will just make things easier for me when it's my turn to talk.
Still, after twenty minutes of non-stop bickering, I've grown tired of listening to them, so I stand up and pound my fist on the table. "Enough. Something went wrong." I point my finger around the table, "and all of you are responsible. Accept that and move on. As for Beck, Ryker, and me, I now consider it a private matter. I did what I had to do to stop the gossip feeds."
Mother's former Security Chief Landon's mouth falls slightly open, and his eyes grow wide, but he says nothing.
I step away from the table and begin circling the room. "I have three main concerns right now: Stopping the Splinter group; ending the food shortages; and finding Ryker. He threatened my life, and he remains a danger."
Beck frowns and says to me, If he is responsible, it's because you asked it of him.
Maybe so, but as you pointed out, I'm fully in control of myself now. He needs to know that.
Beck clears his throat. "We also need to deal with foreign Societies. We cannot handle attacks from both within and without for much longer."
Minister Sun-Wei raises his hand. After I nearly crushed his throat during the coupe, his voice is now a hoarse whisper. "We could start by releasing the foreign dignitaries we hold." I lean closer to better hear him. "Malin thought we needed them for ransom, but perhaps it would show good will on our behalf. An olive branch, so to speak."
Beck grits his teeth, and tension ripples off him. It fans around me, consuming me with its white-hot fury.
"Are you suggesting we give up our only bargaining power?" he demands. "Where is the wisdom in that?"
Sun-Wei shakes his head. "Not at all," he whisper-speaks. "I'm simply pointing out that Malin's way didn't work, and perhaps it's time we try something new."
Beck's rage sits heavy in my core. I breathe in deeply and release it in an attempt to keep our emotions separate. To keep Beck's anger from overwhelming me.
He tilts his head, studying me. What do you think?
Maybe return a few, but not all? Can you go to the Eastern Society and negotiate? I ask.
With his arms firmly on the table, Beck says, "Sun-Wei, I want you to assemble a team to travel to the Eastern Society and negotiate the return of some – not all – of the dignitaries. I will work with you on a list of appropriate names."
Sun-Wei settles back into his chair, seemingly content with this turn of events. "It would be more effective if you accompanied us, Beck."
"Why?" I ask.
Sun-Wei's face pales. He's still afraid of me. Good.
"Why?" I ask again. "What will Beck add to such a trip other than putting himself in danger of becoming a hostage?"
"Having Beck on the trip would boost morale. It would also give the Eastern Society the assurance that we are serious about negotiating a truce and re-honoring our treaties."
Beck's eyes focus on something distant. I don't want to leave you.
You may have to.
"Very well. We can discuss this later. For now, I want you to plan as if Beck were not going," I say.
Sun-Wei's face falls.
"I haven't ruled it out, Mr. Minister, I simply need to confer with my advisors and Beck. We can't make hasty decisions."
Some in our group grunt their approval while others stare down at the table, clearly unhappy with how things are going.
"If any of you happen to read gossip feeds," I glance down the table and several attendees wear sheepish looks. "You'll know I was heavily criticized for the elaborate meal at the Opera. Until farther notice all such public meals – except the Founders' Ball – should cease. We can't let starving people see us with such abundance, it just gives the Splinter group more ammunition. Makes it seem like we aren't concerned about our starving Statespeople and their families."
"Are you saying we should close down our entertainment centers because a few people out in the middle of nowhere haven't any food?" a woman named Daria asks. "You're going to take away our
Still, after twenty minutes of non-stop bickering, I've grown tired of listening to them, so I stand up and pound my fist on the table. "Enough. Something went wrong." I point my finger around the table, "and all of you are responsible. Accept that and move on. As for Beck, Ryker, and me, I now consider it a private matter. I did what I had to do to stop the gossip feeds."
Mother's former Security Chief Landon's mouth falls slightly open, and his eyes grow wide, but he says nothing.
I step away from the table and begin circling the room. "I have three main concerns right now: Stopping the Splinter group; ending the food shortages; and finding Ryker. He threatened my life, and he remains a danger."
Beck frowns and says to me, If he is responsible, it's because you asked it of him.
Maybe so, but as you pointed out, I'm fully in control of myself now. He needs to know that.
Beck clears his throat. "We also need to deal with foreign Societies. We cannot handle attacks from both within and without for much longer."
Minister Sun-Wei raises his hand. After I nearly crushed his throat during the coupe, his voice is now a hoarse whisper. "We could start by releasing the foreign dignitaries we hold." I lean closer to better hear him. "Malin thought we needed them for ransom, but perhaps it would show good will on our behalf. An olive branch, so to speak."
Beck grits his teeth, and tension ripples off him. It fans around me, consuming me with its white-hot fury.
"Are you suggesting we give up our only bargaining power?" he demands. "Where is the wisdom in that?"
Sun-Wei shakes his head. "Not at all," he whisper-speaks. "I'm simply pointing out that Malin's way didn't work, and perhaps it's time we try something new."
Beck's rage sits heavy in my core. I breathe in deeply and release it in an attempt to keep our emotions separate. To keep Beck's anger from overwhelming me.
He tilts his head, studying me. What do you think?
Maybe return a few, but not all? Can you go to the Eastern Society and negotiate? I ask.
With his arms firmly on the table, Beck says, "Sun-Wei, I want you to assemble a team to travel to the Eastern Society and negotiate the return of some – not all – of the dignitaries. I will work with you on a list of appropriate names."
Sun-Wei settles back into his chair, seemingly content with this turn of events. "It would be more effective if you accompanied us, Beck."
"Why?" I ask.
Sun-Wei's face pales. He's still afraid of me. Good.
"Why?" I ask again. "What will Beck add to such a trip other than putting himself in danger of becoming a hostage?"
"Having Beck on the trip would boost morale. It would also give the Eastern Society the assurance that we are serious about negotiating a truce and re-honoring our treaties."
Beck's eyes focus on something distant. I don't want to leave you.
You may have to.
"Very well. We can discuss this later. For now, I want you to plan as if Beck were not going," I say.
Sun-Wei's face falls.
"I haven't ruled it out, Mr. Minister, I simply need to confer with my advisors and Beck. We can't make hasty decisions."
Some in our group grunt their approval while others stare down at the table, clearly unhappy with how things are going.
"If any of you happen to read gossip feeds," I glance down the table and several attendees wear sheepish looks. "You'll know I was heavily criticized for the elaborate meal at the Opera. Until farther notice all such public meals – except the Founders' Ball – should cease. We can't let starving people see us with such abundance, it just gives the Splinter group more ammunition. Makes it seem like we aren't concerned about our starving Statespeople and their families."
"Are you saying we should close down our entertainment centers because a few people out in the middle of nowhere haven't any food?" a woman named Daria asks. "You're going to take away our
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