Chapter 14 - First Stratagem
Several days passed after the bandit attack and Antonius's disappearance.
Though he had survived by what many considered a miracle, he was hardly in any condition to return to the capital immediately.
The physicians ordered him to remain with the Nikēphoroi Knights until his injuries had healed.
As a result, Antonius found himself granted a little more time.
The atmosphere, however, was anything but peaceful.
The image of Andri transforming into a monster remained burned into Ioanis's memory.
"Your Highness. That child is dangerous."
The two sat facing one another inside the commander's tent.
Ioanis's expression was grim.
"He's not human. We have no way of knowing when he might lose control again."
"True enough."
Antonius agreed without hesitation.
The response caught Ioanis off guard.
He had expected denial.
Not agreement.
"Then surely we must remove him—"
Antonius cut him off.
Instead of answering, he pointed through the tent entrance.
Outside, Andri was carrying an enormous boulder.
Three grown men had struggled to move it earlier.
"Look."
Reluctantly, Ioanis followed his gaze.
Andri lowered the boulder into place.
Then immediately sprinted toward the next pile of rubble.
"How many knights do you think that child can replace?"
Ioanis said nothing.
Because he already knew the answer.
The pace of reconstruction had increased dramatically since the disaster.
Collapsed roads.
Buried irrigation channels.
Fallen trees.
Mountains of debris.
Everything was being cleared faster than expected.
And everyone knew why.
"Everything he's accomplished will be counted among the achievements of the Nikēphoroi Knights."
Antonius leaned back.
"And by extension, upon its commander."
Ioanis frowned.
"But if he becomes a monster again—"
"We have a solution."
That got his attention.
Ioanis's eyes narrowed.
Antonius leaned forward.
"Between us."
He lowered his voice.
"We discovered a weakness severe enough to stop him."
Ioanis waited.
"Cold."
A crease appeared between the commander's brows.
"Cold water weakens him rapidly."
The shift in Ioanis's expression was immediate.
"Are you certain?"
"Without fail."
Antonius continued.
"If he loses control again, drench him."
"That's all?"
"Without fail, he'll weaken. Give it a little time, and he'll revert to a child."
Silence followed.
A long silence.
Outside the tent, Andri continued working.
Covered in mud.
Hauling debris.
Moving stones.
One obstacle after another vanished.
The laborers were visibly benefiting from his presence.
Dangerous.
Certainly.
Useful.
Undeniably.
And now there was a method to stop him.
Antonius recognized the moment the commander's resistance began to crack.
A smile spread across his face.
"With someone as cautious as you keeping watch over him, Commander, I can rest easy."
The compliment landed exactly as intended.
Ioanis found himself with no immediate reply.
Outside, Andri trudged past carrying several sandbags stacked across his shoulders.
A murmur of amazement rose from the workers nearby.
Antonius looked satisfied.
Ioanis released a long, weary sigh.
"Where would you have me carry this?"
Andri hurried off with the barrel before anyone could answer.
Antonius's gaze followed him across the worksite.
For a brief moment, the young prince seemed entirely unaware of the conversation around him.
Isakios studied him quietly.
Then he glanced toward Theodoros.
Theodoros closed his eyes for a moment and exhaled through his nose.
When Isakios looked back, a faint smile lingered on his face.
