"Perhaps we should defy his orders just this once." Hocken leaned back in his chair with a fake casualness. "Perhaps it's time someone checked on him to make sure that his concubines didn't kill him or tie him to the bed and keep him a prisoner." A cold smile crossed his face. "Besides, I for one would like to finally meet my mother. I hope she knows who I am."
"So would I, Hocken," Losham admitted. "But I'm not willing to risk Father's wrath for that privilege. He's already in a volatile state. Anyone who defies his orders now, while he's balanced on the edge of madness..." He let the implication hang in the air. "Well. We all know what he's capable of."
They did know. They'd all seen the aftermath of their father's rage. The threat was enough to give even Hocken pause.
"So be it," Kolhood said after a long moment. "We wait until he emerges from the harem. But that still leaves the question of governance."
"What question?" Losham asked innocently.
"Father's alert, regardless of what triggered it, contained specific instructions. He wanted us to form a council and work together. His directive was for us to make decisions unanimously. I choose to interpret his instruction as pertaining only to the four of us, but he might have meant all of his sons, and that includes the juniors."
The other two grimaced, which was exactly how Losham felt about including the juniors in decision-making.
"Those instructions were to be implemented in the event of his death," Losham countered. "He's not dead."
"But he's out of the picture." Kolhood leaned forward, his dark eyes boring into Losham's. "Until he returns, his instructions should be followed. We form a council. We share power. We make decisions together."
Unfortunately, it seemed that Dave's influence on the brothers was not all-encompassing.
Dave had been prepared to compel them to believe the story about Navuh and suppress their urge to investigate the harem, but he hadn't been prepared for a direct challenge to Losham's authority wrapped in the guise of following Navuh's wishes.
Furthermore, it was entirely possible that Dave saw nothing wrong with a council. After all, his eight bodies functioned as a sort of council themselves, each one contributing to a shared consciousness.
The concept probably made perfect sense to him.
"No one elected you to rule over us," Kolhood continued. "No one appointed you supreme leader of the Brotherhood."
"I'm the one Father chose to leave in charge before his breakdown, so in a way I was appointed by him."
"So you claim. But we have no proof of that."
"There is plenty of proof. You can ask anyone in the administration who has been running things around here lately."
That was only partially true, but anyone who his brothers asked would confirm Losham's claim. That, at least, Dave had taken care of.
"You were put in charge of the repairs," Hocken said. "You were not put in charge of the enhancement program or the army."
"I wasn't in charge of the army, that's true, but Father was including me in decisions about the enhancement program. He wanted me to take over."
"Even if that's true, you have no military experience," Hazok said. "You can't make decisions on that."
"What exactly are you proposing?" Losham asked.
"Exactly what Father demanded. A council of the senior commanders." Hazok exchanged looks with the other two, who nodded their approval. "The four of us. We meet regularly and put major decisions to a vote. That's what Father wanted us to do."
Losham weighed his options. He could refuse, assert his authority, and trust in Dave's ability to compel the other three brothers into compliance. But while Dave was powerful, he wasn't infallible. It was better to concede gracefully and maintain the illusion of cooperation.
"I have nothing against forming a council. On the contrary. I could use some help. We'll form a council, and all major decisions will be put to a vote. We'll meet twice a week, or more often if urgent matters arise."
Kolhood smiled, but there was no warmth in it. "That's acceptable for now. I reserve the right to propose changes if the system doesn't work as intended."
"That's reasonable." Losham forced himself to return the smile. "I'm glad the three of you are so eager to cooperate. Truthfully, I was worried. The way Father raised us, pitting us against eachother and encouraging rivalry and suspicion, I was afraid you'd be at each other's throats."
Kolhood's smile turned colder. "If Father were dead, that's exactly what we'd be doing. But since he's not dead, I'd rather stay on his good side. When he emerges from his self-imposed seclusion, I want him to think of me as the son who held things together, not the one who tore them apart."
"A wise perspective."
"Self-preservation usually is." Kolhood leaned back in his chair. "What about the junior commanders?"
