148. Better Days Ahead. *

"..soon enough, I'll head towards Malai and take care of the other half. "

" Once he done it..we can accelerate the plan by months 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 version of how things will play out just got a proof it's pointless pondering things about him.

I felt shook..literally. " Talk to me.."

He played with one of my wayward locks and waited for my opinion.

Well it was a lot to digest.

" Well..we're going to have more residents who all already on their way, you flirted with a bunch of women. " - at this point Carlos head bobbing annoyed him. " ..instigated a marriage between a child and disgusting man and plan to reunite two half of the same religion by ...manipulation and probably violence. "

He regretted asking me first. " Yeah..ask the blonde parrot first..good onstopp..I'm not mocking you here love.."

He was much more loose than he looked and 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 in a smaller 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 fulfilled and Carlos is in the clear. All I need ...is something I 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 envoys will take a few weeks to arrive to Malai in winter, 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 her group, who quickly agreed.

" Hmm..poor souls. You done well big brother. "

Lucian was especially touched by this gesture. He saved over a hundred people and allowed those seeking other lifes to leave with full stomach, warm clothes and enough coin to start over.

" Well..they are from a different world. They most likely bond on the road become a tight knit group we should give them their space. " - I stood behind him rubbing his shoulders received a few grateful kisses. ".. the soliders of Em on the other hand, are free man who decided on their own to leave their world behind. I will visit them after Malai. "

" Sounds like..hundreds of man women and children..ho..

Zephyr put his hand up before Metill took over.

" Lucian, Alex.. regretful but we need to build and stop the training. "

The man around the table looked determined not bothered by the fact that building in the snow are different story then 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 be pulled out a drawing of a house from above. Blue painting of a large square, and inside severe smaller ones. It was all very well draw and detailed.

Carlos was the only one 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 gave me an idea. " - fingers pointed at the smaller squares inside. "..half of them one room, kitchen and a small bath, which we later implement in all homes in the spring, a living room and done. "

Alexander and the boys were all surrounded him pushing me away to lean over his shoulders.

" So..all of us just putting up the big simple square and then build nice and dry inside..genius, little brother.."

" Yeah, no..I believe it's the house of Em..

" Big brother we can start once you rested..I still can't believe you doubled the village population in just a few days. "

I believe, if not for mother pampering him, her new man would definitely cried already as the others ignored him and his ancestors who made this drawings.

I saw how excited Zephyr was and let go my small worries..all this was expected.

It just started sooner, that's all.

Plus, if his current plans succeed he don't have to stress about the king or his blessed interference in Tetra.

Carlos would have the perfect alibi by escorting the Insatel delegation and his brother 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 once done. Karta probably won't even attempt a war. With Lentila far removed and in peace with Insatel they be alone.

Worst case scenario a possibly three against one.

Even an idiot without military training can understand such unfavourable conditions especially with their noble beliefs.

There was just one thing ..

" This ..first acolyte how did you meet him? "

Carlos despite his theatrical appearance his face was too honest and his immediate attention fixed on the ceiling as Zephyr shoot some annoyed looks.

" A few times when meet 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. "

Well at least he didn't joined 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 week hopefully for the last time."

He squeezed my mother's hand. " I'll leave for a few weeks joined the royals which will...

" Give me a tremendous amount of time to locate and rescue Juan..." - Zephyr took over for second.

" ..and then..with our family fully united and war avoided.. ..the faithful reunited and the lands saved. We can concatenate on happily ever after. "

Carlos rested his head on my mother who never looked this happy.

" I'll drink to that or would...by the way.. no food, drinks? I mean...Leader, my ass."

He let us now how he felt making the little girls including Petra giggle.

" 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.