“You called us here? You invited the Gula?”
“All of this was her idea,” Raithe said. “She was the first to see the threat coming; the first to believe we could win. She called this summit. Persephone is the one who suggested the appointment of a single leader. And when we needed better weapons than the Fhrey’s, she made that happen, too. I’ve never believed in the impossible. I’ve never believed that one person could make a difference. Persephone has proved me wrong. I haven’t believed in much, but…I believe in her. Persephone has done the impossible, not just once but over and over again. Look at Udgar. The leader of the Gula-Rhunes is standing inside Dahl Tirre taking part in the appointment of a keenig for all the clans. Lipit, did you think that would ever happen?”
The chieftain shook his head.
“Neither did I, but Persephone thought so, and saw the need, and she made it happen. When I didn’t think there was any way to beat the Fhrey’s weapons, I gave up. A keenig doesn’t give up. Persephone didn’t give up. Look what she’s done with a handful of women and a couple of young girls. Imagine what she could do with the full might of the combined clans!” He shook his head and his eyes settled on her. “Persephone, I can’t be keenig. You already are.” Then he fixed his gaze on Udgar. “And not just the keenig of the Rhulyn-Rhunes. She needs to be the keenig of all the clans!”
“You can’t be serious!” Nyphron broke into the clearing of people where Persephone and Raithe stood. When he spoke, those close by backed away, including Udgar who glared at the Fhrey. Only Persephone and Raithe held their ground. This didn’t go unnoticed.
“When you put forth your name for keenig,” Raithe told Nyphron, “you said it wasn’t necessary for the keenig to swing a sword, remember? You said the keenig doesn’t need to be on the battlefield. You said what’s required is someone who sees what needs to be done and can put a plan in place to accomplish it. I’d say obtaining the knowledge of Dherg metal certainly qualifies, wouldn’t you? You also said we need someone who believes in the cause and is willing to sacrifice everything to succeed. Persephone lost her husband, her son, most of her clan, and her dahl. None of those setbacks stopped her. She never gave up. And she isn’t merely willing to sacrifice…she already has.”
“But what does she know about combat?” Nyphron asked. “How could she possibly—”
Moya smirked and stepped forward, addressing the Fhrey as bravely and boldly as always. “They didn’t just hand us the recipe, you know. Give us their most sacred traditions with a smile.” She stood leaning on Roan’s bow that, unstrung, looked like a thin staff. “We had to fight for it.”
“You? Fought?” Udgar chuckled. “What did you fight, little girl? Did you defeat the Dherg’s kittens?”
Moya smiled up at him. “What I killed would consider you a bug. Balgargarath was a hundred times scarier than your ugly ass.”
Udgar grinned at her. “You don’t think I’m scary?”
As casually as if she were courting, Moya flipped back a lock of hair. “After what we’ve seen? You’re a floppy-eared puppy.”
Udgar’s grin disappeared. “Enough. Do you think me such a fool? That I would be so easily tricked by this staged act. The deceit of the southern clans is legendary, but I see through your false claims. It’s time to fight.” Udgar glared at Raithe. “It’s time for the son of Coppersword to die.”
“What’s going on?” Persephone asked.
“The Gula-Rhunes picked their candidate for keenig. Now they want to decide the matter by combat. The winner will be keenig of all the clans,” Raithe told her.
“Why does everything need to be decided by fighting?” Persephone shouted.
“To see who is greater!” Udgar shouted. “To see who is worthy to lead. Now get out of the way and let men finish this.”
Udgar conferred with a group of other Gula, all big, all clad in fur. One held out a spear and shield to him.
“I’ll fight.” Raithe looked to the chieftains. “But it will be as champion for Persephone. If I win she is keenig, agreed?”
“Can you beat him?” Persephone asked quietly.
Raithe didn’t answer.
All around the courtyard, people became excited. The show they’d come to see was about to begin. Those nearby backed away. Those far away leaned forward, and the courtyard became a hum of whispers.
“Raithe? Can you?”
He looked at the sword and then into her eyes. “I don’t know. I didn’t think it was possible, but with this…” He looked to the sword. “Maybe with this I can.”
When Udgar turned back, Raithe stepped between him and Persephone.
“Well? Who will it be?” Udgar asked. “Do you accept the son of Coppersword as your champion? Or do you prefer to fight me yourself? Or maybe the pretty one with the big mouth.” He laughed wholeheartedly. “It doesn’t matter. Whoever I fight, I’ll kill, and then I’ll be keenig. Who do you choose? Who will face me?”
“Me,” Raithe declared.
“No. Not him,” Persephone replied quickly, moving out from behind.
Raithe spun to look at her. “Don’t be insane. He’ll kill you.”
“No, he won’t.”
Raithe was stern to the point of anger. He took her aside and whispered, “Udgar is probably the best warrior in all the clans. All the clans…Gula and Rhulyn both.”
“Better than you?”
Again, Raithe didn’t answer.
She squeezed his hand. “I don’t need you to act as my champion. I have a new Shield.”
“What? Who?”
Persephone pulled away from him and faced Udgar, who stood with shoulders back and chin up. His awful scarred face highlighted his self-important sneer. She looked to Moya, who nodded slightly. “If you must have a fight to decide this, Moya will act as my champion.” Persephone gestured in her Shield’s direction.
“The little girl with the mouth even bigger than her eyes?” Udgar looked at Moya, nodding with amusement. “Oh, I see. You think I won’t kill a pretty girl. That I will concede the fight and make you the keenig. You are wrong. I’ve killed many pretty girls. I accept this challenge.”
“Is that so?” Moya said.
“Wait!” Tekchin rushed to Moya’s side. The Fhrey had a vicious look on his face. “I’ll do it.” He peered at Udgar like a hungry mountain cat eyeing an abandoned baby. “I’ll fight in her place.”
Lipit turned to Tegan. “If I’d known there would be so many champion volunteers, I would have pushed harder to be keenig myself.”
“The Fhrey aren’t a part of this,” Udgar declared. “We are choosing a keenig. The killing of the Fhrey will come after.”
“Moya,” Tekchin pleaded, but she refused to look at him.
“This is insane,” Raithe told Persephone. “He’ll kill her. Moya will die.”
“And then the Gula-Rhunes will rule over all of us,” Lipit pointed out. “This isn’t just her life at stake.”
For most of the trip back, both inside Neith and on the ship, Persephone had watched Moya practice with the bow. On the boat, she’d refined her technique, tweaking Roan’s invention until she could repeatedly hit the forward stanchion from the rear of the hold. The ship was too small for any long-range exercises, but Udgar wouldn’t be that far away, and he was wider than a stanchion. Still, a wooden post wasn’t a man and Persephone looked to Moya for reassurance.