Dragon's Egg - Act III

[Ankari]

"They are not ally of mine. Not yet. Should they refuse my offer, I will kill Ghendra. I have not decided if I would do so while he stands in front of me in parley, or on the battlefield. I will kill him." I keep the reasons to myself. They don't need to be wrights form by the chains carving scars into my heart.

"I have given thought to our company. We each follow a agenda dictated by our needs. You are a servant of your rigid goddess, the fallen knight is blinded by his centuries of grief, and Aliron caution. So wrapped up by our desires, we become blind to who we have become. Let me remind you of our crimes. Then I would ask for you to judge us.

"We have slain the mother of Branwen. You may make the case that it was in self defense. To that, I would say think of the mountain goat and the wolf. Do you think the wolf deserving of death for taking the goat's life. It is the cycle of life. In our conceit we think such laws don't apply to us.

"You may say Branwen is better off with us. That she will grow into her elven heritage. Who has granted you the power to foresee her fate? How can we be certain this will be fact?

"Somewhere a young lady mourns the loss of her lover. She wasn't evil. Tommem seemed reluctant to attack us. We never ascertained his motives. He could have been coerced, turned to a life of crime out of need. You will say we judge on his actions and deeds, yet we keep a self-proclaimed thief in our company. No one bats an eye at Aliron.

"I have killed a priest that threatened Branwen. You clerk my actions a crime, tell me you had plans of sneaking out of town should things look bad for her, but what if the gnolls? If you escaped this village, what of the date of these children who would have faced these gnolls without our intercession. Would we not be as guilty as the gnolls for allowing the children to die? Did killing the priest not grant us an opportunity to defend this village?"

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

How did killing the priest grant us…? Oh.

"Honestly, it didn't. The plan was for Aliron to sneak Branwen out. I wasn't going anywhere without knowing whether the gnolls were around. No matter. You defended Branwen as you thought best. My only problem with it was if the party were found guilty by association or, if I made no oath aloud or failed to act, some would think me deceptive with intent to turn on Arendal. I expected you to be gone before I arrived at the scene, but Nissa and I agreed from the start your victim was no innocent."

I can't answer everything, but there are some points I must address.

"I can't agree that the 'cycle of life' applies to this situation. Whatever wrong was done to the gnolls was not from these people. It would be like if Algernon and I fought each other because my ancestor turned against his people 800 years ago. The reason my ancestor betrayed his commander is that invading the mountain to conquer it meant killing families in their homes.

"Yes, my Goddess is rigid, as is the Goddess, Freya, who my ancestors follow. She forbids killing pregnant females of any species, and to attack a home not only risks killing an expecting mother, it goes against the larger principle behind that: not to attack a family. I never hunted the young, and the hunters in my land do not wipe out every adult beast in sight. Find the biggest buck, shoot it; shoot two if you need more meat, but you kill what you need. The animals survive as a species and keep us fed.

"The path my Goddess set before me is clear to me. I don't expect the party to follow Her because I do; we can't all have the same ideals, but we should consider our common grounds. If we lack them to the point that we expect each other to each betray his or her principles, then it's best we go our separate ways and let Catli choose who she'll follow. If we can compromise so acting as one is possible, then we follow the majority, or voice those few principles that are too important to compromise.

"There are two things I cannot do. One is I cannot go against Gisla. She is true to my Goddess, and I prefer death over turning on one who has proven helpful to us and never falters from Brynhild. I know the consequence for turning on her, and I prefer to die than lose everything I fought to earn. If the two of you disapprove, I am sorry. That Nissa is still with me means I'm doing right by my Goddess. I'll leave it at that.

"I also cannot possibly align with the gnolls. They murdered children and that makes them lower than any enemy we've faced.

"I would sooner challenge Ghendra to single combat." I glance at Mauve's slippers. "I have a plan that would give me an advantage if you wish to know, but if neither of you want to hear it, I won't bother."

Planning for what won't happen is tiresome.

 

[Nihal]

They are confusing, they are confused. My nostrils flare when Baldhart starts with her undying loyalty to Gisla. The anger is back, bubbling on my stomach. I stuff my belongings in my backpack and before I realize what I'm doing, I've jumped on my feet and am walking away from them.

But why?

Why avoid confrontation when it will yield no results? I don't share the elf's expectation of reuniting the group. I have no reasons to avoid the worst conflicts, to maintain unity. To the hell with them.

I turn on my heels. "Do you know over what this town was built? A fortress. A good part of it was repurposed or something like that, but some parts remains. The cells, the network of tunnels—too many villagers entered, no one left, it could only be a network like the temple.

"These people hate Aslaug for two reasons. She is a... uuuuuuhhh, a mage! A demon herself!" I allow myself a mischievous smirk before continuing, "And her darkness threatens their homes. No noble reasons involved. No 'let's save the world'. They are just superstitious and want lands. Now, let's contemplate the past, the fortress, the gnolls.

"'They kill families', you say. Do you care to explain how humans pushed them back from the lands where they lived? Don't they also have families? Why is the gnolls' lives less worth than a human's life? We are there, in such a touching moment, sharing our beliefs and secrets, let me share mine: 'Monsters' are just humans in a different skin—or the other way around. Both can be good, can be evil, can judge, kill, burn, enjoy torturing people. I see no difference at all, and I can not understand why one would be 'better' than another just 'because they are'—and mind you, people used to call me clever! Yes, I have knowingly killed creatures I consider 'as valuable as humans', I am such an evil person, uh?" My grin widens before disappearing.

"I did not chose to stand up for Branwen for feeling guilty nor because my deity dictated it. I did it because I see no difference between her and I. It simply was the right thing. She can grow up to become a man eater, humans can grow up to become killers, what is the difference? I stood up for Ankari because no matter how I hate him—yes, dear, I still hate you—no one deserves to die at the hands of these people. He killed a murderer, a person who wished to kill Branwen, who killed people like me and even 'innocents', and I fail to see how this priest's life was more worth than ours combined. The timing was terrible and the ranger did not need to put that show and risk us all, but say he murdered an innocent man? That's insane, outrageous! So, the ranger deserved a second chance, an opportunity to explain his reasons. It does not matter how I hate him, I fought by his side, towards the same objective. It is our quest what matters."

I take a deep breath.

"Now, on the loyalty subject." I stare at the barbarian. "You are nauseating. Care to explain how this woman is 'better' than the people who shared your fire, your food, your adversities, and mind you, your battles? If I were wearing a color and stumbled upon someone one else wearing the same color, and decided that this person was special and above people who fought by my side because 'we share something special', would you understand? That sounds ridiculous because it's balderdash!

"I am open minded. People at home loathe deities, yet I just wave at them when they pass by. But I can quite understand all the hatred if your friggin stupid deity 'of the battle' unblinking chooses a random worshipper you just met over the people who actually battled at your side! And tell that she proved 'helpful'? Is this some kind of sick jape? Did we crossed our arms and stared every time you fought someone? Her little 'hey, can we be friends?' is more valuable than everything we went through?"

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

You owe her nothing. She will never help you. Get what you need from Ankari, then leave.

I remain calm. I don't need to, but what I need less is a shouting match heard by the militia.

"I just said Ankari's victim is no innocent. If you continue to hate me, you only hear what you want to hear which is the opposite of what I actually say, then we don't have a discussion.

"I never said Gisla was 'better.' She took a chance and offered to hide Branwen for us. She owed us nothing, but chose to help. I don't mean I side with Gisla and, therefore, I'm against you. What I mean is that we shouldn't pit ourselves against these people. There simply was no reason to start trouble here in the first place.

"As for what happened to the gnolls' families, that was a long time ago. I already made the point that I have no beef with Algernon because of something that happened between our people 800 years ago. Those were different people, and the descendants don't deserve to be punished for their ancestors' misdeeds. If you think otherwise, then you're essentially saying Branwen and Burnbright should be punished for their mothers' actions.

"Anyway, you never made any attempt to understand my faith, Mauve, and if our friendship is gone and you won't even help me as an ally or treat me as a person, then every word to you is a waste of my breath."

I turn to Ankari.

"Ankari, what message shall I give to the others? I may not agree with what you wish to say to the gnolls, but I am your only means of safely getting a message to the rest of our party. I will deliver the message verbatim, and let others make up their own minds before my opinion is given.

"Oh… and both of you should sleep elsewhere. I found you easily, and if I were truly the traitor Mauve thinks I am, you'd be talking to valkyries. Hide well; rest well. When we need to get a message back, Batos will follow your trail from here."

 

[Nihal]

"Disregard the past, uh? That's funny, Srillkind is already past now, disregard it too. You twist every single word, every single 'honorable notion' to what is convenient to you. By friendship you mean 'as long I can use you, refuse once and you are just trash to discarded'. No, you are not at Gisla side and against us, you just happened to swear a goddamned oath to her, under no conditions—unlike the oath you have sworn to me, your big friend you had, let me remind you, at your side in all those battles. An oath that would happen to make you kill Ankari. The guy who also battled by your side and has been at your side for quite a while now. It is not against anyone, surely." I wave my hand as if it was no big deal.

"What a selective memory. I assume that you also meant you would not waste your breath on me, because you can not convince me of all you goodness, of how you are right and who disagrees is wrong. Of how fair you are deserting your friends. You are worse than Ankari, for while he made it clear how much he loathed me you pretended to be a friend, you earned my trust, then you crushed me and kicked the trash out of your way. He was honest about his intentions of using me. You still cover it under the 'mantle of the friendship'."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

What the hell? Yesterday counts as the past? Is she really using grammar to twist my words?

"Past generations is what I mean. What the gnolls did in Srilkind isn't an act committed by the gnoll's grandparents. It's the same gnolls. They deserve death."

I lower my voice, mindful that this could turn into a shouting match. That would be bad!

"As for how long we've known each other, I've known Nissa longer and I trust her completely. If you force me to choose between you and her, you lose. My friendship to you was sincere. Just because I won't get all teary-eyed in front of you now doesn't mean I wasn't hurt when you began to distance yourself from me. I saw it coming before we were in Srilkind, so don't accuse me of using you. I'm just one of your dimwitted companions, but not dimwitted enough to know what you were doing when you said our friendship was a mistake—you knew I'd be crushed by the threat—you knew exactly how to manipulate me. Whether you were an abusive friend or not one at all, I'll never know. I'd like to add 'or care'… but that would be a lie.

"Oh, and you conveniently ignored that Gisla's oath had a more restrictive condition than yours. Yours was to not contradict the path of my Goddess—which for Gisla, is assumed to be the case. Besides being confined by town border and distance, Gisla's condition was that none of our party would be found guilty by association because of the murder. She held her end, only accusing you because you got caught assisting the escape. She never spoke of your magic, though others figured it out. Hrolfr knew, and when I spoke to him on your behalf, he said he would dissuade the other elders from having you put to death. I wasn't sure why death was being considered. Yet, I found out later, he knew of your use of magic. He didn't get that from me or Gisla. That's why I couldn't join in your deception. It was obvious to multiple witnesses. Then my attempt to keep the party safe would be undone and I'd break my oath at the same time.

"And I understand why you don't like the oath even with my explanation, but if you were ever my friend—a real friend—you'd have at least considered my intentions were for the sake of the party. You'd never have called our friendship a mistake because I worried about you. You'd never have given me a letter to show your supposed trust then take it back with no explanation. The gnolls sure as hell wouldn't be forgiven while I'm not! And if you knew how a real friend is supposed to act, you'd know that no matter who I befriend your friendship was still something I cherished. That you added some fun in what should have been miserable times. That I didn't even care when I realized you might try to lure me away from Brynhild's path, that you obviously kept secrets from me, that you got me to act slutty in front of the smith, and that I may have been a joke to you and no more. You were fun so I didn't even care if you were playing me. You were fun when you weren't… this."

I finally shut up.

"You know what, Ankari? There's no reason for me to stand here and wait for the militia men overhear the noise. I apologize for my part in it. Please save yourself, and her if you can get her to follow you."

I pick up my sword and turn, considering the best option for Burnbright, if I even survive this day. Losing my wings was what I meant by 'a fate worse than death.' Maybe now, so is survival.

 

[Nihal]

"What? What?! I took the letter to send—" My jaw locks and I find myself unable to proceed. The absurdity of the situation is like a punch on my stomach. Is giving a letter some kind of signal to the southerns I am not aware of? I stare at her in shock while she babbles and babbles. I must be truly repulsive, for when I am deceiving I earn people's trust but when I'm truthful this happens. I thought I would die and I had to send off the warn, I trusted her more than anyone to do this. No games this time. I would probably laugh at this irony if I wasn't so stunned.

"You did not even wait before endangering Ankari, to see if it was necessary, like Cad—" I stop again, clenching my teeth. It's not like if she will hear anything, she dodges the truth like if it was a sword. Justify her actions, earn her wings, it's all that matters. If I had been burnt she wouldn't give a shit, because she would have tried and that's enough for her. Does she even feel guilty? I feel the words piling up in my throat, not going out, suffocating. Back then I actually contemplated telling her more of what truly goes through my mind. That would be a huge error.

Once she told she wished to protect my mind from the corruption. She expected her friendship would prevent me from going mad.

"You are driving me insane!" I turn and walk further in the woods. I am unhinged again, unfocused, weak, in pain. Pathetic. Once the ranger kicked—in fact, strangled me out of this state. Good, but it won't help.

I can do nothing for Burnbright, the girl will blindly follow the damned barbarian, dazed by the valkyries tales. I keep walking, once again asking myself what should I do. I wish I could long for my home, but it's not my home anymore. I have no place to go, no one to turn for help. I'm just a tool anyway. They don't give a shit about the corruption, about nothing. All they want is to appease someone else, a deity, a queen, a whatever it may be. The past is just past, who cares about how mages became 'devils' in first place?

I wonder if Aslaug felt like this.

 

[Keitsumah]

"Even wolves do not kill the young of others of their own kind -they cherish each and every individual of the Pack." I mutter beneath my breath, having heard their words from where i stand a few meters away. "These creatures are neither man nor wolf -they are something else entirely. They would know to protect the young of either race i had once thought. . . even a war-loving race would not stoop this low."

I look down at the pin Baldart had given me, and my grip subtly tightens on my staff. I may be young, and i may not be the strongest, but nothing can beat me when i set my mind to something.

"Baldart. I am coming with you." i say when she turns, then head out to follow her. My necklace glows and burns against my chest, the deep violet turning a stark white. Batos's rune glows, and he pads along after me silently.

When we get a little further away from the others i begin speaking again, "I want to follow Brynhild." Despite myself, nervousness begins to gnaw at my words "I -I know that she is a human goddess and i am an elf, but in my mind, race does not matter. Even the animals are like people to me. Should everyone at least try to understand one another, i think that the world would be a better place." I suck in a breath and feel Batos press against my leg to comfort me. ". . .but that will not happen with beings like those gnolls running around murdering people. I want to help defend those who cannot defend themselves -just as Batos has done for me numerous times. And i know i may not be a warrior like you are, but maybe Brynhild would find some use of a simple druid?" i sound as if i am close to begging at the end, and I feel blood rush up into my face. Ashamed, i turn my gaze to the floor, waiting anxiously for her answer.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Mauve and I go our separate ways. There is more that I want to say, but why? She'll always hate me.

I hear Keitsumah. I wonder if she was following me from the docks, or if Batos sniffed my trail. No matter. Her words are comforting.

"Of course She would." So would Mauve, in fact.

I approach Ankari. "I don't know what will become of Mauve. Or you. Or me, really. I could be dead hours from now." I hand Ankari sixteen Goodberries. "Mother used to make these, so I know the rule: don't eat more than eight a day. You don't want to know why! It's eight for you, eight for Mauve. Please follow her and give Mauve her half. It may be the last thing I can do to help her, and she can hate me if she wants to, but I want this for her."

I pause to listen in case Ankari has a message for me, then I walk away. I want to discuss faith with Keit away from him and Mauve, who care nothing for such talk.

As Keit and I head toward the town, I tell her, "Nissa is half halfling herself. Brynhild didn't have a problem with that at all, and in fact sought Nissa herself. She was a Freya worshipper."


Don't tell Keit that Freya eats elves for breakfast.

That sounds like a load of BS.

It is. That's why you shouldn't tell her.

Huh?

Nothing… a silly rumor some of my Sisters overheard while watching over some dwarven warriors.


My glow-rock reveals that Keit's blushing… I think. Who can tell in this light, really? She probably doesn't see I'm blushing with all the paint on my face.

"I'm a little embarrassed to admit I was wondering if I should have given you a holy symbol. But it seems to have given you direction, and… I can help you with that. One thing Brynhild requires of the devout is that you refrain from ranged weapons. Your entangle spell does not break this rule. A routine you should practice is sacrifice. Don't kill things though… sacrifices should have meaning. Um… oh! I just sacrificed sixteen Goodberries, didn't I? Maybe we should pick more before the enemies come."

 

[Keitsumah]

"Freya . . . doesn't she have some connection with wolves?" i ask. I am not positive, but i think i've heard of a legend involving both Freya and wolves before, though i have no idea where from. And when Baldart mentions that Nissa was sought out by Brynhild herself, my eyes widen. "That must have been frightening. How did you react?" I am directing the question towards Nissa -unseen or not, i believe she can hear me. Hopefully Baldart understands who i am directing the question to as well.

A smile comes to my face and i laugh despite myself. "Yes. Maybe we should! I have a lot to learn now, so forgive me if any of my questions are a little... odd, but does being a follower of Brynhild mean I am going to end up being taken under the wing of a Valkyrie like you have, or is that only in special occasions?" I honestly do not care, i am just curious.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"Nissa says that Brynhild first hinted at Her presence through a dream. After Nissa was struck down, she dreamed of Brynhild often until death. She met Her then. None of the dreams were frightening. They prepared Nissa for death, and before the end she felt that death was nothing to fear. Her only fear that what she dreamed would not be real, or that she'd failed Her Goddess by only having thrusted her blade once in battle.

"I also met Nissa in a dream. I was sixteen. I thought it was just that, a dream. She's watched over me since then, but didn't reveal herself until more recently. Nissa says not to expect a valkyrie to physically appear before you, but there are more valkyries than there are followers in battles. It's possible one will watch you without your knowing, and she may reveal herself in a dream."

As we approach the Spear, I say to Keit, "We should go in and let the others know what Ankari learned. I want the gnolls dead, and I'm glad you're with me on that… though a straight fight could get us killed, honestly. How many berries do you have?"

((I think it's 21 turned / 12 normal, not counting the 16 handed off to Ankari.))

I pat Batos on the head, gesturing a place where he can safely await Keit. "I told Ankari I'd pass on the message and I meant it. I have my opinion and I'll get it out there, but ultimately the party must make a decision and everyone has equal say. I hope the majority won't insist on peace with the gnolls. I really can't…"

Surely the gnolls know at least one of us would look for an opportunity to kill them. They know the message was to lead them into a trap, so there's no way they'll trust us to join them. Why is it that I'm the naive one for trusting Gisla, but so many in our party trust the gnolls?

"You have a gentle way of speaking, so please share your thoughts. I talk too much then make people angry."

I open the door, and allow Keit to go in ahead of me.

 

[Ankari]

The women bicker like cats fighting over a dead mouse. I let them exhaust themselves while I give thought to Baldhart's words. I clutch Gefjon's symbol beneath my tunic, drawing strength from the giver and not from the figment of a collective imagination. What came of her?

"Baldhart, before you return to the village, I do have some final words. First, I would like for you to inquire about Gefjon's current priestess. Did she survive the attack on Srilikind?

"I regret my actions against the priest. Not because he didn't deserve my justice, but because of the stain of doubt each of my words bare. I do have a message for the townspeople, and I thank you for taking it to them.

"But I have a message for you, first. You hail from the Iron Mountain. You speak of home with pride and love, as you should. But there is a mountain sized lesson in your home's name. That of iron. All that remains rigid fails. I sword, fashioned from iron in the crucible of a forge, will become steel. Hard. Sharp. Brittle. How many warriors have placed their faith in the blade, only for it to snap. What becomes of a warrior with no weapon who is unwilling to adapt, if not death?

"You will claim in your rigidity you seek death, but that is a lie. Your death is a failure of the life you've sworn to protect. Your absence is a chink in the armor around Catli, and now Branwen. If you die, you will fail your wards. Brynhald may welcome you, but is that enough? What is salvation if it is tainted with failure?

"Go back to the village and think of your Iron Mountain. Think of the wind that blows against the indomitable slopes, wearing away the land with inevitability. The message is this: The gnolls will not attack until I, Ankari, have met with them in the morning. They've stated that if the village is empty, they will not seek out the hiding places used by the people. No deaths will result. Abandon the village until the gnolls have left.

"There is a chance the gnolls may switch sides and join against Aslaug. They will seek out more gnolls willing to aid in the struggle. In return, they will want autonomy and good relations with the inhabitants of their past home. No further hostilities between gnolls and humans will result if a treaty of peace is established.

"I, Ankari, will oversee the treaty. I will bind the gnolls to a protection clause, guaranteeing they will aid humans against any future external threats, even from rogue gnolls. The other races will aid in the development of their city, agriculture, and government. This is the best path to a permanent peace.

"If they refuse, tell them that I will slay any who stands in the path of peace. Leaders will rule over their dead kin. Priests will join their deity, may they pray those beings are real. The rich will choke on their wealth.

"Despite your blind faith, I value you as a companion. It's all about the sacrifices, Baldhart. They define who we are, not what we lose."

I watch her go, wondering if I should get a little more sleep or chase after Mauve. With a mournful look at my tattered cloak, I pick it up and follow the trail Mauve left. Why does she leave -

I snort a laugh. Tonight is full of lessons. I begin to see, master. And when my arrogance is crowded out by wisdom, I will return and finish my oath.

 

[Keitsumah]

I check my bag and count them out. "Twenty-one turned in here and..." i check the other bag with the un-turned berries "Twelve here. I would say that we are well-off, but sadly the goodberries do not stay fresh forever. Maybe if we ever had a time of peace for a bit i can experiment with some spells to increase their longevity..."

Batos pads off and sits down at the edge of the forest with a huff, looking after me with a longing glance. I give him a wave and a smile, assuring him i will be fine.

You better be. the dark thought has me stopping short for a moment and looking back at the wolf in alarm, but he's already vanished into the woods again.

Maybe I'm just hearing things. After hearing Baldart and Ankari out, i nod, but a slight frown creases my mouth after i watch the man leave, and then enter the building. "I can understand both sides of the argument, but the gnolls have shown no good-will towards humans before. All in all, treaties are just words, and can be broken as easily as a dry leaf in a harsh wind. If they had at least let the young ones escape from the villages they attacked, i would consider a peace treaty possible, as they are both wolf and mankind combined in one creature. Wolves will take in any pup they see has been abandoned and protect them as fiercely as if they are their own, and though humanity does have its faults, I do not view them to go to such extremes as to leave the children of another of their won kind stranded. The gnolls, however, have shown no kindess to either race, despite similarities. Elves and humans may not be alike by much, but I do not believe them to go so far as to kill the young of the other race."

"I know it may just be considered a foolish notion to others that to compare one race to another is the height of folly, but we are all alike in one way. We all have emotions. We all want to live, we all want to have happiness. To me, destroying those chances, especially for children of any race, is like resounding a bell that tolls 'Betrayer'. This is why i do not believe that a treaty will last long, if it even can be reached."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

I head into the spear and get everyone inside. When I get Cadell, I say, "You and I may differ in opinion on how to deal with the gnolls, but we all have equal say. You will be interested in this message I bring."

 

[Ireth]

Cadell

I stir at a knock on the door, slowly sitting up. I don't feel rested at all. What's going on?

Liadan, being fully dressed, rises to answer the door; it's Baldhart, calling a meeting. Apparently Ankari made it back from the gnolls' camp alive and with news. Liadan nods, then asks Baldhart to wait a moment while we -- or rather, I -- get ready.

Liadan shuts the door, and I rub my face, trying to wake myself up. I reach for my leggings and pull them on, not bothering with a shirt or tunic; it's not as if I need them for modesty. I join Liadan, and we head out to the meeting room together.

((Visual aid for the others: Cadell's arms and torso are covered in various scars and lash marks, which are plainly visible now that he's topless, and no one but Liadan will have any prior knowledge of them. Also visible, as it has more or less been all along, is a thin scar around his neck from where he was nearly strangled.))

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

I try not to overreact to the scars, but my face gave me away. To say nothing would be more awkward.

"I never considered the drawback to living for thousands of years. You've seen many battles. I'm curious now… what's the longest stretch of time you've experienced when there were no battles at all?"

I have my doubts about this peace treaty with the gnolls… but there are those who were born and dead and lived a full life without ever having experienced war.

Flies only live for one day. So, yes.

 

[Ireth]

Cadell

I sigh as Baldhart's wide eyes rove over my scars. I can only shrug when she questions me. "Not long at all. The people of Aelwyd Eirian have always been prone to fighting even among themselves. I thought it normal, even acceptable, until very recently. The vast majority of these scars are from a single encounter, not with elves but with orcs." I clench my fist at the memory of the orcs' blades and whips biting into me again and again. "But that is a story for another time and place."

Liadan

I stay quiet as Cadell speaks, looking at him in concern and pity. When he changes the subject, I look to Baldhart. "You say you have news from the gnolls. What do they have to tell us?"

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"Let's get everyone together, Liadan, and I'll tell you."

Once I have Gisla, Grim, Bressel, Aliron, Aldar, Cadell and Liadan with Keit and I, I say, "I have a message from the gnolls. I will save my opinion until others have spoken. The message is this:

"The gnolls will not attack until they have met with the messenger in the morning. They've stated that if the village is empty, they will not seek out the hiding places used by the people. No deaths will result. Abandon the village until the gnolls have left.

"There is a chance the gnolls may switch sides and join against Aslaug. They will seek out more gnolls willing to aid in the struggle. In return, they will want autonomy and good relations with the inhabitants of their past home. No further hostilities between gnolls and humans will result if a treaty of peace is established.

"The gnolls will be bound to a protection clause, guaranteeing they will aid humans against any future external threats, even from rogue gnolls. The other races will aid in the development of their city, agriculture, and government."

I pause and let the message sink in.

"I want a calm discussion. I know for a fact not everyone has the same opinion on how to handle this. Let's say our piece, and let the elders have the final say."

 

[Ireth]

Cadell

I listen in confusion as Baldhart speaks. That is almost exactly what I told her... but not quite. Ankari must have gotten them to change their plans. Ankari agreed with my ideas for once? I don't know how to feel about that. I had thought making peace with them was a mistake, but now I'm unsure all over again.

"That is much like what I told you in the first place, Baldhart. I said the gnolls wanted peace with humans, and that I would see if they would fight alongside us against Aslaug. You dismissed it as foolishness." I can't disguise the resentment and hurt in my voice. "What have you to say about it now that Ankari has made changes?" Does she still trust him over the rest of us, including me?

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"I haven't changed my mind. I simply delivered the message without my opinion, and think everyone should have their say. But since you asked, here is my opinion:

"Yes… as you say, it's almost the same message as what you told me. But the first message said Aslaug needed Catli to stop a demon from controlling her, and she would need to rid herself of the demon's control to stop an even worse demon. Here's my problem with the gnolls—I mean, besides the child-killing part that I keep bringing up—they lack loyalty."


I pause. Nissa spoke first, so it's best to mention that.


"Let me back up a bit. You weren't the first to speak to Ghendra. Nissa was. She called herself Sinda and she called him McBarker, but it was an honest conversation on Ghendra's end…

"So in that conversation, Aslaug was one they were willing to obey from afar. When Nissa spoke to Ghendra, he said he'd bring Catli through the Taint to Verstenn Hold even though he thought going around the Taint would be safer. He'd get her a mount, let her eat and say goodbye, was considering Catli's comfort level and so on. But he had no qualms about killing other children. Catli was his boss' kid, so she was given courtesy while other lives were garbage no matter how young and innocent.

"Then, in their first message to you, Aslaug really is a good person misunderstood. Yes, she had them wipe out a village and killing women and children was 'regrettable,' but she's fighting not one, but two demons. It's a worthy cause. We should join it.

"When they met you again, they said they'd consult Aslaug in the morning. That contradicts what Nissa was told, which is that Aslaug is in Verstenn Hold. It takes two weeks to travel there from here. If she can instantly travel this close, why doesn't she just appear before her daughter and be done with it? If she can communicate from afar, maybe there is no lie here…

"But then there is surely a lie HERE: their latest message is that they'll turn against Aslaug. What about the demons? Is she suddenly the villain in their eyes? Why? Because she had them kill children? It's not like she was there forcing them to. If they have the means to gather other gnolls to fight her, why haven't they? Our force doesn't increase theirs much!"


I pause a moment and let my words sink in. I was baited into an argument with Mauve, so Ankari may have missed this point.


"Do they think none of us talk to each other? Their deception is obvious—never bullshit a bullshitter. I use deception as a tactic, and the gnolls use it correctly for the most part. They tell more truths than lies. The one consistent truth is that they want their land back.

"The half-truth is that they want it through peaceful means. They'll fight for Aslaug, betray Aslaug, and I believe them when they say none will die if we evacuate Arendal. I truly believe that even after they were caught in two lies.

"And here's the part of deception they got right. Reveal several truths, and leave out the truth that matters most: what they plan to do with Arendal once they have it to themselves.

"Burn it? Claim it? Take the food, gold, armor and weapons? Maybe they intend to get a seaside town to call home without a fight."