“They won’t like it. More herbs means more work, more men mobilized. The accountants do not like buying and giving anything away without getting something back. They will require a high rank official’s approval. You’re not a high rank official, Madam.”
Cassandra sighed. It wouldn’t hurt to ask. Evin guided her through the Camp, on which it had started snowing. The sun was slowly starting its descent, meaning Cassandra only had about an hour or so left before she had to go back to the Prince’s tent. She wondered if she could expect another dragon ride, or if she should think about the walk back.
Finally, the duo arrived in front of another tent, as Evin guided her.
“The Head Accountant’s office…well, tent.”
As soon as she stepped in, Cassandra knew this wasn’t going to be easy. Because the Head Accountant turned out to be the man whose report had been interrupted by her arrival the previous evening.
“Well, if it isn’t Her Mightiness,” sighed the man.
The accountant was a tall but thin man, with a thin mustache and a crooked nose. From his attitude, Cassandra could tell he already didn’t think much of her.
“Good afternoon, Sir. May I take some of your time?”
“What would the Commander-in-Chief’s Concubine need me for?”
“I wanted to ask for some resources.”
“Shouldn’t you just ask the Commander-in-Chief for that? Isn’t that how a concubine is supposed to do things?”
Cassandra exchanged a look with Evin. Though he was still polite, the Head Accountant was clearly set on giving her a hard time.
“What I need isn’t for my personal needs. I wanted to ask for some herbal medicine.”
The man frowned, apparently surprised.
“What is that for?”
“For the men who were in the red…I mean, in the mountain’s rooms. I want to gather some herbs and make medicine out of it to help them, but with what has been gathered I won’t have enough.”
The man put down the papers in his hands and crossed his arms, visibly doubtful.
“Make medicine? You?”
“Yes. I know of some techniques that can-”
“Why would I waste resources on a concubine and sick men? I have no proof that you can do anything you say, and I have no intention to waste anything on dying men.”
“These men are your fellow soldiers! How can you-”
“They’re a deficit of money. I see numbers all day, woman, and these men are nothing but a waste of resources and energy on my papers. If they die, I hope they die soon and stop wasting extra food and time. We already have doctors who tend to the people we really need here.”
He had said those words while frowning at Cassandra, clearly giving into his contempt.
She was so angry, her fists were shaking. How could a man be so cruel and merciless! They were talking about humans, not mere numbers!
Evin took a glance in her direction, wondering what she would do. From what he had seen, Cassandra already had plenty of power in her hand, if only she dared to make use of the Third Prince’s Dragon that seemed so smitten with her. However, he also learned that she had a strange temper.
“How many do you need?” she suddenly asked.
“Excuse me?”
“How many men do you want me to heal and send back to their units to prove that it is worth using money, and that my medicine works?”
The head accountant looked at her, speechless for the first time.What was this crazy woman thinking now?!
Cassandra was perfectly calm and composed.
