Jakub moved so his face was in the circle, "The more realistic method."
"A new beast conquers the empire and, as a result kills the avarice dragon." Ashton informed glancing over the imperial family as they tensed.
"The avarice dragon… is already dead…" Novak stated slowly, when the boy only raised a brow Novak paled… were the souls… being used to trap the dragon?
"The method that has the least deaths?" Sebastian asked calmly. Ashton turned to glance over the imperial family, his gaze resting on Lucian.
"Lucian embraces the light." Ashton informed keeping eye contact with Lucian.
Novak closed his eyes, that was a damn near impossible feat. Apparently someone else had more hope.
"What does that mean? Embrace the light?" Sebastian asked glancing at his emperor, then back to the youth.
"Tisk Tisk Duke Carlos, if I give you all the answers, the empire cannot grow. Besides," Ashton's gaze suddenly cooled, "the empire, is not mine to protect."
"What if… We give you the empire? Honor you as Our Beast?" Lucian asked gauging Ashton's reaction.
Ashton grimaced with a look around, "Conquer the empire? While it would stroke my ego… it's hardly practical."
Sebastian latched onto the idea like a lifeline, "But, it is possible? You can conquer the dragon?"
Ashton glanced over all the royals; delegations included. "I can, but why should I sacrifice for the empire?"
Sebastian jolted, "What would you sacrifice to conquer the empire?"
Ashton only smirked, "Why should I sacrifice anything when the empire only takes? The empire might have better luck in the coming weeks enticing a more… mature beast to conquer the empire."
"What is the difference between being given the empire, and conquering it?" Jaxon asked before Lucian could retort.
"Duke Darnings to the rescue once again." Novak sneered just loud enough to be heard by all.
Ashton gave a half shrug in Novak's direction, "Before you can give something away, you should have it. The empire still belongs to the avarice dragon."
Jaxon took a deep breath… if the dragon was still alive… but… he'd seen its heart when he completed his initiation on his 12th birthday. What being could liv without its heart… unless… sin beasts could literally remove their hearts…
"Besides, the avarice dragon is quite clear it's waiting for Lucian," Ashton added with a tight smile, "Had Lucian not insisted I enter the capital, it would have been a battle the moment I stepped past the gates."
Lucian jolted, "That's why you said you didn't want to enter while we were at the gate…" Lucian stated drawing an outline… the statement had been oddly formal.
"Of course, what hatchling would enter the dragon's den without permission?" Ashton asked mockingly.
Lucian clenched his jaw, but kept his voice calm. "Yet you will establish your own territory over his?"
Ashton narrowed his eyes with a tight smile, "Your avarice dragon has been humbling himself to appeal to my… humanity and even my pride. He's been rather eager to… escape the empire."
Zane shuddered at the thought… if Young Song had spoken to the avarice dragon… then it might truly be trapped somewhere under all those enchantments… having pieces harvested regularly… that would explain much about the Empire's need to conquer more land with each generation.
Rommel stared at the ground, if the dragon was still alive… that would also explain why none of the other beasts had stepped foot in the empire… to trap a dragon was no easy feat… then again… if Young Song could see souls…
Novak thought over the implications, freeing an angry, trapped dragon would not bode well for the empire, "Why would there be less blood shed if the emperor embraces the light? If it's begging you to free it…"
Ashton gave Novak a half-disappointed frown, "Novak, how often is a regime change smooth? Even with support?"
Jaxon cursed, "What's left of the churches would immediately rebel…" Their whole faith would have to change, many nobles were proud to be descendants of the dragon, and… there would be expectations of Ashton he was clearly unwilling to entertain.
Ashton gave a half smile, "Now that that's all settled, Jakub… what is your choice?"
Jakub stared at his daughter, "What about my grandson?"
"Not among the damned, but only because Novak was so swift in retrieving his body." Ashton offered with a slight nod in Novak's direction.
Jakub nodded, teers filling his eyes, "… what happens if I separate just a segment of enchantments?"
Ashton tilted his head from side to side, "To free her soul, you would have to separate all the segments her bones are in at the same time. Saving it would be another matter entirely."
Jakub stared up at the youth in disbelief, "Then I have to cooperate with those bastards either way…"
"The choice is yours. Though your.. expertise with the deceased would be very helpful in many ways…" Ashton trailed off.
"Are there any beasts you would recommend to take over the empire?" Novak asked ignoring the imperials.
Ashton tilted his head back and forth, "I wouldn't recommend a sin beast to take over until you understand the current enchantments, though any beast could just… conquer the empire and leave…" Ashton added with a shrug.
"Why not just conquer and leave?" Novak pressed, surely there was a way to make the best of this clearly dire situation. The look he received questioned his mental faculties.
"Do all the work, all the cleanup, give selflessly, and sacrifice much of myself for… no benefit? I might entertain the prospect for suitable recompense, but even that would have to wait until after I've fully matured. The empire doesn't exactly have that kind of time." Ashton informed wryly.
"But eating Monroe Darnings would extend our time?" Novak asked raising a brow while ignoring Jaxon.
Ashton's predatory gaze rested on the imperials, "Indirectly, but yes."
"What exactly are our timetables? Before all hell breaks loose?" Novak asked glancing around the garden, Leonard was holding Jaxon back but they needed the information. One life for the many was a sacrifice he was willing to make..
Ashton let out a dramatic sigh, "If nothing changes, and I mean nothing, no external forces, no sacrifices, I stay in the empire, no damage to the current enchantments the empire has six years give or take a month; before… as you put it, all hell starts to break loose."
"If you eat Monroe, what will our timetable be?" Novak asked neutrally.
Ashton grinned, "If I eat all of him… without ascending, 10 years, give or take one or two months."
Novak felt like he was pulling teeth, "And if you ascend, what are our timetables with and without eating him?"
"If I ascend in the empire there are three possible outcomes; if I fail at minimum just the capital perishes, and I start over with my ascension; I ascend and destroy the dragon, the curse, and the empire; or I conquer and claim the empire. Personally, I don't recommend hoping for the latter… I would be far from pleased." Ashton informed teasingly.
Novak felt sweat run down his back, while the tone was teasing, the look in the youth's eyes made him feel as if the temperature had jumped.
"Then eating Monroe makes no difference. Especially if you plan to leave in less than two years." Jaxon stated coolly.
Ashton grinned, "True enough, but Duke Darnings, if I eat Monroe today, every day I stay in the empire could extend your time by roughly 16 hours. Besides… those timelines are in… a perfect world."
Jaxon gritted his teeth, in less than one day… several groups had attempted to dig up the bones to lay them to rest. Priests and mages alike had made similar suggestions, but until they knew what role the souls played… laying the bones to rest was a dangerous unknown. And six years of people seeing, digging up new enchantments, and rumors spreading… there was no guarantee no one would damage the enchantments…
Ashton let out a yawn, "Now, I tire of hypotheticals. Jakub… your choice."
Jakub glanced around… the idea of working with the murderers of his daughter and her younger son… but he needed Lucian to embrace the light… Jakub shakily stood and stared at Lucian. Had the world not been shrouded in the silhouettes of agonized souls…. He would have never noticed the miniscule, faint glow in Lucian's chest. Really, the glow was dimmer than a dying spark in a swamp… the odds that Lucian would accomplish anything…
Ashton started to lose his smile, "Jakub, my patience is not endless."
Novak gulped as he fingered a dagger, the beast had been so generous with answers… the change in mood was giving him whiplash.
Neolani glanced at the necromancer… Necromancers were considered scourges to be killed on site. Honestly the idea of someone raising and using her corpse… made her breakout into goosebumps.
Jaxon debated standing in front of Lucian, but whatever Jakub saw had him wavering… thirty years of research was nothing to sneeze at.
"So long as Madeline is kept safe… I'll work with them." Jakub finally conceded.
"Unfortunately, that is not a requirement the empire can currently fulfil, nor am I willing to keep the barrier up." Ashton informed covering his mouth as he yawned.
Novak tensed when he saw Jakub's eyes flash green as he turned back to the youth, "Is there anything we can do?"
Jaxon didn't point out the hypocrisy of Novak jumping to Jakub's defense, especially… since the empire needed them.
"I suggest you ask the priests that are now being held in the imperial dungeon… I'm not the only one who noticed them being moved." Ashton teased as he pushed himself up so he could settle himself in the center of the nest for a nap.
Novak glanced at the imperials… his mole hadn't heard any such news. For the beast to publicly announce their move from the Darnings Duchy personal prison… he'd have to contact his people and see what else was happening.
"Also, Duke Darnings, I expect you at 6 o'clock sharp; don't misplace Monroe." Ashton added as he closed his eyes. Two warriors leapt into the nest, one with a blanket while the other settled in to start massaging his head.
Jaxon clenched his fist, but bowed before they led the assassins and necromancer into a private meeting room to discuss their cooperation.