Later that night, Huchen stands up, pushing his chair back from the dinner table. “Father,” he says, despite the whole family being present. “That’s enough. You have gone too far… a new species on the battlefield was reported today [talking about Evelynn], and it seems swift, intelligent, and powerful. Do we really want to declare war on them too? What if they figure out a way to invade us? What if they destroy us, take everything you’ve built for us- we’ve built for us- away? Do you really want to be responsible for our destruction?”
King Chinook stares his son dead in the eye. “If you’re so concerned, then you can join the next troop that ships out there. If you survive then we’ll sadly be stuck with you. But if they’re really as strong as you say then your body should be washing ashore in a few days anyways, so that shouldn’t be a problem.”
Huchen feels his stomach plummet. His father has just sentenced him to certain death.
“F-Father?”he murmurs hoarsely.
“I assure you,” the Salmonid king replies, “you are no son of mine.”
