Splintered Fate by ylugin Read Free Book Online Page B

Because
of some treaty that only our side seems to be trying to uphold?
Zakran, king of the Rami, lets his men have their way with our
women and kill our children and we do what? Nothing.”
    Valdor spoke up, wanting Arkhip to
get to his point. “And what is it that you expect us to do Dukran?
Why have you called the meeting?”
    “ For us to bring the Rami scum the
war they so desperately want before they bring it to us while we
are ill prepared.”
    “ For us to give you our men and
armies for you to do with as you see fit?” Valdor clarified,
exactly what it was that Arkhip was asking for.
    A Laderic brother now chimed in.
“Our code for war calls for us to choose one amongst ourselves to
lead the unified Madonian army during a war. However, we do not
wish to forfeit our armies to your rule, no disrespect.”
    “ You are a strong man Dukran, but
you are also a ruthless man. I too do not wish to hand over my men
to you. And I find it extremely unlikely for you to hand yours over
to me” Iria Maddox voiced.
    Arkhip smiled slightly. “Yes we
will have a vote as to who will be the lead during this time of
war”.
    Rumbles came from everyone in the
room.
    “ You are mad!” Valdor erupted. “We
have not even agreed to a war and you are speaking of a vote for us
to give you our men. I will not allow for you to lead my men into a
slaughter you call war. More good and innocent men will die under
your lead than with the way things are.”
    “ Some loss now
will make up for safety later, Casteel.” Lana noted that he had
held back on the name, trying to make it sound less like a sneer.
“Sacrifices, must always be made for the greater good. And who is
it that always helps all of you against the Rami threat? Whenever
any of you are in need of assistance it is my worriers who come to your rescue, perhaps if
I stopped sending you all help then you would understand how dire
the situation is.”
    “ So why not stop sending your
gracious help Dukran?” Valdor asked.
    Arkhip smiled, yet his eyes remained
incredibly cold as if there was no life in them. “Because then
there would be nothing left, no one to help me against the Rami.
And as talented that I am I can not take down the entire Rami army
on my own.”
    If it were not
for the thick tension in the room Lana would have laughed at that.
Arkhip admitting to needing help, as
talented as he was? It was as if she were
sitting in a theater and Arkhip was the grand
performer.
    “ You think us completely incapable
of protecting our own?” Lathe Laderic spoke to Arkhip, a hint of
annoyance in his voice. He did not seem to like Arkhip’s threat of
pulling back aid against the Rami. Didn’t like the insinuation that
he single handedly was the reason that the Madonian lands had not
yet been overtaken by the Rami.
    “ No. I think you are all quite
capable, which is why I am asking for your help in this.” After a
pause he added, “I also do not wish to lead your men, but for us to
lead together. If we go to war, we must all go.”
    Everyone sat in dumbfounded
silence. Lana looked over at her father who seemed to be taken a
back by the comment. Arkhip was dangerous and power hungry. For him
to not use the opportunity to gain more power, to gain Madonian
control, he must have some angle.
    “ To change the code written by our
ancestors--” Iria Maddox began before getting cut off by
Arkhip.
    “ Would be the smartest thing we
have ever done. Nothing good is coming from leaving the code as is,
it must be modified.”
    “ I agree” Maksim Laderic shifted
his weight towards the table. He was being pulled in. This was
Arkhip’s goal, start a war and worry about his control
later.
    Can Dukran do
this? Lana asked Ardin, who silently
watched the exchange.
    If enough of the council agrees.
The laws were made long ago, back when the lands first fell apart
and the first treaty was forged. Our ancestors had reason to choose
one to lead all the lands. It kept each party from fighting