Even so, Darling stood strong before them. “Just a few minutes ago, we learned the location of where our people are being held. It’s taken longer than we’d hoped to find them, but nevertheless, we can now move forward with our plans.”
They started chattering around him. Some in support. Some…
Not so much.
Darling held his hand up to silence them. “I know most of you in this room truly believe I’m insane. The good new is, I am. But not for the reasons you think. A sane man would gladly sacrifice his people to the League and bargain with them so that he could stay in power no matter what. A sane man wouldn’t even begin to contemplate what I’m about to undertake.”
“What are you going to do?” someone shouted.
Darling glanced in the direction of that unknown voice. “Bring our people home.”
They laughed.
He ignored their ridicule. He was used to it, after all.
Once again, he silenced their protests. “I’m not asking any of you to risk anything.” He turned his attention to the royal guard. With Ryn and the Tavali backing the Sentella, he no longer needed them. “And that includes my soldiers. They’re free to stay home and protect our citizens from the invaders.”
To his shock, the majority of his guard protested the idea.
“Our job is to defend you, Emperor!”
“The emperor is the heart and soul of the Caronese people! He’s not a martyr to be sacrificed!”
Warmed by those shocking statements, Darling continued. “In the event I fail, I have a video that will be given to the League, telling them that I acted without knowledge or approval of the CDS. It renounces my titles, and names my brother Drake as my successor, with Ryn continuing on as Grand Counsel until Drake’s majority. I wanted all of you here so that I could personally assure you that the well-being of this empire is my greatest concern, and I would never do anything to jeopardize my people. The Caronese are my life. And by the gods, I will not tolerate anyone coming into my territory and kidnapping my people out of our government buildings for any reason, and then to hold them hostage…”
He would mention the Resistance, too, but he knew no one in this room cared that they’d been taken. Most were probably happy about it. And mentioning their capture might even alienate some of the CDS.
Darling saw the pain in Giran’s eyes as the gerent watched him. He was terrified for his son and well he should be. “The League has issued a command that I surrender governorship to them. If I do so, they will step in and replace me.”
A cheer of approval went up.
Yeah, now that was what he’d expected when he walked in…
Darling wanted to laugh at the morons. I should step down. That would teach them an invaluable lesson.
But unfortunately, he couldn’t do that to them.
Giran scowled at his “friends” and their mockery as they called for the guard to arrest Darling and hand him over to the League.
“Gerents?” he shouted. “Do you not understand what that would mean for us?”
Utter silence filled the hall.
“We wouldn’t have a faggot for a leader!”
“Enough!” Giran roared. “I will not stand by and see our emperor insulted!” He pinned several of them with a brutal glare. “If the League steps in, all of us are replaced. Do you understand me? The CDS will be disbanded. Immediately. Our titles will be confiscated and those of us here in this room will join those already imprisoned.”
That finally got their attention. Yeah, the bastards didn’t like that thought at all.
A deafening roar broke out until Giran let loose a fierce whistle. “Let’s hear from the emperor what he intends to do for us.”
He and the rest of the room looked to Darling.
Darling clasped his hands behind his back and eyed them coldly. “My plan is simple. I intend to walk right into the heart of League territory and ram their dictate for our surrender down their throats.”
The royal guard cheered. But the gerents weren’t quite so enthusiastic.
“They’re not going to let you walk in and take our people out,” a woman sneered. “They’ll come for us.”
Darling shrugged with a nonchalance he didn’t feel. “They might. But it’s not likely. As far as the League will know, the attack won’t be sanctioned by the Caronese,” he reiterated. “The Sentella will be leading it.”
“Why would the Sentella put their lives on the line for us?”
Because I’m one of its founding members, imbecle…
But he could never say that out loud. “It’s what they do. Everything is already in place. Nemesis and Kere are standing by to start the assault as soon as I give them the clear. Something I didn’t want to do without consulting all of you first.”
Giran gave him a fierce military salute. “I am with you, my lord. May the gods speed and keep you. Most of all, may they give you the strength to save our people and bring them home.”
The royal guard let out a resounding sound of approval.
But the gerents…