novelsmap Chapter 12 The Dust Settles
Chapter 12 The Dust Settles
Representatives of the Baiwan Army and the Anti-Royal Alliance Army walked out of their respective camps and started a tug-of-war negotiation on the temporary ceasefire position.The venue for the negotiation was finally set at the neutral Great Lake Territory, and Norlins readily agreed after getting the news.Therefore, the carriage of the lord of Baiwan Territory was temporarily replaced with the golden iris flag symbolizing the empire, and escorted by cavalry, he crossed the border southward and entered Juhu Territory.
The emperor and his wives and children finally changed back to the royal attire in front of everyone—as Mora said, the days of pretending to be glamorous like this may be "one day less and less".Karlan also brought his confidant minister, and Savy who had grown up a lot.They were fully armed and rode war horses. They walked in the front of the team and looked down at the mocking or contemptuous eyes of the Union soldiers on both sides of the road with cold faces.
Norlins thought it was a prophecy: Karlan said he didn't want to be here, but fate always pushed him to do things he didn't want to or shouldn't do.Facing the dim light in Karlan's eyes, Norlins was almost a little guilty; but facing the representatives of both sides, he always maintained a deliberate smile that could be seen by outsiders, and never forgot to take the leader of the giant lake out of the war .This makes people who are dissatisfied with this want to scold him, but they can't find an opportunity to vent.
The attitude of Norlins and muddy mud plus trying to make a fortune really slowed down the negotiation process, at least it prevented some people who hated the royal family from chopping off the emperor's head at the negotiating table.However, rather than leaving a superficial retreat for the royal family, this negotiation might as well be seen as a partition of the Baiwan collar.As a neutral mediator, Norlins witnessed the entire process of establishing the treaty, and also found that Karlan, like himself, was no longer so young.Even though he tried his best to earn some last dignity for Bai Wanling during the verbal battle, his angry face showed a bit of numbness, exhaustion and powerlessness replaced his fanaticism and ruthlessness in revenge.
During the break between meetings, Norlins saw that Karlan was still sitting on the chair, staring at the draft treaty in his hand, and did not intend to give him an extra look.Norlins sighed, adjusted the folds of his clothes that had been shaped by sitting for a long time, and walked to the courtyard outside the conference hall.
There, he met Savy and his son Gwenk.
The boy who appeared in the auditorium back then has grown into a tall and straight boy, and his facial features after growing up are even more similar in shape and spirit to Karlan.When Norlins appeared, Savi was sitting on a bench in the corner of the courtyard, looking warily at Gwenk who was trying to talk to him, the corners of his mouth were tight and he said nothing.Compared with the others, Gewenke's expression was friendly and sincere enough, and before that, he deliberately ordered the guards of the Juhu collar to invite the negotiators who were hostile to the Baiwan collar to the garden on the other side of the courtyard.
"I'm not malicious, I just want to show you around here. With me here, those people dare not offend you, I promise."
Gwenk said to Savy.Although this didn't dispel Savi's guard against him, the disgust and tension seemed to be less on that young and delicate face.Seeing Norlins walking towards them, Gwenk stood up, saluted in a proper manner, and called "Father".Savi also stood up, bit the bullet and quickly saluted Norlins, calling him "Lord Norlins" reluctantly.
Norlins didn't care about the other party's obvious resentment, but only showed a gentle smile-in the eyes of this young man, he was no different from those enemies who were deliberately plotting to overthrow the royal family and carve up the land of Baiwan.He was not in a hurry to correct Savy's misjudgment, but planned to entrust this task to his son. After all, their identities and ages were relatively close, and it would be more convenient for them to talk.
Norlins tried to exchange a few words with Savi, but unfortunately he couldn't get any decent answer.He smiled, called Gewenke, and signaled his son and himself to step aside to talk about something serious.
Gewenke asked about the progress of the negotiation.
Although Gwenk has the distinguished status of the eldest son of the lord, Norlins still did not allow him to participate in the formal meeting, but arranged for him to deal with other "guests" outside the venue-especially the people from the White Bay collar.Seeing Gewenke's serious expression, Norlins couldn't help being proud of the heir's qualifications.But thinking of the naked looting in the venue, this pride was quickly replaced by worry about Karlan.
"Kallan intends to exchange Baiwan for the emperor's life," Norlins said.
Gewenke subconsciously glanced at Savi who was still sitting alone on the bench, and couldn't help but feel sad for him, and couldn't imagine the expression Savi would make when he knew about it. "He really intends to do that?" Gewenke asked.
Norlings nodded: "The only problem now is where the royal family who have been demoted to civilians will be placed."
"...Then what about the Baiwan leader?" Gewenke asked nervously.From his son's face, Norlins can easily read the straightforward guilt and anxiety that he lacks.
"For other lords, Baiwan Territory is a piece of bad land - the environment is harsh and the terrain is complex. It is already a miracle that such a city defense and army can be developed. They just want to get rid of the enemy of the Snow Lion family; as for the people on the territory The towns and vagrants are just a liability to them, and taking over the White Bay collar will only bring troubles without any long-term benefits. I think the end result is mostly to make it an abandoned no man's land, where there will be no more There are no lords, only long winters."
Gewenke stared at the ground and murmured: "But I never thought that Karlan would give up the land passed down from generation to generation for the life of the royal family. Father, do you think it's worth it?"
Norlins just smiled bitterly, and looked away: "I don't know either. I've never really understood Karlan. But," he stood in front of Gwink, and stretched out his hand to straighten his son's shirt. "In a few years, you will become the lord of the Great Lake Territory—and only the lord of the Great Lake Territory. We must protect what should be protected by any means, even if it means turning a blind eye to the suffering of the loved ones. It is our best effort not to fall into trouble. This is our responsibility and our destiny. While enjoying the happiness brought by war and conspiracy, you will feel guilt, self-blame, shame, and even question your own character, but you Absolutely not to be softhearted."
"Must I do the same?"
"Yes, it must be."
Norlins replied to himself.
The day the negotiations ended, two things happened.
Savy beat up two league representatives who spoke ill of the White Bay leader.If Gewenke hadn't discovered and stopped them in time, he would most likely have chopped off the heads of the two with his own sword, just like every orthodox Baiwan who is used to war.The Union soldiers present wanted to fight back, but they were blocked by Savi's fierce eyes.Afterwards, Gewenke secretly presented Savi with a dagger that he treasured.
Knowing that he would be demoted to a commoner and stay in the Juhu Territory for the rest of his life under the surveillance of the spies, the Emperor heaved a sigh of relief, but the Empress fell into a madness because of this huge blow, and ran to the lake at nightfall. He tied two discarded stone bricks to his legs, trying to drown himself in a foreign land far away from the old palace.Fortunately, the soldiers on night patrol found her in time and rescued her. The doctors in the Observation Tower worked hard for most of the night before she barely regained consciousness.
Norlins found that despite being the host, he still couldn't find a chance to talk to Karlan except at the negotiation scene.It was not until the day before the alliance army and negotiators left the Territory of the Great Lake one after another, and the day before Karlan would lead his troops back to Neverwinter to deal with the remaining affairs, that he was able to walk by the lake with Karlan, and this would be their last time. alone.
Looking at Karlan's haggard face, Norlins smiled wryly, "We're not young anymore." Before Norlins spoke, they didn't speak, they just walked around the calm lake.
Karlan stepped on the soft soil by the lake, and the humid wind by the lake blew past his slightly ink-stained clothes, and then hid in the dark and deep woods in the evening. "The matter is finally coming to an end." Karlan said softly.
From his voice, Norlins could no longer feel the slightest resentment and unwillingness. I am afraid that the heart that has been shattered by revenge and loyalty is only left with numbness after despair.
Norlins stared at Karlan's cheeks for a long time, then stretched out his hand to him, and let his fingers follow his eyes along the lines at the corners of his eyes, the blown hair around his ears, and the pale neck under his collar. Raising the arm of the sword, he finally put Karlan's fingers in his palm.
Karlan just quietly let Norlins pull himself into a wordless embrace.
"I'm counting on you, Savy." He whispered his last wish in Norlins' ear.