Doing that would violate the unspoken rules of their relationship. She wanted to order him back, but knew she wouldn’t. She couldn’t help thinking his absence was a punishment. She hadn’t seen him since she’d told him she was forming the coterie. Thinking of the military pulled her thoughts to Tsiory. Wasn’t that how the military worked? Wasn’t that how wars were won? The Chosen were at war. They needed leadership, not discussion, not compromise. She decided to take a firmer hand with the Council. She thought of herself as a leader who ruled with consent and compromise, but a good ruler would not have let her people come to this, fighting for survival beyond the edge of the known world. She could rule by fiat, but that was not her way. The last few days of discussion had made Taifa want to force them to her will. The coterie were nearing the end of their work, but it galled Taifa, having to explain Gifted matters to the Council’s women. They knew the Chosen couldn’t defeat the savages through strength of arms, even with their Gifted, and they reminded Taifa that she had promised Dragons. It had become difficult, dealing with the Council. The savages had launched another attack and, somehow, they had gotten around the Chosen’s front lines. Her Vizier had interrupted a meeting with the Ruling Council, ushering her to the foredeck. Queen Taifa rushed from the main room of her cabin on the Targon.
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