The Primogenitor

"Storm"

He was rotting alive, had lost two wives and all his siblings, and had spent the last few years underground, plotting his legacy from afar. After almost an hour, though, his squire had brought what was left of Chief Ancus into a seldom-used auto. Apollo permitted himself a single grisly smile. The sun was still in its bed behind the Gold Mountains.

"What meeting could possibly be so important that it must be done in-person, at this time in the morning?"

There was no telling what might happen to Apollo's father if he went outside. He was wrapped in a large, plastic sleeve, like packaged food. That's been left on the shelf five years too many. "Not meeting. Meetings."

Wonderful. "With whom?" Atlys climbed into the driver's seat, leaving her masters to talk in the coach.

"We start with Clan Sime. Chief Prennan of Sime is always the easiest. I've found it's best to work up to the more dangerous ones."

"Otrer?"

Chief Ancus chuckled. "Atlys, where is Chief Otrer?"

Did he kill him already? "This one wouldn't know, my Chief."

"Aye. That's because he fled the city after Clan Lepid elected him Chief. He's taken residence in the ruined city of Sanfransisko. The bay is strategically important to defending the Ascendancy's coast, but the land itself was given to Clan Orus, under the provision that they don't make any moves to develop it."

"So we're not meeting with Otrer?"

"No. He seems to have realized that trying to outwit me is futile. One of his in-laws is representing him."

"Chief Cran Orus?"

"No, his nephew, and likely successor: the Mastiff."

Apollo knew Henger Orus by reputation. Other than Ephialt himself, he was the one commander to win a battle fighting on Ephialt's side. Famously, he hated politics, opting to fight for whoever was Chief of Clan Orus. His sister, if Apollo remembered correctly.

"But the Mastiff hates—"

"Negotiating? He's not been let off his leash to negotiate with me. He intends to destroy me, no doubt. A fearsome commander. Otrer has no more want of war than I do. He sends a battle-hardened warrior to the Gold State to crush his enemies before they can fight back."

"That sounds like something you would do."

"No. It isn't a move without its own cunning, I'll give him that, but not the one I would make. if I was dealing with me, I would offer me marriage prospects, lands, and positions." Chief Ancus leaned back in his seat. "This is another thing your uncle did not understand. Power is not something that you own once it's given to you. You have to earn it, every second you wield it. Power comes from people choosing to follow you, and if they believe you are inadequate for even a second, your power is an illusion. This is what I've been trying to teach you, your brother, and sister. A magic sword and the name 'Chief' is nothing. Otrer sends the Mastiff to crush Clan Abzor, and he risks defeat. He contents himself merely with being the third-most powerful person in the country, and extends a hand in friendship, he risks nothing."

Someday I'll be rid of you and your lectures. Except Apollo knew that he would never truly be rid of Chief Ancus. The Nagan betrothal wasn't going anywhere. Marriage wasn't something that could be undone on impulse. Perhaps that was why Chief Ancus found it such an effective tool.

"What does Chief Prennan want?"

"No doubt, the same thing she always wants: your brother's hand in betrothal."