Snake Heart (Chains of Honor #2) -Lindsay Buroker Page 0,103

acquire resources from those who have more.”

“In theory, that could be true, but one could also see that having more resources could make you more dangerous. What’s the census of Nuria? A hundred million people? More? You could field an immense army and try to dominate the entire world.”

“Not me.” Yanko touched his chest.

“No? If your Great Chief ordered it and said it would bring honor to your family, you wouldn’t fight toward that end?”

Yanko hesitated. Would he? If his father were standing there, reminding him of the glory the White Foxes had once claimed and could claim again, would he?

“There’s probably little point in debating it until the continent is found,” Yanko said.

Dak flicked his fingers in agreement.

“But if it’s there... I can’t let Sun Dragon be the one to take the news home. That could ensure him the popular support, and his family is already old and influential. They may have a blood tie to the Great Chief’s family already. In fact, I can almost guarantee that they do if they’re making this claim.”

Dak nodded. “All of the rebel factions except two have someone who’s related and can claim a right, should the Great Chief and his sons disappear.”

“You didn’t answer who the Turgonians would like to see leading Nuria. Or are you simply hoping that the nation will fall apart, fracture into tiny countries, and no longer have the might to oppose Turgonia?”

Dak’s expression grew depressingly wistful at that question.

What he said was, “Someone unambitious and restful.”

“Are those the kinds of people who usually aspire to become political leaders?”

“No.”

“How about Zirabo?”

“He’s not one of the people the rebels have proposed. I don’t even know if he’s still alive.”

Yanko grimaced at the idea that the prince might have been killed. Did Dak know something he didn’t? Something else he didn’t? Had Zirabo’s interest in finding this new continent made him a target somehow?

“We wouldn’t oppose him if he put himself forward and had the wherewithal to fight off all of his opponents,” Dak said. “I don’t know that he would. He seems like someone who wants to help a leader not be a leader.”

“Sometimes what’s best for your people isn’t what’s best for you. Zirabo would know that and accept that as a truth, I would guess. He’s young enough that he could rule for several decades, too, if he had the support and could keep the position. Assassinations aren’t uncommon in Nuria.”

“Yes, it’s too bad your new friend wasn’t pointed in another direction.”

“My new friend? The mage hunter? I don’t even know her name.”

“Sun Dragon calls her Jhali.”

“Ah. It’s good to know the names of the people who want you dead.”

“Yes.” Dak stood up and stretched, linking his wrists over a bar that ran through the room near the ceiling. Knowing the Turgonians and their love for muscles, it was probably for doing pull-ups. “If Zirabo were to make a claim for his father’s position, Turgonia might support him.”

“Support him? How so? With troops and warships?”

“Mm, maybe not that openly, but I know that he and Rias have met a few times previously and have a friendly relationship.”

Yanko had paused in his pacing, but he resumed it. When he had spoken about negotiating, he’d only intended to finagle Dak’s help against Sun Dragon. And maybe he’d had an inkling of extracting a promise that the Turgonians wouldn’t hurry home to rally legions of troops to occupy the new land, if it was, indeed, found. But this conversation had taken a turn he hadn’t expected. It hadn’t escaped Yanko’s notice that he was discussing sedition. For Dak, it meant nothing. He didn’t owe his allegiance to anyone in Nuria. But for Yanko to speak of displacing the Great Chief...

Still, he, like Zirabo, wanted what was right for his people, and that had to be a focus on feeding everyone, not on making war.

“The problem is that I can’t see Zirabo plotting against his father or his brothers, and he’s last in line for the dais,” Yanko said.

“No,” Dak agreed. “He’s honest and honorable. I doubt it’s even occurred to him. Someone else would have to arrange for the others to be killed.”

Yanko shuddered at the idea of arranging deaths. Leave it to a Turgonian to speak bluntly.

“Well, let me think about that and see what happens when I get home,” Yanko said. “This isn’t the discussion I meant to draw you into.”

“No? It’s more interesting than most discussions with eighteen-year-old boys.”

“You’re just interested because I offered to arrange