"...Soon enough, I'll head towards Malai and take care of the other half."
"Once he's done it, we can accelerate the plan by months since the meeting will be in Dharma." Carlos helped his story out from time to time, and after an hour, the people were stunned on several levels.
"W-well, that escalated quickly."
Cintia and Nifa, who more or less had their own versions of how things would play out, just got proof it's pointless pondering things about him.
I felt shocked, literally.
He played with one of my wayward locks and waited for my opinion. "Talk to me..."
Well, it was a lot to digest. "Well, we're going to have more residents who are already on their way. You flirted with a bunch of women." At this point, Carlos's head bobbing annoyed him. "...Instigated a marriage between a child and a disgusting man, and plan to reunite two halves of the same religion by... manipulation and probably violence."
He regretted asking me first. "Yeah, ask the blonde parrot first. Good on youuu... stopp! I'm not mocking you here, love."
He was much more loose than he looked, easily avoided my bow hand, and played it off.
The others were more supportive.
"I mean, I'm not sure what these people thought, but this is exactly the outcome I foresaw." Nifa was on point, if on a slightly different scale.
"It's risky, daring, and can only be accomplished by you, my boy." Granny again was quicker than most.
He smiled at her with appreciation. "Once done, my promise is fulfilled, and Carlos is in the clear. All I need... is something I would rather not talk about now."
I couldn't tell if he was actually afraid of something or having a laugh.
"...Anyway. I want to spend a few days home. The Pope's envoys will take a few weeks to arrive in Malai in the winter, and they are coming with our new residents."
"Hmm, they will stop at Uitla and wait for him to come with a map... and we leave the map to you two." Carlos pointed at the most traveled, Nifa and her group, who quickly agreed.
"Hmm, poor souls. You've done well, big brother, inviting them." Lucian was especially touched by this gesture.
He saved over a hundred people and allowed those seeking other lives to leave with a full stomach, warm clothes, and enough coin to start over.
"Well, they are from a different world. They'll most likely bond on the road to become a tight-knit group. We should give them their space." I stood behind him rubbing his shoulders and received a few grateful kisses.
"The soldiers of Em, on the other hand, are free men who decided on their own to leave their world behind. I will visit them after Malai," said Carlos, sipping his drink.
"Sounds like... hundreds of men, women, and children... ho—" Zephyr put his hand up before Metill could take over.
"Lucian, Alex... regretful, but we need to build again and put training second."
The men around the table looked determined, not bothered by the fact that building in the snow was a different story than it was in the autumn winds.
"Luckily, we will leave the individual house behind. Instead, we build a few bigger ones with multiple one- or two-room houses inside them."
No one understood until he pulled out a drawing of a house from above. A blue painting of a large square and inside, several smaller ones. It was all very well drawn and detailed.
Carlos was the only one who recognized it. "You saw that?"
"Hmm, it looked like a bloody game at first, but then I saw the numbers by the sides. I'm not even sure if it's what I'm thinking, but it did give me an idea." Fingers pointed at the smaller squares inside. "...Half of them, one room, kitchen, and a small bath, which we'll later implement in all homes in the spring, a living room, and done."
Alexander and the boys were all surrounded by him, pushing me away to lean over his shoulders.
"So, all of us are just putting up the big simple square and then building nice and dry inside... genius, little brother." Alex tapped his shoulder.
"Yeah, no. I believe it's the house of Em—"
"Big brother, we can start once you're rested. I still can't believe you doubled the village population in just a few days." Lucian cut off Carlos mid-sentence.
I believe, if not for my mother pampering him, her new man would definitely cry already as the others ignored him and his ancestors who made these drawings.
I saw how excited Zephyr was and let go of my small worries. All this was expected. It just started sooner, that's all.
Plus, if his current plans succeed, he doesn't have to stress about the King or his Blessed's interference in Tetra. Carlos would have the perfect alibi by escorting the Insatel delegation, and his brother would be released from his torment before or right after the snows melt.
For the King and the Pope, now the most important thing is the wedding, and soon, the reunification. Karta probably won't even attempt a war. With Lentila far removed and in peace with Insatel, they'd be alone. Worst-case scenario, a possible three-against-one scenario. Even an idiot without military training can understand such unfavorable conditions, especially with their noble beliefs.
There was just one thing...
"This First Acolyte, how did you meet him?" I asked, suddenly cutting the talking bunch.
Carlos, despite his theatrical appearance, his face was too honest, and his immediate attention fixed on the ceiling as Zephyr shot some annoyed looks.
"A few times when I met with Lord Mai, he tagged along. It was very formal at first, but soon, he reached out to me." He looked a little bit guilty. "I didn't tell anyone because... who cares? He was just another misguided donkey... unimportant until... until a few days ago." He shrugged.
Well, at least he didn't join in, and it did explain how he was able to steal a full Lady of Ehlite habit. I just didn't know how many influential people he knew.
"Either way," Carlos broke the silence. "The acolyte man is good to go, and in just a few weeks, hopefully for the last time." He squeezed my mother's hand. "I'll leave for a few weeks, join the royals, which will..."
"Give me a tremendous amount of time to locate and rescue Juan," Zephyr took over for a second.
"...And then, with our family fully united and war avoided, the faithful reunited, and the lands saved, we can concentrate on happily ever after." Carlos rested his head on my mother, who never looked this happy.
Zephyr tapped the table with a happy smile. "I'll drink to that, or would... By the way, no food, no drinks? I mean... 'Leader,' my ass."
He let us know how he felt, making the little girls, including Petra, giggle. Mother tried to defend it...
"Well, we... yesterday—"
"...Right. Who knew excuses are the only thing on the menu tonight." Zephyr made eyes at all of us.
It's rare to see Mother annoyed, but my husband was an accomplished man who excelled in many things.