Heir of Shandara (Book 4) (18 page)

“I’ve ruled this city for almost forty years, and in that time I’ve learned that you prepare for things as best you can. At the same time, you should also prepare for the worst. The worst being the very real possibility that this city falls tomorrow,” Cyrus said.

Verona swore and shot to his feet. “You can’t be serious. You’re giving up?”

Aaron turned to his friend. “That’s not what he’s saying.”

The seconds slowly dripped by and Cyrus rose to his feet. “Let me be clear. No one is giving up. Least of all me.”

“But you’re packing things up. We convinced people to come here because it was their best hope for safety,” Verona said.

“And it is. That hasn’t changed,” Cyrus said.

“We have evacuation plans in place should the city fall tomorrow,” Gavril said.

Aaron divided his gaze between the two of them. “Shandara?” he asked.

After a moment, the prince nodded and looked at Verona. “A ruler needs to consider all the possibilities, Verona. Not just the ones he prefers. You are my heir, and although we haven’t always seen eye to eye, I’ve always considered you a son.”

Verona sucked in a breath and ran his fingers through his hair. “Rexel will not fall,” Verona said. “Excuse me, I need to get some air,” he said, and left the room.

No one said anything after the door shut, but Aaron saw the signs of strain around the prince’s eyes.

The prince returned to his desk and took a large swallow from the tankard on it. “He was always idealistic. It’s an admirable quality, but sometimes it can prevent one from seeing all sides.”

Aaron nodded but didn’t say anything. He had a feeling that the prince and Gavril weren’t finished.

Cyrus’s slate gray eyes peered at him as he set his tankard down upon the desk. “What I’m about to say, you will like even less than what my nephew has heard.”

Aaron met Cyrus’s gaze and waited.

“We need a leader. If you don’t take up the mantle of leadership of this alliance, then someone else will,” the prince said.

Aaron sucked in a breath. “Leadership is required, but you and everyone else want something more from me.”

The prince snorted. “You’re already walking the path of ruler whether you want to admit it or not. Some may call you king. Proclaim you the ruler of Shandara, and with Sarah at your side, you become the most powerful couple Safanar has ever seen. People already defer to you, even on the Hythariam side.”

Aaron glanced at Gavril, who gave him a single nod.

“We owe a great deal to the Alenzar’seth, Aaron. That much is true. Beyond that debt, you’ve inspired my race to once again reach for something better. Iranus has said it many times. Even when you went off on your own to combat the Drake and save Sarah. The solution you found worked out for the best for everyone. A leader must be able to forge his own path,” Gavril said.

“I won’t be the High King. I won’t become Amorak,” Aaron said.

“No one believes you would become like him,” Cyrus said. “Ferasdiam marked you may be, but you’ve inspired the trust and loyalty that spans the many kingdoms of this world. Tales of your deeds have spread far and wide.”

Aaron stood up and crossed the room to gaze out of the window. “I’m surprised to hear this from both of you. I would have thought that living under a tyrant was enough to dissuade these types of actions. Especially you, Gavril. You’ve seen the collapse of your whole society. Desperation has a way of sapping the souls of even the best of us.”

Hythariam and human regarded him in silence.
 

Aaron sighed. “If I do this. Become this leader. It’s temporary. Once the danger passes, we all sit down and figure out a more democratic way to establish leadership. This alliance was put together from a mutual need to stand together. Once the danger passes, I would expect that people would return to the way things were before.”

Cyrus pressed his lips together. “That’s just it. Things will be different. Some may want to go back to the way things were, but many others won’t. Do you honestly believe that when Jopher, for instance, succeeds his father as king of Zsensibar that things won’t change once that happens?”

Gavril came to his side. “Things change in time, Aaron.”

“The ruling council of the Hythariam agrees to this?” Aaron asked.

Gavril nodded. “Some proposed the idea. You are the link that binds the Free Nations Army together. Those of us that know you know that you do not lust for power. You fear its use, and at the same time, you can take action when the situation calls for it. These are the qualities of a wise leader. One I’m proud to say I follow.”

Aaron should have seen this coming. He had avoided it thus far. There were so many others more qualified than he to lead the FNA. But none that the different nations of this world would follow.

“I can’t do this alone,” Aaron said.

The two came to stand next to him at the window overlooking the palace grounds.
 

“You won’t be alone in this,” Cyrus said.

“What we’re proposing is a ruling council made up of the various kingdoms, but we need a leader. Someone with authority to point us in a direction,” Gavril said.

“It’s too much power for one man,” Aaron said.

“Who would recommend in your place then?” Prince Cyrus asked.

“Well, you actually. You put this alliance together. The Free Nations Army was formed because of you,” Aaron said.

The prince shook his head. “I’m unfit to lead us. The Free Nations Army is here because of you. Shandara inspired many people of Safanar and has become a legend since it fell. With the return of the Alenzar’seth and you curing the land by removing the barrier between worlds, you’ve performed miracles in the eyes of many. The people needed a place to flock to, and Rexel was that place until Shandara could be rebuilt. The people who came to join the Free Nations Army didn’t come for me. They came for you.”

“It’s not just humans, Aaron,” Gavril said. “Many of my own race made their intentions known that they would stand with you.”

Aaron didn’t know what to say. What could one say to this? He was honored and overwhelmed at the same time. What did he know about leading people? So many lives would be in his hands. What if he failed?

“You see, Aaron,” Cyrus said, “you are the bridge between the Hythariam and the Safanarions. I’m ill equipped to take this on, and the people of Safanar will never follow the Hythariam.”

Aaron glanced at Gavril.

“It’s true,” Gavril said.

“I’m not even a true Safanarion. My father is of Earth,” Aaron said.

“Yes, but your mother is from Safanar,” Cyrus said.

A bridge between two races. Sarah had hinted to him on occasion that something like this would come to pass. He had ignored it. There was too much work to be done. He was a fool, and Cyrus was right to question him. Who else could lead them?

“You’ve made your point, but I want to stress that this appointment is temporary. We can sit down after the war and come up with a better way. I get the feeling that there is something else that needs to be discussed regarding the defense of Rexel?” Aaron asked.

“Indeed there is,” Cyrus said, and gestured for them to come back around the desk.

“Should would send someone for Verona?” Aaron asked.

“Probably best that what we’re about to discuss be kept from my nephew for the time being,” Cyrus said.

Aaron nodded, and from the back of his mind, he saw High King Amorak grin.
I won’t become like you.

C
HAPTER
16

COMMANDER

After meeting with Gavril and Cyrus, Aaron entered the main hall. People and Hythariam clustered around various tables established for different purposes. There was a line of people waiting to gain entrance to the main hall, and by the looks of it they had been waiting for a long time. The guards saluted Aaron with fists across their hearts, and Aaron did the same in response. Ten city officials sat behind the first table and routed the requests one at a time. It appeared to be a frustratingly slow process. As Aaron walked past, there were more than a few people whispering in hushed tones. Behind that first table were runners who carried the messages from the city officials. The use of comms devices hadn’t been fully introduced outside the FNA, and the lack of it was showing up here.
 

He had left Gavril and Prince Cyrus a short while ago, intending to find Verona. His friend had been upset at the thought of the city falling to the Zekara. Aaron liked the contingency plans even less should the city fall. Both Gavril and Cyrus had lived through the fall of Shandara, and should Rexel share that fate, they would strike a blow to their enemy that would stop them in their tracks.

Gavril sent word through the comms device that the leaders of the Free Nations Army would be meeting and voting to make Aaron the commander of the FNA. Aaron had no problems fighting, but it was the weight of this war being thrust upon his shoulders that gave him pause. Acceptance would come in time. They had to stop General Halcylon and the Zekara, or the people of Safanar would be wiped out. If only Halcylon could be made to listen to reason. Safanar was a big world. Surely they could find a way to coexist. The Zekara longing for vengeance went deeper than mere blame for the Alenzar’seth and the barrier that kept them from Safanar. Having spent some time among the Zekara as their prisoner gave him some insights into them. On a very deep level, they longed for a reckoning for the destruction of their home world. Perhaps the death of the human race upon Safanar would grant them that reckoning, but Aaron doubted it. The destruction of their home world that took many years to happen brought forth a cunning ruthlessness that still caught the Safanarions by surprise. How did one defeat such an enemy without being just as ruthless? Desperation was a sickness that sapped the souls of nations. The scars were endured by generations long after the war was over.
 

On the far side of the main hall, where Cyrus’s throne had been, was a holo projector showing a high-level view of the city. Aaron spotted Verona studying the map and conversing with the military leaders gathered around the display. The range of the holo display was easily ten feet, with the ability to zoom in or out as they desired.
 

Those gathered around the display stopped what they were doing to acknowledge Aaron. Prince Cyrus and Gavril entered the main hall from a smaller door from the prince’s office and joined them.

Gavril went over to where a Hythariam soldier stood before his personal display.

“We’re patched in,” Gavril said to the prince.

Prince Cyrus nodded and asked for their attention. “We’re being joined by various factions of the Free Nations Army throughout the land for this portion of the meeting. Myself and Iranus, who sits on the ruling council for the Hythariam at Hathenwood, originally conceived the FNA as a way for our people to stand united. To many, the word
nation
is foreign to our ways. Kingdoms have been around much longer. While the FNA is made up with the participation from kingdoms throughout Safanar, we will not refer to ourselves as such. Our world is changing, and if we’re to adapt, then we must be able to change with it. Like many of you, I’m not about to give up my sovereignty to join in the FNA, but we must recognize that with an alliance of this size, a clear leader must be selected. Many of you are either rulers in your own right or generals serving your kingdoms. One of the things that hindered our fight against the High King was a lack of a clear commander of the Free Nations Army. We rallied behind Shandara and the Alenzar’seth against the High King, but what I’m asking for this day is a commitment not only to stand with your fellow nations that comprise the FNA but to accept the fact that for the good of the whole we need some type of authority for which to act.”

Many people spoke out at once, voicing their questions and objections alike. Did the prince believe he should command the FNA? The Hythariam? What about Khamearra? Cyrus waited patiently for them to quiet down.

“If I may continue,” Cyrus said, “I would call to a vote that Aaron Jace of the house Alenzar’seth be our commander.”

There was a wide range of responses and a large showing of support. Aaron found that many more people were looking in his direction than before.

“Prince Cyrus, I wish to speak,” a voice said, and the holo display showed the broad-shouldered king of Zsensibar.