"Orrr we could not get dragged into someone else's war," Theo said, stepping forward. OK, this was his moment. Don't get cold feet now. He smiled at the audience, looking for people in its ranks who weren't fervent Old Gods supporters. Would have been nice if there were still Ascended around to vote for him, but ... oh well.
Theo turned to the crowd, putting some determination into his face alongside his usual attempted charm. "Warden Aristomache wanted Halo to remain neutral, open to all peaceful citizens of Caido -- enemy only to those who would break that peace. Whatever tragedy befell her, I think she was right. Halo should stand for Halovians, regardless of their race or political affiliation. And we don't need more bloodshed."
Looking through the crowd, Theo made sure to meet the eyes of those he knew to be Abandoned, like him. "We've never allowed prejudice to rule Halo; I'd hate to see us start now. After all, who says the gods will be content with the Ascended? What if they should turn on the Abandoned as well?" He looked at Noah, lip curling slightly. "Will you protect us then, Sentinel? Or will you sell us to your god?"
Wrapping up his speech, Theo added, "The Warden's first loyalty should be to Halo, not to a warmongering god."
Theo turned to the crowd, putting some determination into his face alongside his usual attempted charm. "Warden Aristomache wanted Halo to remain neutral, open to all peaceful citizens of Caido -- enemy only to those who would break that peace. Whatever tragedy befell her, I think she was right. Halo should stand for Halovians, regardless of their race or political affiliation. And we don't need more bloodshed."
Looking through the crowd, Theo made sure to meet the eyes of those he knew to be Abandoned, like him. "We've never allowed prejudice to rule Halo; I'd hate to see us start now. After all, who says the gods will be content with the Ascended? What if they should turn on the Abandoned as well?" He looked at Noah, lip curling slightly. "Will you protect us then, Sentinel? Or will you sell us to your god?"
Wrapping up his speech, Theo added, "The Warden's first loyalty should be to Halo, not to a warmongering god."
Theo
"Poker" by ND Strupler is licensed with CC BY 2.0.
