Page 14 of The Pacifist
Khan didn’t begin his speech until the room was dead silent. “Today is a historic day. I’m going to do what no ruler has done before me." He paused and sucked in a long steadying breath. "Not long ago, an ugly family secret was revealed to me and rather than cover it up, I’m going to share it with all of you.”
My hands were clammy and I brushed them off on my pants looking around to see people’s reaction. Jonah sat next to me with his eyes fixed on Khan like the rest of the audience.
“About a year after my father, Lord Marcus Aurelius, won my mother Erika in her bridal tournament, they received a visit from the ruler at the time, Nikolai Wolf. For forty-eight years my mother kept the unimaginable act of cruelty that happened that night a secret.” Khan swallowed and continued, “Lord Wolf brutally raped my mother, while my father was held down by two of Lord Wolf’s trusted generals.”
A collective gasp sounded and Khan waited for the initial shock to lift before continuing. “My father swore to my mother that he would avenge her by one day killing Lord Wolf and the generals. As you all know, he kept that promise and became the ruler of our country for almost thirty years.”
By now, Khan looked more determined and stubborn than nervous. “I was a result of that rape, and that means that I’m not the biological son and heir of Marcus Aurelius.”
Loud muttering broke out in the audience.
“I have already proven my worth as a ruler. The prosperity, stability, and constant progress in our country during my reign is unprecedented.”
Some in the back shouted supportive comments and Khan waited for the room to quiet down again.
“We’ve never had a similar situation and there’s no doubt in my mind that my critics will see this as a chance to overthrow me, and take power for themselves. It’s how it’s always been in the Northlands, and many good men have died in senseless civil wars.
“That’s why, instead of waiting for the past to repeat itself, I’m challenging all of you to make up your mind. Do you want me to continue as your ruler? Do you want to keep reaping the benefits of peacetime where Motlander women are coming up here looking for an Nman to love?” Khan’s voice grew lower and he raised his index finger in a warning gesture. “Mark my words; if a civil war breaks out in the Northlands, the Motherlands will shut their border and the influx of women will cease! Do you want that?”
Squaring his shoulders and rising to his full height, he continued, “Today is a historic day because I’m announcing that we’ll have the first election in the Northlands.”
Another wave of shock went through the crowd.
A journalist gasped out loud. “Is he talking about democracy?” He was looking around the room with large eyes, and a buzz of answers expressed how disturbed the crowd was. Some were running hands through their hair and twisting their faces into anger, others were shouting questions at Khan, who stood stoically.
“What the fuck is going on?”
“Is this a joke?”
Raising his palm, Khan waited for the room to quiet down. “On April 10th you will all get to cast your vote for me or anyone running against me. It will be a fair process and everyone with the ambition to run for President can sign up. There will be more information available online.”
A sea of hands went up from the press and Khan pointed to a man in the front.
“If you’re not Lord Marcus’s son, shouldn’t you step down and let the rightful heir rule?”
Khan looked pissed. “My brother, Magni, would be the rightful heir but he has made it clear years ago that he has no interest in being a ruler himself. It’s too much of a desk job for him.”
Another journalist stood up, and spoke in an accusatory tone of voice, “Is this in any way related to Magni’s accident?”
Khan took a second before he answered, “Are you implying that I sabotaged my brother’s drone because I knew he was the rightful heir and I wasn’t?”
“Well, it’s a fair question. Did you know about this before he crashed?”
“No, I didn’t know and I had nothing to do with his crash. Magni and I are a team and will continue to be a team.” With deep frown lines on his forehead, Khan pointed to another journalist.
“Then how come no one has seen Magni for months? There are rumors that he’s dead and that you’re covering it up.”
Khan looked like he wasn’t sure whether to punch the man or answer his question. With annoyance in his voice, he nodded to me. “Mila, will you confirm that your father is very much alive?”
I stood up and turned to the crowd, feeling my heart race faster when hundreds of people stared at me. “I… I assure you that my father, Magni Aurelius, is alive and growing stronger every day after the accident. He has been part of the decision to have an election and he supports Khan one hundred percent.”
“Then why isn’t he here?” someone shouted from the back.
My mother Laura, who was standing by the wall, stepped forward. “That’s none of your fucking business.”
Khan cleared his throat. “Magni will step out in public when he feels ready. As Mila said, he is involved in making decisions and he supports the direction we’re taking.”
“There’s no fucking way Magni supports democracy. You people are covering something up.” A large man in the middle of the room stood up and gave a loud outburst and others called out in support.
