He paused, letting the silence work.
"After a thorough review of the field-grade officer corps, I have concluded that the candidate best positioned to assume command is the one who has served as Kolhood's executive officer for the past decade, and who has been functionally running the day-to-day operations of the army alongside him. I am hereby commissioning Colonel Bertram as the new general of the Brotherhood's army."
The reaction in the hall was immediate.
The officers were too disciplined to respond vocally, but the intake of breath that came from over two thousand men at once produced an audible shift in the air.
Bertram himself, who had been seated in the third row of the senior officers' section, sat up straight and tried very hard to school his expression into something that didn't look like shocked surprise.
Losham had decided not to tell Bertram in advance, for the same reason he had not told the other two appointees. The unrehearsed reactions were authentic, and they reinforced the illusion that none of this had been planned and that Losham was attempting to save the Brotherhood after it had suffered an unexpected blow.
"Bertram, please stand."
Bertram stood.
"Colonel Bertram, you have served as General Kolhood's executive officer for over a decade. You know the order of battle. You know the field-grade officers and the company commanders. You know the troops. You are familiar with the General's standing operational plans, his contingency assessments, and the campaigns he was developing for future deployment. There is no officer better positioned to assume command of the Brotherhood army. Effective immediately, you are promoted to the rank of General and appointed Commander in Chief of the Brotherhood army."
"I shall serve faithfully, my lord," Bertram said and bowed to Losham.
"Then come forward."
Bertram walked from the row of the senior officers' section to the platform, climbed the steps, and came to stand beside Losham.
Losham turned to face him.
"You will serve the Brotherhood with dedication and bring glory to our god Mortdh."
"I shall."
"Take your place at the table."
Bertram took the seat at Losham's right hand, the one that had been Kolhood's. The appointment was done and confirmed, and Bertram was now the second-most important figure in the Brotherhood.
"Bertram is not Lord Navuh's son." Mazlen voiced the first objection.
He hadn't stood, and he hadn't raised his hand, which he would have never dared to do if it was Navuh standing at the podium and not Losham. He'd just said what he'd wanted to say loudly enough to be heard by those sitting around him.
The hall went very still, and Losham debated how to respond.
He turned to look at his brother slowly, in a way that conveyed neither alarm nor surprise. "Perhaps you would like to come up here and address the assembly, Mazlen, so everyone can hear you."
Mazlen had not intended to be called out. He had intended his comment to be a piece of background dissent that would spread through the hall and spark a bigger reaction.
But he was committed now, and the hall was watching, so he was cornered.
He stood.
"I said that Bertram is not Navuh's son." Mazlen's voice sounded slightly tighter than it had been a moment ago. "The position of Commander in Chief has always been held by one of us."
Losham nodded.
"That is correct. The position has historically been held by one of Lord Navuh's sons. Kolhood held it for the last thirty years. Hocken held it before him, and Hazok held it before that. But each one of them had served as general before being appointed. None of you have reached that rank."
"Neither has Bertram. He's a colonel."
Losham smiled. "If my records are correct, none of you have served as colonel either."
"Rank can be conferred," Mazlen said. "Blood cannot. Lord Navuh's sons have always led this army. The position belongs to one of us by birthright, not by service record."
