Chapter 712: Husband And Wife Talks

There is silence in the tent.

The silence seems to linger and then Ayera said

"Judging from what you have done, you really wanted to save my father. If the message had reached me faster, reach you faster.....then my father-"

"Enough!" Aeryon raise his voice

Aeryon rarely raised his voice.

And so when he does, it signifies something

He look at Ayera.

And there is no longer pity in his eyes.

There is only sternness in his voice and the look in his eyes now look fierce

"I respected your father as a hero of his people. There is not many people that I have met that I genuinely admire"

He paused for a second and then added

"He is my father in law. Even in the end if we have to fight, I would take your father head honourably"

"I might not do so for any other enemies. But with your father, I would use all of the tricks in the books and when he lost, I could either offer him safety or death. I believe he himself would not mind it. But he should not have died like that"

"To be killed by his own son. Though, one must remember, those who rise by a certain method, also usually fall by the same method"

"But I am not here to discuss the merit and demerit of your father"

He paused for another second with a bitter smile on the corner edge of his mouth and he shakes his head

"You are right. I was sincere in helping your father. "

"Then if the message reaches you faster-"

"It did not matter now. It did not matter then. Mayeux was doing his job for me. Regardless of what I want and desire, he did think of me. And yes, he had his fault in this matter, but in the end, it is your brother that killed your father"

"Then we should punish hi-"

"Not now. Not at this moment"

Aeryon sighed and then said

"You know this. You are just provoking me. You wanted benefits. And so, you are forcing me" Aeryon said all of this and sighed

Aeryon look at her and he knew what she wanted the most

An heir.

Not power, not money, not wealth. Did she wanted an heir because she loved him so much that she wants to bear his son?

There is affection between them.

There is no denying that.

But that affection does not reach the realm of love.

It did not yet reach that realm.

Aeryon would not sacrifice the world for her, and she would never sacrifice her tribe for him

This is because they have responsibilities.

Those who have never wielded responsibilities does not know the heaviness of such entrustment

Irresponsible people could throw it all away.

They are happy.

But the people they become irresponsible to would become unhappy

And it is not that Aeryon does not have any privileges. It is only that he believes that with privileges come responsibility.

This is not something that everyone believe.

Some just want the privileges but not the responsibility.

But the world does not revolve only on you.

If you did not want to take that responsibility someone else would want to carry it and as long as the situation is right, then you could be ousted from your position

You could held on to it, but you would never achieve peace.

After all, surrounded by people who wanted you dead all the time would break anyone mind and heart

Those who did not want responsibility, but have it, and know the weight of it, and reluctantly take that responsibility, sometimes is the best one to wield it

They have affection.

But they have duty.

And they would always prioritize duty first

She did not want his wealth, she did not want his army, she want an heir.

Because with an heir, sooner or later, his wealth would somehow become her wealth, his army would become her army

What she wanted is not only an heir.

But also a successor.

Aeryon look at Ayera and he could not help but sigh.

Ayera has many privileges.

And she has many ideas.

She could fight.

She could lead people to battle.

But she still does not understand many of political matters.

If Aeryon did not want to give that position to his eldest son, there is all kinds of methods that could be used.

But Ayera is governed by the circumstances of her time.

The eldest son is always the heir barring any unforeseen circumstances.

But she doesn’t know that circumstances of succession has always come from the one who gave that child the title.

The kingdom he wanted to create would become bigger and bigger.

And the administration he would ultimately try to create would not make it easy for her to meddle.

But it would be in Aeryon interest to explain all of this to her.

It is not like him to give advantage to his adversary

And that is what she is right now to him.

Not a wife.

But an adversary

Aeryon suddenly said

"I will give you an explanation" Aeryon did not say that he would give her an heir. But Ayera understand.

However words alone could not let her trust him

And this is not the only thing that they must discuss today. There is a lot of things that they must discuss today and must resolve today

"I can concede"

Aeryon shook his head

"You were never in a position of power" Aeryon must remind her who holds the reins here.

He could not afford a rogue operative when he is planning to do something big

He did not want to provoke the eastern side of the Steppe right now.

There is many new recruits, there is rewards that needs to be distributed and there needs to be recuperations

This is not yet the well trained army of the Genghis Khan.

This is his army slowly becoming elite.

Aeryon did not like fighting a well unprepared war.

he wanted to create an army which he does not need to lead.

For that he needed a system.

He needed an elite army.

Army that could think for themselves, craft ingenious strategies and could operate independently

He needed such an army. But such an army is not built overnight. It needed time. It needed training.

When he is ninety one percent sure that he could defeat Dama then he would not hesitate to go to the east and start a decisive battle

From last year to today, the times that his army had rested could be counted in one hand. They are not machine.

They also need to feel that their rewards has value. They need to rest.

Aeryon emphasises discipline and following orders and as rewards for following orders and discipline they are rewarded

That reward must be felt for them to fight for it. If they are rewarded and did not feel the effect and benefit of these rewards bestowed upon them, then what is the reason for their fighting

Everyone have their own reason for fighting on his side. But most of them fight for rewards and bounties

"I could attack the Utgard"

"You could attack it but it does not mean you could win"

"Barbager supported me"

"He supported the Khatun. Not you. If it’s not for that title of yours, how could you make those men out there obey you?"

Ayera face tightened

"What I gave you is grace. What I didn’t give you...is my considerations"

Aeryon did not have to talk a lot with Ayera. She already knows what he is trying to do. And there is no need to talk too much.

What she wanted was a face to face meeting and to hear the promise coming out of his own mouth

"Tonight return to the Palace and sleep with me. I will give you the respect of a wife and my tribe would know it and your tribe would know it. Then a month from now, I would take a wife from the Fuxa tribe"

Hearing this Ayera face changes

"My promise toward you stands. Your son would be the heir. Unless one day he committed great taboos. If not, he would always be my first choice. And your vengeance upon Ogura would be exacted. Next summer I will attack the east. You will get your revenge"

Aeryon then stand up.

He did not say anything more. He is here to announce thing

He knows Ayera.

The more he let her speak, the more she would ask.

And the things she would ask, he did not have the ability to answer.

Not because there is no answer.

It is because he could not give it to her.

What she wanted and what he wanted is different. She wanted revenge. He wanted the world.

But that revenge of hers would fade. He needs to believe that

He would talk to her when her vengeance has been sated. Then he would ask her, whether the vengeance filled anything in her heart

Aeryon heart is too big to be hindered by vengeance.

All he knew that Ayera must not hinder him in the east. He went out and then he saw Kashoger outside the tent

Holding his horse.

Then he look further and he saw someone and he shakes his head

"He is posturing"

Aeryon only smiles and then he jump onto his horse

"We should return home"

Aeryon then with his men kick up a dust and return back to the city.

..