be ways out of this that we had never thought possible."

Thus it was that the next few minutes were spent in graceful, even solemn silence, considering what came before.

***

"Our home base, Arenda, is reported here to be subject to fresh eastern raids," Urdin rehearsed, as if trying to ascertain whether he had read this bit of detail correctly. "We were discussing how best to cope with this, elaborating on what to do if the garrison there were put to flight. In light of the amir's earlier resolve to transfer our House's capital here... "

"Gracious. We may have been bickering over a mere surmise, then," Ukara replied calmly. "Our amir might also have decided to put this transfer issue to rest, until such time as the eastern raids are successfully concluded, for he's really not an inflexible personality as far as we know. Well?"

The newcomer watched as the waves of realization sank into the conferees' expressions.

"That's... indeed one way to look on things, Velandis," Urdin conceded. "No, maybe this is the proper way. Banking on this, it shall be understandable for my brother not to inform us of his transfer plans as yet. Enough is on his plate."

"Gives more time to prepare for a more suitable welcoming, while we're at it," Yasnar rejoined, some of his gloom lifting.

"In that case, we ought also to begin nurturing the reliability of our western neighbor, sir, in my humble opinion," Histira proposed, "to help prevent similar incidents from that quarter."

"Many thanks for such insight, Tira. That shall soon be next in our lists, insha Allah. If there is nothing else?"

"Pardons, sir," Darra said. "Do we have any obligations to the Estreans other than these trade routes being established?"

"Happens we have, Darra, and of the military sort... but this is talk for another day. While we're at it, let's not be content with just roads goin' this way and that; we also need means to keep them secure. Best start laying down plans for armed outposts, Yasnar, and keep the Estreans informed on the state of our workers."

"Yes, sir."

Urdin looked around, balled hands on hips, once again a man directing various resources in his disposal with devoted subordinates ready for his every bid.

"That shall be all for today. Peace be to you all."

***

For all his unflagging vigor in trying to revive Hospodia's trade, General Urdin--given his advancing years for active military services--also saw wisdom in attending to more personal affairs. Following the very first official encounter, he was known to make weekly trips by flight to Estreon and in that sense maintain close relations with Vestra Darys, only daughter to the city's sole amira in years.

"By the way, Urdi," Vestra said during one of the pair's more private moments (by which time they had grown close enough for first names), "have you ever thought of expanding beyond these lands?"

"Is that question of personal or collective nature?"

"Like it makes any difference."

"Oh, but it does, girl. Collectively, I can't say for certain--our amir has great plans, and if he fingers me to fulfill some of it, I will, insha Allah."

"But you have, all these years!"

"Until such time as he deems himself free of my service; that's my personal answer. I feel I'm getting old for this line of work, but there are still things that need tending. A few more years, perhaps. How do you feel about this match?"

Vestra sighed. "I told you how Arys has been the closest I have to a father figure, right?"

"You did."

"He would someday have his own family. Can't live in his shadow forever."

"That's why you picked me?"

The girl blushed. "You are going to retire, correct? Devote more time for your family?"

"Devoting time for one's family includes providing for them too, you know. If and when I jump out, how do you think I'd fulfill that mission?"

"Let's pray you'll have a better preoccupation by then, one that would not require the so-called 'field trips' as frequently."

Urdin cast his gaze at the vast expanse of the breezy, sparkling Sarsan Sea from his place in one of the Estreon Castle's five round towers.

"Amen. That doesn't really connect with the expansion bit, though. Whatever lies beyond this?"

"The vast and plentiful domains of the Izurian Amirate," came the reply. "Ever since my father's passing-on, however, they had begun harassing our trade... possibly because they think females are incapable of rule."

"As far as we're concerned, your mother is proving it not to be the case. And you're asking me to expand into such a region--why?"

Vestra rolled her eyes. "Mayhaps you wish to top your bright soldiering career with one last indelible fath, and in doing so live up to the Second Kalifate's memory. Your House has undertaken to bring all these peoples together, see, and it's plain they love it. Why not add one more?"

The general grunted. "Wars do tend to feel more fun when you're winning, I admit. If not, what then? You do not get any credits for trying in this line of work."

The girl tapped on the general's hand holding the window's ledge and, as he turned, matched his gaze.

"Unity, equality, prosperity for all people? These things are enjoined upon us all, surely so too are the attempts to this end."

Urdin's expression hardened. "Do not attempt to mix religion with unseemly zest for worldly gains, Ves. Won't end well."

Vestra sighed, turning away. "I thought you were tougher."

"Whatever you do know of conquest, let's hear it!"

Despite the general's implied question, the girl did not turn.

***

"He's indeed as uncompromising as had been so often rumored, as I am frugal," Vestra Darys confided to her current family members over dinner that same evening, when the general was no longer around to listen. "Pleas and threats did little to faze him."

"Well, he faced worse odds and managed to come out alive, to be fair," Arys put in, "and you're but one girl, sweet sister. Why need he fear your censure?"

"She is the one about to hook up with him, dear Arys, keep that in mind," the Lioness of Estreon responded. "Inflexibility might well prove to be a considerable hurdle in family life, Ves, more so for its future head; but let's face it, such a trait has also helped carry him far. Still not too late to change your pick, though, if you so desire."

"One in ten thousand, Mother," the girl admitted following a brief silence. "Complicated man to deal with, for the record."

"Doubtless, which is among the reasons how his present standing astounds me; and you are going to be by his side for life, insha Allah. How do you feel about this?"

Vestra blinked. "The very same thing he asked."

"Your reply?" her brother inquired, curiosity prevailing.

"I tried to point how precious it would be to have him by my side. Instead, we kinda strayed to the discussion of our northern neighbor..."

Ashara Darys' expression became thoughtful as she rested her blonde head on joined hands.

"It didn't occur that you asked those lands as dowry, did it?"

The girl gasped. "Indeed, Mother, why would I?"

"Because, dear sister," Arys rejoined, "brazen as it may sound, it shall significantly diminish our problems. We could then devote our time and energy to reviving our trade--"

"Oh, is that it, then?" Vestra rose, red-faced. "Am I just another pawn to you, dear brother, that you can just put forth to increase our lot?"

"Vestra," her mother intoned. It took a while before the former resumed her seat, offering perfunctory apologies.

"Glad we cleared that up." Ashara laid back in her own seat. "Politics aside, daughter, I feel it's past time that you marry. Whether or not this comes off with getting a slice of the Izurians' domains, or ten, is the talk for another day."

"My thoughts as well, but... how shall we proceed?"

"Now, let's see. Word has it that the Hospodians are somehow preoccupied with another foe to their east as we speak, thus setting back plans on inaugurating Balaras as their new official capital. Urdin being Urdin, he would be too busy helping out to think about even a whispered marriage proposal. I say we sit tight, observe, and render his House aid where necessary."

"Understood, Mother."