“Gabriel’s fall is inevitable,” said Luther. “I have already ensured that much. His war with Rendon will ruin House Lumenbel and House Belgrant both.”
“What makes you so certain?”
“Abolish will deliver the chaos I asked of them. It is the one thing upon which we may rely.”
“Unless Helen returns and eradicates them first.”
“A highly doubtful outcome, but one I have considered, also. If she does somehow succeed, we will simply turn on Gabriel to prove our loyalty to her, and she will welcome us back to her court. It would prove an irritating setback, of course, but I am confident that another opportunity would present itself in time.”
The man wasn’t wrong, he knew. That contingency plan would probably work, if David didn’t fully intend to sabotage it. But hopefully, he wouldn’t have to wait that long.
Luther seemed to be growing restless as he asked, “So may I count on your assistance?”
Certainly, Luther was no ally. The only question now was how much of a threat the man truly was. “You may,” said David. “But it sounds as if you have matters well in hand. What is it that you want me to do?”
“You are an unambitious man,” said Luther. “You always have been. Father saw that as a great flaw, but it is precisely for that reason that I am likened to trust your judgment in developing a new power structure for Atreya.”
“Excuse me?”
“Once the dust settles, I believe that, together, you and I can set the cogs in motion for lasting reform. Not to become leaders ourselves, mind you, but to make room for newer, worthier people.”
David took a moment to consider the other man’s words. “For all your planning, you don’t know what the next step is?”
“I do not.”
“Rather reckless, don’t you think? You risk subjecting our people to utter lawlessness.”
“Even anarchy would be preferable to monarchy.”
A dark serial novel. Set in a modern fantasy world called Eleg. Mature language. Updates every night at midnight PST by ~400 words.