The Legend of Asahiel: Book 03 - The Divine Talisman Read Online Free

patiently while the arguments bled themselves out. “It is the only way to ensure we do not again face the kind of attack we have just so narrowly survived.”
    His stern words and pitiless tone had the Elders shouting once more. Allion continued to hide his own uncertain emotions. This afternoon’s council was the second Rogun had called since the Illychar ambush two nights past. The first had been unexpectedly brief, meant mostly to get a grasp on events and to reassure everyone of their relative security before the general set forth again on military duties. This one, clearly, was to be spent asking the hard questions and taking the appropriate actions.
    But had the general come to ask them, or tell them what those actions would be? As he looked again to Thaddreus, Allion thought the First Elder appeared uncharacteristically nervous. If so, who could blame him? Rogun controlled the army, after all. Torin was dead. Should the general use this opportunity to impose martial law and demand the crown for himself, who could stop him?
    Already, half of the City Elders seemed to be urging just that, by happily agreeing to the general’s suggestion. The rest had turned to Thaddreus, balking at the notion and exhorting the speaker to make their voices heard.
    “People will panic,” Thaddreus shouted. “You will cause greater unrest than there is now.”
    “Those with nothing to hide have nothing to fear,” Rogun countered with dead calm.
    “You know as well as I, General, that people do not respond rationally in a climate of fear. How do you think they will react when you begin taking husband from wife, brother from sister, parents from children? They will call it a witch hunt and rise up against us.”
    “It is the only way,” Rogun said again, “to ensure the safety of all.”
    Thaddreus glowered, but did not respond right away. Fearing him defeated, the dissenting Elders roared again their various protests.
    “You would extract from our people a heavy price,” the First Elder summarized finally. “With such an invasion of privacy, you take from them their most basic freedoms.”
    “Privacy or security,” Rogun offered. “In this case, it is impossible to have both.”
    Again the debate raged, with many of the Elders angered by the way in which the headstrong general could so easily dismiss their concerns. Allion wasn’t sure which way to lean. Having fought the Illychar himself and suffered greatly the depths of their cunning, he was inclined to side with Rogun. And yet, a cleansing , as the general described it, would almost certainly lead to more chaos and bloodshed, as Thaddreus feared. Rogun might not have any qualms about that, but Allion did. Especially when their efforts right now needed to be focused outward, toward the Illychar still laying siege to their lands, not on harassing and containing the residents of their own city.
    Besides, Rogun was loyal to none but himself. A hero he may have become in saving Krynwall from an unexpected attack. But he had done so through defiance and manipulation, ignoring a direct edict of the Circle and risking the lives of many in order to wage his own secret defense campaign. Hindsight might validate those actions, but that didn’t mean the man could be trusted.
    “And where will it end?” Thaddreus asked, as if attuned to Allion’s thoughts. “What guarantee do we have that the innocent will not be condemned alongside the guilty?”
    Rogun’s lip curled—a cruel smile. “Is there something you wish to accuse me of, old man?”
    “I feel your very presence here merits discussion, yes,” the speaker replied. Though his voice remained steady, his shifting gaze betrayed his nervousness.
    “Your actions have saved us, but if our people are to stand trial for no offense at all, then why not our chief commander for his insubordination?”
    Another outcry ensued. Only, this time, the loudest voices were those who sided with the general, aghast that Thaddreus would