XV—Maximilian Silvanus of Lucia

As Dukes Nero Angelo and Zaan Blackwater of Florencia left the chamber, Maximilian glanced after them.

Then he looked to Dante. “What was that about?”

“I don’t know,” he said. “Perhaps they truly had made a mistake.”

It was difficult for Maximilian to believe that. But Nero Angelo and Zaan Blackwater were Dante’s countrymen, so of course it was natural for him to give them the benefit of the doubt.

He did not hold that against Dante.

“As I was saying,” Dante said. He strode near the crackling fire. “This… parley carries an enormous danger of something going wrong. Violence would surely break out, do you not agree?”

Maximilian nodded. “I do agree.”

It was hard for him to believe that a lasting peace could even be attained. So many of the nobility hated one another, had experienced personal loss due to the very members on the other side currently within the House of Gates.

“What are you suggesting?” Max added.

Dante looked at him. “We must make an alliance. An alliance of houses.”

“What?”

“Not for our own gains, but for the gains of both our countries. I trust you.”

“Why?”

“I remember the Battle of the Blue Salts,” Dante said. “The fighting was fierce—on both sides, I have no doubt.”

“It was,” Max said. “Florencia fought well on that day. You were led by Lord General Arian Justus, were you not?”

“That is correct,” Dante said with a nod. “My point is,” he added, “that you had several of our ships dead to rights. Including my own. You could have fired those ships—killed us all. There was no time to take prisoners as you pursued our general. And yet you did not have us killed.”

Max nodded. “I have no want to see senseless bloodshed, even of Florencians.”

“And this is why I trust you,” Dante said. “Lord Silvanus—we must work together. If things get out of hand, we must not fight for our own side, but for both sides.”

Looking at him with narrowed eyes, Max considered what Duke Dante Lorintos was suggesting. And even though he did not personally believe this parley stood much of a chance, perhaps on principle they had to try.

Four our lady empress at least.

Nodding, he said, “All right.”

“This heartens me, Lord Silvanus. I grow so weary of our conflict.”

“Is that why you have become an adventurer?”

Dante looked thoughtful, then downed his drink. “Perhaps. I know a part of me has always longed for exploration—for adventure. But another part of me wished to escape”—he motioned with his hand as he indicated Lucia and Florenica and the never ending war between them—“all this.”

“I understand,” Max said. “Though I have never chosen not to fight a battle, I too want this to end. I will admit to certain doubts, though.”

“Understandable.”

“Do you truly believe a lasting peace can be sought?”

“If both sides are willing to lay to rest past animosities.”

“Easier said than done,” Max said.

“Indeed. But we have to try, do we not?”

“Perhaps.”