Absolute Sovereignty-Chapter 19: The Gauntlet Thrown

Silence descended upon the Grand Conclave, heavy with anticipation.

Kaelen's declaration echoed in the vast hall, a challenge thrown into the faces of the assembled elite. He stood tall, his gaze unwavering, a solitary figure against the backdrop of Royal and Noble power.

He had dared them, all of them, with that single statement and now he must face the very likely consequences of his words.

King Erric of Xarnis, his face flushed with a mixture of anger and amusement, let out a hearty laugh that grated on Kaelen's ears. "Foolish boy," he boomed, his voice dripping with condescension. "Are you declaring war against the kingdom of Xarnis? Have you truly become so arrogant as to think your kingdom would survive against mine?"

It was a calculated move, a clever manipulation of Kaelen's words.

Everyone present understood that the Ash Prince's declaration was directed to all who eyed his kingdom. Erric, however, was now twisting the narrative, framing it as an outright declaration of war against Xarnis specifically.

He was seeking to isolate Caldris, to paint Kaelen as a reckless warmonger, and to justify his own ambitions.

The whispers and murmurs rippled through the hall, the assembled nobles and royals exchanging glances. They waited to hear if the prince would walk his bold statement back. Kaelen would, without a doubt, deny this blatant attempt to twist his words. After all, the preservation of Caldris was always the ultimate goal, and that meant walking away from conflict where they could not win.

So, the "correct" move, the politically astute and logical response, would be to deny Erric's words, to smooth over the situation with carefully chosen diplomacy and to de-escalate the tension.

But Kaelen had no plans for that.

"Yes," he replied, his voice cutting through the murmurs, clear and steady, "I am."

Gasps erupted from the assembled crowd, a wave of shock and disbelief washing over the hall. The whispers intensified, the room buzzing with a nervous fire. No one had expected this.

No one had anticipated such a bold and reckless move from the drunken prince.

King Erric's laughter echoed once more, this time laced with a hint of triumph. "Prince of Ash," he taunted, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Does your father even know that you've come here to ruin him and his entire dynasty? You truly are a disappointment of a son."

Kaelen grinned, a predatory glint in his eyes.

"And you, as I expected, truly are a coward and a disappointment of a king. A spoiled brat who thinks that power is inherited rather than earned. All the things you believe, have all come to fruition, so let me ask you, does your own kingdom think much of your theatrics? Or is it as much of a play as the one you've come to make here?"

Before Erric could retort, a voice boomed from the elevated throne, silencing the escalating exchange.

"Both of you, enough. I will not allow war between kingdoms. Not now. Not when we've made such great strides against Zoryn. This is a conclave of progress and it must be respected as such. Do not take this as a game."

Kaelen turned towards the Emperor, his expression carefully neutral. He bowed his head slightly, a gesture of respect that was more calculated than genuine.

"Forgive my impudence, Your Majesty," he said, his voice smooth and even, "but why not allow this... display of strength? The Dominion of Aurathos is a union of power and authority. It is a breeding ground for strength, for skill and for conquest. So, I ask you, why should we allow weakness to fester within its ranks and bring down the greatness of this empire? If one of the horses pulling a caravan becomes weak, surely, the most efficient way forward would be to sever the tie, lest it draws back the other steeds. I, Kaelen Verath, Prince of Ash and future king of Caldris, ask you, why not sever this weak horse?"

Murmurs erupted throughout the hall, whispers of agreement and dissent swirling like a restless wind.

The Emperor's words had been a clear attempt to quell the escalating tension, but Kaelen's response had only fueled the flames of discord. His analogy, though brutal, resonated with the core principles of the Dominion: strength, dominance, and the ruthless pursuit of power.

The Emperor's gaze hardened, his eyes fixed on Kaelen.

"And you believe that Caldris is not this weak horse, Prince Kaelen? Do you think your kingdom, so ravaged by time and weakness, has the strength to stand against the might of Xarnis? I hear its people have starved for decades now, is that a lie?"

Kaelen met the Emperor's gaze, unwavering.

"Perhaps it is, Your Majesty," he conceded, his voice calm and steady. "But here and now, I give Xarnis the chance to prove it. If Caldris truly is as weak and worthless as King Erric insinuates, then surely Xarnis should have no problem achieving victory. Let us see if Xarnis' bark is worse than its bite."

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He turned towards Erric, a predatory smile playing on his lips. "I offer you war, King Erric. Let us settle this matter once and for all, and let the gods decide the fate of Caldris."

The hall erupted in a mix of whispers and gasps.

Now Erric, driven by his own ambition and public pressure, could no longer back down. The Emperor himself seemed taken aback by this bold move, his usual composure momentarily shaken.

He must have seen himself in the actions of this younger prince, a calculated move made in the face of certain death. Perhaps that was what Kaelen had wanted. The king had made his plans based on assumptions and had not counted on such a move as this.

After all, all that he knew of the ash prince, pointed towards someone who would simply give away their power rather than make a spectacle of themselves.

Kaelen remained standing before the Emperor, his gaze sweeping across the assembled royals and nobles, a challenge in his eyes. He had thrown down the gauntlet, and now, they must all choose a side.

The game had begun, and the stakes were higher than ever. The fate of Caldris, and perhaps the entire Dominion, rested on the outcome of this audacious gamble.