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Some of the council members looked surprised at the calm and diplomatic way with which I addressed them, which told me that they definitely were expecting me to be more like my father. Just another warmongering, power hungry alpha who didn’t actually care about the people. Good. At least I was starting off on the right foot.
“But I think we can all agree that as the years have progressed, this choice is no longer the safest option for Verdana. My father, King Nathaniel DeLune, has strayed further and further from the ruler that you or your predecessors made the original agreement with. Between doing nothing to stop the war, and his treatment of other countries he’s not directly aligned with, I am well aware of the doubts we have about his ability to do what’s best for all of our people.
“Was this island of Blath not just attacked outright by a supposedly peaceful delegation from my home? Under orders of the king, those delegates violated diplomatic law and, quite frankly, violated the treaty you had with Camdaria. Your ally.”
I felt myself growing in confidence as I continued to speak. Not that I’d been uncertain when I started, but there had definitely been at least some trepidation.
“The only reason that delegation was sent is because you’re here,” another council member pointed out. A younger woman with bright red hair and skin that bordered somewhere between gold or copper in color. Her eyes were a bright and blazing blue that would have looked unnatural on a different species but fit fine with her fae features.
Thankfully, I was prepared for such a question. Both Aodin and I had anticipated it, so we’d put our heads together to produce what I hoped was a satisfying answer.
“That is absolutely true, but something tells me that my membership is a matter of circumstance.”
“What could you mean by that?” Oliver asked in a neutral voice.
“I mean was this particular incursion the first time you’ve been threatened or had your alliance agreement violated by Camdaria?”
The woman didn’t answer for a couple of beats before shaking her head. “No. Not exactly. There have been enough incidents with our smaller islands that they’re quite paranoid about the Camdarian military and your father’s propensity for abusing it.”
“That’s a mild way of putting it,” another remarked, his tone much sharper. “We have to keep to the letter of our agreement, with tributes and bending over backward to fuel that tyrant’s ego however he needs, but he does whatever he wants on a whim. It’s too bad this doesn’t involve solving the war ravaging our entire continent and the surrounding islands.”
Well, there was someone who was on my side, and that was certainly encouraging.
“Let’s not forget how upset the merchants are getting,” the older, cataract-eyed fae said. “They’re getting paid less, and taxed more for their goods while everything we import is costing more for less quality. Camdaria being our main source of trade due to our agreement with them is actively damaging so many of our citizens, and we’re not talking about the mega-wealthy, like all that old money that flies around the capital. We’re talking about the bulk of both the middle class and tradesfolk of the Verdana Isles.”
I hadn’t been aware of that last part, but it was certainly good to know. I let the few of them who were already clearly anti-Camdaria continue until the whole energy of the room was charged. The more worked up they were, the better.
“I am glad that all of us, even if we may not agree on the finer points, are on the same page. But what I can tell you, as the crown prince of Camdaria, is that we benefit far more from our diplomatic alliance with your people than you do from us. My father should be the one courting the Isles, not the other way around.”
“Then, what would you suggest?” That was Oliver, once again, and I was definitely getting the impression that he was a de facto leader of the council. I did know that not all of them were in front of me, as the whole council never gathered in one place to avoid being wiped out if they were to be attacked, but all six were fairly significant members.
“I suggest you diplomatically dissolve the alliance with my father, using his breaking of your agreement, before he can take more advantage than he already has.”
“As much as we appreciate your candor,” Oliver continued. “It’s clear you’re an Arbiter sympathizer if not directly one yourself. We can’t ignore why a fugitive son of a failed coup would want us to abandon our agreement with your kingdom.”
Ugh. I wasn’t happy about him making those points, but it would have been irresponsible for him not to. It was clear the council truly cared about their people, and if they wanted to do right by them, they needed to be careful.
“Are you telling us that, should we abandon your father, you wouldn’t just come back to us later with open hands, begging us to back you for your inevitable challenge against King DeLune?”
“No, I would not tell you that,” I answered honestly, and seemingly much more quickly than Oliver had expected. “Because the truth is, I am here to ask for your allegiance. Defying my father is not without risk, but I honestly believe removing him from the throne is best for all of our nations.
“But I won’t pretend that we could just turn Camdaria into a democracy like the Isles. That will take at least a generation, even two or three. So, in the interim, I do suggest myself as a replacement for my father on the throne. I will end the war, and I will be a better ally for all our people.”
“You truly would end the war?”
“With everything I have.”
I had hoped that would cause more of a response, even an agreement, but what I didn’t expect was for it to cause an outright argument between all the members of the council, several speaking loudly all on top of each other.
They were not as much of a united front as I’d assumed. As they went on, I sat down, getting a moment to collect myself and listen for any other useful tidbits they didn’t quite realize they were revealing to me.
“They sure do have some opinions,” Ayla whispered in my ear, leaning in slightly so the fae couldn’t hear us. Although their senses were more exaggerated than a human’s, they were nothing compared to that of most shifters.
“They do,” I said, chuckling ever so softly as I gently patted the top of her hand. But something about the movement must have drawn Oliver’s attention because I heard him trail off mid-sentence to stare at us. I knew it wasn’t exactly orthodox for me to be seated in the middle of a meeting and to pay attention to my mate, but could I be blamed for wanting her near me? She was a balm to my soul while also being a constant reminder of why I had to succeed.
“You!” he hissed like we’d kicked his dog.
I straightened up, more than confused. The reaction was so out of nowhere that I thought he was yelling at someone behind us.
