Ontogeny

Chapter 20a

     “You demanded our presence,” said the Arwin Tsocco as he was shown into the conference room. “And so we came. I assume you wish to know whether we will assist you in your war with Carrow.”

     “I can already guess the answer to that question,” said Leothan. “We declared war because you left us no choice. You were about to formally dissolve the agreement between our two countries, whereupon they would have invaded us and probably conquered us very quickly. Our only chance of winning was to start the war on our terms. We still may not win, but we will at least make them pay such a high price that they will regret having started this whole thing.”

     “You still maintain that Carrow was responsible for the Empire’s recent misfortunes, then?”

     “It is the truth, Ambassador. Ambassador, you yourself stated that stealing your export markets would only make sense if it was part of some larger scheme. I asked you here so I could ask whether you have any idea what that larger scheme may have been.”

     “No, but we deduce its existence from your actions.”

     “Our actions? You mean declaring war on a larger, more powerful country after having alienated the only ally that could have saved us from defeat?” A look of doubt appeared on the Ambassador's face, and Leothan allowed himself to feel a grain of hope. ”Use your imagination, Ambassador. What might that larger scheme be? Never mind whether there's any evidence, or even whether it makes any kind of logical sense. Just let your imagination fly. What might that larger scheme be?”

     “The evidence against you is overwhelming. Your agents left identification at the crime scenes. A saboteur was killed by guards, in his pocket was a photograph of himself in the uniform of the Helberion army holding a half raised adopted cat. Helberion coins were found at the scene of another act of sabotage. They must have fallen from a hole in a saboteur’s pocket...”

     “Ambassador, just how incompetent do you think our agents are? Do you think we send clowns to sabotage factories? Returning to the ‘larger scheme.’ Perhaps you think we intend to hire a huge mercenary army with the money we make from your export markets? Use it to conquer Carrow and then go on to declare war on Kelvon itself? I'm genuinely curious, Ambassador. What do you think this larger scheme is? What might it be? Come on, Ambassador! Use your imagination!”

     “Please do not raise your voice, your Majesty. It is unbecoming.” A look of fear crossed Arwin Tsocco’s face as he realised he'd crossed the line of protocol, but Leothan was prepared to overlook it, being encouraged by the Ambassador's growing discomfort.

     “Ambassador, it has just come to my attention that there is indeed a larger scheme, but it is not a scheme of ours. There is something bigger going on. That is why I asked you to come here. I need to know. Is the Empire aware of something else going on? Something concerning the Radiants and the Hetin folk?”

     “You're not suggesting that you have allied yourself with them?”

     “Not us, but someone might have.” He beckoned the Brigadier to come forward and stand beside him. “This is Brigadier Weyland James. He has recently returned from a successful mission to find a cure for Princess Ardria.”

     “Successful? That is wonderful news, your Majesty. As for the Brigadier, his reputation precedes him.”

     “Indeed. That is why I place great weight on what he has just told me. While on that mission, he discovered that there is a threat to all of us. Not just Helberion, not just the Empire, but the whole human world. I'll allow him to explain.”

     The Brigadier gave the same account of his mission as he'd just given the King, and outlined the conclusions they’d drawn regarding the Radiants. He showed him some of the artefacts he'd brought back from the long buried city, and the translations of the Hetin books. Lastly he told the Ambassador what they'd learned from the Princess just a few minutes before. “The Radiants intend to destroy our civilisation,” he concluded. “They will do it by starting wars between human nations, to prevent us from learning of their involvement. I now believe that the war between Helberion and Carrow was started by the Radiants, although we don't know whether the Carrowmen are willing participants or unwilling dupes.”