Snippet #2453472

After his inspections of the soldiers Calleus had decided that he wanted to view the ever growing stone wall of Illia. It was one of the first things he knew the growing nation needed, but it was also one of the most costly. They had only recent been able to come up with enough funds to have the masons begin the work. Even with this small section completed he already felt easier about the towns defense. At least, it all won't burn down if the kingdoms get fed up with us. Nothing like Illia had ever been done before, a system where it's leaders where elected rather than inherited their positions. It was the only way that Calleus had foreseen that would allow him the power he needed to rule this new land. No one would accept him as a king, in this court or those far flung. Blood and nobility was everything to those who rules the world, but with his system it was just circumvented. We will spill much more blood in our future once the kingdoms realize that we are a threat. Maybe that is my tithe for my greed.

Many saw Calleus as a Hero, a man who freed an oppressed people. Calleus simply saw his actions as an attempt to stake his claim on the land, and he did it through the exploitation of a village. Does it make me a good man that I care about that exploitation? Maybe. He had always kept these thoughts to himself. Easier to keep his position if people lauded him as a Hero. "I suppose a stack of approval papers await me today, eh?" He said suddenly to his guard. "I believe your secretary said something like that this morning, sir!" Trevor replied. "Indeed, well, we best get to it. Friggan you can take a leave once we get to the government building. Get a nice lunch and meet whom ever you fancy, just be back by the council meeting time at 3. I only need one guard at my office." Calleus said as he pressed a few coins into Friggan's hand. A beloved leader is one who keeps power and is remembered.

Only a few short minutes later the entourage entered the government building. They reached his office by way of the steps. An amused smile crept on Calleus' face as he saw Max knock on the door of his vacant office. "Well, this is a first. You are actually waiting on me. I'll have to increase your assistant's pay. She can halve the time it takes for my runners to find you. What is your opinion of her?" He chuckled as he unlocked his door and clapped Max on the back, leading him into the office. Trevor took up his usual spot out side of his door and Friggan left to go get lunch, it was close to noon.

"Have a seat, if you care." He moved over behind his desk, it was a dark mahogany polished to a near mirror shine. The room contained three heavy wooden chairs, one behind the desk and two in front of it. The walls where lightly decorated with a few book shelves and a banner of the Blood Tithe on the right wall and the newly stitched Illian banner on the left. He took a seat and looked at Max. He seemed like he was not touched from his fight.

After a few seconds of silence Calleus started, "I called you hear for two counts. The first is to congratulate you on your outstanding victory against the bandits. It takes quite a man to single handedly take down a bandit company, and you did it without blood shed. On the other hand, I did not give you the command of my men just so you can deal with all the problems by yourself. We need to be ready for when we become embroiled by a true conflict. Not just the skirmishes that we've bloodied our noses on. I'm talking about a real war with a kingdom that wants to make an example of us and show everyone that our way will not work. To do that, we need as many hardened veterans as we can get. The Tithe definitely is a fighting force that must be contended with, but when the next situation arises I want you to be there to help. Let your men deal with it, you've trained them, learn to trust them. If it becomes bloody, put the blame on my head, or your training, I care not. We can train the strong and cull the weak with one fell swoop. Complacency will only lead to our down fall."

He finished waiting for Maximillion to speak.