The Last Light (The Wandering Inn, #5)

by Pirateaba

Flos rose, staring down at Trey with cold eyes. Merciless eyes. The same eyes of a King who would slaughter an army that came against him. Why hadn’t Trey seen it until now? He hadn’t wanted to believe it. “Slavery allows criminals, enemies of my Kingdom, to be used, Trey. They are a commodity. Locking someone away for twenty years is crueler to my mind, and far more pointless. A slave cannot be mistreated under a just ruler, and they may be freed if—” “They’re still slaves! Who cares if they’re pampered? They don’t have free will! How could you sell all those people? I thought you were a better King than that!” That had struck home. Flos’ eyes narrowed. “Some will be ransomed. The Traders of Roshal are an independent third party. They may ransom those with wealth, and manage those who are not able to buy their freedom. My kingdom needs food and coin for the winter, Trey.” “I don’t care. You think it’s okay? I think it’s completely wrong. No—I know it is.” Flos exhaled hard. He threw out his hands, more exasperated than Trey had ever seen him. “What would you have me do? My dungeons cannot hold more than a fraction of their number, and feeding them would beggar my kingdom further. Would you have me execute them all? I do not have the stomach for it, and I am the King of Destruction.”

Ach ... I agree with Trey, but what else can they do ... I doubt you could hold them to swearing to be non-combatants from here on out. ><