Total pages in book: 157
Estimated words: 156907 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 785(@200wpm)___ 628(@250wpm)___ 523(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 156907 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 785(@200wpm)___ 628(@250wpm)___ 523(@300wpm)
Aron appeared astonished and sat back, saying, “Well then.”
“When you give me the names of all known members of this Rising in Wodell, Firenze, Airen, the Dome City or anywhere,” True carried on.
Aron sat forward and snapped, “You can’t possibly ask that.”
“I just did,” True pointed out.
“These men can be reconditioned,” Aron retorted.
“From what we know, these men conspired to kill my mother, my wife’s mother, Queen Elpis’s husband, Ophelia’s lieutenant, and at Catrame Palace, at the very least, my cousin, but with the number of attackers, it was clear their intent was to wreak havoc in the royal houses of five realms. And I know I don’t need to remind you, three of those assassinations were successful, and one of them nearly so.”
“So you wish us to betray our fellow believers by handing them over to you so you can butcher them?” Aron demanded.
“If it makes you feel better, you have my promise, and I’ll sign my name to it on parchment, that they will be interrogated…humanely,” True added this last when Aron opened his mouth to interrupt. “They will then sit tribunal, and if found guilty, they will not be executed, but instead take residence in Crittich Keep for forty years, or to their death, whichever comes first.”
“I cannot sentence a Go’Doan priest to that,” Aron spat.
“You fail to see,” Apollo entered the discussion, “that you walked into this room after the cards have been dealt. You turned your back to the game at a time when you were the only one who knew it was being played and you held all the trumps in order to win it. In the interim, the rest were forced to the table. Now you’ve decided to enter it. Thus, sir, you not only have no cards, you most assuredly have no trump.”
“I have human decency,” Aron rejoined.
“The men recruited to this cause and killed in Fire City, outside The Enchantments, those hanged for treason here but days ago and those sitting right now in Crittich Keep were Firenz and Dellish. These people send you their sick. They send you their children. Or they are lost and alone. And through their need and their gratitude, they have been preyed upon, and in the end, used. Have you no decency to extend to them?” Ophelia asked.
“We have decency enough to extend safe harbor to Airenzian females who seek to escape their oppressors and we send them to you,” Aron retorted.
“A need that will no longer be necessary as Cassius has been made Prince Regent and his first order of business is to free the females of his realm of that tyranny,” Ophelia deftly rejoined.
Aron stared at her in amazement.
Apparently, that news had not yet made its way to the Dome City.
“Aron, my brother,” Ry put in quietly before anyone else could say anything, “perhaps you and I can have a word outside the doors for a moment.”
“We’re in negotiations,” Aron returned.
“I believe he missed the point of my trump comment,” Apollo muttered to Noctorno.
Noctorno, who had requested I call him Tor, shook his head at Apollo in apparent disgust.
“But a moment,” Ry pressed.
Aron’s voice dropped. “I’ll remind you of your remit here, my brother.”
“I don’t need reminding,” Ry replied.
Aron glared at him pointedly, saying without words he felt he did.
“I would have a chat with your colleague,” Noctorno advised, sitting back in his chair and leveling a contemplative stare on Aron.
“With respect to your throne across the sea, I don’t even know why you’re here,” Aron said to Tor.
Tor opened his mouth.
But True spoke.
“He was asked by me. He is a guest of mine. In my home. Where you are sitting.”
Oh my.
True was talking through his teeth.
I’d never heard him do that.
My hand veritably itched to reach toward his.
I looked to Elpis.
It was barely perceptible, but she shook her head.
I sat still.
“Hawkvale is now allied with Wodell in many matters,” True went on. “King Noctorno is here as my counsel. He is welcome here. But it is Lord Apollo whose skills guard your temples, Aron, for he has sent his wolves, which he commands, to do just that. Therefore, we’ve noted a rapid decrease in reports of such issues at Go’Doan temples. Indeed, since Apollo sent his beasts, we’ve received not a one. Though it should be noted, he can also call them away.”
Aron looked to Apollo.
True kept speaking.
“I would be careful of making enemies as you sit here trying to turn attention from the careless decisions of your leaders that have led to grave tragedies and loss of life. I have warned my people they’ll be punished if they take their ire out on the Go’Doan, and if they are caught doing so, this will hold true. But it is not me who created this problem by not dealing with it. It is the Go’Doan. You forget we have been made fully aware that you have been fully aware that this has been an issue for some time. Indeed, since the death of a king. And you did nothing. Now, we all must clean up your mess and instead of arriving and casting your lot to share in that effort, you antagonize us and make demands.”