Herald of Steel

Along the way back to the mansion, Pasha Farzah talked with Alexander about the various limitations of the crossbows and the doctrines of their use.

While Alexander described in great detail how he had employed them to defeat the Jahal mercenaries.

Pasha Farzah had not been clear on the details of the battle tactics before, so listened to the recount of events from the man himself with rapt attention, nodding, agreeing, asking, and commenting on the various battle tactics Alexander had used.

“Haha, well brat, it’s good that Ural had not committed more of his forces on that last attack” Pasha Farzah half breathed a sigh of relief, and then pointed out, “I hope you have now learned to keep a bigger reserve of units in the back, especially when facing an outnumbered cavalry.”

But overall, the aged man was quite satisfied with Alexander’s tactics, feeling that if he was in his shoes, without the power of hindsight, he might not have done much better.

While from the side Lady Inayah added with a pleased nod,

“It seems all of us greatly underestimated you, my lord. To think you would have such a crafty invention to counter Djose. I’m undoubtedly impressed.” 𝗼𝐯𝐞𝐥．𝐜𝐨𝗺

Which got an enthusiastic nod from Nanazin, and made the Queen mother join in with the comment,

“Yes, Adhania is lucky to call you one of its own. And We are honored to have you as our subject.”

Here the ‘We’ referred to the royal family, and along with her praise, the Queen mother also did not forget to remind Alexander where his loyalties should lie.

Though how much it worked was questionable, as the oath that Alexander had taken with Ptolomy was seen as merely a convenient tool for him.

Now, in Alexander’s recount, he had muddied the truth a bit, particularly about the second pincher cavalry charge, changing the recount so that both the attacks had far fewer numbers than it was originally.

And the reason for this was if Alexander said the truth, he would have to then describe how he countered them.

And since saying that he beat a much larger, well-trained force head-on using the same type of light skirmishers would not cut it, it meant that he would have to reveal the existence of his heavy cavalry.

Alexander did not want to do that yet.

Because he believed that there should be some things one should keep a secret from even his allies, just in case they decided to stab you in the back for whatever reason.

This was also the reason why he had not shown the armored knights to Pasha Farzah, nor the chainmail, considering delaying those revelations for perhaps a few more years.

So Alexander entertained the group with other stories, both along the way and also at the dinner table where they feasted on all the various kinds of food Pasha Farzah had brought for them.

There were traditional Adhanian cuisines like curries, fancy pies, and many meat dishes with different types of meat cooked in a variety of ways, as well as Alexander’s specialty dishes such as brioche, kebabs, pasta, ravioli, and carbonara.

The number of various dishes at the table meant that those at the table had a spectrum of choices to eat whatever their moods desired, no matter how incongruous it might be from their preceding dish.

But the star of the show was undoubtedly the desserts, the centerpiece of which was an ice cream cake freshly baked and decorated with seasonal fruits, along with the usual accompaniments of puddings, faludas, custards, etc.

If the guests were asked to name the number one thing they enjoyed at Alexander’s place, the answer would undoubtedly be the food.

Following the feast Alexander then invited the group to try some of the games he had invented, which had expanded from just poker to blackjack, bridge, and Texas hold’em to name only a few.

And Pasha Farzah and Lady Inayah seemed very eager to try their hand with lady luck, while Nanazin excused herself right after dinner saying she was tired.

So it was up to the others to spice up the night, and as the games progressed, the group seemed to gravitate towards poker, with Pasha Farzah and the Queen mother seeming to have developed quite the rivalry, which was not strange given both were extremely ambitious and hyper-competitive people.

While, Alexander, like Nanazin, too was feeling tired, and given that he had a whole host of things to take care of in the following days, the main one being the preparation to host the 12 nobles he had invited for talks, he decided to hit the bed early.

Hence he excused himself after playing only a few initial rounds by feigning drunkness.

And after taking a shower, Alexander was back in his room.

Here, as he was getting ready for his night, suddenly his eyes landed on a particular pot, which reminded him of something he had been wanting to do since morning.

This pot contained some salve of the legummum, which was a great antiseptic, and one that Alexander kept on hand at all times just in case of an accident in his room, sort of like an emergency first aid kit.

And seeing it reminded him of Nanazin, or particularly the reason why the woman had been wearing such heavy, fully covered clothes.

‘I guess I should give go give it to her.’ Alexander said to himself, wondering, ‘I hope she is still awake,’ as he then took the small pot into his hand, and felt he should deliver the medicine himself.

This was because he figured that if he sent it through a maid Nanazin might reject it given the preciousness of the medicine, or out of embarrassment due to what sending that medicine implied.

After all, having a wife beater as a husband was never a glorious moment for any woman.

And so with that altruistic thought Alexander took the medicine pot and made it to Nanazin’s room, whereupon he announced himself after a knock on the door, “Your Highness, it is me Alexander. May we talk?”

Now a man visiting a lady at this time of night usually meant only one thing.

And with especially how Alexander phrased it, it really conveyed that message, though he had no intention of such.

‘Ahh!” Immediately after Alexander’s knock, he first heard a small, shocked squeak from the room, followed by a series of rustling, and some banging, as Nanazin’s slightly panicked voice rang out,

“My lord, please wait a moment. I will open the door shortly.”

Alexander could very well guess why such rustling sounds were being made, and after finally a few while, the door squeaked open and Nanazin welcomed Alexander in, “Lord Pasha, please enter. Apologies for the mess.”

Nanazin looked a bit haggard as she gestured for Alexander to enter, while Alexander only peeked through the door to look around the room and find it actually spotless, except that one corner where there were several sets of clothes haphazardly thrown about.

And as Alexander then turned to take a good look at Nanazin, he found her draped in a black, heavy cloak that covered all parts of her body, which must have been torturous in this heat.

“This is a bit of medicine. Have it.” Alexander did not dilly-dally much, as right from the foot of the door he very casually stretched his arms to gift the small pot to Nanazin with a neutral tone.

An act which instantly made Nanazin panicking face fall into a sort of wounded forlorn countenance.

‘Haha, so you have noticed Alex. Though who wouldn’t?” She then let out a rueful, haggard smirk as she addressed Alexander with that endearing call.

“….” While Alexander found it hard to find any following words and could only stand still with the pot in his hand.

“Ah! Where are my manners? Thank you,” Nanazin quickly noticed this and then gratefully accepted the medicine, before again inviting him in, “Please enter.”

But Alexander declined, saying, “No, no, Your Highness, please rest.”

The meaning that Alexander wanted to convey here was to give Nanazin the privacy to apply the salve on her wounds, while he was also reluctant to enter a married woman’s quarters at night.

“No! Please enter!” But Nanazin repeated her message, though the meaning this time was very different.

If previously it had been a polite invitation, now it appeared to be desperate begging.

And so Alexander had little choice, as he gently nodded and entered with a “Then excuse me.”

The moment Alexander entered Nanazin rapidly bolted the door shut, before turning around and then letting out a sorrowful chuckle,

“Haha, when I first heard you knock, I thought you had come to sleep with me. So as I was desperately searching for the cloak, I was thinking of how to reject you without being kicked out of the house, hehe.”

Nanazin explained her initial panicking face, while to Alexander somehow her chortle sounded more painful than if she was actually crying.

“You do not have to worry about going anywhere. Zanzan will be your home from now on,” Alexander’s reassuring words only sounded like consoling puffery to Nanazin.

But it still somewhat healed her wounded heart.

At least someone was willing to put that modicum of facade in front of her.

Back in Adhan, many were not willing to do even that.

Though in reality Alexander really meant what he said.

‘Well, it’s good that I’m here. I can discuss the banking business with her,” He said to himself, as he took a seat on the comfy couch.