Sylas's intervention, capturing Eldira alive and healing her injuries, had effectively rewritten history. If not for him, the grand duke's fury might have obliterated five noble families in vengeance. Toby scratched his head, trying to find a silver lining.
"Well, doesn't this mean it could all work out fine? After all, you saved her, there are no dead elves, and if we can arrange a fair deal…"
"Except it won't end 'fine,' and that's the problem."
"What?" Toby asked.
"The count's ambition will always be an issue. If I hadn't shown up, he might have been content with what he had. But now that I'm here, he'll use me to extract as much as possible."
The count was essentially directing the elves' anger toward Sylas, hoping they would kill him. If that happened, the Corleone family would rage, as would the religious order with whom Sylas was allied.
