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But that would be a lie. Jonas couldn’t lie about matters of the heart. He’d tried before and failed miserably. There was a great difference between lust and love.
“I think Laelia is a beautiful girl,” he said instead. “I’ve been very lucky she gives me any attention.”
The chief studied him. “She doesn’t bring many boys here to meet me. You’re only the second.”
“What happened to the first one?” Brion asked.
“He didn’t survive,” the chief said.
Brion’s face fell.
The chief laughed loudly. “I jest. He’s fine. My daughter grew weary of his attentions; that was all. I’m sure he still lives. Somewhere.”
Or maybe Laelia fed him to her snakes, Jonas thought morbidly.
But none of this was why they were here. He wanted to get to the point immediately.
“Chief Basilius, I’m very honored to meet you tonight,” Jonas said. “Because I need to talk to you about something very important.”
“Oh?” He raised a bushy eyebrow. “And you choose my celebration feast to do so?”
“What are you celebrating?”
“A union with an ally. A partnership that will help create a much more prosperous Paelsia in the future.”
This wasn’t expected at all, but was an excellent thing to hear. Jonas’s discomfort at witnessing the expanse of the chief’s comfort eased a little. “I’m glad to hear it. Because that’s exactly what I wanted to talk to you about.”
Basilius nodded, his eyes glinting with curiosity. “Please, say what you came here to say.”
“My brother was killed recently by an Auranian lord. His name was Tomas Agallon.” Jonas’s throat tightened. “It was a sign to me that things have to change. That Paelsia’s current difficulties are not acceptable. I believe Auranos is an evil land filled with devious people. Years ago they tricked us into planting only grapes, so that today they can pay us a pittance for our wine while charging the moon for their crops. Yet they have so many resources, all of which are closed off to us. If we even tread a foot past the border, we risk our very lives. It’s not acceptable.” He took a breath and let it out slowly, gathering his courage. “I’m here to propose an uprising against them, to take what’s theirs and make it ours. It’s time we stopped waiting for things to change on their own.”
The chief studied him for a long, silent moment. “I completely agree with you.”
Jonas blinked. “You do?”
“And I’m very sorry for what happened to your brother. It was a tragedy to lose one of our own in such a senseless way. I had no idea that you were related to the murdered boy until now, and I’m so glad you have come here tonight. And you’re right. Auranos must pay for its ignorance and narcissism—for what happened to your brother and for its citizens’ complete disregard for my land and my people.”
Jonas couldn’t believe this was so easy. “You agree that we should rise up against them.”
“Much more than that, Jonas. There will be war.”
Jonas felt cold all of a sudden. “War?”
“Yes.” The chief leaned closer, studying Jonas’s face, Brion’s face. “You two are valuable to me. You see what others do not. I want you to help me in what is to come.”
“You sound like this isn’t a crazy idea we’re suggesting,” Brion said with confusion. “Wait. Your celebration feast...this is something you’re already planning, isn’t it? Even without us saying anything?”
The chief nodded. “I have joined with the king of Limeros in a mutual goal to take Auranos for ourselves. Both Paelsia and Limeros will prosper greatly when Auranos falls.”
Jonas stared at the chief in stunned silence. This went far beyond anything he ever could have dreamed possible.
“What happened in the market the day your brother was murdered triggered all of this,” the chief continued. “Your family’s sacrifice—the loss of your brother—was a tragedy. But it is one that will result in true change.”
“You’re really going to try to conquer Auranos,” Jonas said with shock.
“Not try. Succeed. And I want you to join up with my forces. I have scouts going throughout Paelsia right now, gathering eligible men to join with the trained and ready Limeros army. King Gaius is a very smart man. Very smart. King Corvin, however, is clueless. No war in a hundred years. Peace for all that time. He has grown fat and lazy. Victory will inevitably be ours. And the people of Paelsia will look forward to a brighter future.”
This was truly too good to be true. Jonas had to be dreaming.
