How it opens
The ultimatum came in on the government band at breakfast, polite, brief, and addressed to no person at all.
Kandar, it said, would submit to the authority of Morgan within ten days, or Kandar would be reduced to a lesson.
King HumphreyFour worlds have received that message. Four worlds are now Morgan's. I would rather not make it five.
Four worlds, Majesty. The fifth world is not yet decided, and Morgan has never fought one that read his mail.
Choose
Fight him. Kandar has never bought anything with its pride.
Treat with him. A humbled throne still holds a humbled people.
Stall him. Ten days is a fleet's worth of time if nobody spends it on speeches.