Total pages in book: 161
Estimated words: 162269 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 811(@200wpm)___ 649(@250wpm)___ 541(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 162269 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 811(@200wpm)___ 649(@250wpm)___ 541(@300wpm)
“And after that we face Slán Bailey for life, and for our sons…what?” Another man from the front asked. “You’ve obliterated my home. Taken my land. I leave him nothing. That keep your dragons eradicated had been in my family for twelve generations.”
“Well, then I hope your son has acquired some skill, or does so in future, so he can feed himself,” Cassius replied.
“Is it that difficult to consider instituting your changes in a lengthier manner to allow all, gentry and laborer alike, to become used to one in order to be better prepared for the next?” another man asked.
“This is wise advice,” Cassius relented, to a feeling of not a small amount of relief sweeping from the front of the room.
Sadly for them, Cassius hadn’t finished speaking.
“The issue I have with it is twofold, for I have gentry who are not at odds with this and have offered coin to the crown to keep their holdings as well as extended all manner of employment to their vassals, for which they will now pay them a fair wage. They do understand that their lives will change, but they’re bloody fucking wealthy, couldn’t eat through the coin they have in five generations, unless they suffer grave amounts of stupidity, and are keen for the challenge in discovering different ways to keep their coffers topped up.”
When no one had a response to this, Cassius carried on.
“Secondly, for laborer or merchant, soldier or sailor, nothing changes. Laborers will simply keep the coin they earn from their endeavors, rather than paying much of it to a lord who owns the land they work who thinks it’s their due. So, really, it is a small minority of my citizenry who has to grow accustomed to a new way of doing things. And as what I ask is not very difficult to come to grips with, I don’t see any reason to draw it out.”
“We are simply asking for the concession of keeping our own bloody holdings and homes,” another man spat. “And frankly, this is a beyond a fair concession to request.”
Cassius’s entire demeanor changed when he retorted harshly, “It would have been, if you hadn’t killed Jasmine. If Antonius had not fallen to your men’s swords. If in the night, Rosehana still warmed her lover’s bed. If I did not return Otho’s body to his family for burial after it was desecrated and decayed, and I had to speak to his father to be certain his mother didn’t unbind him to witness what had become of his remains. I could utter many a name of one who was lost, one who was loved, one who is mourned, and this blame, I assign where it is due. On you.”
Well then, this must be why Macrinus and Hera appeared so dour.
Jasmine, Otho and Antonius had fallen.
And if he was not wrong, Hera’s lover’s name was Rosehana.
Grave loss for the Regent.
And shockingly stupid of the gentry.
Truly, with the way Cassius Laird had mourned the loss of his first wife, how could they not know they should not earn this manner of his ire?
“Now,” Cassius continued, “I’ll have your full capitulation, or I’ll not only have your homes and holdings, I’ll have your heads. Speak to your fellow conspirators. Given the flight of a raven and back, you have five days. If you do not offer your surrender then, I…will…take it.”
Jellan then watched as the Regent turned his head to the side and spoke on.
“Get them out of my sight,” he said to a guard. “And as for my father, after the ravens fly, he sees no one, he speaks to no one. Windowless cell. Malcontent’s rations.”
“I will not hesitate to take your head!” Gallienus stormed as a guard came forth to take hold on him and drag him out.
“You are beaten, fool,” Cassius retorted. “And you were before you even began.”
“We shall see!” Gallienus yelled as, wrists and ankles in chains dragging the carpets, chains that Jellan did not see with Gallienus’s back to him, the fallen king was hauled unceremoniously from the room.
Jellan stood where he was and observed, as the others, dressed the same as Gallienus, chained the same, were escorted out as well.
He then saw Macrinus approach Cassius and bend to speak into his ear.
Cassius nodded and called, “G’Jell, you may come forward.”
Instantly, Jellan moved down a center aisle that was kept clear, apparently for comings and goings, and as he walked swiftly toward the dais, he cast his gaze about, and saw no one he knew.
No Go’Doan priests.
No gentry.
Though there were a number of Zees, which was unexpected.
Indeed, it appeared most of them were Zees.
Most unexpected.
He could not wonder about this.
He was hungry. He needed food. A bath. A good sleep.
And then…regroup.
“Your Grace, Prince Cassius,” he greeted as he came to stand between two sofas, both of them vacant, and dipped his chin into his neck. He lifted his head and caught the prince’s eyes. “I am most grateful to be here. I am also most grateful to you for welcoming me into your home so swiftly. For I have just survived a daunting adventure regarding which I needs make haste in reporting to you.”