Submerged by Emerald Baynton

Author:Emerald Baynton
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Emerald Baynton

Theo wasn’t particularly fond of Cyraeni—she reminded him too much of Anna Kershov with her no nonsense approach to governance and seeming inability to listen to his good ideas. But he recognized power when he saw it, and he knew he would be best served to work on ingratiating himself as much as he could in the time they still had.

He strode through the open doorway leading to the throne room, the lack of doors in this place grated on him. There was no privacy, no way to have a conversation without being overheard by anyone walking by.

Cyraeni was seated at the round table to the side of the room with her son Aenon, Erwyna and another one he didn’t recognize.

“Theodore,” Cyraeni stood to greet him, as she did every time he came to join in their meetings. “Join us, I’d like you to meet Marinus.” The one he didn’t recognize stood as well and reached out a webbed hand towards him.

Theo tried to hide his grimace while he shook the other man's hand as briefly as possible. “Please to meet you Marinus.”

“And you Theodore, or is it Theo?”

“Either is fine.” Theo took the opportunity to sit down first, to make sure he was seen as comfortable in this setting in front of the newcomer. Marinus' only reaction was a slight nod before he took his own seat. Hmm, interesting.

“Marinus is a highly respected member of our Atlantean Council,” Cyraeni began, “I thought it would be well served to bring him in at this stage of the negotiations between our peoples.”

“What Cyraeni means to say is that I have the loyalty of a great many of our citizens,” Marinus added, the edge in his voice was one Theo recognized well, he’d heard it in his own when he was being talked down to by Anna.

“And as such, you will be very helpful during these new and interesting times we find ourselves in Marinus.”

Under his green hued skin the muscles in Marinus’ jaw tightened, Theo watched as he ground his teeth together but said nothing. More interesting. Theo’s mind began to turn, if Marinus and Cyraeni were at odds, if he really held the loyalty of a large number of these people, he could be a valuable ally if and when things came to a head. Theo knew he would have to play this hand very carefully.

“I, for one, would be very interested to hear your thoughts, Marinus,” he said, patiently studying the other man's face closely for a reaction. Years of political theater had served him well and these people, for all their utopian fantasies, had precious little experience at playing the game. None of them seemed to have a decent poker face, a fact that could only serve to further Theo’s own aspirations.

Marinus leaned in, his elbow on the table, and a slow smile spread across his face. There it is, Theo thought, keeping his own face blank and calm. He decided to press the advantage, there’s no better way to force an opponent to show their cards.

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