When she had finished and stood waiting, there was a long silence. She resisted the urge to look over her shoulder to the grim-faced Home Guards, who stood behind her like expressionless statues. Unlike her, they bore swords and knives. But she didn’t regret her choice to forgo weapons. She knew the nature and reputation of her audience. Coming armed would have sent the wrong message. Any sort of confrontation at this juncture would have been disastrous.
Finally, Gerrendren Elessedil shifted on his throne and shook his head. “You are bold to come to us with this tale, Princess,” he said quietly. “Bold, and perhaps a bit foolish.”
“Should I fear for my safety?” she demanded in reply. She was already calculating how many she would have to kill to reach the door leading out of the assembly. Quite a few, she thought.
“You’ve just admitted to wiping out the entire Druid order and you don’t think we might be better off ridding ourselves of you before your soldiers come after us, as well?”
“You are not in any danger unless you intend to attack us, King Gerrendren. Our arrival in the Four Lands is not intended as a threat to you or your people. All we seek is a home for our endangered population waiting back in Eurodia. Make no mistake. We are facing extinction. We cannot remain where we are. If those Troll tribes and the Druids hadn’t threatened us first, we would not have had to destroy them. But they did, so we protected ourselves—as I am sure you would do if the Federation, for instance, decided to attack you.”
She used an example she was certain would resonate. Thanks to Kol’Dre’s valuable information, she knew the history of these lands and their peoples. The Federation had, in fact, attacked the Elves on more than one occasion over the centuries, seeking to subdue or at least dominate them. This had been a part of their history with other nations, as well, for as far back as anyone could remember.
“So, you mean us no harm?” one of the Council members asked. “You expect us to believe we are safe from you?”
“As it happens,” she said, “I’ve come to ask for your help.”
It wasn’t quite the truth, but it was not a big enough lie that she couldn’t speak the words. She watched as the Council members exchanged uncertain glances.
“You’ve managed well enough without us so far,” the king observed. “You seem a very capable young lady. And your soldiers seem a seasoned and well-trained unit. It’s hard to believe you require help from anyone. What, exactly, are you looking for?”
“The Skaar are a strong and determined people, and we fully expect to succeed in our efforts to make a home here. But the bulk of our army, although it is on its way, has not yet arrived. My advance force has established a foothold and thereby demonstrated our determination to remain. We do not seek to dislodge those already living in these lands. We only seek a place for our own people. The Druids were a selfish, disorganized order that thought only of themselves. They were charged to be protectors of the land’s magic, yet they squabbled and sniped at one another and did very little to aid those who were supposedly under their protection. I know this was not always true, but things had changed recently within their order. It became a sickness they could not survive. Am I not right?”
A handful of the Council members nodded, but the king shook his head. “An oversimplification, Princess. But let’s get to the point. I am encouraged by your words, but not persuaded. It is easy enough to promise one thing while intending to deliver another. It has happened to the Elves on past occasions—and more times than I care to remember. So why should I believe it would be different with the Skaar? What proof do you offer that might persuade me?”
She nodded, acknowledging his reasoning in a small act of deference. She knew how she appeared to him, and she was using that. She was young and beautiful and seemingly vulnerable, standing there in her silken robes, unarmed and presenting no discernible threat. She could have been his granddaughter and seemed little more than a supplicant. Her candor and apparent lack of guile were disarming and encouraging. Gerrendren Elessedil and this Council believed themselves in command of the situation, and she made no attempt to persuade them otherwise. She was there at their sufferance and stood before them at their mercy.
But these were the Elves, after all, and of all the Races that occupied a place in the Four Lands, none was more honorable or fair-minded than they. Their entire history had proved it. They were an ancient people who had come out of centuries of hiding at the conclusion of the Great Wars in order to lead civilization back from the brink of extinction, and they had demonstrated their worth as leaders and healers. They were wedded to the care and maintenance of the land and its peoples. And as much as they were capable of fighting for what they believed necessary, they were children of the earth first and foremost. Their moral code was strong and their adherence to it deeply ingrained.
“I have only my words to persuade you, High King. I have only myself. So I will lay my situation and my intent before you for your examination. Then you will decide for yourself. May I continue?”
Ask his permission. Always demonstrate deference first before seeking a favor.
He nodded. “Please do, Princess.”
“I am here with a thousand members of the Skaar army—minus those who perished in battle since our arrival. With the passing of the Druids, I have performed a service to the Federation and its hierarchy—one which they sought and approved. I asked them myself before I set my soldiers and myself on our path to Paranor if they would agree to let me face the Druids alone and promise not to interfere. They agreed readily enough because they hated the Druids and wanted them gone. I acted with their approval and tacit support. But now that is changing.”
For the first time, she had deliberately lied. But she looked squarely at the faces of her audience, taking her time, her expression revealing no trace of her deception. “There are those within the Federation who would like the Elves gone, as well. I expect this does not come as a surprise to you. But before that happens, they intend to eliminate us. Though we do not threaten them—though we have no intention of intruding into the Southland regions—they fear us. Already, they are preparing to dispatch a large force to intercept us where we are encamped just north of the Mermidon. Once again, we will be forced to defend ourselves. Once again, there will be no attempt at a meaningful negotiation.”
None of this was necessarily true yet, but it would be soon enough if her plans unfolded as she intended.
“Surely, you cannot know this,” one of the Ministers interjected quickly.
“I can, and I do.” Ajin did not hesitate in her reply. “As I indicated, we have been scouting the Four Lands and its people for several years. We have learned of the Federation’s desire to dominate the other Races. It will be no different with the Skaar. The Federation will try to wipe us out. They see us as dangerous—especially now that we have eliminated the Druids. So they will eliminate us, as well.”