According to what he had learned, in terms of power and wealth the regional governors were just below the ministers. They were not considered noble, although they used to be, because any man could really fulfil that role, and his job was to collect the annual taxes to send them to the capital, to see that the law was fulfilled, to recruit soldiers in the name of the king and to represent to the inhabitants of its territory.
Now, based on this information, the home of a regional governor should be the equivalent of a nobleman's house as much, but what Alanzor had before him was a palace. A true white palace, with gardens and interior fountains, coloured tiles and richly carved furniture. It was necessary to have invested a lot of money and for a long time to create a paradise like that. If even the guards who guarded the place looked better than those who protected the little king.
—Greet the king! Greet the King of Sults!
(It's over!) The boy thought as he signalled Tanmi to come over.
—Make him shut up —He was referring to the herald—. I do not want to hear anyone announce my arrival for the rest of the trip.
—But, brother... —He had given Malakar permission to refer to him like that.
Alanzor did not accept anyone's reply: he was tired of hearing that annoying announcement. If the western governor did not go out to meet them, it was because he did not want to, not because that parade, which was almost what the royal carriage surrounded by the guard looked like, was not visible. There was no need for any herald.
—Welcome your majesty! —Nearly running came a lanky and scrawny man whose clothes went with the home in which he resided.
Accustomed to the ministers who used to roam the palace, the boy king had imagined the governor as a fat and short man, and discover that it was the opposite made him rethink the concept that had formed of that man. Although it was a doubt of ephemeral duration.
—Brother, let me introduce you to the western governor of Sults, Kanlo —Malakar made the introductions.
—I am very honored by your Majesty's visit —The aforementioned bowed before the boy.
Alanzor had traveled there for several reasons: to leave the palace, to know who could be a possible rival and, above all, to take away the merit of that victory. However, now that he thought he knew his stepbrother and did not see him as a threat, his reason for being there was pure stubbornness, because he knew nothing about war, very little about politics and practically nothing about what should be done. The only thing that was clear to him was that to act first he needed to know the truth about what had happened there, because both the reports he had read and what Malakar had told him did not make sense.
—Governor, it's been a long journey...
—Of course! —The man interrupted, which earned him the antipathy of the tired young man—. You must be exhausted, please pass. My house is your house.
(Of course it is: I am the king) thought Alanzor in a moment of sheer arrogance.
What happened next hardly deserves to be mentioned. Malakar requested permission to use the baths of that palace, which surely many thanked in silence, the governor ordered to prepare a banquet in honor of the visit of the king, and Alanzor began to compare again the state of that palace with which it was his home. Arriving at the conclusion that being a regional governor was a more than profitable job.
—Governor —He said when his half-brother had not joined them—, I want to become a king as good and just as my father was —He exaggerated the truth —and for that I need your help.
He did not like to express himself in such a childish way, but unfortunately he knew that it was the best way to get good results when talking to older people... and that they thought they were smarter than him.
—Oh, of course. If I can be of any help to my country and to my king, it is my duty...
—Splendid —Alanzor smiled—. Tell me what happened.
The governor seemed confused.
—Your Majesty?
—How has this rebellion begun and why has it not been placated?
—I sent a report...
—I think a good king must listen to his subjects. So talk —He ordered, with no more smiles or friendly requests.
—Pheyald Baran came to see me one day on behalf of the farmers of the region —His story has a bad begin if that first sentence lacked logic; a Satapatish, who commands a hundred men, going to the governor on behalf of the farmers? It did not make sense—. He came to tell me that this year they would not pay the corresponding taxes; that the harvest had been bad and they needed to lower the required percentage. Since it is an amount established by the central government I could not do anything, so I asked for time while writing to the capital.
Having grown up in the palace, surrounded by people who only paid attention to her when they thought it could benefit them in some way, Alanzor had learned to distinguish the falsehoods of people. The gestures, the expressions, the words... Although it was not always right, the truth was that it captured those who tried to hide something very well, and that seemed to be the case of the governor.
—So, did you write to the capital?
—I had to do it, your majesty, but not to consult the revaluation of the percentage of the tribute, but to ask for help because I was being attacked in my own home.
However, that palace was unpolluted. He did not seem to have been besieged or invaded; its walls were smooth and its tiles were intact. There had not been any battle there.
—Thank you for allowing me to use your bathroom, Governor —The newly groomed Malakar introduced himself—. Brother —He nodded to the king.
—We talked about the situation we are in —He introduced his stepbrother into the conversation.
—Phayald is a problem —Malakar said as he took a seat—. Not many soldiers follow him, but he has the support of the people and knows this land. Since we arrived, he has done nothing but attack our grain reserves and steal our weapons. Their attacks are fast, accurate and almost always nocturnal, which has tired and weakened our warriors.
(The bath has dropped your tongue) he thought, surprised by all the information that had not previously been told.
—A criminal like that must be stopped —The governor pointed out.
—I agree that the situation has already gone too far —Alanzor spoke without saying anything really.
(At this rate our men, tired of fatigue and wear, will revolt against us) opined the child king.
—I suppose his majesty has some plan, and that's why he came here. It is praiseworthy that being so young has so much courage.
(Does he think I am stupid? Does he think that with flattery he will make me move the tail before him as if I were a dog?) the young king liked the governor less and less.
—I have, in fact, a plan. Although I will need the collaboration of both of you.
He really had no plan except to locate the source of the conflict. He had already read the reports and listened to the version of the regional governor, so now he would listen to the rebel Pheyald Baran.
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