Merelao watched in a heavy, contemplative silence, his interest sharpened to a point. He resembled a cat tracking the flight of a bird, still, patient, yet vibrating with the potential for a sudden, lethal spring.
He waited for Alpheo to make his point.
"My Lord," Alpheo began, steering the conversation back to arguments he had made a long ago in his mind, which luckily had turned out could be used.
"The coalition may be clamoring at my gates today, but once they have razed my towers, whose walls do you imagine they will look upon next? Between Yarzat and you, there is only the order of our executions, I fear.
If I fall, what hope does your valor have against the tide? I do not slight your courage one bit , but we both know the truth of it. You would face thousands alone, and when the dust settles over your grave, history will not sing of your bravery, it will mock the beautiful foolishness of a struggle that could never have been won."
