Chapter 25: Another Round
The room fell silent, the officials glancing at each other, Elio waiting patiently.
"The High-king is right!" said a bald man clad in a dark blue gown, rising to his feet.
Everyone turned to look at him.
He bowed slightly before continuing, "Your Grace, I’m Lord Ahtred of Banbarg, a fortress in the Nornia, Warden of the South. Everyone one here knows those abominations wreaked havoc in my lands first, forcing people to flee either north or east into Stardret Kingdom.
"Now what the South needs is not just a king who is of Crescent descent, but a king who can bring peace again."
He turned to look at his fellow officials and resumed his speech as he swiped his eyes across their faces.
"If we refuse King Elio Stardret as our king so he can help us get rid of these monsters, soon they will spread across the whole of Crescent and we will be forced to flee into Stardret, where he will end up as our king anyway."
Some started nodding their heads, and Elio smiled at Lord Ahtred for such convincing words.
But the man wasn’t done talking.
"People of Stardret are kind. They will welcome us with open arms and help us like they have been doing during these troubled times. He will accept to be our king.
"However, what use will it be then? Ending up his people when we no longer have a kingdom to call home or anything to offer? It will be a pity."