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As always, he walked with the long strides of a man intent on getting somewhere. Fortunately, the grand corridor ran a full, unbroken circuit of the citadel, which meant he’d have the better part of an hour to decide where he was headed.
He slowed his pace as Esodir jogged to catch up. Arriving at his side, his nephew asked,“Do you know what they were voting on?”
Isael gave him a wry look.
Esodir said,“Aid to Gerodir. There was a crop failure.”
“Fascinating.” Isael waved his hand, brushing the matter aside.“I’d like for you to serve as my proxy for the next council meeting.”
Esodir frowned.“What will you be doing?”
“Watching you struggle to get them to listen to you, I suspect.”
Sucking a tooth, Esodir said,“If you’re going to be there, then why do you need a proxy?”
“Someone should actually listen and determine what my will is so they can execute it.”
It was a remark that would have drawn a look a censure from Esodir’s father, and a lecture from his father before him. Isael could practically hear his brother sighing and saying, ‘There is no point to a ruler who does not rule. And if you are a pointless ruler, better you step aside and permit the people to rule themselves, lest you become a figurehead or an autocrat.’
Esodir cracked a smile.
He was still fun.
Isael continued,“If you find that leading the council meetings interests you, you can continue to serve as my proxy.”
“For how long?”
“Indefinitely.”
His eyes snapped up to search Isael’s.
“No,”Isael said.“This is not me changing my mind about naming you heir to Esryia.”
To his credit, Esodir didn’t slouch or pout. He didn’t even sound petulant as he lied,“I wouldn’t think that.”
Before he could convince himself otherwise, Isael said,“It is notmymind you need to change. Each of the councillors represents one of the strongest lordships in Esryia. You’ll need to convince them you’re worthy of being my successor.”
He sensed the displacement of air as Esodir’s breath hitched. While his nephew searched for words, Isael went on,“It will take time. I am the only ruler they’ve had, and you are not me.”
“As if I need to be reminded of that.”
Isael ignored the remark.“You cannot rule them as I do. You’ll need a different tactic.”
“I’ll need to make them like me?”Esodir proposed.
“You don’t think they like me?”He asked with mock offense, eliciting a snort from Esodir.“Thelastthing you want is for them to like you. The moment a man believes himself to have your friendship is the moment in which he begins scheming to take advantage of it.”
“That’s rather—”
“That is the way of things,”Isael said, his words firm.“You do not need them to like you, and you cannot make them fear you, not without invoking my name.”
“And if I need to invoke your name to rule, I am no ruler at all.”
“Nonsense,”Isael said.“Your relation to me is your greatest asset. You should wield my name liberally, until they cannot think of you without having to consider me. Then, even when I am gone, they will hesitate to cast stones at you for fear of rousing my ghost.”
Esodir’s expression sobered.“I’ve never heard you speak of dying.”
It was another comment he ignored.“You may not be able to make them fear you, but you can make them respect you. It will not be easy and it will take time, but if you can manage it, you may yet wear my crown.”
