Accident(2)

Zim coming personally had been a very important sign, but muddled as he was in the issue with Io and Flowsand over the past few days, Richard had overlooked the signal.

He hadn’t cared about Zim at all. With the damage he had dealt to Duke Grasberg’s soldiers, there was nothing to fear unless the Duke decided he just had to eradicate Richard and mobilised the entire army. However, if Grasberg really did disregard everything, he didn’t mind wasting a few months in the Bloodstained Lands. The Duke’s enemies would be very happy for the opportunity.

Richard nodded at Zim as though they had some tacit understanding, sweeping his gaze across the remaining nobles, “If anyone else wants to enter the alliance, or has a better suggestion, or simply wants to leave, speak now.”

With Zim leading the way, several of the delegates hesitantly pledged themselves to the alliance. Contrary to his expectations,...