Page 69 of The Champion
Pressure
Freya
“Dad, did they respond?”
My father stood by the window in his office with his hands on his hips, looking out. “No, but they will.”
“Are you sure? It’s been almost four months and nothing we’ve done so far has made them react.”
Turning, he walked with brisk steps to the meeting table and sat down in his favorite chair in the middle. “Which is why my patience has run out. I had a meeting with Jonah just now. That’s why I called you here.”
Pulling out a chair, I sat down opposite him with my heart pounding from my jogging here and the pressure of new hope in my chest. “What did Jonah say?”
“The results of Moreau’s death are starting to show. That peaceful election France had on Thursday took a turn when the results came in. According to Jonah’s sources there have been claims of fraud and the losing side has caused riots, demonstrations, and strikes that have thrown France into chaos.
“You know that losing party we talked about. The one that woos the practical part of the population, promising them influence and better living standards.”
“Yeah, what about them?”
“They’ve had people out marching in the streets and objecting to the party that won. Jonah says that the new prime minister is traditional and wants to keep France focused on academic brilliance.” Khan snorted. “I always thought it was wrong the way the French rank people according to academic intelligence. I’m a genius myself, but I’m humble enough to know that craftsmen, caregivers, and chefs can have a different kind of genius. It’s about time that the practical workers living underground stand up for themselves. If I had been one of them, I would have led a revolution a long time ago. Let the academics see how lost they will be without the workers.” My dad came to sit across from me. “I’ve been waiting for something like this to happen.”
“What are you going to do?”
“So far our sanctions haven’t worked to get them to let Victor go. The Motlanders are far too gentle to give hard ultimatums and their threats to pull their financial support means little unless they carry through with them. Warnings won’t do shit! I’m certain that we’re doing the right thing by showing that the project is moving ahead with or without them. Jonah just came back from the building site in Europe and he’s meeting us there again next week with the Polo family. It’s annoying, but the Motherland Council is still opposed to my idea of sending in my Huntsmen to get Victor out of France. They prefer that we intensify our pressure until the French hand him over voluntarily.”
“But what if they never do?” I sat on the edge of my seat with my feet wrapped around the legs of the chair.
“They will. They rely on support from the Motlanders and us to expand their territory and get people into apartments above ground. That’s why our ultimatum for them to follow our demands will work.”
“Did Jonah agree to giving an ultimatum? It sounds out of character for a Motlander.”
My dad shrugged. “It’s taken four months, but your mother and I have finally convinced Jonah to support our solution. To Jonah, Pearl, and the Council this conflict is about their demand for human rights. To me it’s plain old stubbornness. I won’t allow them to fuck with my family.” My dad clasped his hands and placed his intertwined fists on the table. “I still don’t understand your choice of husband, but Mom ordered me to stop bringing that up. Instead, I’m determined to help you establish yourself as the leader of the new nation. With Indiana and the rest of the Boulder family so eager to invest in Wisdomia, others are now interested as well. I’m honestly amazed at how fast things are moving.”
“Thank you, Dad.”
He gave me a small smile. “I’m about to put extra pressure on France. In a minute, I’ll inform them that if they want to be an island, they can fucking suffer alone. We’re moving all the Explorers to Wisdomia and will focus on cleaning that part of Europe as well as our own area in the South. With the workers already on strike because of their demand for better living standards, the loss of support from the outside world will be a massive blow to the government. They will protest that I’m breaking my promise to help clean Europe, but I’m not. We’ll still do that but in a different part of Europe. Our demands are clear. We won’t allow them to keep Victor and their other citizens as hostages. France needs to follow basic human rights that give citizens a right to leave their country if they so wish to.”
I reached over the table and grasped his folded fists. “You don’t know how much this means to me.”
My dad smiled without showing his teeth. “Good. I still think using force by sending in the Huntsmen would have been faster. But Jonah is right when he says that a peaceful solution is better long term.” He leaned back in his chair. “Now, tell me how far you are with recruitments for Wisdomia.”
“The Boulder family are sending Jones and Raven to keep an eye on their substantial investment. Jones will run a branch of their family trading business and yesterday he talked about starting a bank as well. Raven and Leo are excited about building Wisdomia’s police force. I spoke to Aubri and Indiana yesterday and they were jealous and wanted to go as well.”
“Are you serious? Christina would be devastated if three of her children and both her grandchildren left for Europe.”
“They’re not going. They just said that it sounded like an amazing adventure. With the twins and their work here, Aubri and Indy aren’t going anywhere.”
“Good, how are the twins doing? Did you see them?”
“Yes. They are better. Laura and I stopped by Aubri’s last night and she’s happy to have the pregnancy over with. Moon and Sun are adorable.”
My Dad furrowed his brow. “I haven’t gotten used to those names yet. It’s weird.”
I chuckled. “Are you saying there’s such a thing as taking the Northlander name tradition too far? You named Thor and me after an ancient god and goddess. Indiana and Aubri named their children accordingly.”
“Yeah, but the sun and moon aren’t people. They are forces of nature.”
“Powerful forces,” I pointed out. “With parents like that, I’m sure the twins will be too.”
