Chapter 62: Outsmarting Mayor Brackham
Draven.
"I want a signed treaty," I said, watching the mist coil beyond the riverbank. "Authorizing Stormveil to form its own investigative group."
There was a pause on the other end of the call. Then, Mayor Brackham’s voice came—measured and clipped. "I’m afraid I can’t authorize that, Alpha. We already have an official team working the investigation. Adding another would... complicate things."
"I don’t care about complications," I replied coldly. "Your people have given me no reason to trust their efficiency. Or their honesty. My men and women died on your soil, Mr. Brackham. Stormveil deserves the right to investigate their deaths."
Another silence followed, heavier this time.
"I must answer to my King," I continued. "And King Alderic will not accept excuses when the lives of our people are being taken without justice. If you can’t deliver results, I will."
"Alpha—"
"You made an agreement with me, days ago," I cut him off. "You’ve failed your side of that agreement. So don’t expect me to stay patient."
His voice dropped a note, now harder. "This is what we will do instead. Send three or four of your people to join my team. We will work together."
"That’s acceptable," I said without missing a beat. "But it doesn’t replace what I asked for. We will still form our own team. This is non-negotiable. If the humans truly value the truce, then they should have no problem with transparency."
That did it.