[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
.I m rather proud of that. Kita looked less than impressed, but kept her views to herself. We will not give upthose territories. Your highness, once again, you have very little choice in the matter.We couldremove every soldier and Prijian citizen from there in a matter of days.However, we do notwish to be at war with your people.We wish, instead, to offer a number of tangible reasonswhy such a withdrawal would be of considerable benefit to both sides. Go on, she said. We want the soldiers removed, but we have no wish to deprive your honest citizens ofthe homes they have held for twenty years.Nor do we wish to unfairly tax or oppress them.We propose that in exchange for south Darshian being returned to our control, we will takeon the cost of defending and administering that territory, and we will re-open Kurlik Passand the other trade routes.Furthermore Re-open Kurlik Pass? You re insane, Kizus snapped.Arman sighed and turned to Jera. There s a statue up on the hill behind us big, whitemarble thing.Bring it down so we can see it, will you? There was a great screeching of rocks being scraped against each other, then soil andpebbles rained down the hill as a dark shadow fell across the viewing platform.The statueof Lord Niko was approximately fifteen times the size of the one Reis had used todemonstrate his powers to Arman, and yet Arman knew it was well within Jera s ability tomove.People screamed helplessly, still held in their seats, as the huge object descendedtowards the stage, its base nearly as big as the entire semi-circle.Jera left it hovering abovethe stage as he turned nonchalantly to Arman. How big are the rocks in Kurlik Passagain? Arman passed his question on to Kizus, who was staring bug-eyed at the statue.Hisquestion went unanswered, so he turned back to Jera. I think we can assume they re not asbig as this, he assured him solemnly. Oh well then, there s no problem.Shall I put it away? If you would. Arman turned to the senator as the statue rose in the air again, and wasfloated back to its original position high above them. Do you still think it insane? I. Kizus turned to Kita. Your highness, he muttered. We have no answer tothis. Kita, too, was utterly taken aback by Jera s action, but she collected herself. What dowe care if Kurlik Pass is opened or not? Your people are traders and farmers too, are they not? Sea routes are all very well but in the storm seasons, you need a reliable land route too, not just to us, but to trade with theAndonese.I know you ve lacked just such a route since the pass was closed.You need anorthern harbour port, and I also know the Andonese have recently closed off all access totheir docks and trade routes.The Andonese and the Darshianese are allies, your highness.Iam authorised to tell you that such access and their routes will be reopened if you agree toour conditions.You would of course be able to trade freely with north Darshian as well. She stared at Lord Peika as Arman translated his words. We have other options, shesaid dismissively. We have no need of your trade routes.We control other markets. Indeed, Lord Meki said coldly. But if your ships are sunk, your harbours and docksdestroyed and you are isolated by a trade embargo enforced not just by us but by theAndonese, how long will your overburdened island survive without the lifeblood ofimports? Your choice, your highness, is to live in cooperation with your neighbours whoonly seek peace or to starve to death.We will no longer allow a rogue nation to dominateour peoples as you have done, like thugs and bullies, for the last twenty years. Lord Peika gave the stunned sovereign a wide smile. Your highness, if you can endthis war in this way, you ll be seen as the peacemaker of your people, the one who broughtprosperity and opportunity to your land.And you can do it without a single death, withoutany destruction of property and at very little financial cost, for what you lose in taxesfrom Darshian, you will gain in trade receipts and in the savings of maintaining a large andexpensive military force. Kita folded her hands. I wish to speak to my senators in private.Remove yourselves,please. The please was significant, even if the Rulers didn t realise it. Certainly, yourhighness.Jera, take us up so I can see what s happening in the harbour. Jera obliged, and now Arman saw the battle was dying off.Colonel Jiv, if you want tobring your troops up to the amphitheatre, I think you ll shortly be receiving hostages totake under control.Neka, what s that little rodent doing?He s given orders, no messing about either
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]