Deimos’s suggestion was very different from his… but it had merit, and Jigano nodded thoughtfully at the big man’s words, taking them in and turning them over. There were still flaws, but not insurmountable ones. If they all worked together—
Ronin’s sharp refusal to participate further came as a surprise, given his previous record of command and his Guild. A silver brow arched, though more in confusion than to make a point for once. If he was so upset with the proceedings, then why had he even come? Surely whoever had invited him had known the topic of conversation for the evening?
Remi’s protests were not exactly the most convincing, given that the young man tended to believe the best in everyone… Well. Almost everyone. Hadn’t he also been friendly with the Ascended who had tried to attack Jigano on the Bridge, all those months ago? But of course he wanted to start with surrender, for that’s what it would be. Whoever went to talk to Zariah with disagreements in how she was doing things would become marked as a troublemaker, and closely watched from then on. The bard watched Remi go with a faint sigh, shaking his head in frustration as he turned his head to look at those who remained. He half-expected Wessex to speak up then, but it was Rory whose voice broke the stunned silence, capturing his attention as it always did.
And it wasRory who cut to the crux of the matter, the bard’s defense of his decoy suggestion dying on his lips at the reminder that making a target of himself would hurt others, now. He bowed his head, silent apology for his thoughtlessness, his thumb tracing the back of Rory’s hand in wordless gratitude.
Amalia spoke next, bright star that she was, raising a candle to guide them in the dark, and leading the meeting she had called with an aplomb he knew she didn’t see in herself. ”If we vote for a leader,” Jigano said gently, ”it will need to be someone willing to lead. Not just this rebellion, but whatever comes after. And there… there is where our problem lies.” His lips quirked into a wry smile as he glanced around at his friends, even including Nathaniel and Wessex in that look. ”So perhaps we should spend that intervening time trying to find someone – preferably multiple someones – who would be willing to do so. Or at least to sit in council together, representing the people of the Hollowed Grounds. It’s not really a vote if there’s only one name in the hat, after all.” If there was one thing this night had made clear, it was that no one should be nominating anyone but themselves, for it was not a responsibility to be forced into.
Ronin’s sharp refusal to participate further came as a surprise, given his previous record of command and his Guild. A silver brow arched, though more in confusion than to make a point for once. If he was so upset with the proceedings, then why had he even come? Surely whoever had invited him had known the topic of conversation for the evening?
Remi’s protests were not exactly the most convincing, given that the young man tended to believe the best in everyone… Well. Almost everyone. Hadn’t he also been friendly with the Ascended who had tried to attack Jigano on the Bridge, all those months ago? But of course he wanted to start with surrender, for that’s what it would be. Whoever went to talk to Zariah with disagreements in how she was doing things would become marked as a troublemaker, and closely watched from then on. The bard watched Remi go with a faint sigh, shaking his head in frustration as he turned his head to look at those who remained. He half-expected Wessex to speak up then, but it was Rory whose voice broke the stunned silence, capturing his attention as it always did.
And it was
