THE TRASH PRINCE'S BLUEPRINTS

CHAPTER 19: ANOTHER ALLIANCE ATTEMPT

News quickly gets wind to the major Houses all over Thaloria, namely House Solara, House Hamilton, House Storm, House Dragonfyre, House Seafyre, House Caelora, even the Thaloria Royal House, House Krakenfell, and House Topwells, of the finished items, weapons, vehicles and machines from Frostmark Province, after the Applied Magics & Science Research, headed by Lady Sarah Topwell, announces the unveiling of new, upgraded versions of the items, weapons, machines, and vehicles after putting finalizing touches to what used to be prototypes, to the general public in a grand 2nd Magics & Science Expo held at the Meadowbrook outpost city, where the main fortress of House Greengrass, one of the lords bannermen of the third Prince, is located.

As expected, there is no love lost between the Third Prince and House Blackmoor, since House Blackmoor, along with the Holy Church, stayed aloof, and calls on the “ fellow citizens of Thaloria to resist these… heretical upgrades and ideas from the wayward Third Prince “, further polarizing the entire kingdom, since it split half of Thaloria into those who support the ideals of the Third Prince, and even the Second Prince, while the older, more conservative counterparts remain staunchly behind the Crown Prince, whom they perceive to be the last bastion of obedience to the Holy Church, and everything the Holy Church teaches and stands for.

Meanwhile, in Winterkeep, the Third Prince is nowhere to be seen, leaving Lady Adelia Topwell to deal with the delegates sent by the other Houses to try and negotiate an alliance, and permission from the Third Prince to sell the modern conveniences they witnessed and experienced on the way to Winterkeep back in their respective provinces.

The soldiers posted outside Winterkeep can’t help but snigger to each other as the delegates try to flirt, charm, and reason their way to an alliance and a trade agreement to include even the blueprints and the machinery needed to create weaponry, vehicles, clothes, food and drinks, medicines, and electricity in their respective Provinces, to no avail.

The most unscrupulous and shameless of those delegates try to use outright bribery and flattery, but even their efforts at bribing fall flat on their faces, as can be witnessed through the spectacular failure of a certain delegate who tries to use outright bribery and flattery.

“ Don’t you know who I am, Lady Topwells? I’m as much a noble as you, from House Caelora. I’m Sir Tobias Caelora, the fourth uncle of the Second Prince’s wife. I’ve heard so much about your beauty. Here’s a bouquet of wild roses I plucked from the Vale of Caelora for you. I also brought with me fine beef from the cattle grazing from the rich, verdant pastures along the lower slopes of the Vale. Oh, and I also brought with me a thousand golden Thalorian Coins, as a dowry, should you agree to this alliance and trade offer in lieu of the absent Third Prince. “

“ These are fine gifts my lord. I appreciate all the trouble you went into. “

“ Does that count as an aye? Do we finally have a trade and alliance agreement? Even you can see the sense of allying with House Caelora, surely. If the enemies of your House attack, I shall personally make sure the forces of House Caelora will go down the Vale to your assistance, and save your father from a certain defeat. Your House shall be all the safer for it, and it strengthens the Third Prince, my lady. “

“ Words are wind, my lord. I didn't say I’d agree to a trade and alliance agreement on your terms. And knights who are a fool for glory in the battlefield and charge headfirst will be the first to fall. You are a valiant and proud man, but valor and pride alone aren't enough to win battles. And I doubt the Second Prince will let you take charge of House Caelora's army. The last time you took charge of the army of your House, bandits troubled travellers along the Vale while your main force was busy fighting in the crownlands. “

“ But my lady, let me prove”

“ Prove what, my lord? You’ve only proven that you are a muttonhead who cares only for valor, and cares nothing for tactics and strategies on the battlefield. How else can you explain why you brought all your experienced knights to the crownlands in the last civil war, and left only greenhorns, and the old and crippled to defend the Vale? Oh, and I heard the deceased King’s heavy cavalry sliced through your infantry like a hot knife through butter, and you had to be rescued by House Dragonfyre. “

Laughter erupted from the other delegates listening inside Lady Topwell' s private solar.

“ This meeting is at an end, my lords and ladies. In lieu of the absent Third Prince, who is currently travelling somewhere in Frostmark as part of his duties as Lord Protector, I hereby declare that Frostmark Province shall once again agree to trade with you all, but only in medicines, foodstuffs, clothes, drinks, spices, and basic tools to keep medicines, foods and drinks fresh, nothing more. As for the alliance wishes of you all, the Third Prince may consider signing an alliance agreement with you all in the future. Guards, these delegates must be tired from their long and lengthy travels. Accompany them to their chambers, and make sure they don't lack for food, drinks, and entertainment. “

Meanwhile, inside the Cinder-Spire, Third Prince Cain laughs along with Lord Malachi Cinderflay, a lord bannerman of the Third Prince, of House Cinderflay, Warden of Cinder-Spire, and Lord Protector of The Flayer's Den, inside Lord Malachi Cinderflay’s private solar.

“ Aren't you supposed to be in Winterkeep by now, Your Highness, to deal with those delegates? “

“ The Provincial Secretaries can deal with those delegates just fine, my lord. “

“ Don’t tell me you instructed the Secretaries not to sign an alliance with them, and sell them the machinery and blueprints for all these… modern toys that we have the convenience of using, Your Highness. “

“ Aye, I did, my lord. Let these delegates, along with the Lords and Ladies they serve, grow desperate, while we take their coin for these… basic luxuries we sell them. I mean to find out their weaknesses and ambitions, and use it to our advantage, when the time is right. “

“ That's a wicked move from you, Your Highness. An alliance with those Houses will shelter the North. “

“ And the same alliance can bring chaos and instability to the North, Lord Cinderflay, if we get mixed up in their plots. Modernizing the North and making it richer than the rest of Thaloria, and a force to be feared and respected, is no easy task, my lord. I don't need another problem in my hands. I have enough to deal with as it is. “

“ I suppose you got a point, Your Highness. Ah, and about those shadowbeasts”

“ There's no need to fear those shadowbeasts, my lord. You’ve seen what my weapons are capable of. Oh, and if House Shadowvale, the royal house of Shadowvale Kingdom dares to try and send a pack against House Cinderflay and threaten the north again, I have a quick solution. “

“ Very intriguing, Your Highness. “

“ Because it is intriguing, my lord. Just spread lies to Starhaven Kingdom, trick the Starhaven Kingdom into thinking Shadowvale means to attack, and make them declare war against each other. Use bribes and flattery if you have to. They will be too intent on flinging stones and sticks at each other to send a pack of shadowbeasts and a pirate fleet against our side of the border. “

“ A very wicked move, your Highness, but it will work. “

“ Because I’m wicked. You know very well that clean holy saints don't survive in the battlefield of politics. And I am no saint. While they fling accusations at each other and attack each other, we will fund them both and give them supplies they need, and in the end, they will realize too late that they are but puppets dancing to our tunes. “

Meanwhile, The Third Prince excuses himself, and goes for a long drive back to his private solar in Winterkeep on his custom-made sleek 4 seater 1900s steam powered car that has a fusion core of steam wind magic, earth magic, thunder magic, has the speed of a falcon, and fuel capacity of a cargo truck, before opening the congratulatory letter sent to him by his Father, King Alexander, on the new technological marvels he helps unveil during the 2nd Magics and Science Expo.

You wrote a load of bullshit, Father. You could have just simply said that you want to lay your hands on those marvels unveiled at the Expo, same as everyone else. I know what you’re aiming for, and you believe yourself subtle, I can read you as easily as my blueprints. You want me and the Second Prince to clean up the Holy Church, and depose the Crown Prince for you, so you don't have to soil your hands and take action. Very well. I’ll play along with your games… my way.

Prince Cain does a quick skimming glance at the contents of the letter, and tosses the letter into the fire of his solar with an air of nonchalance, and a cynical snort of laughter bursting from his lips.