50

"Take it to the council of the Lords?" James asked, his voice almost a scream. "That would only portray you as one who is weak and a coward."

"Exactly my thought, friend," Edward said with a small grunt as he took a sip from the shot glass in his hand. He squinted a bit, the hot run he just drank burning his throat a little. After a little cough, he continued, "I have tried explaining it to Brown but he insists that I take it to the council."

"But they won't do anything," James said, a frown on his face as he walked over to Edward and poured him another shot of rum from the bottle he was holding. He dropped the bottle back on the table and sighed. "The council of the Lords will find a peaceful approach to the whole situation and I assure you, that is something that you do not want." Edward nodded.

"All my life as a little boy, I had not been fortunate enough to be one of the little children who saw their father everyday," Edward said with a small grunt as he sipped his rum. With a sma