Sulphur & Lightning Chapter 35: 034 - Even the Sacred Gives Way to the Expedient

Read chapter 35 of Sulphur & Lightning by anaugustauthor on NovelPedia.

"Come work for me." Elijah couldn’t help but trip slightly at this sudden proposal. He turned toward the young master and aimed a searching look at him. “It’s not standard for an osu to serve the Highborn in any official capacity,” he said tentatively, not sure what this noble scion was after but determined to walk the razor’s edge carefully regardless. It wasn’t a safe venture to outright refuse a noble. “Jan Zaki isn’t bound by those rules,” he said with a smile. “Don’t get me wrong,” he started piously, “we give all thanks to Ani as our mother and the highest of all the gods; we just know that certain laws suit us better – it is unseemly for a man to remain attached to his mother’s teat all his life after all. Besides, aren’t you under the Lady Chukwudifu right now?” Elijah had no good answer to this and was grateful when the other servant began his protest. “Master,” he interrupted hotly, “what you propose is unacceptable.” He stared at his servant before turning back to Elijah. “My servants are always undermining my authority,” he said with faux despondence. "What a life this young master has to endure.” Julnan was embarrassed by this and apologised immediately, falling on one knee. “Take her back to be treated,” he instructed, waving the apology off casually. “I wish to continue speaking to the Lycan.” Julnan did as he was told but made sure to level one last fierce glare at Elijah before making his exit. The lupine youth was tempted to jeer back but did not forget that he was in the presence of nobility and, therefore, exercised decorum. A cool wind blew across the field. “Do you know what sets nobility apart from the masses, Elijah? You just thought of something improper, didn’t you?” The Lycan did indeed have less than savoury thoughts as the question was posed to him and couldn’t help but smile a little at being caught red-handed. He tried to pivot, though, and gave his usual empty flattery. “I’m hoping you’ll instruct me on the difference, young master.” He started walking and gestured for the Lycan to follow him. “Well, there are actually two things,” he said with a smile. “Firstly,” his finger went up at this. “We’re flexible. “A true noble knows that he must adapt to survive. Rank, power, influence – all these things are mere tools to be used and should be discarded when not useful.” He looked at his companion meaningfully at this. “Let me give you an illustration,” he said with a smile. “Imagine two nobles in battle—when one is losing, status becomes sacred, and all men are children of Ani. Why shed blood? "But when that same man is winning, those words vanish. Status is indeed sacred, but even the sacred must yield to the expedient. “That is why I offered you the role of servant; your power and potential are unmistakable, and it would be foolish to miss out on it because of conventions.” In other words, he thought wryly, to be a noble is to be shameless. “And the second?” Elijah was more than used to the long-windedness of nobility and the need to eke information out of them in conversation. Busa’s eyes left the conversation, the dreaminess that those close to him were used to possessing him once more. “That we must control everything,” he said with a voice that was almost a sigh. “ Especially those things that we love.” His companion stopped for a moment, raising his eyebrows. “The gift of a noble is that many things are given into our hands,” he said, his eyes regaining their alertness but keeping their melancholy, “but the gift of a man is that not everything is... We nobles forget that we are, despite all these superficialities, mere men.” “Wanting to control everything is surely just a mortal flaw, not just a quality of nobles, no?” “You are right about that.” His smile showed he was glad that the younger lad was engaging. “But position magnifies every man’s flaws. For example, I lied about not knowing Yachit’s intention to challenge you; I knew but still couldn’t let her do as she wished. The same goes fo