Roya had been correct, but not in the way she and her partners had hoped for. Khan indeed listened to his heart over his mind, but that only made his stance unmovable and deadly.
Mentioning Yeza removed the Orlats' last hopes of finding reason in that bright-eyed leader. Khan's priorities lay elsewhere, preventing the compromises those evolved warriors were trying to reach.
The available options were now laid bare. The Orlats could choose to die, which never really crossed their minds, lie to Khan's face to escape that immediate danger, or accept joining him under relatively fair terms.
Truth be told, the Orlats wanted nothing to do with a universal war, especially one that didn't look to be in the allied front's favor. Raiding and looting known and unprotected locations was far safer than betting on an eventual victory and the rewards it might award them.
