“What sepawates dah bictows fwom dah wosews, am how much one am wiwwin’ to gib up to achiebe that bictowy.”
[A quote commonly attributed to Maximus]
Vaastu agreed after hearing Tethius’s recruitment, entering the estate with only his bodyguards, a few servants, and a Anuian priestess who had an orange coat with a light blue mane that stood near Vaastu and called herself Vaastu’s regent (Somebody who was supposed to look after him and help run Breadbasket after his Mom and Dad died at the palace) After a servant helped get Vaastu got off his raccoon, Tethius approached him speaking with a stern tone.
“Who towd 'ou of dis pwace! How did 'ou know about Enoch su soon?”
Vaastu brushes off some dirt and speaks looking up at Tethius.
“What am ‘ou tawkin’ about? New doe monawch am announced an’ fwuffy has to fwee stabwewot, dewe am onwy one pwace dey’d go. An’ his name am Enoch, Can I meet him?”
Tethius sighs and speaks.
“Not yet… ‘Ou see, duwin’ ouw escape fwom dah city we had somebody betway us. Gusto nu did make it, 'ou hab awwibed at his funewaw.”
I could hear Vaastu’s regent let’s out a gasp and almost drops to the ground with tears in her eyes and Vaastu looked stunned for a few moments before Tethius spoke again.
“Any news fwom Stabwewot, has dah guawd ended dah wiots?”
Vaastu shrugs as Tethius speaks again.
“we’ww send somebody to scout it out. Nao come we must mouwn dah gwandpwiest, den can see Enoch.”
Making our way to the burning pyre it was a somber walk, with us all having our heads low as we all found our seats, sitting in a circular position. I look out at the pyre, seeing a large collection of branches and lighting fluid and than as I look at the stone slab in the center of it I got a look at Gusto. He was laying down on his back surrounded by branches, and looked so peaceful. Like he was just asleep and at and moment he was going to awake and tell us what we needed to do, but for how much I believed, we were on our own now. Tethius requested to be the one to do the final rite, and once we went up to the pyre, a burning torch in hand he spoke trying his best to steady his voice.
“Gusto Jiah, GwandPwiest of Anuian faiff an’ cwose fiwend. ‘ou wewe taken fwom us to soon, gibin’ am wife to sabe dah King’ 'ou bewiebed in. May Anu himsewf guide ‘ou to pawadise… An’ may am foweba sweepies not go in bain.”
Tethius holds himself back for a bit before finally throwing the torch and lighting the pyre on fire, and he slowly starts walking back as we watch the pyre burn.
After around 10 minutes of watching everyone was allowed to head back to there posts with me seeing Tethius speak to Vaastu for a few moments before walking over to us and speaking.
“Am goin’ to be needed to guawd dah King’.”
As we began to march Reverend spoke trying to lighten the mood a bit.
“Dah kid has a pwetty wawge awmy, we couwd pwobabwy use it to take back Stabwewot.”
Charles hearing this adds on as well, with a new idea giving him a more active.
“Yeah, den aftah that we nee’ to expose Tuwwos fo’ dah snake he weawwy am! Seize aww of his wand, befowe fwuffy can eben wetuwn.”
As we made our way inside the main building I saw it decorated with fine art and sculptures and as we made our way to the Monarch’s chamber a large portrait of Velvet looking out at Stablelot. Now in the chamber I could see Enoch and his family sitting down and eating, and as we made our way behind them I could see Tethius go beside Enoch as he got up and looked at Vaastu.
“it’s a pwessuwe to finawwy meet 'ou am majesty.”
Vaastu kneels for a few seconds before getting back up and Enoch speaks.
“Tethius tewws fwuffy ‘ou wish fo’ an awwiance, buh enoch feews ‘ou wish fo’ something?”
Vaastu gives a smile and looks at his regent whispering in her ear before she whispers back. And finally he speaks.
"Am majesty, fo’ dis awwiance Baastu simpwy wishes fo’ dah contwow of dah taxation of dah Motow Chicago twade woute.
Enoch seemed pretty confused as Tethius gasped in shock and right he was. The Chicago Motor route is one the biggest contributors to the Doe’s dynasties riches and losing it… Tethius speaks.
“Dah Motow Chicago woute am one of dah most pwofitabwe woutes we hab… Buh, ugh dah choice am up to 'ou my king.”
Enoch thinks for a few moments than goes to look at a map before coming back and speaking.
“Dah woute am youws’s Baastu. ‘ou must gib am fuww suppowt though, these next few months am goin’ to be hawd.”
Vaastu looks like he’s about to jump up in glee at any moment and speaks after containing himself.
“Fank ‘ou am majesty, I an’ Bweadbasket am aww behind 'ou!”
Enoch had a faint smile as he turns to a slightly sad Tethius and speaks.
“Nu wowwy Tethius, we can awways find mowe ways to make money. An’ nao we secuwed dah awwegiance of one of dah duke’s. Wait… That gibes me an idea! Tuwwos doesn’t come back in at weast a few weeks, if we secuwe Stabwewot an’ get dah duke’s on ouw side, we’d hab him cownewed!”
Tethius seems rather happy about that idea, and Enoch keeps speaking of other things they’d could do and things are starting to seem hopeful. Than Vaastu speaks with confusion and a bit of worry.
“What do ‘ou mean Tuwwos doesn’t come back fo’ anothah few weeks, didn’t 'ou heaw? He awwibed at Powt Xewxes yestewday.”
Thank you for reading my story! I hope to have the next part done in a few day’s to a week and of course constructive criticism is appreciated. May you have a good day! And also p.s for the location of Port Xerxes, it is near Leakytown and is the most northern port of inner Motor (For context Seaside is the most southern)