Lord Yin's support started a slow-moving cascade of agreements. Not entirely willing but unable to come up with strong enough counterarguments.
As much as they may not want to admit it, Chenzhou has suggested the only viable option, and a room full of generals was smart enough to realise it.
Even if they didn't like it.
Kai Low was the only holdout. Furious at the idea that any of them could give him orders and expect them to be obeyed.
"I am not seeking to command you, Ambassador." Chenzhou tried to reassure him. "I am asking a favour." Kai Low didn't look particularly interested in granting that favour, but he stayed quiet long enough for Chenzhou to continue. "You are the only one who can be trusted to be honest. If only because you hate everyone here equally." Chenzhou had smiled weakly as he said, offering some semblance of humour to lessen the sting of the kind of truth rarely spoken at this table. Plenty of insults flew, especially between soldiers when things became heated, but it was mostly understood that those were not truly meant, only spoken in the heat of the moment.
After all, they'd never had a tribesmen at this table before to actually mean them.
"You're not wrong." Kai Low slumped back in his seat and crossed his arms. "What is it you're trying to figure out with this investigation? It sounds like you already know what happened."
Chenzhou nodded. "We have some idea, but so many questions," he chose that word carefully. "Have arisen that it has become necessary to learn everything possible before we decide on a course of action."
Kai Low raised an eyebrow in surprise. "A course of action? You're going to act on a bunch of rumours?"
Lady Yang wasn't the only one who looked exasperated by his words. "They must be silenced, Ambassador Low."
"They're rumours." Kai Low repeated in disbelief. "There are always rumours about everything. At most, they might contain stalks of truth, but they only have the power you give them." He shrugged carelessly. "Why would you bother feeding them by acting like they're something real?"
"Because they concern real events." Lady Yang sounded like she was holding onto her temper by the edge of her teeth. She hadn't been very happy about the idea of an Ambassador when the subject had first come up, but she hadn't fought as hard as some of the others against it. She didn't believe it would work, didn't believe peace would work, Chenzhou knew, but she would not be the voice that said it out loud.
"They wouldn't be rumours if they didn't concern real events," Kai Low's voice carried a mocking lilt. How truly fearless this young tribesman was, Chenzhou mused. Either fearless or utterly foolhardy and unable to see the danger.
Somehow, Chenzhou doubted he was that foolish.
"You're creating trouble that doesn't exist by worrying about these mutterings." Kai Low leaned further back, though Chenzhou wasn't sure how since the chairs didn't have any give. "But fine. If you're asking for a favour," a terrifying light flared to life in his eyes. "I'll do it."
A sinking feeling in his stomach told him Kai Low had suddenly come up with an idea of what to ask for, and Chenzhou wasn't going to like it.
"You will have the full support of the Crimson Army-"
Kai Low waved a dismissive hand. "Isn't that who I'm supposed to be investigating. What's the point of involving them? I want Lord Rong."
Chenzhou blinked, completely surprised. Next to him, Eirian's eyes narrowed in suspicion.
"Why Lord Rong?" She demanded.
"Isn't he your great spy? Who else would know more about this place and the people in it?" Kai Low's smile belonged to a viper.
Chenzhou and Eirian shared a look, a silent conversation debating the merits of Kai Low's demand. "Lord Rong is still recovering from the injuries he sustained during the conflict."
"What a roundabout way of saying when we tortured him." Kai Low rolled his eyes.
Anger flared to life in Chenzhou. "As you say. Your torture was extensive. We may be at peace now, but Lord Rong is still recovering and may have no interest in working with you."
"Aren't you his Lord?" Kai Low sneered. "Order him too."
"I will not order him to do anything that will worsen his wounds." Chenzhou snapped. Yuze had barely survived, according to the healers, and Chenzhou wasn't going to put his recovery at risk. "Once he has healed sufficiently, I will tell him of your request. If he is healed enough, he will assist." Yuze wouldn't say no, not in a situation as tenuous as this. No matter how much he disliked Kai Low.
The tribesmen may have been determined to ignore the truth of the situation, the power rumours could hold, but Chenzhou knew a part of that was merely self-delusion. Rumours had power, and they only got stronger if they were allowed to spread unchecked. Even the tribes were plagued by them, regardless of what Kai Low insisted.
~ tbc