Chapter 14Fortaleza Hidalgo
Jade had a bad feeling about the emergency meeting Zheng had used the last of his leadership powers to convene. It had been called with the minimum amount of notice so she expected trouble. It was also the first Elders’ meeting for two new members of whom she had little knowledge. Under their constitution all significant resolutions required a majority vote so she needed at least six votes and the two new members a Spaniard and Italian businessman were unknown quantities. The Spaniard appeared friendly enough, a traditionalist and therefore wary of new ideas. The Italian was known only as Fabrizio and was harder to read; a tall powerful- looking man who exuded authority.
Her musings were interrupted by a knock at the door. “A monk to see you,” said Emerald. “S
