"Not senselessly cruel." Kian shook his head. "That's a low bar."
"In the Brotherhood, it's practically sainthood, but then Losham was never a fighter. He never served in the army, so he didn't need to be cruel. In a way, it makes him more dangerous because he won't make stupid mistakes driven by ego or bloodlust."
Kian nodded. "What is Navuh's opinion of him? I know that Losham used to be your Father's right-hand man, but then they had a falling out, and he was sent away."
"Their relationship is complicated." Lokan stared into his coffee cup as if searching for answers in its depths. "But that's true of all the senior brothers. Losham is the oldest, and in many ways, he's the most loyal. Not out of love or devotion, but out of pragmatism. He understood early on that his survival depended on being useful to Navuh, so he made himself indispensable. Whether he actually believes in Navuh's vision for the Brotherhood or just goes along with it because it serves his interests..." Lokan shrugged. "I could never tell."
"Could he be turned? If we offered him something valuable enough?"
"I don't think so." Lokan met Kian's eyes. "Losham is ambitious. I don't think the clan can offer him anything he wants. Right now, he's the boss of the island and the de facto head of the Brotherhood. Unless the other brothers do away with him, he will cling to that position with everything he's got."
"Makes sense. What about the other senior commanders? How likely are they to do away with Losham?"
"As long as they believe that Navuh is alive, they won't touch Losham." Lokan set his cup down and leaned back in his chair. "Senior commanders are rarely deployed on missions. They're too valuable, too powerful, and too likely to build independent power bases if given too much freedom. Navuh keeps them close, rotating their responsibilities. "
"Remind me of their names?"
"Kolhood, Hocken, and Hazok." Lokan paused. "Kolhood is the biggest threat to Losham right now. Currently, he's the general in charge of the army and therefore the most powerful. He's brutal and competent. He's not as smart as Losham, but he's not stupid either. And he has the loyalty of the junior commanders, mostly out of fear."
"What about the other two?"
"Hocken is in charge of the resort—the brothel, the hotel, and the entertainment facilities. He's a good manager, but don't let that fool you into thinking he's soft. He has an extensive military background and commanded the army before Kolhood. That's why Navuh rotates them, so no one gets too comfortable in any position." Lokan's expression darkened. "Hocken is cruel inways that Losham isn't, but he's also pragmatic, so he doesn't let himself get carried away."
"What about Hazok?"
"He oversees the Dormant enclosure and the breeding program." Lokan's tone had gone cold. "He also has extensive military experience, but his current role is more administrative."
Kian raked his fingers through his hair. "I wish we could free all those trapped Dormants."
"So do I," Lokan said. "I was raised in the Dormant enclosure, so I know what they go through. That's why my dream is to one day liberate the island and turn it into the paradise it could be."
It was an impossible dream, mostly because of Navuh's immortal army of cruel goons who had been raised to hate and kill. Only a select few managed to escape the brainwashing, think for themselves, and develop some basic decency.
Kian smiled sadly. "Talk about an end-of-days dream. Those monstrous immortal soldiers becoming doting mates to the Dormants, turning them immortal, and raising families. It's never going to happen, Lokan."
"I know. But I can still dream, right?"
"I guess."
Dreaming impossible dreams was dangerous because it led to self-deception, and it rarely ended well for the dreamer or those he or she was trying to help.
Kian picked up his coffee and took a long sip, using the time to organize his thoughts.
"You said Kolhood controls the army," he said. "What resources does Losham have to defend himself if Kolhood decides to make a move?"
"That's the question, isn't it?" Lokan looked troubled. "Losham has a small personal guard that is fiercely loyal to him, but he has always relied on Navuh's authority to protect him. As long as he was seen as Navuh's right hand, no one would dare move against him. With Navuh gone, though, he's vulnerable. His only option is some sort of fiction about Navuh's whereabouts. Keeping the illusion that he's still around."
"How long can he keep that up?"
"I don't know. Days? Weeks? Eventually, someone will demand proof." Lokan spread his hands. "Losham is smart, but he can't deceive everyone forever. The truth will come out eventually."
Kian drummed his fingers on the desk, considering their options. "My mother is reconsidering her position on Navuh."
Lokan went very still. "What do you mean by reconsidering?"
"She's thinking about using his cooperation in exchange for eventual freedom."
The silence that followed was charged with disbelief and hurt.
