Page 91 of Dark Island: Rescue
Navuh's tone of voice suggested that he didn't believe that would happen, and Eluheed couldn't blame him. For thousands of years, no one had managed to overthrow Navuh, so he believed himself invincible.
"I don't think Elias's fears are justified," Losham said without sounding convinced. "If that's okay with you, my lord, I would like to speak with Doctor Petrov before offering advice. I'd like to understand the full scope of the situation."
"How much time do you need?" Navuh asked, and Eluheed heard the dismissive note in his tone.
"A few days." Losham seemed to have missed it.
"You have one." Navuh pushed to his feet.
"It shall be done, my lord." Losham stood up and bowed to Navuh.
After they left Losham's office, Navuh cast Eluheed a sidelong glance. "What do you think of my son, shaman?"
"He's a cautious man," Eluheed said.
"He's a coward." Navuh sounded frustrated. "Losham is brilliant, but he's too afraid of saying the wrong thing and displeasing me. He used to be my top strategic advisor, but I replaced him when I realized that talking with him was like talking in an echo chamber."
As they walked into Navuh's office, the lord motioned for Eluheed to sit, but he didn't sit behind his desk. Instead, Navuh walked over to the window and looked out at his domain.
"Everyone on this island tells me what they think I want to hear." Navuh put his hands behind his back. "Even Areana does that. You're one of the few who actually says what you actually think, consequences be damned." Navuh turned to look at him. "I value honesty. Even when it's uncomfortable. That's why you are still breathing despite suggesting I abandon a project I've invested millions into."
"I appreciate that." Eluheed kept his tone light.
"Losham should learn from you," Navuh said, almost to himself. "He needs to grow a pair."
Eluheed stifled a chuckle. Navuh was usually formal to a fault, so to hear him say something so colloquial was unexpected.
"Can I speak freely, my lord?"
Navuh uttered an exasperated sound and waved his hand. "Please do."
"Perhaps you should tell Losham that you will never kill him for telling you the truth, and that you appreciate his wisdom and prefer to hear his opinions rather than echoes of your own."
Eluheed saw an opportunity to help both Losham and himself. If the man were as smart as he seemed, he would realize the same thing as Eluheed and recommend the termination of the enhancement program.
Navuh's lips lifted in a ghost of a smile. "That's a good suggestion." He kept holding Eluheed's gaze. "Do you think I can trust Losham? Is he loyal to me?"
"I've never seen Losham in any of the readings you've asked for. Through all those times you wanted me to identify potential betrayers among your people, Loshamhas never appeared. That suggests he's not plotting against you."
"That's good to know, but I hear hesitation in your tone."
"He's a yes-man, seeking your approval above all else. That makes him loyal but not as effective as he could be. Brilliance without the courage to act on it isn't as useful as you need it to be."
It was also possible that Losham was putting on an act. Eluheed didn't think he was plotting to overthrow Navuh, but he seemed like the type who would look after his own interests first while pretending to be fully committed to his lord.
Navuh was quiet for a long moment. Then he nodded. "I made a good bargain getting you from Gorchenco. You are worth much more than the price he demanded."
31
AREANA
Areana stood at the balcony doors of her apartment in the harem and looked out to the indoor garden below. The overhead lighting simulating dawn was one of the many luxuries Navuh had engineered for her comfort in their underground sanctuary.
His idea of expressing his love for her was to make her cage so comfortable and beautiful that she would never want to leave, and in a way, he'd succeeded.
There was nowhere else she wanted to live, but she would have loved to visit other places, see their sons, hug her grandson, her sister, and meet her nieces and nephew. But life wasn't fair, and no one got all they wished for. Areana was luckier than most, and she was grateful to the Fates for what she had. They had spared her life while most of the gods had perished and had given her an imperfect truelove mate who was nonetheless perfect for her.
Their relationship was a constant struggle offinding balance between her love for Navuh and the things she had to do to shield others from him. So far, she'd walked that tightrope without falling, and she prayed to the Fates to help her keep it that way.
