Age of Heroes (Age of Heroes Chronicles)

Chapter 356: Sheep (2)

Arial could march to Lord Robert castle and slaughter his entire household but what benefit he gains? 

And what does that makes him? Isn't he as evil as the villains in the old stories of corrupt lords and nobles? 

Strength rules everything in this world. This is a fact that Arial had been accustomed with

This is true, but true strength is not violence. It is the heart to abstain from violence, to be patient during anger, to be calm during chaos. 

And Arial had no heart to kill someone he views not as a bitter enemy, but a vassal he once protected. 

And once war start, there would be casualties and not all of them would be guilty of the charge

If there is one thing he hates to do, it is the killing of children and woman. 

They have nothing to do with the war, for children the hatred of their father is not theirs to carry, for woman, the hot headed decision of their husband is not theirs to blame and for the peasant, their lord ambition is not their burden to carry.

But Arial knows someday they might be a decision that will force his hand.

And for some reason Arial remembered his dream that he got during his unconscious state in Heaven Mountain. 

He was alone…in a desolate area with graves all around…alone…utterly alone surrounded by unmarked graves.

Arial then said after thinking for a few minutes, as his hand is pinching his forehead, showing that he has thought about this with great care.

'Strike the stubborn shepherd and the meek sheep will scatter.' He declared as he found his solution that is plaguing his mind this past few weeks.

Arial believe this plan will work. It has to work he determined.

Silas look at his lord and nodded. 

'I guess that is the only way.' Silas understand his lord thoughts since they once considered this plan. 

But Arial try not to use this because of what will happen to Lord Robert. 

Even Arial had a little heart and truthfully Lord Robert did not antagonize Arial to the point Arial would view Lord Robert as an enemy he has to destroy. 

However, Lord Robert is an obstacle Arial have to solve.

This objection, this one obstacle that Arial have to overcome is traced to one single person. Unfortunately for Lord Robert of course. 

Always one person. Every problem always is.

And it is always in a form of a single strong individual, the arrogant underling, the poisoner of goodwill.

Arial could not let Lord Robert let the problem multiply and let the wound fester, neither could Arial negotiate with him, since in Arial eyes, Lord Robert is irredeemable in the matter of his venture, and Arial decided to neutralize his influence. 

He needs to cut the festering wound before it became rotten.

If he is let go, then he will poison the other lords to oppose him. But neither could Arial just execute him without compelling reason. 

And Arial don't want to execute such person. He is just trying to teach him a lesson. Trying to neutralize the danger.

If he did execute without reason, then Arial will be accused of tyranny, and such act will certainly bite Arial back one day.

'Isolate him' Arial decided.

He meant to banish Lord Robert or at least isolate him while he wins over the other noble lords. If only he had a pretext to lure Lord Robert from his domain, his coalition would crumble.

Then Arial spoke again, a slight smile formed on his mouth. 

'Fire in the left hand, water on the right hand.' And thinking of his plan, he chuckles a bit.

'Silas, I have a plan. Tomorrow I will depart to my mansion outside Acro. A week later summon Lord Robert to my mansion there while you do this' as he whispers what needs to be done to Silas ears

Silas nodded in satisfaction. 

After telling Silas his plan, Silas excuse himself as Arial keep sitting on the chair, smiling. 

Then he sighed

Arial understood one of the principal precepts in the game of power, one strong willed person, one disobedient spirit, can turn a flock of sheep into a den of raging lions. 

He knows because he has the same aptitude. He is strong willed and he is disobedient. But Arial know the solution for such problem. 

Isolate the problem. 

Without the backbone of the person who have become their pillar, their rock, to keep them together…the sheep…. they will scatter and they will crumble.

Arial learn his lesson early. 

Do not waste time by lashing out at all the noble lords and creating unnecessary enemies. Do not attack at what seems to be a many headed enemy. 

Never attack the wind for you will attack nothing, only tiring yourself to the point of exhaustion.

Find the one head that matters, the one with the smarts and willpower, and lure him away, for once he is absent, his power will lose their effect. 

Root it before it became a problem so big that it will be a mess to handle it. 

Now he needs to inform Helia that he would spend a few weeks of his time in the mansion outside the city. 

Helia is now busy using her connection asking her relatives in the North, persuading them to join Arial is his battle and even some letter to the northern lords of the Vangua Kingdom, one that share familial ties to the Althea family.

Helia has addressed his cousin, Lord Baldwin of Norrey, on the north of Aetherland to join in Arrandy venture.

With all this going in the background Arial plan began to move to its conclusion.

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A WEEK LATER

THE MEETING

The assembly convened again this time without Robert leading them. These are all the noble lords that is strongly disposed to favor the plan. 

For the lords that support Arial, they have their reasons.

They were more ardent or more courageous than the rest, or perhaps their position and circumstances were such that they had more to hope from the success of the enterprise than they, or less to fear from its failure. 

But for the opposition parties, there seems to be chaos.

For now, Lord Robert is absent in one of the meeting that the young lord has scheduled and their opposition grew restless and uncertain.

The scene or uproar and confusion which permeated the first meeting is only replaced with confusion.

Lord Robert can be said to be their pillars, they were attracted to his earnestness and eloquence of argument, and they approve of his the sentiments which they heard him expressing. 

A few weeks ago, Arial has inquired the other noble lords, and the guilds and trade and merchant companies around the region to contribute to his war and the response is what Arial expected.

From the quiet and peaceful citizens who inhabited the towns, the artisans and tradesmen, who wished for nothing but to be allowed to go on in their industrial pursuits in peace, were opposed to the whole project. 

They thought it is unreasonable and absurd that they should be required to contribute from their earnings to enable their lord and master to go off on so distant and desperate an undertaking, from which, even if successful, they could derive no benefit whatsoever. 

Many of the barons, too, were opposed to the scheme. 

They thought it very likely to end in disaster and defeat; and they denied that their feudal obligation to furnish men for their sovereign's wars was binding to the extent of requiring them to go out of the kingdom, and beyond the borders, to prosecute the Duke claims to the throne of another kingdom.

The meeting is then gone to a recess. It was during this recess that they have learned terrible news and the lords all turn blue in the face hearing it. 

After the meeting reconvened the lords show their willingness to work with lord Arial while Silas and Arial could be seen smirking with a hint of superiority.

Their plot worked and by now the lords must have found out what happen to Lord Robert.

While Arial is getting a lot of offers and nobles volunteering Arial recall back that moment a few days ago in his mansion.

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