"You stilI have a dream, my lord," Sarene said quietly. "That is hardly nothing."
"A dream?" Ahan said with a laugh. "The dream was Raoden's, my lady. We were just along to see where he took us."
"I can't believe that, Lord Ahan," Sarene said with a frown.
"Perhaps Her Highness would tell us what that dream is?" Shuden requested. his voice inquisitive but not argumentative.
"You are intelligent men, dear lords," Sarene replied. "You have the brains and the experience to know that a country cannot withstand the stress that Iadon is placing on it. Arelon is not a business to be run with a grip of steel-it is much more than its production minus its costs. The dream, my lords, is an Arelon whose people work with her king, instead of against him."
"A fine observation, Princess," Roial said. His tone, however, was dismissive. He turned to the others. and they continued talking-every one of them politely ignoring Sarene. They had allowed her into the meeting, but they obviously didn't intend to let her join the discussion. She sat back with annoyance.
"… having a goal is not the same thing as having the means to accomplish it." Roial was saying. "I believe that we should wait-to let my old friend run himself into a corner before we move in to help."
"But Iadon will destroy Arelon in the process, Your Grace," Lukel objected. "The more time we give him. the harder it will be to recover."
"I do not see another option." Roial said with raised hands. "We cannot continue to move against the king in the way we were."
Edan jumped slightly at the proclamation, sweat forming on his brow. He was finally beginning to realize that, dangerous or not. continuing to meet was a much better choice than waiting for Iadon to strip him of rank.
"You have a point, Roial." Ahan grudgingly admitted. "The prince's original plan will never work now. We won't be able to pressure the king unless we have at least half of the nobility-and their fortunes-on our side."
"There is another way. my lords," Eondel said with a hesitant voice. "What is that, Eondel?" the duke asked.
"It would take me less than two weeks to gather the legion from their watch-
points along the nation's highways. Monetary might isn't the only kind of power."
"Your mercenaries could never stand against Arelon's armies," Ahan scoffed.
"Iadon's military might be small compared to those of some kingdoms, but it's far larger than your few hundred men-especially if the king calls in the Elantris City Guard."
"Yes, Lord Ahan. you are correct," Eondel agreed. "However, if we strike quickly-while Iadon is still ignorant of our intentions-we could get my legion into the palace and take the king hostage."
"Your men would have to fight their way into the king's quarters," Shuden said. "Your new government would be born out of the blood of the old, as Iadon's rule was birthed from the death of Elantris. You would set the cycle again for another fall, Lord Eondel. As soon as one revolution achieves its goal, another will begin to scheme. Blood, death, and coups will only lead to further chaos. There must be a way to persuade Iadon without resorting to anarchy."
"There is." Sarene said. Annoyed eyes turned her direction. They still assumed she was simply there to listen. They should have known better.
"I agree." Roial said, turning away from Sarene, "and that way is to wait."
"No, my lord." Sarene countered. "I am sorry, but that is not the answer. I have seen the people of Arelon, and while there is still hope in their eyes. it is growing weak. Give Iadon time, and he will create the despondent peasants he desires."
Roial's mouth turned downward. He had probably intended to be in control, now that Raoden was gone. Sarene hid her smile of satisfaction: Roial had been the first to allow her in, and therefore he would have to let her speak. Refusing to listen now would show that he had been wrong to grant her his support.
"Speak, Princess." the old man said with reservation.
"My lords," Sarene said in a frank voice, "you have been trying to find a way to overthrow Iadon's system of rule, a system that equates wealth with ability to lead. You claim it is unwieldy and unfair-that its foolishness is a torture to the Arelish people."
"Yes." Roial said curtly. "And?"
"Well, if Iadon's system is so bad, why worry about overthrowing it? Why not let the system overthrow itself?"
"What do you mean. Lady Sarene?" Eondel asked with interest.
"Turn Iadon's own creation against him, and force him to acknowledge its faults. Then, hopefully, you can work out one that is more stable and satisfactory."
"Interesting, but impossible." Ahan said with a shake of his many-jowled face. "Perhaps Raoden could have done it, but we are too few."
"No, you're perfect," Sarene said. rising from her chair and strolling around the table. "What we want to do, my lords, is make the other aristocrats jealous. That won't work if we have too many on our side."
"Speak on," Eondel said.
"What is the biggest problem with Iadon's system?" Sarene asked.
"It encourages the lords to treat their people brutally," Eondel said. "King Iadon threatens the noblemen, taking away the titles of those who do not produce. So, in turn, the lords grow desperate, and they beat extra effort out of their people."
"It is an unconscionable arrangement," Shuden agreed. "one based on greed and fear rather than loyalty."
Sarene continued to stroll around the table. "Have any of you looked at Arelon's production charts over the last ten years?"
"Is there such a thing?" Ahan asked.
Sarene nodded. "We keep them in Teod. Would you be surprised to find, my lords, that Arelon's level of production has plummeted since Iadon took control?"
"Not at all." Ahan said. "We've had quite the decade of misfortune."
"Kings make their own misfortune, Lord Ahan," Sarene said with a cutting motion of her hand. "The saddest thing about Iadon's system is not what it does to the people, nor is it the fact that it destroys the morality of the country. No, most pitiful is the fact that it does both of these things without making the noblemen any richer.
"We have no slaves in Teod, my lords, and we get along just fine. In fact. not even Fjorden uses a serf-based system anymore. They found something better-they discovered that a man will work much more productively when he works for himself."
Sarene let the words hang in the air for a moment. The lords sat thoughtfully. "Continue," Roial finally said.
"The planting season is upon us, my lords," Sarene sad. "I want you to divide your land amongst your peasants. Give them each a section of field. and tell them they can keep ten percent of whatever that land produces. Tell them that you will even let them buy their homes and the land they occupy."
"That would be a very difficult thing to do, young princess." Roial said.
"I'm not done yet," Sarene said. "I want you to feed your people well, my lords. Give them clothing and supplies."
"We are not beasts, Sarene." Ahan warned. "Some lords treat their peasants poorly, but we would never accept such into our fellowship. The people on our lands have food to eat and clothing to keep them warm."
"That may be true, my lord," Sarene continued, "but the people must feel that you love them. Do not trade them to other nobles or squabble over them. Let the peasants know that you care, and they will give you their hearts and their sweat. Prosperity need not be limited to a small percentage of the population."
Sarene reached her seat and stood behind it. The lords were thinking-that was good-but they were scared as well.
"It will be risky." Shuden ventured.
"As risky as attacking Iadon with Lord Eondel's army?" Sarene asked. "If this
doesn't work, you lose a bit of money and some pride. If the honorable general's plan doesn't work, you lose your heads."