The entire ballroom was in chaos when Morwin returned. Both his servants and Lord Seldam’s servants were practically at each other’s throats, hurling insults and threats. Lord Seldam sat there with a smug smile on his face. It appeared as though if Morwin didn’t come back when he did, things would have become physical.

  He sucked in a breath before projecting his voice. “Men!” he shouted, the sound echoing through the room. “Is this how I trained you to act in my absence?”

  The room stilled.

  With the sapphire necklace around his neck again, he felt more confidence, more in control.

  “We are representatives of the De’Shai family, and if we can’t behave for more than five minutes, then we might as well be children going back to the playhouse! I’ve come back from the washroom to see this? I might as well replace every one of you!”

  All the servants in the room stood and stared at Morwin. Why did Lord Seldam have so many servants with him today, he did not know. Nor did he care.

  Silence filled the air, all eyes on Morwin. He strode over to where he sat before and pulled out his chair, grace deliberate in his every move, planting himself in it. He clasped his hands and looked at Lord Seldam in the eyes.

  “Oh? The youngling has come back?” Lord Seldam jeered.

  Send your servants out.

  Morwin said nothing at the jab. Instead, he straightened his back and laid his hands flat out on the table. “You are dismissed,” Morwin said to the side to his servants.

  “Dismissed Young Master?” Vince said.

  Morwin nodded. “I will no longer need you in this room with me.”

  “But we are here to protect you!”

  “My word is final,” Morwin said, surprised at the ferocity in his voice. “We have come here to talk, not to behave like barbarians. Now you will do as I say, and you will do it well. Leave this room so Seldam and I can have our discussion. Do I make myself clear?”

  Morwin tried to hide the tremor in his voice as he, for the first time in his life, spoke to his servants in such a way.

  “Yes, Young Master Morwin.” It was Mr. Axwel who’d spoken. With the lead of the older man, the others files out of the room one by one.

  “I can tell you’re terrified. You sent your men out of here to show your courageousness, but you’ve proven yourself a bigger fool than I could have thought.” Lord Seldam said, a smile creeping on his lips.

  “What is there to be afraid of?” Morwin asked. “Do you think we are here to fight?. This isn’t a battlefield, it is a ballroom, meant for peaceful times. So why should I need my servants in here to watch over me? I don’t need someone else to speak for me when I am fully capable of doing so myself.” He nodded to Lord Seldam’s servants, who remained in the room. “And I can tell that you need to be babied.”

  A flush of anger passed by the man’s face. Just for a second though. He quickly calmed down and gave the notion for his servants to leave the room as well.

  With them gone, Morwin’s nerves calmed.

  “Now where were we?” Lord Seldam spoke. “Ah yes, you were telling me about pirates or something. Continue on. I know what my answer will be in the end, but I do like a good entertainment.”

  “My father requires men to be stationed in Jovin City and for the other ministers to have access. The location of this city and its access points are just too convenient for us to simply give up. We can come to a negotiation and agree on a proper price point for you. Lord De’Shai will essentially be paying you for him to keep your city safe.”

  “Yes but there is one thing wrong with your argument,” Lord Seldam said. “We don’t like the king. We don’t like the system of monarchy that you guys have, and we would rather not be subject to it.”

  Morwin pursed his lips. “Yes, there are many people who don’t like the king’s rule, yet they are still subject to it. I don’t understand why, but I am able to understand a difference of opinion. However, to deny this service is to put your people in danger. Are you willing to let your pride get in the way of your citizens’ safety?” Morwin gazed deep into the man’s eyes, looking for a sign of anything he could use against him.

  Lord Seldam let out a laugh. “You think we need your troops in this city to protects its people? Bah, don’t make me laugh. My soldiers are plenty capable of defending this land. For a second, I thought you were here to insult me with that accusation.”

  Morwin shook his head. “No, not here to insult you,” he replied. “What I’ve said about your defense, it was clear on the way here. Rebels attacking your mills, some unknown ships off in the distance in the shores. Your city, if you don’t accept aid, will be destroyed from both within and without. What I am offering you, I understand you don’t want to accept because of your selfish pride, but if you don’t choose to, then not only will you suffer, but your people will suffer. How many guards have been killed because members of Justicar have made their way here?”

  Stolen story; please report.

  Lord Seldam stood up suddenly, knocking his chair back. “If it wasn’t for your father and the king’s horrible rule, then Justicar wouldn’t even exist! My city is made a target because it is weaker than others within your nation, and Justicar has taken advantage of it! It is the failure of your kingdom that has breathed life into that organization, so it should be you who deals with it, not me nor my people!”

  Morwin ignored the jab at his father. Fighting insult with insult wouldn’t get him anywhere. He remained calm and maintained eye contact. In control.

  “Peace,” Morwin said, ushering for Lord Seldam to sit down. He hesitantly followed the instruction. “I understand that the dissenters have been born. They are angry at the king, but they’re here as well, and you have to deal with the consequences. Your city can be strengthened like the rest of Agnius with the highest quality of soldiers from my father, or your city will burn and fall. It is an easy target, and unfortunately, serves as an excellent vantage point.

  “If Justicar were to obtain access to the city and rule it, then not only will you and your people be in danger, but the rest of Agnius as well. It is not an issue of protection just for you, but for us. We need access to your city. We need to be able to defend it. I know you don’t like the king, but you shouldn’t let him factor in your decision for what is best. Think about all the citizens of both your city and all of Agnius. Do you want Justicar to win, the very group that’s chosen your city to attack because it’s not as strong as the others?

  “The logical choice here is clear, my Lord. It’s time to cast your ego aside and do what’s best for your people.”

  His voice echoed around the room. Then silence. The two seconds of quiet seemed to stretch on for an eternity. The erratic sound of his heartbeat thundered in his chest. Morwin gazed into Lord Seldam’s eyes, seeking for any sign that he’s made a convincing argument. Any sign at all. He received nothing but a look of stoic coldness.

  “You know, I am in a weird point of contention,” Lord Seldam said. “On one hand, I have to either choose to give in and allow the king to rule us again. What would my citizens think of that? They’d think me too weak to rule this city on my own that I’d need help. On the other hand, Justicar takes over. What will my people think then? They will hate me for being too weak to defend them and be angry at me for allowing my pride to get in the way.

  “On the off chance we are able to fend off Justicar, what then? You speak true, Morwin De’Shai. There are pirates off the coast, people originally from Agnius that’s snuck out to sea and are currently living in their ships. We have to face that threat as well. It’s too many factors, but I know one thing is clear. If Justicar were to take over this town, then I find it hard to care. It would bring them one step closer to usurping the throne from the king, and that outcome, I wouldn’t mind.”

  Morwin’s eyes grew wide. A lump formed in his throat. “Surely… you don’t mean that,” he said.

  Lord Seldam nodded. “Unfortunately, it is how I feel. If I can see the future and Justicar’s capture of this city leads them to overthrowing the kingdom, I would give up my city to them.”

  Morwin’s hands balled up into fists. To him, Lord Seldam was as bad as the rebellious group themselves! How dare he… after everything the king had done for his citizens.

  “If you side with Justicar, then you are our enemy,” Morwin said through gritted teeth.

  Lord Seldam shrugged. “But of course, I won’t give up my city just like that to them, I can assure you. The conflict between the rebels and the king, I want no part in it. I am just here to look out for my own people’s safety.”

  “Then… that brings us back to square one. Your people would be safer if De’Shai could send his men here.”

  “The answer is no,” Lord Seldam said in an eerily calm manner. “We are perfectly capable of defending ourselves against Justicar.”

  A loud crash rang from above and the two of them were showered in pieces of glass, followed by some figures darting down from the opening.