Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 137958 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 690(@200wpm)___ 552(@250wpm)___ 460(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 137958 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 690(@200wpm)___ 552(@250wpm)___ 460(@300wpm)
“Our women, indeed all our people, are paid if they serve,” Gallienus declared.
“Barely,” Cassius muttered. “Especially the women.”
“And I’ll point out, none of my wives are whores,” Gallienus spat.
At that, Cassius straightened in his chair.
Bloody hell.
Cassius fully engaged in this conversation did not bode well.
“All of your wives are whores,” he replied.
True was correct.
This did not bode well.
“You say this of your mother?” Gallienus demanded.
“My mother is dead. And I’m thankful for that for her. Entirely,” Cassius returned.
Gallienus’s face was getting red.
True looked again to his father.
His father was studying his lap.
There was nothing for it.
“Men,” True said.
Everyone looked to him.
He looked to King Aramus.
“It was not presented well, but it is something to reflect on. No lands on this earth, since all in the Southlands stopped practicing it decades ago, except the Mar-el, carry on with enforced servitude. Your grandfather did a brave and noble thing. It was also wise. Change for the good, but not so much it would throw a nation into dissension. Perhaps the time is nigh for another change.”
Aramus held his eyes a moment before he slowly dipped his chin.
True turned his attention to the rest of the table and continued speaking.
“However, there is much to concern ourselves with in the now. Changing ways of life and incurring strife inside our realms when the Beast awakes is not wise.”
He looked to King Gallienus.
“But in the face of a danger that could destroy all realms, we all should take this opportunity in the calm before a storm to reflect on how we can better the futures of our people once we traverse that storm. All of our people. We can take the threat of the Beast as a warning. And we can take our current circumstances as more than mere coincidence. Instead as a lesson. We’re in a realm that has faced decades of change. And with it, decades of prosperity.”
“And Mars also faced three coup attempts in his first two years on the throne. And his sire was assassinated,” Gallienus retorted. “I do not wish to face that.” He tossed his hand to Cassius and carried on, “Or my son to do the same.”
“It is your kingdom, Gallienus, it’s not for me to say,” True murmured.
“No, it is not,” Gallienus agreed.
“Though, the last time one of your line, when your subjects were restless, who didn’t listen to wise counsel or consider changes that were sweeping other lands, saw thirteen thousand of your males having their throats slit,” True finished.
“Yes! Murdered in cold blood!” Gallienus cried.
“I could not imagine,” True shook his head, “given no choice but to take a life in order to make my own livable.”
Once he said this, he felt the increased focus from Aramus, Mars and Cassius.
“Son,” his father joined the conversation by speaking one syllable tremulously.
“You speak treason to Airen,” Gallienus warned.
“Oh for fuck’s sake, Father. He just speaks truth,” Cassius sighed.
Gallienus glared at his son. “So can I take that as you making Airen face decades of change when you take my throne?”
“Unquestionably.”
Bloody hell.
“What?” Gallienus whispered.
“Un…question…ably,” Cassius repeated a lot more slowly.
Mars and Aramus chuckled.
But True did not feel himself wishing to do the same.
This was good, of course.
Ideally.
However, if it happened, Airen would descend into civil war and who knew which side would win.
The gentry of Airen had standing armies of their own. Gallienus favored them not only for their high-born breeding and their chests, which he could tax, but also because, if he angered them, they could ally and depose him.
By force.
Which meant they could ally and wage war against Cassius if he made changes before these armies were disbanded, something Gallienus or one of his forebears should have done years ago. Weakening their gentry. But none of them had had the courage to do it.
In other words, one side had money, men and the power of the throne.
The other had a tactical genius as a general commanding a royal army that might be in disarray as the soldiers in it took sides.
“You know, my sister has a son,” Gallienus threatened Cassius.
“Please, I beg you, I’ll give you bags of gold, pass the crown to my cousin,” Cassius replied. “He is weakly and can barely ride a horse, can’t leave his hearth without catching a chill that sets him abed for three weeks, and eschews meat as it’s unsavory to him that beasts are hunted. I think he’d make the perfect king.”
Gallienus stood, announcing, “I believe diplomatic relations have just broken down.”
“That’s impossible, considering all nations for the most part agree, it’s just you who’s being stubborn because those men you protect have wealth and militias, wealth you tax and armies you fear, and you don’t wish to make them angry. And further, if your wives had rights, it would be a spectacle, the king of the realm brought up on charges,” Cassius stated drolly.