They found Steward Benarus in a long room in the manor. It had violet drapes and many officers around him. Marn, Aunt Pan, and Tanith were all sitting at a long, rectangular table. The windows were clear and more extensive than was defensible. Apparently, she had been joking about the firewood, at least. But she looked pleased with herself nonetheless. Sir Frederick was on the other side of the table, hands clasped together, looking grim.

Relma had heard this place had once been a dining hall where Benarus and his brother, Cervan, had grown up and eaten. But those days passed, and Cervan had a bitter enmity with Benarus before his death.

Benarus stood up and welcomed them, raising arms to either side. "Aren, Pandora, thank Elranor, you've returned. Telix's forces are about to force the issue. Our sorcerers report that the trees are gathering their power."

"The trees?" asked Aren.

"Yes," said Benarus. "They must have subverted the spirits of the land."

"This is worse than I thought," said Aren. "If Wrynncurth were planning to launch an attack, these are the signs."

"We can still negotiate. We have our prisoner," said Aunt Pan.

"We can," said Aren. "The real question, though, is what terms we'll want."

"The terms are only too clear," said Argath. "Telix is to depart these lands, never to return. Those he has corrupted will be released and returned to us where we may heal them."

"Argath, I understand your fervor," said Pan. "But I can't ask that. Telix will never sacrifice everything he's gained simply to spare his son. And Wrynncurth won't cooperate with those terms.

"Much as it leaves a foul taste in our mouths, we must compromise."

"And what of the girls he has corrupted?" asked Frederick. "Twisted into mockeries of their former selves? One of us within this room escaped that fate?" He looked to Relma. "I am glad you survived, milady."

"So am I," said Relma with a sigh. It hadn't exactly been easy.

"They're only commoners, Frederick," said Benarus. Why was he so quick to dismiss them? Surely, Benarus' feud with Cervan had been about commoners as well. Then again, it had been much more than that. Cervan had many of his minions driven out by Telix, and they had been far worse.

"They are people," said Frederick, shaking his head. "Their souls formed from the same source and will be bound to the same fate as their master, should he corrupt them."

"Surely Lord Elranor will understand if it was unwilling," said an officer.

"Um, it isn't unwilling," said Relma.

"What?" said Benarus.

"Telix uses magic to lull people into a daze," said Relma, remembering his spellwork. "Then he gives them a choice whether to leave or become part of his pack. A lot of them accept. The others, he lets go."

There were murmurs of horror among the officers. Benarus raised a hand for silence, and it was obeyed. "I don't like it any more than you do. However, the truth is that my nobles don't care much if a few village girls disappear. Not enough to risk an all-out war with dragons."

"It doesn't matter," said Tanith, leaning back in her chair.

"What doesn't matter?" asked Benarus.

"It doesn't matter what kind of deal we reach with Telix," said Tanith, spinning a knife into the air and catching it. "He's a son of Baltoth. His word is worthless. He'll turn on us the moment we give Ajax back. So we should hack his head off and put it on a pike.

"Send a message like we did with the Calishans."

She didn't believe that, did she? She wanted to start a war. Death was all she cared about. If this did get bloody, it would be a dream come true for her.

"Wrynncurth's word isn't worthless," said Relma, feeling offended and remembering their last meeting. "And Telix doesn't want to lose him as an ally." Then she paused as she realized everyone's gaze was on her. Why were they listening to her? She was just some nobody. "Why do we have to make demands?"

"What?" said Tanith.

"Why do we have to make demands?" repeated Relma. It seemed a worthwhile question.

"You are suggesting we let Telix get away with this?" asked Argath.

"Why not? We started it when we let someone rob a black dragon's hoard," said Relma. "Telix responded in kind. He didn't even kill anyone. He ate some livestock and kidnapped some girls, at least until the skirmishes.

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"And we don't know their souls will be damned, do we? So Elranor is pretty lenient."

"Are you suggesting Telix's cause is just?" asked Argath. There was an edge in his tone.

"Lord Benarus, if someone robbed one of your nobles, wouldn't they want their property back. What if someone murdered him in cold blood? You'd want revenge. Right?" asked Relma.

"We'd be obligated to seek it," admitted Benarus.

"So let's just ask Telix to release his control over the girls he turned," said Relma.

"...We could keep Ajax as a permanent hostage," said Benarus. "In return, we agree to compensate Adrian Wrynncurth for the lost gold. I don't like making peace with a son of Baltoth, but I don't like the idea of fighting Wrynncurth."

There were murmurs of agreement among the men. No one seemed particularly keen except Tanith. Her hands were clenched as she sheathed her blade. She didn't just look disappointed. She looked angry. Like this was personal. But why would it be personal?

Tanith stood up and threw aside her cloak. "Have you people lost your minds?! You want to parley with the ultimate enemy of Elranor?! The stalwart warriors preparing for war in Artarq must weep. To know the servants of Baltoth are tolerated in the heart of Harlenor!

"This is Gel Carn! Anoa himself cleansed this land of all the wicked races! This is the resting place of Lightning Trail! Here is where the Heaven's Eye was placed for safekeeping!

"And you want to let Baltoth keep an army within a day's travel!"

The men looked at her, and several spoke in agreement. And Tanith smiled. Then she breathed out in relief. As if she'd had a close call.

Tanith had been there, hadn't she, when the dragon attacked this place? That had been right after the dragon's hoard was robbed. The person who stole it had yet to take the money. Instead, they'd thrown it among the fields.

An act of foolish generosity? Maybe.

Or it could be by design. They didn't want to be caught with the gold on them. But if they hadn't robbed the hoard for money, why? To get a reaction. To provoke a war.

"What she says is true," said Frederick finally. It is better to have a battle now rather than later.

Relma could easily see Tanith doing that. And everyone who knew her could say the same. But Relma didn't actually have any proof. So, this was just a theory.

"Will having a battle now increase our chances?" asked Benarus. "No. It will not. If Telix attempts the Heaven's Eye later, we will have ample reason to move against him.

"Wrynncurth is reasonable.

"And anyway, the Heaven's Eye provides its own security. No demon is capable of touching it without being destroyed. Even mortals are hurt by holding it. And in any case, Anoa the Bright lived long ago. Times change. We must change too."

"Well spoken for a man who has never taken the field of battle himself," scoffed Tanith.

"Tanith, now isn't the time," said Argath firmly. "Sit down."

"No, now really is the time. Do you think traveling from Estal to Gel Carn is cheap? I spent money to get here expecting to be well paid." said Tanith. "And I speak for every other mercenary in this room.

"So, Benarus, are we still being paid?"

Around half the men spoke their agreement. Relma had to admit, Tanith had a point here. If she had been waiting a month, expecting battle and plunder, Relma would have been annoyed, too. Not that it justifies her actions.

Argath paused. "The girl is right. No one will mind if they don't have to fight a dangerous battle, but they will mind if they aren't paid for coming down here." He looked to Benarus.

"You and the others will be given an appropriate sum," said Benarus.

What if Relma told Benarus her suspicions? How would he react?

Tanith looked at him with narrowed eyes. "I don't like the sounds of that. What would you consider appropriate?"

"You are being paid for a battle you never fought," said Benarus. "It is only fair that the lack of risk is considered. You will receive half the agreed-upon payment."

"To hell with that, I want double," said Tanith.

Benarus would do something about it. He disliked Tanith as much as Relma did. No one would care if Tanith ended up in a dungeon. Even if it wasn't true, people might jump at the chance to get rid of her.

Dead silence. Tanith really did have a lot of nerve, didn't she? Benarus narrowed his eyes. "...I am in no mood for jests."

Relma opened her mouth.

"Well, I'm not jesting," said Tanith. "You've wasted my time bringing me here. Do you know how many Calishan villages the mercenaries here could have burned in this time?"

"You will take what I offer or nothing at all," said Benarus.

There were murmurs of anger from the men in the room. Tanith's hand went to her sword. Frederick responded in kind, as did Argath. So the mercenaries and the knights of Benarus stood with hands on their blades.

If Relma said something now, there would be a bloodletting. Tanith would fight back, and the mercenaries would do the same. Tanith was a horrible person, but Sir Edward De Cathe wasn't. He and the others just wanted to get paid and move on.

"Tanith," said Argath, "I think you should take your payment and leave."

Tanith met his gaze. Then she let go of her sword. "...To hell with this. I'm going back to work with House Gabriel. At least they have spines.

"Anyone else, I suggest you leave this cheat to the tender mercies of the wolves he loves so much more than his people. I shouldn't worry about receiving payment.

"Benarus seems very quick to overlook his bargains."

Then she stalked toward the door. For a moment, she halted by Benarus and spat at his feet. Then she left. Several mercenaries walked out with her, looking disgusted.

Relma could reveal her suspicions now, but there was no point. If she did, Tanith would end up dead or clapped in irons. But Relma wouldn't reveal what she suspected because she knew it to be true. Instead, she would be doing it because she didn't like Tanith. That wouldn't be right.

"Send a patrol after her," said Benarus to a guard. "Make sure she does no one any harm as she leaves." The guards followed. Benarus sat down and breathed out. "Argath, when you begged my leave to go to war, I never expected you to return with a snake like that."

"She wasn't like that at first," said Argath. "I remember when she first came into my service on a recommendation from Raynald De Chevlon. Cheerful. Fresh-faced. Enthusiastic. She helped keep the men motivated.

"I taught her everything I knew. I twisted her into a monster."

"Argath, even if you set her on the path she walks, it was her choice to walk it," said Aren, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Just as it is her choice whether she will turn aside. All you can do is try to make amends and not repeat the mistakes of the past."

"Benarus, I will arrange a meeting with Telix. There, we will offer him these-"

A door was flung open, and a scout rushed in. "Lord Benarus! Telix has come! His armies are coming out of the forest."

Benarus stood. "Damn. Ready the men for battle and rally the militia! We must not be taken off-guard. We'll continue this discussion on the walls."