The Council members exchanged glances before Jin’fen said, “After the death of Commander Ahea’a An-Sher’vaat, Captain Hi’jan Hin-Ve’ssa was named Commander. Those in Honor Garrison were given the choice to swear loyalty to the Emperor or be sent to the western quarries. As far as we know, most of them swore fealty, though several did not. Unfortunately, those that did not were likely executed, as we have not been able to find them in the west. But the rest were redistributed amongst Allegiance and Courage, and Dai’chiin Hin-Ka’lla was named Captain of Courage Garrison.”
Unfortunately, that answered a lot of the questions that had been burning in the back of Shi’chen’s mind since his escape. Dai’chiin was from Hi’jan’s Courage Garrison, nearly as vicious as Hi’jan, though not as crafty. He almost laughed at the irony of Honor Garrison being the branch that no longer existed.
He felt a lump in his throat as Jin’fen’s words confirmed what he already knew, that Commander Ahea’a was dead. His hand slid into the pocket of his pants to rub his thumb over the pin he had kept on him since their escape. Without her sacrifice, he would be dead, and who knew what would be happening to his brother? He sent up a silent prayer to the gods to bless Ahea’a for what she had done for them.
“Has the Emperor signed any laws regarding the new stance on slavery?” A’bbni asked.
Everyone on the Council shifted uncomfortably, which Shi’chen assumed meant yes. Mii’ra was the first to speak up. “He has. He essentially repealed the laws the Empress Chiia’jen put in place.”
Shi’chen tried to remember exactly what the laws were, but he knew A’bbni would know. No matter what, it wasn’t good. “That allows for anyone convicted of a crime to be sentenced to slavery, does it not?”
The Council nodded. “Amongst other things,” Jin’fen said, steepling his fingers together on the table uncomfortably. “We also have heard rumors that he is opening up negotiations with Kendarin regarding the import and export of prisoners.”
Shi’chen barely kept an expletive from crossing his lips, biting his tongue hard. Next to him, A’bbni stiffened, and he could already feel the fury radiating off his twin. The elves had followed the goblin lead into abolishing slavery not long after their grandmother had outlawed it; the High King had met with the Empress personally to discuss the details of her decision, obviously not wanting to have the elves be seen as barbaric by continuing the practice. The fact that the current High King was even considering opening up talks with the Emperor about it was worrisome. “We need to do something as soon as possible, before the Emperor can do too much damage.”
“We agree, Captain,” Jin’fen said with a nod.
“We have plans and communications in place, Your Reverence, Captain, but before we go any further, have you discussed the line of succession?” Ba’shea asked, giving them a calculated look.
“We have,” A’bbni said. But that was all he said. The Council waited for him to continue, but he did not, and Shi’chen held back a smirk.
“And?” Ba’shea asked.
Shi’chen gave the Council a cold smile in return. “Neither of us will take the throne if you intend to simply depose us once you have found a ruler you consider more suitable,” he replied, narrowing his eyes dangerously. “You saved us from death at the hands of the Emperor. We will not be pawns in whatever game you are trying to play just so you can sacrifice us again.”
“Are you saying you both wish to abdicate the throne?” Mii’ra asked, tipping her head curiously.
“That is not what we said, nor can we abdicate something we do not yet have,” Shi’chen snapped.
“We will make no decisions now about which of us shall take the throne if this coup succeeds. Your support for both of us should be unquestioning.” A’bbni said calmly, gazing back at them.
Ba’shea’s eyes narrowed for just a moment at A’bbni. “Your Reverence, you do not seem to understand the—”
“No,youdo not seem to understand,” Shi’chen interrupted before the older man could berate his brother, sitting forward in his chair. “You do not create a plan without communicating it to those who need to know. And there is no reason we should not know why you are so insistent on the line of succession. One would think you have malicious intent, Your Prominence.” The address came out like a curse.
Ba’shea glowered at Shi’chen as if he could set the young goblin aflame with his eyes. “You tread on dangerous ground, Captain.”
“Are you threatening us, Vr Ii-Heshar?” Shi’chen asked, starting to rise out of his seat, his ears tensed back like a coiled snake about to strike.
“Your insolence is not appreciated here, Captain,” Ba’shea said, his eyes narrowing in return, his ears flattening in anger. “One would think you were not grateful to us for saving your lives.”
“Your insinuation that we need to follow your bidding because of that is insulting,” A’bbni replied before Shi’chen could respond.
“You are nothing more than spoiled children,” Ba’shea said, giving both of them a withering glare.
Shi’chen raised a brow. “Then why do you not simply leave our Cousin on the throne? He is more of a spoiled child than we.”
Ba’shea let out an indignant yelp. “How dare you!”
“We are done here.” Shi’chen rose to his feet, and A’bbni mirrored his movements.
“No, we are not!” Ba’shea bellowed, his voice echoing off the ceiling. “You two sit down!”
“You do not give us orders, Vr Ii-Heshar,” A’bbni said.
Mii’ra held up her hands. “Your Highnesses, please,” she said, giving the twins an apologetic smile, then turning to look at Ba’shea pointedly. “I know we are all concerned for the future of Hanenea’a. Let us not let petty squabbles divide us further.”
Shi’chen hissed softly through his teeth, barely suppressing the urge to say that being threatened in any manner was hardly a ‘petty squabble,’ but A’bbni gave Shi’chen’s wrist a quick squeeze to keep him quiet. “Indeed,” he said. “Our apologies.”
