He looked up at Adrissu, reaching up to thread their fingers together. How could he tell him no?
“Yes,” he agreed, pulling Ruan to his feet. “Let’s go.”
Adrissu did not bring up the ritual again, just as Ruan had asked. He did not bring it up when Gennemont formally announced the creation of the Federation of Autreth, declaring itself the capitol of the newly-founded nation. He did not bring it up when it was clear Gennemont was bolstering its army. He did not bring it up when, mere months after the Federation was formed, Gennemont’s forces marched west to annex every village and farming town that lay on the main road to the coast.
But when the west had been absorbed, it was obvious that the Lords of the Federation were turning their sights east, where Polimnos lay in its path. Confirmation came a month or so after the west was taken, when an entourage arrived at the gates of Polimnos, carrying the flag of the Federation and requesting an audience with the Polimnos Council.
The council met the six humans who had arrived on horseback. They sat on one end of the table in the council office, and the eight councilors sat on the other. Much to Adrissu’s displeasure, Benil Branwood sat next to him, visibly perspiring and wringing his hands.
“Benil, I swear to all the gods,” Adrissu hissed out of the side of his mouth, leaning slightly over so it looked as if he were only whispering something. “Keep your hands still and under the table, or I’ll cut them off myself. The last thing we need is these people thinking we’re too fearful to speak, let alone fight them.”
Benil shot him a bewildered glance, but luckily it was at that moment that Cyrus cleared his throat, and the room fell silent around them.
“Welcome,” he said evenly, gesturing to the six visitors. “We are the Polimnos Council. I am Cyrus Polare, head councilor of Polimnos. I understand you’re here representing Gennemont and its host of Lords?”
One of the humans, a male that looked to be no more than thirty with a sallow face and patchy facial hair, visibly bristled and retorted, “That is not who we represent. We represent the Federation of Autreth as a whole.”
For a moment the group was silent. While the other five humans seemed somewhat exasperated with the young man, none spoke against him. Adrissu forced himself not to roll his eyes, and Cyrus gave a tight-lipped smile.
“Ah, my mistake,” he said. “Well, please, go ahead. What business has brought you so far from home?”
One of the older humans, a female who looked like she’d be more comfortable holding a weapon than sitting here in negotiations, cleared her throat before the younger man could speak.
“We do represent the Federation of Autreth,” she said evenly. “As you know, the Federation has a goal of seeing all of Autreth unified. We come offering terms to a peaceful annexation of Polimnos.”
At that, Adrissu scoffed before he could stop himself—but to his surprise, it was Yue Lang who spoke first.
“Peaceful!” he spat, frowning. “And how flexible are these terms you approach us with?”
The woman’s face had become stony, but she managed a cool smile that did not reach her eyes.
“Unfortunately, flexibility is not our priority,” she said. She held a hand out to an older, balding man next to her, who pulled a scroll from within his sleeves and handed it to her. She spread it on the table without looking at it. “This is what the Lords of the Federation offer. Agree to these terms, and Polimnos will gladly be welcomed into the Federation. Otherwise... Well, I’m sure you’ve seen what has happened in the west.”
“We have,” Maya muttered, glancing down at the scroll with her arms folded across her chest.
“And how soon do you need a response?” Cyrus said, his tone mild compared to the others.
“We will remain in town for five days,” the woman answered. Adrissu wondered why she was the one to speak for all of them—clearly she was a warrior, not a diplomat. Perhaps, he suspected, they already anticipated Polimnos would put up a fight.
“Then we shall have an answer for you within five days,” Cyrus said steadily.
Adrissu did not bring up the ritual when he went home to Ruan that night, but he knew the human could feel the tension roiling off him in waves. Ruan did not need to ask to know why, and he went willingly as Adrissu dragged him to their bedroom to hold him down and fuck him hard. Here, at least, he still had control, driving himself into Ruan’s body until he could forget about everything else.
Chapter Twelve
Thecouncilmeetingwascalled the next day, and the eight councilors gathered in the meeting hall to consider Gennemont’s offer.
“Has everyone reviewed the terms?” Cyrus asked when they were all seated. His eyes were sunken with an obvious lack of sleep, but his voice remained steady. A murmur of assent spread through the room. “Then let’s discuss.”
Everyone was silent for a moment. Ellisa offered, “I didn’t think it all sounded too bad.”
Yue Lang scoffed from the other side of the table. “Any terms that require us to give them taxes is too much.”
An uncomfortable silence settled over them again. The terms did require tax revenue, and considering how zealously the Federation was gathering up territories, the revenue seemed to be the end goal. There was no possibility that Gennemont would agree to any terms where Polimnos did not pay them taxes, and they all knew it.
“It might be possible to bargain for a lower percentage of taxation,” Cyrus said, pinching the bridge of his nose between two fingers. “But the only way we’re going to get out of this without paying taxes to Gennemont is to fight.”
“Then we should fight,” Yue interrupted. Before anyone else could answer, Maya Graylight spoke.
