“You are a stranger here,” he agreed, “but you’re a person. You get that much.”
“Yeah,” I agreed.
“Anyway, I just came here to check on you.”
“I’m fine. You should be with your people.”
“Maybe,” he said. “Truthfully, the generals will handle this. I already gave them the order.”
“What order?”
“To get revenge. Tomorrow morning we’ll be starting renewed attacks on the rebel strongholds.”
I bit my lip, looking away. I knew I shouldn’t say anything, but I couldn’t help myself. I was a foreigner, that was true, but I could read and I had Trip’s attention. Maybe this wasn’t the best time, but it was better than never.
“Trip,” I said, “I read some things online.”
“I’m sure you did.” He sipped his drink.
“Your Royal Army has been doing things, some very bad things.”
His face hardened. “Allegedly.”
“Come on, Trip, people aren’t making this stuff up.”
“Maybe they are. Maybe some men in my army are doing bad shit. Those men are caught and they are punished.”
“But is all this fighting helping anything?”
“Yes,” he said simply. “The rebels aren’t going to stop on their own. They have to be put down. This is war, Bryce.”
“I know it’s war,” I said. “But your attacks are going to kill people.”
“They are,” he said. “That can’t be helped.”
“The rebels are your people too, you know,” I said. “I know they’re doing bad things too, but isn’t there some other way?”
“No,” he said simply, standing. His face was drawn and serious. He knocked back his second drink and then put the glass back on the tray. “I’m glad you’re okay, Bryce.”
“Wait, Trip,” I said. “I didn’t mean to be an asshole.”
“You’re not,” he said, “but you don’t understand. These aren’t easy, black-and-white decisions. If I could have my army move in and destroy the rebels without harming a single civilian, I would. As it stands, we punish those individuals who break our rules very harshly.”
I felt terrible for what I’d said almost immediately. “I wasn’t trying to say you’re okay with any of this.”
“I’ll check on you again tomorrow.” He turned and left the room without another word.
I felt awful. I shouldn’t have started pushing him on politics, not right after his people were killed in a terrorist attack. I thought maybe I could convince him to open negotiations with the rebels, but I realized that was foolish.
I was out of my depth, and now I’d pissed off the only person in Starkland who seemed to give a shit about me.
I crawled back into bed, groaning to myself, feeling like an idiot.
14
Trip
Nobody wanted to be thought of as some violent tyrant, least of all by the woman they wanted.
It wasn’t like I didn’t understand what she was saying. Yes, the Royal Army had done some things during the war that weren’t okay, and those who had performed those actions were punished accordingly. It was not the policy, officially or otherwise, of the Royal Army to harm civilians or to torture people in any way, and yet I knew that I had to own up to that.
Still, I wasn’t negotiating with terrorists. I wasn’t going to show a single ounce of weakness, not after this. Maybe before they murdered my brother and bombed civilians, but not anymore. The only thing these rebels understood was strength, and I had to show it to them.
Bryce meant well. I knew she wasn’t directly blaming me for any crimes committed by my army, but I still couldn’t help but feel stung by her.
I sat in meeting after meeting. The generals were planning their maneuvers and the ministers were all arguing over what sort of response was most appropriate. None of it mattered, since it was ultimately my decision, but still. Everything about the ministers and their squabbling drove me insane.
I didn’t have time for any of this. The only thing I knew was that my people had been killed, and I needed to do something about that. I didn’t have time to argue over bullshit minor policy details with some third-rate assholes who only cared about themselves and their own interests. I wanted something to be done, and I wanted it done immediately.
I sat through meeting after pointless meeting, and the day slowly dragged on. I made decisions when I had to, but I mostly sat there and stared off into the distance, distracted by my own anger and distracted by Bryce.
I kept picturing that kiss. I hated that we were interrupted. I wanted more, needed more, but I wasn’t sure if that feeling was mutual anymore. She seemed pretty intent on finding flaws in my country’s very way of life.