His eyes sharpened knowingly.
"If I can break the Unity Faction away from the coalition by showing them a better alternative, then I can weaken the pro-war coalition enough to prevent them from declaring war. Slowly, we can make progress to form bonds of peace with them. If we form an alliance with the Harmonists, then it would compel the Unitists from breaking apart, since a protracted civil war would be against their political objective."
"That is a sound plan." She nodded appreciatively. "But it is easier said than done. It is unlikely that your Authority of Alpha is greater than that of Lord Shenlong's. And even if it were, it is unlikely that you will be able to defeat him. He will not challenge you to one-on-one combat, as the Supreme Commander Anthea did; he will wage war against you with his armies of dragons, and the Harmonist Faction will not be enough to support you. So tell me…"
Mother Vyia sharpened her gaze.
"How do you plan to overcome this?"
