Tarentek paused a moment, then shrugged his shoulders. "I cannot say if the university is still open. We know so little about our enemy that it is impossible to say without actually going to Amman. If they want to keep the people they conquer happy, then they would keep the university open, but if they are more restrictive and controlling, then they would close it. As for our connections making others join the Empire, I would worry quite to that extent. Asking a settlement to give up its sovereignty and join a larger empire is a [i]much[/i] larger request than asking for a good trade deal. Still, those connections may give them some diplomatic advantages if they learn about them. Not enough to make other cities surrender immediately, but it is something to worry about. Although, we might also consider how we can use those connections to [i]our[/i] advantage. If we can reach these sympathetic individuals first and tell them what has occurred, we might be able to convince them to lend us aid in fighting back. That would have the added effect of making them skeptical of any offers coming from Amman, as they might think the Empire is forcing my people to make them. Indeed, they may very well do that."

By this point, Tarentek was close to finishing his soup, though he paused just before his last few bites to make one more statement in an exceptionally determined tone. "And I can assure you, the scenario I would choose is to fight to my last breath to end the lives of those who destroyed mine."