Chapter 686: Golden Guarantees

Golden Guarantees

A big procession entered Morcaster via the northwestern gate that lay between the palace and the temple districts. Troopers stuffed the fortifications, watching their progress into town with stern expressions. Additionally they lined the streets from the gate to the palace in a show of pressure.

As for the envoys, they got here with a small cortege of guards and servants, nonetheless numbering practically 100 folks. A lot additional to the north, quite a few legions marched southward as effectively with Morcaster because the vacation spot, however for now, diplomacy could be given its alternative.

All indicators of battle had been erased the place attainable. The our bodies of the slain had lengthy since been eliminated and the blood cleaned away. Damaged statues and different indicators of destruction had been discarded, leaving the occasional empty alcove the place a nymph or saint as soon as stood.

In one of many many halls fitted to the aim, Martel awaited the visitors with Eleanor by his aspect, together with the duke of Cheval and the duchess of Trior. Because the 9 emissaries, six provincial representatives and three commanders, entered, he threw his arms open.

“I greet you, legates and magistrates,” Martel spoke, “and I bid you welcome to Morcaster.”

“Welcome we could also be, however by what proper do you communicate as if town is yours?” Honorius, chosen as captain prefect, gave him a haughty look.

“Rights or not, town is underneath my management,” Martel replied. “I counsel we base our discussions on what’s factually true fairly than what we want. However you have got journeyed a protracted distance to be right here, and it appears unreasonable to argue already. Quarters are prepared for you, the place chances are you’ll eat and relaxation.”

Regardless of a disgruntled look, Honorius made a throat sound in acknowledgement, and the envoys dispersed, led by servants to their chambers.

“Good retort, captain,” the duchess remarked.

“That went in addition to it may,” Cheval claimed.

“I’ll see you when the negotiations start,” Martel merely mentioned. He most well-liked the open hostility of the opposite captain prefect to the feigned cordiality of his supposed allies, and he stalked away to spare himself additional pretence.

***

The primary night bell rang, and the diplomatic events gathered in what had as soon as been the corridor of the Excessive Council. It possessed a big desk that would simply seat all of them, they usually distributed themselves on all sides in line with affiliation.

This meant Martel had 9 folks reverse him and three subsequent to him, two of whom he couldn’t belief. He nonetheless appreciated his possibilities, whether or not in diplomacy or struggle, given who supported him unconditionally outdoors this chamber.

His eyes glanced over the 9 women and men on the opposite aspect. Honorius gave the impression to be the chief, not simply of their armies but in addition at this desk. She sat with 4 on both aspect of her with the 2 different legates at her instant proper and left. She seemed and sounded stern or gruff; a soldier who didn’t waste time with pleasantries however bought the work accomplished. Martel was reminded of Sir Avery in that regard.

Confused seems made it clear that almost all of their visitors had by no means heard of this. Giles, the Justice of the Peace from Marbury, proved an exception. “That’s absurd! There isn’t any foundation for this in our legal guidelines!”

“Quite the opposite, whereas the regulation could also be outdated, it has by no means been abolished,” the duchess interjected.

Honorius whipped her head to have a look at the noblewoman like a chicken of prey. “You help this nonsense?”

“The thought is mine to start with.”

“What precisely is that this proposal?” requested one of many representatives sitting on the very edge.

“A council by another identify, meant to rule. Little question to be stuffed by the great captain and all his followers,” Giles proclaimed dismissively.

“You anticipate us to help such a Senate of Morcaster?” Honorius requested.

“It might be a Senate of Aster,” Martel swiftly retorted. “It might have representatives from each province, from the most important guilds in each metropolis with constitution rights, from the Religion of the Solar, and anyone else it is sensible to incorporate from throughout the Empire.”

“What could be the aim? It might simply be one other Excessive Council.”

“Besides its members could be chosen by the provinces, thereby deciding whom to serve within the totally different roles of excessive magistrates. It might not be a Excessive Council chosen by the emperor or choose few members of the the Aristocracy, or embrace arbitrary members such because the captain of the Praetorian Guard,” Martel defined. “Unwell-fated wars because the one waged towards Khiva wouldn’t occur once more, as no single faction may dominate such a big gathering to pressure their will via to the detriment of the Empire.” To his satisfaction, he caught Cheval squirming in his seat for a second; it was the faction he led that had begun the struggle so a few years in the past.

“You didn’t point out the army as members of this new meeting,” Miles remarked, the legate from the northern legion. “Do you not intend a seat for your self?”

Martel shook his head whereas noticing that increasingly from the opposite aspect of the desk spoke. The drawback of bringing so many individuals to the desk; it was far simpler for Martel to current a united entrance. “I don’t. My solely involvement can be that I ask this Senate to affirm me as imperator, ratifying my armistice with Khiva and permitting me to discharge my troopers with full pay. With my selections for the previous couple of months upheld, I’ve nothing extra I would like. I shall resign as captain prefect gladly, having completed what I got down to do.”

It appeared that Honorius had made the identical commentary as Martel, for she raised a hand to silence any questions. “That is an sudden growth none of us had foreseen. You’ll excuse us if we want time to withdraw and contemplate your proposal.”

Martel bowed his head in a magnanimous gesture. “Naturally. It’s already late, and you’ve got had a protracted day. I counsel we convene tomorrow at second bell to proceed our discussions.”

Honorius grunted in affirmation, they usually all dispersed. Subsequent to Martel, the duchess smiled. “Doing higher and higher.”