Chapter 120 - Bound by Light
The meeting with the Portuguese emissaries was finally over. Now, Emperor Gelawdewos called a private council, gathering his nobles to officially introduce Khisa and settle the matter once and for all.
For months, the Emperor had been quietly consolidating power—replacing minor nobles with loyal men, sniffing out dissent, uprooting corruption like weeds in his garden. But the roots ran deep. His own brother remained unchecked, a puppet master still pulling strings in the dark. Soon, those strings would be cut permanently.
In the imperial meeting hall, the tension was thick as smoke.
"Why would you refuse the deal?" one noble burst out. "With Portuguese support, this war could be over! All it takes is a few damn slaves."
"Your Majesty, please rethink your position," another added. "Yes, protecting civilians is noble, but Abyssinia must survive. Sacrificing a few to save many—this is leadership."
"Yes!" another voice joined. "They’ll give their lives gladly, for the prosperity of our kingdom."
Murmurs of agreement rippled through the room, tinged with outrage and desperation.
"And who is this child, anyway?" a noble sneered, nodding toward Khisa. "Why was a boy speaking for the King during our talks with Portugal? Why are we allowing children to speak for our empire?"
The Emperor raised his hand. Silence followed.
"Finally, you shut up," Gelawdewos said coolly. "This is Prince Khisa, delegate of the Kingdom of Nuri. He has already done more for our survival than most of you in this room. I’ll explain that shortly.
"But first—let me make one thing clear. We rejected the Portuguese for our own survival. The deal they proposed? It only benefits them. They offer weapons, but they won’t fight. They sit safely on their ships while we bleed. And what do they ask in return? Control of our ports. Permission to build foreign military bases. Trade routes for our slaves and our gold. So I ask you—where does that leave us?"