Onegus cleared his throat. "Losham doesn't know that we know, and we don't want to expose the Eight who told us about the assassinations. We can claim to have spies on the island just to mess with him, or we can wait for him to brag about it."
"He won't," Lokan said. "Losham will try to keep it a secret for as long as he can."
Kian put his cup down. "I like the idea of letting him think that we have spies on the island." He looked at Lokan. "Anything else that Losham should do?"
"He needs to lock down all communications between the senior commanders and any external parties for the next forty-eight hours. The Brotherhood has plants in various intelligence agencies, criminal organizations, and political bodies around the world. Some of them were no doubt reporting to Kolhood. With him dead, those channels are vulnerable to exploitation by enterprising upstarts."
"That kind of work is what Losham excels in," Kalugal said. "He can teach us a thing or two in that regard."
Lokan shook his head. "He might be overwhelmed right now. Losham is used to operating in the shadows, where he can take his time and think things through. Being at the top with everyone looking to him for direction will stress him out. We should suggest that, even though he will probably figure it out himself."
Lokan straightened in his chair and continued, "If I were Losham, I would convene a council of the senior commanders. Not a council of the remaining brothers, which is the structure Navuh established, but a council of the military leadership. The six senior commanders of the major divisions and everycommander answering to them, with Bertram as the new chief of staff."
It seemed like Lokan had given that a lot of thought, which he probably had since he'd dreamt for years about being in Losham's position and ruling the island.
With Navuh and his three senior so-called sons gone, this scenario was more feasible now than ever before, but not yet. Lokan was considered a traitor, and his defection was very recent, so replacing Losham with Lokan now was not possible because he would be executed on the spot; but perhaps in the future.
For now, they needed to secure Losham's position and use their hold on him for as long as it lasted, which reminded him that they were there not only to celebrate but to talk to Losham.
Kian glanced at his watch and turned to Onegus. "It's time for the call." He caught Toven's eye and said, "Be ready to step in and take care of the instructions about the phone."
The chief pulled out the device they were using to contact Losham and put it on the conference table. "Are we going with the spy story?"
Kian nodded. "It will keep Losham on his toes."
Onegus activated the speakerphone and placed the call.
The phone rang twice before Losham picked up.
"Yes," he said.
"Hello, Losham." Onegus leaned back in his chair, and a bright smile bloomed on his face. "I understand that congratulations are in order."
There was a long pause, then a muffled exhalation. "Congratulations on what?"
"Your brothers' demise, of course," Kian said.
Another pause. Longer this time. Kian could almost see Losham on the other end of the line, sitting in his office and weighing how to respond.
"How do you know about that?"
Kian exchanged a smile with Onegus. "We have eyes and ears on the island, Losham."
"What did those eyes and ears report?"
"That Lord Navuh executed his sons in a fit of rage because they'd come uninvited to his harem."
If they had spies other than Dave, that would have been what they'd have reported.
"You know that is not what happened. You have my father."
They had never confirmed that Navuh was their captive to Losham, but he had guessed it a long time ago.
"We don't care about how you did it as long as everyone on the island believes the story."
There was a long exhale of breath. "Why haven't you mentioned having spies before?"
Kian chuckled. "Why would we show our hand when there was no need?"
