\u201cUtgar isn\u2019t seeing visitors today,\u201d the guard said, eyeing her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI wish to speak to Runa.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He frowned at her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAsk her. She\u2019ll want to see me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The guard raised an eyebrow. \u201cWhat\u2019s your name?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFera. Mother of Taelord.\u201d She smiled as the guard\u2019s frown deepened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWait here,\u201d he said, and ducked inside the tent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She had gotten up early, earlier than anyone else, and wandered Helsng, working out how best to say what she had to. Only when the sun was well up, had Ser found her, and told her it was time. She had hastened straight to Utgar\u2019s pavilion. She hated doing this without her son knowing, but\u2026 well, he would just try to stop her. She knew he would.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She shook her head. Poor Taelord. There was so much about the world he still didn\u2019t understand. She wished they lived in a place where he never needed to learn, but\u2026 well that was foolish thinking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The guard returned, Runa with him. She frowned when she saw Fera. \u201cYou are Taelord\u2019s mother?\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fera inclined her head. \u201cI would speak with you,\u201d she said. \u201cAlone, if I may.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Runa glanced at the guard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cStay within sight,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd don\u2019t go too far.\u201d He looked Fera up and down \u2013 probably looking for weapons \u2013 and then returned to the front of the pavilion, where he watched them, hand on his axe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCome,\u201d Fera said, placing a hand on Runa\u2019s shoulder and leading her around the pavilion, to the side. She stayed within sight of the guard, but judged him to be out of earshot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Runa frowned. \u201cWhat do you want?\u201d she asked, turning and facing Fera.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fera could hear the uncertainty in her voice. She took a breath, knowing she must choose her words carefully. \u201cI know your father is searching for a solution to the rebellion,\u201d she said. \u201cHe seeks peace, but doesn\u2019t know how to reach it. I have come to show him the only possible way.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe\u2019s inside,\u201d Runa said hesitantly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI know,\u201d Fera said. \u201cI thought to speak with you first. I doubt he would like what I have to say. Will you hear me?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Runa watched her with a frown. \u201cTell me,\u201d she said after a moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cUtgar must surrender,\u201d Fera said. \u201cPlease, let me finish,\u201d she added, holding up a hand as Runa opened her mouth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis is the only option. He has no Wellspring, and even his own Volcarrens are beginning to disregard his wishes. If he remains as he is, between two forces bent on destroying each other, he will be overrun. He doesn\u2019t wish to join either side; therefore he must surrender to the Empire.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy father has considered this,\u201d Runa said slowly, \u201cand has decided against it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fera wasn\u2019t surprised. \u201cHas he considered it fully?\u201d she said. \u201cHas he considered the might of the Empire? What they could do? They have armies, food, resources\u2026 what does he have? Less than a thousand fighters? Half-starved farmers and fishers? Weapons made out of bone and rock?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe sit on the brink of war, Runa. We can all see it. But it is not a war the rebels or Utgar can win. It could start at any time, and if it does\u2026 he won\u2019t survive. You won\u2019t survive. The Empire will crush you. You must<\/em> go to your father. Convince him to surrender to Jandar. It\u2019s our \u2013 your \u2013 only hope.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe can\u2019t,\u201d Runa said, watching Fera with a frown. \u201cI suggested surrendering to the Empire myself, but we can\u2019t trust them. Father convinced me of that. Believe me, I want to trust them, but\u2026 after what they\u2019ve done, what they are still doing to the people of this city\u2026\u201d She sighed, shaking her head. \u201cI can\u2019t trust them. I\u2019m sorry, Fera. We can\u2019t surrender.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fera looked into her eyes, searching them, and believed her. Her mind was made up, and therefore so was Utgar\u2019s. They wouldn\u2019t surrender.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But they didn\u2019t understand. They had<\/em> to surrender. It was the only way Fera could be sure. They only way to keep Taelord safe. She sighed. So be it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She had carefully maneuvered herself close to Runa, and now she leapt towards her, pulling a knife from beneath her shirt. It was small, easily missed by the guard. Runa was taken completely by surprise, and Fera crashed into her without resistance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Runa fell, and Fera went with her, both of them rolling to the ground. Runa fought. Fera had anticipated that. The girl had grown up in the Volcarren after all, in the Bone Desert. She knew well how to fight. But she was still only twelve. Fera overpowered her easily, and stood, holding Runa before her like a shield, her knife pointed at her throat. Runa stopped struggling as the cold metal pricked her, and before them, guards skidded to a halt, too late to intervene.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBring Utgar,\u201d Fera said, speaking to the closest guard. \u201cTell him I have his daughter, and that he will hear my demands.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The guards glanced at each other, uncertain. They had their weapons out, but they didn\u2019t dare approach. Fera dragged Runa backwards, putting her back to the canvas of the tent. She couldn\u2019t get surrounded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGo,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the guards turned and practically ran to the pavilion entrance. There was a rushed rumble of voices from within \u2013 Fera judged Utgar had been speaking with Vydar, leader of the Vel \u2013 and then hurried footsteps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A shadow fell across them as Utgar appeared, Vydar behind him. He turned, saw Fera and Runa, and approached slowly. He was even taller than Fera had realized, now that she was standing so close to him. He stopped a few paces away, towering over her, his features cold. Deadly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI have your daughter,\u201d she said, pressing her back to the canvas of the pavilion, knife still pointed at Runa\u2019s throat. \u201cMove towards me, and I will make sure her death is slow.\u201d Runa had stopped struggling, and now stood still, watching her father with wide eyes. Her grip was vice-like, tight on Fera\u2019s arm about her throat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Guards fanned out behind Utgar, but he swung out an arm, halting them, and watched her carefully, his eyes burning. This was not a man to trifle with. Fera knew that. But she also knew that he loved his daughter more than anything. She had pieced that together from things Taelord had said, and from the way he protected her, keeping her isolated from everyone else. As long as she held the knife to Runa\u2019s throat, Utgar was hers to command.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou will summon Jandar,\u201d Fera said calmly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No one moved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fera pricked Runa\u2019s skin, so that a tiny bead of blood appeared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDo it,\u201d Utgar hissed. \u201cBring Jandar.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of his guards jumped as if burned, and took to the air, heading for the keep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd what,\u201d Utgar whispered in a deadly voice, \u201cis Jandar coming here for?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou are going to surrender to him,\u201d Fera said, keeping an eye on the other guards. There were seven by now. \u201cYou will command your forces to lay down their arms, and you will do whatever Jandar asks of you. You will not, however, relate the location of the Wellspring.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Utgar\u2019s only reaction was to narrow his eyes. \u201cWhy not?\u201d he whispered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBecause my son will need something to bargain with,\u201d Fera said. \u201cWhen Jandar arrives, I will have secured your surrender. And when my son tells him the location of the Wellspring, our future safety will be assured.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n She could see Utgar piecing together what she meant. There were only so many people who knew where the Wellspring was. \u201cTaelord?\u201d he hissed. \u201cYou are his mother?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI am,\u201d Fera said. She looked calmly into Utgar\u2019s eyes. Every instinct was screaming for her to run, but she ignored them. She had Runa. She had the knife. She controlled everything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And then she controlled nothing. A powerful hand gripped the arm holding the knife, and pulled it away from Runa\u2019s throat, practically shattering the bone with its power. Fera cried out, and another hand gripped her other wrist, pulling it away from Runa\u2019s neck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Runa, now free, launched herself towards Utgar, and the seven guards all flew at Fera, pulling her to the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDo not strike her!\u201d Utgar\u2019s voice commanded, and the guards lowered their fists. They kept her pinned to the ground, and Fera saw another Volcarren round her, and approach Utgar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThank you, Kirav,\u201d Utgar said, still watching her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kirav glanced at Fera, and she saw that his face was a mass of cuts, and one wing was held tight in a wooden splint. \u201cGood thing this tent has no floor.\u201d He nodded to the section of canvas wall behind Fera, which she guessed he had crawled under. She had never seen him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGood thing you stayed behind in the pavilion,\u201d Utgar said. \u201cYou have my thanks. When this is all over, I\u2019ll reward you with something better than guard duty.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLooking forward to it,\u201d Kirav said grimly as Utgar approached Fera.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat is this?\u201d a commanding voice asked. Fera turned her head against the ground, and saw Utgar\u2019s guard a short distance away, panting, Jandar at his side, unarmored but still somehow regal. His eyes went over Runa, who was standing next to Utgar, holding a hand to her neck; to the tent, which Fera guessed Kirav had torn to reach her; to Fera herself, held against the ground and surrounded by guards. His eyebrows raised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Utgar turned. \u201cI ask the same of you, Jandar,\u201d he said, a tremor of anger breaking through his voice. \u201cYou come to me, asking for surrender, and then barely an hour later you send an assassin to demand the same?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAssassin?\u201d Jandar repeated. \u201cHas someone been slain?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNot yet,\u201d Kirav growled, glaring at him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Utgar pointed to Fera. \u201cYou sent her here to threaten Runa, to make me surrender. Do you deny it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jandar looked to Fera, and met her eyes. In that moment, she knew what he was about to do. She saw the sorrow it caused him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI don\u2019t know this woman,\u201d he said, looking back at Utgar. \u201cI\u2019ve never seen her.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fera closed her eyes. She had known Jandar would have to deny her if she failed. But still\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou won\u2019t mind if I get some answers out of her, then?\u201d Utgar said. He clearly expected Jandar to protest, to show some hint that he had sent Fera there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jandar shrugged. \u201cShe\u2019s a Volcarren,\u201d he said. \u201cThis is your concern, not mine. I would say though, if your own people want you to surrender this desperately\u2026 you might reconsider my offer.\u201d He turned, and without a second glance at Fera, left.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u201cUtgar isn\u2019t seeing visitors today,\u201d the guard said, eyeing her. \u201cI wish to speak to Runa.\u201d He frowned at her. \u201cAsk her. She\u2019ll want to see me.\u201d The guard raised an eyebrow. \u201cWhat\u2019s your name?\u201d \u201cFera. Mother of Taelord.\u201d She smiled as the guard\u2019s frown deepened. \u201cWait here,\u201d he said, and ducked inside the tent. … Continue reading Chapter Twenty-Four<\/span>