Page 117 of Demon Touched

“Members of the opposition will raise a point of order before speaking,” Strickland announces evenly. “That goes for even you, Mr. Jaxon.”

Jaxon settles, much to the grumbling of the men and women around him. This—subjecting myself to heckles and commentary—is not how I’m used to conducting negotiations. I want to remind these people who they’re dealing with, to see if they stay so bold when I snake out my shadows. But that is not the way to win the day here, so I restrain myself.

“Yes, Lady Roseingrave,” Strickland calls upon a woman in the lower benches, who has stood, waiting to be called upon. She’s an elegant, attractive woman, in a gown that would give Aster a run for her money, and clearly rich—pearls dripping from her neck and ears.

Her eyes dance over me before she smiles at Strickland. “Pax, more than any other city in Strata, benefits from our ties with the other realms. It would be very shortsighted,” she raises her voice a little, directing it up toward Jaxon, “to burn bridges with allies who offer so much. And I, for one, believe in being generous with our friends.” Her voice is sharp and clear like a carefully cut diamond, and when she speaks, everyone seems to sit up to listen.

Money is what she’s talking about when she says we offer so much. Aradis does much more trade with Strata than Infernum ever has, but we still pay plenty to the human realm for access to their citizens and their culture—not to mention the fines and charges we pay out whenever demons behave badly within human cities. The laws assign execution as the penalty for crimes against humans, but the politicians of Pax are always eager to take cash payment instead. Lots of cash.

I incline my head in thanks to the lady as she sits down. She’s given me a perfect opening.

“I, too, believe in being generous to those who would count themselves my friends,” I say. “In return for sanctuary, I offer a favor, no strings attached, for the chief assemblyman to exercise as he wishes.”

Coming from the Lord of Malice, that’s no small gift, and I can see many members of the Assembly contemplating this with eager gleams in their eyes.

“Thank you for your offer, Lord Syrus,” Strickland says, his own eyes alight with interest. He wasn’t expecting this from me, but he’s intrigued. “I will ask you and your companion to leave the chamber so that I may debate this with the Assembly.”

The same official as before escorts us outside, back into the waiting arms of a small army of wardens. They keep their distance, however, which allows me to murmur quietly to Leah.

“Thoughts?” I ask.

She blows air out through her lips. “I was thinking there’s something very ironic about my father and stepmother believing I’m off with a scavenger gang when really I’m hanging out with the Assembly.”

I chuckle at that, then hold up a finger as I hear Thadeus’s voice start up again inside the chamber. Behind the thick closed doors, the words would likely be too muffled for a human to make out, but my ears do the job just fine.

“We shouldn’t turn down a chance to help an ally,” Strickland says, sounding more enthusiastic than he allowed when I was present.

“Except this could very well earn us enemies. You heard the demon: he’s managed to upset all of the other lords, and by the sounds of it, the ephilium too,” a woman replies. Her point is echoed by a round of agreement, though it’s not quite as loud as Jaxon’s support was earlier.

“That is what the Concords and collateral are for,” Thadeus says firmly. “None of the supernaturals—demon or ephilium—can hurt this city without risking the wellbeing of their own realms. The opposition never misses an opportunity to remind me that the battles that rage out on the plains—that keep our citizens locked inside these walls but for a precious few armistice days—have grown in frequency over the last few years.”

More jeers from the gallery follow this statement.

“Well, I want to make it clear that this concerns me too. Deeply,” Strickland’s voice takes on a new sincerity, and the opposing voices grow quiet. “Every time I hear the bells ringing at the gates, I think that there must be something I can do to stop it.”

Even without being in the room, I can feel the gravity of those words and picture the chamber held in Strickland’s hand. This is the side of the man that got him elected leader, I suspect.

“The Lord of Malice’s offer presents an important opportunity. If we help bring harmony back to Infernum, it could give us the leverage to curb the ferocity of these battles. For that reason, I have decided to grant him the sanctuary he seeks.”

I give Leah a nod as the Assembly gives a mixed reaction to this announcement. “We’ve convinced him,” I say quietly.

“And the residency limit? Assemblyman Strickland, no winger is supposed to remain in Pax for more than three days without returning to their realm.”

“I haven’t forgotten, Mr. Jaxon.”

Damn it. The rule isn’t usually enforced—it’s too difficult to police. But for a demon lord on the run, it clearly can’t be ignored.

When they call us back in shortly after, I’m braced to make a new argument. Three days is definitely not enough time for the lords to cool off—but Strickland beats me to the punch.

“Lord Syrus,” he says, his hazel eyes looking triumphant. “As chief assemblyman, I have the power to grant anyone a grace period of residency in Pax for thirty days.”

There are protests from the gallery about Strickland overriding the Assembly, but they eventually hush.

“However, after that time has elapsed, it will fall to the Assembly to vote on whether to extend your sanctuary any longer. With the greatest respect, I advise you to settle your affairs with your fellow lords before then, or be prepared to convince my vocal opponents here to vote in your favor.”

I lift my head, letting my horns catch the sunlight streaming through the window depicting the Mantle.

“Thank you, Mr. Strickland. I think you’ll find I can be very persuasive.”