It turns out that convincing small peoples to voluntarily join a newly formed empire was more complicated than Marcos had anticipated.
"Let me see if I understand," Marcos said, looking at the three ambassadors who had just returned from their first mission. "They were offered protection, resources, participation in government, and access to advanced medicine... and they said no?"
"Technically," replied Doran, one of the ambassadors, a bald, middle-aged man with experience as a merchant, "they said 'go to hell, you invading sorcerers.'"
—That's... more direct than expected.
—And then they threw rotten vegetables at us—added Sera, the second ambassador, a young woman with freckles and a perpetually sarcastic expression.
—Rotten vegetables?
—Specifically cabbage. —Sera pulled a piece of leaves from her hair—. Lots of cabbage.
Marcos rubbed his face.
They were in his office. Also present were Garrett, Mero, and Daenerys , who was unsuccessfully trying not to laugh.
— Okay , give me the full report. One by one. Town by town.
Doran took out his notes.
—First stop: Qelos , as planned. Population approximately two hundred people. Governed by a certain Lord Rennick . We offered the terms: voluntary union with the Empire of Astoria, military protection, access to resources, participation in provincial government.
- AND?
Lord Rennick listened to us for exactly three minutes before calling us "invaders disguised as diplomats" and ordering us to be escorted out of the village. He threatened violence if we returned.
"Charming." Marcos jotted down notes. "Next?"
—The village of Lysara . Population one hundred and fifty. —Sera took her turn—. This one was more interesting. They don't have a lord. They have a council of elders. They listened to us completely, asked intelligent questions, and then told us they needed time to deliberate.
—Is that good or bad?
"Well, I guess so." Sera shrugged. "At least they didn't throw vegetables at us."
"The success rate is incredibly low on this mission." Marcos sighed. "Third?"
"Town of Torath, " continued the third ambassador, a young man named Mikkel . "Population two hundred and fifty. Governed by a sort of merchant oligarchy. Three rich families control everything. They listened to our proposal and... laughed."
Did they laugh?
"They literally laughed. They said the 'Empire of Astoria' sounded like child's play, that no real empire is founded in two weeks, and that we should come back when we had real conquests under our belts." Mikkel paused. "And then they threw the cabbage at us."
—The same cabbage as Sera?
—No, that was in Qelos . Torath used different cabbage.
"I'm learning more about cabbage distribution in Essos than I ever wanted to know." Marcos closed his eyes. " Okay . Fourth and fifth village?"
"Fourth: Nohoros . Population one hundred. They accepted IMMEDIATELY." Doran smiled. "They have a problem with bandits. They desperately need protection. When we told them we had a professional mercenary company, they practically begged us to annex them."
"Finally, some good news." Marcos straightened up. "And the fifth one?"
" Valdesh . Population three hundred." Sera frowned. "This was... strange. They have a religious leader. Some kind of priest or prophet. He told us he had a vision of 'an otherworldly man' and that Astoria was 'the will of the gods.' They agreed to union, but on the condition that we respect their temples and religious practices."
Marcos blinked.
—Are you telling me that there is a people who see me as divinely chosen?
"Basically, yes." Sera sounded as confused as Marcos felt. "It's weird but useful."
" Okay , so to sum it up: out of five towns, two accepted, one is deliberating, and two vehemently rejected us with cabbage." Marcos looked at Garrett. "What do we do with the ones who rejected us?"
"We respect your decision," Garrett said immediately. "You said diplomacy first. That means accepting when they say no."
—Although —Mero interjected—, if they cause problems later, we respond appropriately.
—I defined "cause problems." —Marcos looked at him suspiciously.
"If they attack our caravans. If they threaten our citizens. If they form hostile alliances against us." Mero shrugged. "Those kinds of things."
"Reasonable." Marcos nodded. "So, plan: Doran, Sera, and Mikkel return to Lysara in a week. Give yourselves time to deliberate. If you agree, perfect. If not, we move forward. Garrett, send a contingent of Second Sons to Nohoros and Valdesh . Establish a presence, protect the citizens, and assist with integration."
—How many soldiers?
"Twenty for Nohoros . Thirty for Valdesh since it's bigger," Marcos calculated. "That leaves fifty here in Astoria. Enough for defense if anything happens."
—Understood. —Garrett took notes—. Anything else?
—Yes. I need to visit both towns personally. Introduce myself, establish a presence, and ensure a smooth integration.
" Are you sure?" Daenerys spoke for the first time. "If you leave Astoria, you're vulnerable."
"That's why I'm traveling with an escort." Marcos smiled at her. "And because I have magic that can wipe out armies if necessary. I'll be fine."
—I worry too.
Daenerys ' voice .
Garrett coughed to break the tension.
—Okay, so the boss is going on a diplomatic tour. When do we leave?
"Tomorrow." Marcos stood up. "The sooner we establish a presence, the better. Oh, and Daenerys , you're coming with me."
—What ? Why?
—Because you're part of Astoria's leadership now. People need to see you, to know you. And because, honestly, you're better with people than I am.
Daenerys blushed.
—I don't know if that's true...
"It is. I'm good with strategy and construction. You 're good with empathy and human connection. We complement each other." Marcos smiled. "Besides, it'll be safer if you're with me than if you stay here."
—How is that safer?
"Because if someone tries to attack Astoria while I'm away, you won't be here to provide an objective." The logic was sound, if morbid. "And if someone tries to attack me while I'm away, I have a better chance of protecting you directly."
Daenerys considered.
— Okay . I'm coming with you.
The next day:
The Astoria caravan consisted of:
Marcos and Daenerys in a carriage (which Marcos had built using Minecraft , because traveling on a horse for hours sounded horrible)Twenty Second Sons as escortGarrett leading the escortThree carts with provisions and gifts for the villages
Rocinante was tied to the carriage, because Marcos refused to abandon his horse but didn't want to ride either.
"This is more comfortable than I expected," Daenerys remarked as she settled into the carriage's cushioned seats.
—Benefits of having Minecraft . I can make comfortable vehicles. —Marcos was checking maps—. First stop: Nohoros . It's four hours north. Then Valdesh , which is six hours east.
—Then we'll be traveling all day.
"Basically." Marcos put the maps away. "Good time to talk about things we haven't talked about."
- Like what?
"Like your training." Marcos looked at her seriously. "You've been training in combat with me. How do you feel about it?"
"Exhausted. Sore. But... fine." Daenerys smiled. "I like feeling I can defend myself."
—Good. Because when we get to the villages, I want you to prove something. Not magic, not divine power. Just basic competence. It'll impress people to see you 're not just a figurehead.
—Do you want me to fight in public?
"I want you to prove you're capable. There's a difference." Marcos leaned back. "Besides, it's going to change how they see you. Not as 'the Targaryen we rescued,' but as ' Daenerys , an active member of the leadership.'"
Daenerys processed that.
— Do you really see me as part of the leadership?
—Obviously. Why would you think otherwise?
—Because I don't do anything important. I don't build anything. I don't fight wars. I don't...
"Dany," Marcos interrupted. "You were at every council meeting. You give opinions we consider. You helped design the defense signal system. You came up with the empire's name. And most importantly: people respect you." He paused. "Leadership isn't just about building walls or fighting. It's about inspiring, connecting, getting people to believe in something bigger than themselves. And you do that."
Daenerys felt tears threatening to spill over.
—Nobody ever told me I was capable of anything.
"Well, I'm telling you. You're capable of a lot." Marcos smiled at him. "And we're going to prove it."
The carriage continued moving forward.
For a while they traveled in comfortable silence.
Then Daenerys asked:
— Can I ask you something personal?
-Always.
—In your world... were there people like me? People who were treated as property ?
Marcos felt a weight on his chest.
"Yes. There was. There is. Well, there was when I was there." She sighed. "Slavery still existed in some parts. Human trafficking. Forced marriages. Abuse. All those horrible things that exist here... they existed there too. Only better hidden."
—And what did people do about it?
"Some fought against it. Organizations, activists, good people trying to change things." Marcos looked out the window. "Others ignored the problem because it was easier. And others perpetuated it because it benefited them."
—What were you doing?
"I studied dead empires." The honesty stung. "I wasn't doing enough. I knew these problems existed, but… I was too busy with my career, my research. It's easy to ignore horror when it doesn't directly affect you."
—But you don't ignore it here .
"Because I have the power to change it here." Marcos looked at her. "And because I met you. It's hard to ignore injustice when you put a face, a name, a story to it. You made it all real for me."
Daenerys felt something warm spreading across her chest.
—Does that mean you only helped me because you knew me personally?
"No. It means you opened my eyes to something I should have seen already." Marcos took her hand. "But yes, the fact that it was you made it personal. And personal is important."
They looked into each other's eyes.
There was something there. Something growing. Something neither of them was ready to name yet.
The carriage went over a bump and the moment was broken.
They both laughed nervously.
"We should... we should probably prepare to go to Nohoros, " Daenerys said .
—Yes. Definitely. Prepare. That's it. —Marcos was clearly just as nervous as she was.
Outside, Garrett rode alongside the carriage and smiled.
Those two were a disaster. But it was an adorable disaster.
Nohoros :
The village was small. Perhaps thirty buildings, all made of wood and stone, arranged around a central square. The streets were dirt. There were no defensive walls. It was vulnerable, and everyone knew it.
When the caravan from Astoria arrived, the entire population came out to greet them.
An older man, with a white beard and a cane, stepped forward.
—Welcome. I am Aldric , the elder of Nohoros . Are you Marcos Vidal?
"It's me." Marcos stepped out of the carriage. "And she's Daenerys. " Targaryen , co -leader of our empire.
Targaryen surname , but they didn't seem negative. Rather curious .
"It's an honor." Aldric bowed. "When your ambassadors came, we thought it was too good to be true. Protection in exchange for voluntary union. No excessive taxes. No blood tribute. It seemed... impossible."
"It's not impossible. It's just fair." Marcos looked around. "Where are the bandits who have been bothering you?"
"To the east. In the hills. There's a cave where they hide. There are about twenty of them. Maybe thirty." Aldric gripped his walking stick. "They've killed three of our men in the last two months. They steal our crops. They kidnap our women. And we have no way to defend ourselves."
"Now you have them." Marcos gestured to the Second Sons. "These soldiers are going to stay here. They're going to protect you. And we're going to clean that den of bandits for good."
Aldric 's eyes filled with tears.
- Oh really?
—Seriously. What's more, we're going to build defensive walls. Basic, but functional. And we're going to train some of their men in basic combat. So they can defend themselves even without us.
"This is... I'm speechless." Aldric wiped his eyes. "What do you want in return?"
"Loyalty. Participation." Marcos smiled. "And maybe share their harvests when they have a surplus. But we're not here to exploit them. We're here to build something better."
Aldric nodded, clearly overwhelmed.
Garrett approached Marcos.
"Chief, if you want to clear that cave, it should be now. Before the bandits hear there's a military presence here and flee."
"Okay." Marcos turned to Daenerys . "You stay here. Get to know the people. Work your social magic."
—And you?
"I'm going to work literal magic cleaning up bandits." Marcos smiled. "It won't take long."
Cave of the Bandits:
Marcos, Garrett, and ten Second Sons arrived at the cave at nightfall.
It was a large cave, with a wide entrance. They could see the light from campfires inside. They heard voices, laughter, the kind of sounds people make when they don't expect to be attacked.
"Simple plan," Marcos said. "I go in first. I scare them. I give them a chance to surrender. If they don't surrender, you go in and capture them. No killing unless absolutely necessary."
" Are you going in alone?" Garrett frowned.
"I have magic. I'll be fine." Marcos activated his heightened perception. "There are 28 people inside. All armed. Some drunk. That helps."
— You're crazy, boss.
—I've heard that before.
Marcos walked towards the entrance of the cave.
When he entered, all the bandits turned towards him.
There was a moment of confusion.
Then one of them, a big guy with a scar on his face, laughed.
—Who the hell are you?
"I am Marcos Vidal, leader of the Astorian Empire. I'm here to make a simple offer." Marcos stood calmly in the center of the cave. "Surrender your weapons, stop attacking Nohoros , and you can live. We'll take you to Astoria, give you a chance to work legitimately. Or you resist, and things will get ugly."
The bandits looked at him.
Then everyone started laughing.
" Did you hear that? The pretty boy is offering us jobs!" The leader drew his sword. "Here's our counter-offer: You die fast if you surrender. You die slow if you fight."
Marcos sighed.
— Okay . Ugly then.
He raised his hand.
The campfires in the cave went out simultaneously.
Total darkness.
The bandits shouted, confused.
Then Marcos created light. But not ordinary light. Light that emanated from him, illuminating him as if he were God descending.
Her eyes shone crimson red.
—LAST CHANCE. —His voice resonated with magical power, amplified, terrifying—. SURRENDER OR FACE THE CONSEQUENCES.
It was pure theater.
But it worked.
Half of the bandits immediately threw down their weapons, terrified.
The other half, led by the guy with the scar, charged.
Marcos snapped his fingers.
The ground beneath the charging bandits turned to mud. Their feet sank in. They couldn't move.
"This is basic magic," Marcos remarked casually. "I can do much worse. Anyone else want to try?"
Nobody moved.
—Good. Garrett, now.
The Second Sons entered, disarming the bandits and tying them up with professional efficiency.
The entire operation took ten minutes.
Marcos hadn't even had to throw a punch.
"Twenty-eight bandits captured," Garrett reported. "No casualties on our side. Some bandits with muddy feet, but nothing serious ."
"Perfect. Take them back to Astoria. We'll process them there." Marcos looked at the prisoners. "And to be clear: this is your chance at redemption. You can choose to work honestly, or you can rot in cells. Your choice."
The bandit leader, now tied up and covered in mud, spat.
— You're a monster disguised as a hero.
"I'm not a hero. I'm pragmatic." Marcos shrugged. "There's a difference."
Back in Nohoros :
When they returned with the captured bandits, the townspeople came out with torches and makeshift weapons, ready to lynch the prisoners.
" THOSE ARE THE ONES WHO KILLED MY SON!" a woman shouted.
" They deserve to die!" a man seconded.
Marcos stepped between the mob and the prisoners.
" Listen!" Her voice cut through the noise. "I understand your anger. I understand you want revenge. But we're not going to be that."
—Why not? They deserve to suffer!
"Perhaps. But if we kill them now, we become like them." Marcos pointed at the bandits. "They'll be tried. In Astoria. With real justice. And if they're guilty of murder, they'll pay. But it will be by law, not by a mob."
" What if they're innocent?" someone shouted sarcastically.
"Then they're free. That's how justice works." Marcos looked at them all. "I know it's not satisfying. I know you want blood. But building something better means being better."
There were murmurs , but eventually the crowd dispersed.
Aldric approached Marcos.
— You're right. But it's hard to be better when you've lost so much.
"I know." Marcos placed his hand on the old man's shoulder. "But it's the only thing that separates us from being like them."
Daenerys watched from the side, with an expression of admiration.
This man, who had the power to erase enemies with a gesture, chose justice instead. He chose to be better.
She fell more in love with him every day.
And that terrified and excited her in equal measure.
[END OF CHAPTER 14]