"Where are we going to get sugarcane then?" Ziven asked, frustration edging his voice.
"We'll always find a way," one of them replied confidently, shrugging.
"There are plenty of kingdoms that grow sugarcane," another added. "They would be willing to trade or distribute to us if we ask properly."
Ziven sighed deeply, running a hand over his forehead. He listened to their back-and-forth, their suggestions bouncing off one another. Part of him appreciated their determination, but the noise and endless debate made his head ache. He just wanted a solution, not a dozen arguments about possibilities.
The council of elders had come to a firm decision that they wanted to cut all ties with the Kingdom of Ugorah. They found Prince Jabiaz's choice to engage in combat utterly irrational, a reckless act that could not be overlooked.
