The doors were both bolted shut and sealed by wards, yet even then, the Factionry room didn't seem at all private. Rather, it felt cold, uninviting, and vulnerable. The seven Ultimos and Ultimas—Basileus's recovery prevented his attendance—occupied their respective podiums around the room, while the tables sat empty of common demons. Tyrannus sat in his throne, and Tetsuda, for lack of a better place, stood to his side.
"This meeting shall now commence," Tyrannus said. "I realize how this surely angers you all, being called here at such a short and sudden notice, yet I order you all to direct that anger to the true matter at hand: we've been attacked by Suiyan. And by suicide forces, nonetheless. Someone as—painful as it is to say it—intelligent as Tairo wouldn't let soldiers like that loose without good reason. He wants war, and we're going to give it to him."
"We've been waiting to hear those words for a long time, Lord Tyrannus," spoke Potentia with a grin.
"Indeed," agreed Zelotypia. "Considering all they've done to us, war is fitting. I'm surprised this didn't happen sooner."
"As am I," Tyrannus agreed. He crossed one leg over the other and settled back in his throne. "That being said, I do not want this war to drag on any longer than it needs to. I'm an Ira; I understand the thrill of battle. But I'm also a king, and I understand how drastic life can become for the people in times of war. I had to build this kingdom from the ground to the skies, and I don't want that work to come down because of this."
"You did build this kingdom," said Praedicare, his eyes narrowed. "But you also tore apart Iyan to do it."
Tyrannus replicated the Superbia's gaze. "Oh?"
"I mean you no disrespect, Lord Tyrannus. Simply insight. I want you to be sure you understand that this situation did not arise solely because of Tairo. Their rage is just as well garnered as yours is. That being said, are you certain that war is the only option? This isn't the first time Suiyan has attacked us."
"It's not a matter of attacking," Regina said. "It's a matter of how they attacked. Since the beginning of Iyan, monarchs have rounded up the most violent, unpredictable demons of each race and turned them into living weapons, ones little better than the Et Cinere. It's common knowledge that they only come out when war is imminent."
"Ultima Luxuria—"
"Name me a time, Ultimo Superbia, where that wasn't the case."
His scowl deepened, but now he smirked tyrannus's way. "The Battle of the Haissen. Lord Tyrannus attacked without any such 'suicide forces,' and that was one of the greatest examples of the commencement of war."
"He didn't use suicide forces because he had no suicide forces," Rapax said with the beginnings of a groan. "That's why they exist in the first place: so quality men don't have to die in the first stages of war, which are always unorganized and bloody."
"You just want the war for Suiyan's geodes," Praedicare hissed. "Just like why you wanted us to annex Ceniyan."
"You're not going to win this, Ultimo Superbia," he said, fingering the jewels on his necklace. "Remember what happened to your predecessor."
He stiffened at that, and Tyrannus chuckled. "You're not incorrect, Ultimo Superbia, but this is no longer a matter of keeping peace. It's a matter of asserting dominance. None of you were present at the 'banquet of peace' Tairo so haphazardly threw together, but I was, and all he did was treat me like the slave I once was to him. He does not respect me, he does not respect you, and he does not respect Naiyan. Whether he likes it or not, I'm not leaving. We're not leaving. I've tried all I could to appease him, to keep violence from escalating, but I can't hold off anymore. Especially not when he's attacked Ceniyan, a neutral party."
"Is it truly neutral, though?" asked Zelotypia. "He may be separate from experience, but Governor Tetsuda is your lover, and whether you want it or not, he's involved in the fight between you and Tairo."
"All the more reason to fight him back," Tyrannus said. "If Governor Tetsuda's involved in this, and Ceniyan was attacked, it gives me even more justification for war."
"I've a suggestion," said Rapax.
"And it would be?"
"Exile Governor Tetsuda."
Tyrannus stiffened, but his countenance remained hard. "Why?"
"There's no place for love in war," he said. "That's the motto you lived by. The motto that got you here. He's definitely advanced for his age, but he's still a child. You'll have to pick up his slack, which will distract you from the war. It doesn't have to be a permanent exile, but it has to be long enough that you can keep the war solely on your mind."
"You don't know my men," Tetsuda said, firm in voice. "And they don't know you. Not the way they know me. I'm young, I know, but I can lead them better than any of you."
"You don't know your place," spat Praedicare.
"I do," Tetsuda said. "And it's here, right beside Lord Tyrannus. Yes, I'm young, and yes, I could take his mind off of the war, but I could also inspire him to fight harder."
"Or lead us to ruin," muttered Rapax.
"What about this?" Tyrannus asked, voice tight. "What if I agree to keep him separate from myself in battle? That way, neither of us will be focused on each other."
"Fair enough," Praedicare said. "I also request that the Ultimo Luxuria be left out of this battle. He'll cause nothing but commotion."
"I'll keep him here," Tyrannus promised. "Considering the wound he sustained at the first attack, I doubt he'll be in proper fighting condition for awhile. He'll stay here and handle the administrative aspects of the war. Ultima Invidia, I recommend you do the same."
"That's fine," she said. "I can keep him in better check that way."
"Don't fuck him," Tyrannus said.
Tetsuda couldn't help but snicker.
Clearing her throat as if to rid her face of redness, Zelotypia said, "That's no issue, Lord Tyrannus, rest assured."
"Wonderful." He rose from his throne, and his skeletal armor clinked against itself. "Gather your men and women, my comrades, for tonight, we bathe in fire."
Panting and sweaty, Tetsuda allowed himself to collapse atop Tyrannus's equally spent form. He wound his arms around Tyrannus's neck, in which he buried his head. He could hear the smile on Tyrannus's face as he ran his fingers through Tetsuda's hair.
"Beautiful," he murmured, kissing Tetsuda's ear. "Like always."
"Thank you," he whispered back. "I love you, Lord Tyrannus."
"I love you, too, Tetsuda. Why the 'lord' all of a sudden?"
"In times of war, aren't I supposed to be more formal?"
With a sigh, Tyrannus tilted Tetsuda's head up. "The bedroom is no place for war, Tetsuda. Starting tomorrow, we won't be nearly as intimate with one another. If this is our last night of freedom, I want to enjoy it."
"Don't speak like that," Tetsuda mumbled, hiding his head once more.
"Don't tell me you're worried?"
"Of course I am," he said. "You're an Ira, and a king at that, but I've never been in true conflict before."
Chuckling softly, Tyrannus placed his hand on the back of Tetsuda's head. "You'll be fine," he assured. "You may not have fought against real demons before, but not every soldier is as strong as me. Hell, some of them aren't much stronger than Et Cinere—they just have a conscious mind, and even then, barely. Tairo's great politically, but you can't send an Avaritia to do an Ira's job. I'm rigid with my training, so I'm able to fight better with less. Do you know how large my army is, Tetsuda?"
His eyes drifted up. "Around...fifty thousand total, right?"
"If that. Tairo's is one hundred fifty thousand."
"What?"
"But," Tyrannus continued, "for every acceptable soldier he has, there are five incompetent ones. We won't be defeated, Tetsuda. I assure you that."
