The military affairs officer looked at the faces below, bright with hope, and knew that her words had moved them. The mission was all but accomplished.
Following orders, she told everyone to go home and prepare the one-of-a-kind keepsake belonging to each family. Then she added softly:
"We'll send someone to find a way to take these keepsakes, along with Lord Suleiman's promise, up into the mountains."
Considering they might have ways of contacting their family members in the mountains, using both approaches would make the offer seem more genuine:
"Or you can find a way to tell everyone in the mountains yourselves."
The military affairs officer surveyed the room, her gaze passing over the hopeful faces one by one.
"Their families are waiting for them to come home."
Many people began to cry again, but this time, their tears were full of hope.
The officer's next words, however, were like a bucket of ice water thrown over the flames that had just begun to burn. Her voice suddenly turned cold, carrying an inexplicable chill that cooled every heart that had just begun to warm. Her words struck at everyone's heart.
"But make sure they understand this! Lord Suleiman's mercy will be offered only once!"
The temperature in the Council Chamber seemed to plummet.
"If they resist to the bitter end! If they refuse Lord Suleiman's mercy! Then..."
The military affairs officer paused, deciding to improvise. She enunciated every word with vicious emphasis, as if passing sentence:
"Your fields! Your security! They'll all vanish into thin air!"
"Because no family members of rebels will be allowed to remain on Lord Suleiman's land!"
"Their names! Their lives! Even your names! Your lives! They'll all be erased from this land! Forever!!! Completely!!!"
The last sentence sounded almost weightless, yet carried the force