>>5773459>>5773501>>5773551>>5773557>>5773641You continue to coax more information out of your uncle, hoping his lowered inhibitions reveal more details about his plans or aspirations. "So, Uncle, the Baatar princess, is she attractive?" Turag's gaze drifts, lost in thought for a moment, before he smirks. "Beauty isn't the currency in diplomatic unions, nephew. But to quench your curiosity, she's young, too young for my tastes, more a bud than a blossom." Your curiosity piqued, you press on, "Why then did her father seek you out for such a union? There must be younger, more age-matching candidates." Turag chuckles, the sound rich with the wisdom of his years. "A princess doesn't need a boy for husband; she demands a man. Someone seasoned by life, with the grit to guard his wife and the potency to sire heirs for the horde. A boy, even one with royal blood, might yet prove to be frail, impotent, unfit to lead a horde. A green lad's future prowess is a gamble, while a seasoned man's is a known quantity." Nodding, you absorb his words. In the vast expanse of the steppe, where strength and virility are revered, someone yet to prove his mettle in battle or passion is still seen as a boy, unworthy of a princess destined to birth the next generation of warriors. With the cloak of the night surrounding you and the buzz of alcohol thickening the air, you lean in, expertly weaving a tapestry of flattery as Daho taught you. "The Baatar Khan is a wise man. Entrusting his daughter to a seasoned warrior rather than some inexperienced youth. He knows the difference in value." Uncle Turag's eyes, clouded by the drink, gleam with a hint of pride. "Our people need an experienced Khan. Not a green lad who stumbles and falls at his first test. Had you failed on your first raid, I... but ah, that moment has passed." You keep your gaze steady, the mask of calm firmly in place. "It's unfortunate, really. An alliance would have helped both hordes. What did the Baatar Khan say in his letter?" The anticipation builds within, every beat of your heart echoing louder in your ears. Uncle Turag, ensnared by the intoxication and your probing, lets out a hazy laugh. "He was livid! Raging about lost soldiers, stolen silk..." His voice trails, words muddled, but the revelation hangs in the air. Your uncle and the Baatar passed secret letters behind your father's back.
>>Direct Confrontation: Confront your uncle head-on about his covert dealings with the Baatar.>>Gather Evidence: Before confronting him further, you decide to discreetly search his tent for the letter or any other incriminating evidence that can prove his betrayal.>>Blackmail Approach: "It would be a shame if father or the horde found out about your secret dealings, Uncle. Maybe we can find a way for this to remain between us?">>Hunting Accident: Arrange a 'mishap' during a hunt – a stray arrow, a sudden beast attack, or a horse 'accidentally' startled, ensuring your uncle is permanently out of the picture. 