Chapter 15 #2
I lean forward, my cadence as practiced as the face I wear.
“Assure the citizens you are invested in our freedom. That The Above means freedom for you too, for us all. The killings, abductions have drastically increased since she was taken. The Mer Army is out of control, and the rebels are at fault for that too.” A plan knits together in my mind, bringing a rush of strained excitement to my words.
“We will act only when she is safely returned. If they proceed rashly, they risk our one chance at freedom, the gods’ favour and countless innocent lives.
They are already grasping at straws by turning to the public; they cannot possibly—”
My hand lands on a pile of parchments. I snatch the top few and skim the frenzied scrawls.
“One, sever her feet from her body, place them in the basin, and two…” I flip to another, ignoring my uncle’s sharp intake of breath, “have her walk around the basin seven times. We give them all something to hate. The rebels. Then show them it is taking away something they need. Freedom.”
“They will turn on each other again. Neighbour against neighbour. We cannot toy with emotions.” Theron says through gritted teeth. Nykholas frowns at the interruption but does not take his dark eyes off me.
“If you arrived at this meeting on time, you would have known that is the point,” I say firmly.
“We must smoke those rebels out of their hole. If our citizens are focused on their fear, no matter how it manifests, they are not feeding them information. The Princess and your Captain are kept safe. Is that not what you want?”
“Perhaps we must first ask why Cinder Cliffs are remaining silent,” he spits, glaring at Tobian, who scrunches up his face but says nothing. “Besides, they are not puppets. They are your people—” Theron sneers. I do not like his tone, so I speak louder to drown it out.
“We must rile up hearts in our favour and unite them with one common goal. The greater good here is that they are returned, and we live to see another day, is it not? But it must be believable first. We must show them we want equality just as much as they do.”
Theron huffs like a child. “Then simply give it to them. You sit here in the finest clothes, eating the best ingredients, lazing about your acres of land. How convenient the monarchy suddenly gives a shit about the people of Sheyole, their losses and their freedom, when they now hold the key to something you want. They wouldn’t crave freedom so desperately if they had equity at the very least.”
I tilt my head to the side and open my mouth, but Nykholas gets there first. His voice as smooth as a stream of black silk.
“It seems you continually forget your place, Theron. And that you, too, eat at the King’s table and live on his land.
The hilt of your sword alone could feed a hundred families from your slum town for months.
The humans say something about biting the hand that feeds you.
Perhaps look into that and whilst you do, keep your Godsdamned mouth closed.
” Theron’s jaw tightens and something he has not quite buried yet moves across his face, before the familiar sneer returns.
He is about to retort when my uncle says,
“Do it. Whatever it takes Aiden, Captain Nykholas, Theron. Just find them both. Before it is too late.” Nykholas winces at being addressed by his friends’ title.
He has denied us from addressing him as such since he was taken hostage, refusing to wear what Kaed earned.
Though I do wonder if a thing can still be earned if it was prophesied.
“We must take the necessary measures to extract information if we do find any rebels or empathisers.” I nod to Leander.
The council murmurs and shuffles. I do not miss the way Nykholas raises his thick, dark eyebrows and lets out a low whistle.
The conflict on the King’s face is plain as he weighs torment for truth.
He once taught me a ruler must sometimes choose what he despises for the common good. Now is that time.
“We have been good for the entire time Captain Kaed has been taken hostage. To no avail. We must use force now. We did not use it when Ashen sent the ash clouds to wilt Ember’s crops.
Or when Cinder closed their borders and sent students back to their territories, except for Ashen’s.
” I press. “We were understanding when Ember stopped exporting textiles and food, when Obsidian closed the mines. What needs to happen for us to show our hand, uncle? They have taken from us, from you. Is there no consequence for opposing our King?”
Though the members of the counsel hold some contempt for me, I have no doubt voiced what they feel they can only whisper behind closed doors.
A phenomenon I have never understood. If one has an opinion, surely the point is to say it.
He studies Leander from the shadows for what feels like an eternity, his brows furrowed.
“I would need to sit with my counsel privately and get the territory leaders on board with that. I vowed to leave those practices behind. They would need to sign the treaty immediately lest we offend them by detaining their people. I shall also need to speak with you first, Leander. I would like the chance to read any detainees before we use force. That is an order. Aiden.”
I smile politely at Nykholas, ignoring my uncles pointed stare.
“Yes, Your Majesty.” I gather my things from the table.
“We shall meet back here by the ninth hour. You are all dismissed. Oh, Lieutenant Nykholas,” I call over the grating sound of chairs and shuffling papers, “please fetch Vale for me, I have been looking for him all morning.”