Page 41 of Ironhold: Trial Five

“What has happened to the beasts?”I ask.

“They have been driven from thecity,” she says. “The dangerous ones have been accompanied far away beforebeing released. Some of the others have been taken to places that will suitthem.”

“When it comes to the dangerousones, we should keep watch,” I say. “If beast whisperers show that they usetheir powers to guide dangerous creatures away from people, it will go a longway to show the citizens that we are not a threat to them.”

And I have made it clear to themthat we are not a threat to the citizens. Most seem to be accepting it for now.I turn to a representative of the gangs. As distasteful as it is to deal withthem, it's better to include them than be stuck fighting against them as awhole.

“Are things more peaceful in theslums?” I ask. “Is food getting to the people who need it?”

“We're doing our part,” theirrepresentative says. He will not show his face even here, as if afraid of beingidentified later.

“Make sure you do,” I say.

The nobles are next, with Alaric’smother speaking up on their behalf. “The noble houses are still worried thatyou plan to seize everything they own.”

“Aren’t we?” the gang leader says,and it seems only half in jest.

“Not everything,” I say. “But thedays of them owning people are at an end.”

That is one thing that I will notbudge on. I have seen what it is to be owned, and my captivity was not as badas some others’. I had the prospect of freedom ahead of me, and I was valuedfor my fighting skills.

“This will damage the economy!” Oneof the merchants says. “The slave markets are a source of wealth for"

“If your wealth is built on themisery of others,” I say, “Then maybe you do not deserve to be wealthy. But I'msure you'll find another way to make money. For now, how are the grainshipments?”

“They are on their way, aspromised,” the merchant says.

On and on it goes. There are somany issues. In spite of my efforts to limit the damage, there are portions ofthe city that must be rebuilt. There are decisions to be made about what to dowith the gladiators who suddenly find themselves free and with nothing to do.There are those who want to reopen the colosseum. That is another point onwhich I've been firm. Maybe in future they will open it in some less deadlyform, but for now it sits empty and closed.

“There is another matter,” one ofthe nobles says, a man I do not know. “When is your coronation going to be?”

That catches me by surprise. “Whatcoronation?”

“There is no need to be coy. Youhave seized the city and killed the emperor. You are empress in all but name.So when are you going to make it official?”

I shake my head. I want to say thatI have not been acting like an empress, but even in this council I have beenmaking the decisions. It's all too easy to see how I could become the ruler ofall Aetheria. I can almost imagine it, living here in the palace with Alaric asmy consort, having servants to run to meet my every need. With my power overbeasts, the city would be safe because any threat could be dealt with by thosecreatures, and anyone trying to plot against me would not know whether a rat inthe corner was listening in to their conversation…

I can imagine all of it, which iswhy I cannot do it.

“I am not going to be crowned,” Isay. “I am not going to rule here.”

“You say that,” the nobleman says,“but you're already giving us commands. Freeing the slaves? Shutting thecolosseum? The priests are declaring it heresy!”

“I have done what I needed to dofor the good of this city and its people,” I say. “I will not apologize forsetting free people you have treated like chattel. I will not apologize forstopping something that has cost the lives of people around the empire forgenerations. Those things are non-negotiable. Think of them as the conditionsof surrender for the city, if you like. But beyond that? I called you here notto crown me your empress, but to form a council that will rule this city. Maybeif you all work together, there's a chance you'll work in the interests of allthe people of the empire.”

“We still need a leader,” LillianBlackthorn says. “If not empress, then maybe you could be the leader of thecouncil?”

It's a tempting offer. In someways, it's more tempting than the possibility of becoming empress. I have seenthe evils that an emperor does, but it's easier to convince myself that I coulddo good as the leader of the council. But I know that doesn't work either. Thetemptation would always be there to simply rule, to force my path on theempire. Aetheria needs a fresh start. And in truth, I don't want to. I canthink of other things I would much rather do with my life than spend it arguingin council chambers.

“I cannot lead the council,” I say.“In time, I'm sure you'll find ways to choose your own leaders, but for now Iwould like to recommend Rowan.”

“But he isn't even noble,” thenobleman says.

“Nor am I,” I point out. “And inany case, that's kind of the point. This council can't just be for the nobles,or for the merchants, or for the beast whisperers. It can't be for any onefaction. Rowan did as much to bring down the emperor as any of us, and I knowhe will be a steadying influence on the city.”

He will also be an influence whowon’t give ground on the issues that matter. He will protect the ordinarypeople of the empire and won't allow the nobles to grab control for one oftheir own. He will do all that, but he won't become a tyrant in his own right.He doesn't have that in him.

“All those in favor of Rowan ascouncil leader?” Lillian says, obviously trying to push it through beforeanyone else can object.

---