Chapter 454
Sybil had requested that I not engage in the initial negotiations while requesting that I remain nearby. I figured she had a good enough reason, and when she explained her thought process, I couldn’t find myself disagreeing with her rationale.
“For every royal and High Speaker that comes to speak with you, there will be dozens more plebians. For every ordinary individual that comes begging for an audience, they can not automatically deserve to meet with you directly. Your position as the absolute ruler of the Empire is one that demands scarcity, even if you are available. You do not give commands to every soldier, you do not name every child, and you do not speak with every messenger of every nation that wishes to gain your ear. You are an emperor, and more than that, the Zaaktif, not some common messenger. Even having myself be their point of contact is giving the beasts greater sovereign influence than they deserve, but I consider it to be necessary at this time to ensure my influence is felt among them all.”
That established, I remained the far and away most powerful individual in the country. Though there were now well over 100 Keel, there wasn’t a single individual that could compare themself to me. As such, in the event that overwhelming force was necessary, myself, along with [Spear of the Many], were what would ensure that my people’s rights and lives were preserved. With my control over the waves in the air, I could bring the sounds of the discussion directly to my ears while they occurred, even if I was outside and several dozen feet away. Sybil was doing her best to keep the Misti Hawar on the back foot and confused, and she was doing a remarkable job. There were little hesitances in the shifting of their feet and occasional spikes in their heartbeats that betrayed the furred beasts’ real thoughts.
That female prisoner, the obedient one… what was her name? I didn’t really care, but she’d been brought to speak and was giving an honest enough assessment of how she’d been treated, though perhaps with a slightly more generous light than I would say we deserved. I didn’t care, but I was confused as to why she would give us the grace that she was. After all, if there was any exchange of prisoners, then she’d be free to tell the truth later, and we wouldn’t expect her to do anything different.
Regardless, I listened as the conversation died down, and eventually, the prisoner was taken away. At that, discussions regarding continuing negotiations could begin in earnest, and they did.
“How can we free our four companions from their imprisonment here?” The representative asked bluntly, and I hadn’t heard her name, though I didn’t particularly need to know it right this moment. The other Misti Hawar nearby stilled at her question, obviously anxious to accomplish the goal that they’ve been sent to do.
“What do you have to offer? You’re here in our seat of power, you’ve come after having unilaterally declared war on us. What is your offer?”
“We offer a working relationship of peace and harmony.” The representative said.
Sybil didn’t speak, but her laugh was answer enough. After several seconds, she gathered herself. “Why would we ever believe that? Every word I have heard from one of your kind, even one exiled and in the barren wastes far to the west, has told me how your people consider us to be a blight and your long fated foes. As such, your offer bears no credibility.”