“And now we must discuss the fate of the accused,” Aretha said, her tone turning dour.
“Traitor,” said the panicborn Grigori named Apate.
“Heretic,” said another.
“Death by beheading,” said Lena with a vicious snarl. “Let him be an example for anyone who dare cross the Parousia.”
There were several more bloodthirsty cries until you raised one hand. “I shouldn’t be part of this discussion. The accused should be found innocent or guilty by an impartial assembly, andthenthe Council should determine his punishment.”
“You’re willing to let the attempt on your life go unavenged?” This question was posed by Orcus, and it sounded to me like a test.
“This isn’t a dictatorship,” you said. “And I’m not here for vengeance, unless it’s aimed at Azrael. Is there any other business we need to discuss?”
“There is the matter of an alliance between the tribes,” Lena said, knowing fully what your response would be.
“I thought that’s why we’re gathered here,” you said, feigning ignorance.
“The Tribal Council wishes for you to consider taking a consort,” Lena said more pointedly this time.
“We have more important things to worry about than who I’m fucking,” you retorted with your typical sass.
“It’s more than physical union,” Aretha said, stating the obvious. “An alliance is a diplomatic partnership.”
Hyas eyed you greedily, probably fantasizing about annexing all of those sunborn lands. It was better if I thought expanding his empire was his motivation, rather than the desire to have you beneath him.
“I have considered it, and I will not be making an alliance. Now, if my duty here is done, I’d like to return to my father.”
I applauded your stubbornness, even though it was short-sighted. Regardless, I took that as my cue and wheeled you out of the hall.
“They’re not going to give up on this consort business,” you said as we traveled over the cobblestone courtyard.
“No, they won’t. To view it in the best light, they want to see you protected.”
“And in the worst light?”
“They want to control you.”
“That’s never going to happen,” you said, and I hoped, selfishly, that you were right. At the same time, I worried about my own limitations when it came to ensuring your safety.
“Stop here for a minute,” you said before we reached the terrace where your father was still basking in the morning sun. I came around so that I could kneel before you. “There’s something I’ve been wanting to talk to you about. We need to discuss what happened in the sewers.”
“The cyclops should never have been able to get to you, and we should have searched him more thoroughly for weapons. I’ll finish him now if it will make you feel safer.”
Your look of surprise told me that I’d misspoken.
“Not that, Henri. I meant what I said to the Council. We’re all pawns in Azrael’s scheming. Cyclops deserves a trial and proper sentencing. This is about when I gassed you, but even before that when you made that deal with Hyas.”
“It wasn’t a deal.”
You gave me a disbelieving look. “You went behind my back. You told me before you didn’t trust the warborn, but still you lied to me and aligned yourself with them. When you were a commander in the Roman army, would your second have done something like that to you?”
They wouldn’t have dared. If a subordinate had tried to keep me from my duty, I’d have punished them severely. I realized then my mistake.
You continued, “I know that I’m small—”
“It’s not that.”
“That I’m young? That I’m inexperienced?”
