Dragon quickstep

[Corwin]

The surprise is not in the spying, but in that Imix is suggested to strongly be on the side of this uprising.

[Anastasia]

'That is more surprising. It's understood that Imix stays out of efreet politics, at least visibly. Either someone has erred greatly or the resistance against this Sultan runs deep.

It may yet be Kossuth himself, if he finds this situation so odious.'

[Corwin]

Keep an eye out? I've decided to help Akil against someone who'll likely be worse.

[Anastasia]

'Be careful, whomever it is. If it is Kossuth, flee here if you must.'

[Corwin]

"We were talking about assets that you can trust absolutely," Seira reminds Akil, with Donald taking care of Hamid's relocation.

First, the critical intelligence. Second, their downpayment. Then, they'll act~

[Anastasia]

Akil looks up sharply, hand tightening on Razalim's hilt.

As Donald takes care of Hamid slowly Akil says, "Yes...yes we were," he says at last. "You were saying?"

[Corwin]

Seira shows no sign of her irritation as she rephrases her question. "Who can you actually trust? Among your generals, bodyguards and key staff?"

[Anastasia]

"No one," he says at last, "Not with this." He gestures all around, "No one! No one!" His voice raises, "You understand now!"

[Corwin]

"Is there any location aside from the palace that you can't afford to lose?"

[Anastasia]

"None, none," Akil waves a hand, starting to pace back and forth. "The city can be rebuilt. I can rebuild it after this, make better. Better." He grips Razalim all the while.

Lady Sanzha's expression is that of a shark's hungry smile, "My, I hope so. In the meantime, that's dependent on keeping your head attached to your neck. But that means all we must worry about is the palace, though if the rest of the city falls, you're likely doomed. Unless, of course, we actually try."

[Corwin]

"We could try shake their conviction," Seira proposes. "It's far easier to get a coalition going against something rather than for something, so that strongly suggests all those arraigned against you are coming from all walks of life. The true zealots can't be negotiated with, but if there had been various demands beyond your head, granting some but not others should help seed distrust between the various parts of that coalition."

[Anastasia]

"Yes, yes," Akil agrees, "A grand display! Something to show them the power of the throne!"

As Donald returns, "But what, Seira? Then again, you're good at that sort of thing."

"Something that can't be mistaken as anything but a sign of great strength, in the same way a victorious army marches through the sacked capital of its enemy," Ranbar murmurs, "An absolute show of triumph."

"Yeah, that sounds great, but the military's not reliable for him," Donald points out, "So anything like that's doomed."

[Corwin]

"What do they want?" Seira asks Akil. "Aside from you gone, even if it sounds like tripe and propaganda, what do they pretend they seek? Tell us and we'll figure something out."

[Anastasia]

"They want me gone. They want a return. They want power," Akil explains, still pacing. "They hate that we lost the war, that we gave us so much. They don't understand what happened or why it was needed at the time."

"They don't understand that you took it up the ass from all of us, while Baator shut your mouth up with a big, fat halberd." Donald drawls.

Akil's gaze could set Donald on Fire, but he grinds out, "Far less crudely, but yes."

Ranbar makes a face that's EW personified while meanwhile Sanzha's shark-like smile stays firmly in place. "Of course, that's a problem because to give them what they want...well, they just can't have that, can they? And your devil friends aren't stepping up to help. That does make it more challenging, Seira. It's like the devils are tossing him aside, so why not reverse it on them? Banish devils from the City of Brass, on the pain of death. Break diplomatic ties." Sanzha goes right on, "Stop short of declaring war of course, but make sure the people know you aren't a groveling devil dog."

[Corwin]

"That, except make it conditional so that they are the ones who choose to leave," Seira muses, ignoring Donald's needless profanity. "If the devils here are nominally under your command, then command then for the worst, most demeaning jobs you can think of. After all, they can refuse to fight in some internal conflict, but if they actually refuse to be useful you probably have a clause in your agreement allowing you to toss them out. Like Sanzha said, it'd show strength on your part and make some of the angry masses pause, especially if wedded to a positive vision of the future. Expansion across Fire, perhaps? I'm sure there are old plans that rest unfulfilled, quite possibly because they're foolish or too grandiose. As a compatriot of the Crimson Firebrand, you'd know at least one thing he wished to accomplished but the stars didn't align. So be grand and promise that, with a halfway sensible plan and everything."

She grins. "Of course, if the devils do go for the shit assignments, that's a political win for you as well. And they'd be kept away from your center of power, so they can't easily stab you in the back."