“I thought of that,” Elora said, not looking at Serio, but the others, the ones that were wavering. “But if I was going to be a failure in the eyes of the Silver Bark no matter what, my family’s standing suffering no matter what, why not take that chance of freedom for myself? I was never going to leave this world. None of us were. It may not have been said, but we all know. We know the stories from other expeditions to newly Connected Worlds. Only the Silver Bark family members return to Tirna. Our great honor,” she paused, chuckling at the word. “Our great honor is to be the first of the Silver Bark on that world. All our work, and what do we get? More of the same. Nothing changes. Maybe someone from a higher ranked family will earn some prestige but for most of us? More of the same.” She pointed at Lochlan. “I wanted more for myself and this man has given it to me.”
“And all you had to do was swear an Oath,” Glarian sneered. “Nothing has changed. But one thing has changed hasn’t it? You have grown weaker. You have suffered the Level penalty.”
Elora laughed. The sound carried over the field. The tension had been thick, the laughter only adding to it.
“Why are you here Glarian Coldstalk?,” she asked. “Why are you here and not taken to the negotiation with Hoskia? Your family are fairly high ranked are they not? I wonder why you are here?” She paused, letting the words linger.
Loch saw Glarian grew angrier, his hand drifting close to the hilt of his sword. Senior reached out, grasping the younger elf’s shoulder. Glarian shook it off, breathing heavily, but he did nothing. Loch could see the elf’s eyes, it took everything he had to not attack Elora. Loch wondered if part of it was because he knew Elora would easily kill him.
“Yes, I have taken a new Oath but it is not one of obedience like that to the Silver Bark. It is not just about me helping the Silver Bark grow. My new Oath is to protect the Clan and its members, not just its leaders but the entire Clan, from the lowest to the highest. My new Oath is to grow my strength for myself so that I can help the entire Clan. The new Oath allows me to do what I want, when I want, how I want as long as it does not endanger the Clan. I do not have to follow the orders of the Clanchief. I do because it is what I want.” She stopped, turning to smile at Glarian. “And those Levels I lost? I have gained most of them back already.”
“And I have taken no Oath,” Casian said.
There were audible gasps through the crowd, which Loch noticed had started to move closer, leaving the bounds of the camp and stepping into the clearing. They were all listening, the crowd growing.
“Yes, I have sworn to cause no harm to Clan Brady but I have not renounced my Oath to the Silver Bark,” Casian continued. “Lord Lochlan has offered to let me spend time in his Clan, to see if what they offer is truly better than here. And I have agreed to accompany them back to their Clanhold to truly see if there is another way.”
Silence spread across the clearing, all the elves focusing on Serio. The old elf had his eyes closed. Elora had said that one of the Silver Bark Clans Chroniclers would be in the expedition. The Class gave them Abilities to record events and to access past histories that they had read. She had not known for sure who it was, but had suspected the elderly Serio to serve that role.
He opened his eyes, nodding.
“Casian speaks truly. He has not left the Silver Bark.”
“I offer that same choice to any of you,” Loch said, voice carrying to all ears. “We do not need to be enemies. There is enough land for all of us. You are trapped here but you can make a life here.”
“Why”,” Serio asked. “You have the right of strength. Why negotiate with us at all? Why not just destroy us?”
“Why should we? We would win but at what cost? How many of our people would needlessly die? Isn’t it better to work together? To grow together?”
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“You are fools,” Glarian growled out. “This is not the way of the Connection!”
“I don’t care,” Loch said. “It is our way.” He summoned Onyx, the large axe appearing in his hand. Activating Bulwark, he changed the thickness and shape, making the shield larger. “But know this, any threats to Clan Brady will be met with force. We will defend ourselves, our borders and our Resources. We can be peaceful neighbors, or we can be enemies. The choice is yours.” Loch dismissed both Onyx and the shield, spreading his empty hands. “I offer the choice again. Does anyone wish to come to Clan Brady and see what the future can become?” Loch stepped forward, weaponless, moving to stand between Glarian and Serio, showing no fear of them or what they could do. Neither appeared like they would do anything. “I will not lie. Life is not perfect in Clan Brady. We are growing and struggling just like you. Food is rationed. Shelter is tight but it is shelter.” He pointed at the tents. “Those tents will be cold in the winter and winter is coming. The temperature will drop and the snows will come. You may have to share with others but you will have real shelter. Not canvas but wood or stone. I cannot promise what the future holds but what I will promise is a chance to better yourselves. The only thing that will hold you back is you. You will grow on your own merits and contributions.”
He fell silent, turning to look at Glarian then Serio. The younger elf still looked angry, almost shaking with rage, but said and did nothing. The older looked intrigued. Silence stretched, no one saying or moving. Glarian broke it.
“No one believes your words,” he said, sneering. “No one will…”
“We will join you,” a voice broke out from the crowd of elves.
Glarian’s sneer turned to shock as he turned to look at who had spoken. The ranks of elves parted, a bearded man leading others out. Loch was surprised. He thought Harper had rescued all the prisoners, but this man didn’t look like he’d been a prisoner. He was healthier, his clothing not as worn. It wasn’t as well made as many of the elves, but it was in one piece and functional. The elves behind him were dressed the same. Some wore aprons. None looked like warriors. It was a large group, which surprised Loch. He’d expected some elves to take him up on the offer, but not many. This group was at least two dozen, maybe more as others joined them as the line moved out into the clearing.
As the bearded man got closer, Loch saw the telltale signs of elven blood. His hair was long and red parts of it braided. Not as long, his beard had not been trimmed in a long time and was as red as his hair. He was about Loch’s height, but slender like the elves. A bit stockier but still slender compared to a human.
“What are you doing?,” Glarian demanded, moving to stop in front of the other elves.
Loch glared at him, hand held out as if he was going to summon his axe. Glarian stopped, glaring from Loch to the others.
The bearded man stopped about five feet away, looking at Glarian and Serio, hesitating. He looked behind him, getting some nods from the others. Turning back to Loch, he stood straighter, the hesitation gone.
“My name is Sinat Halfsolace,” he said, proud of the name. “As you can probably tell I am a bastard. A half-elf. To the Silver Bark I am scum. Useful scum. For various reasons, so are the rest of us,” he shifted, waving his hand to indicate all the people behind him. “We are servants to them. Nothing more and will never be anything else.” He turned to face Glarian. “What we are doing is taking a chance for something more.”
Sinat turned to look at Serio, daring the older elf to say anything. Serio just gave a slight nod of his head.
“You are allowing this?,” Glarian asked, glaring at Serio.
“There is nothing we can do,” Serio answered, stepping back to allow Sinat and the others following him to walk past Loch.
They started gathering behind the horses, the group joining Loch growing. Even some of the Silver Bark warriors joined. Glarian’s anger rose. The last former Silver Bark walked past Glarian. He looked from the group to the much smaller number by the tents, then back to Sinat and the others.
“They cannot go,” he declared, pointing at Sinat. “Those are the cooks and cleaners. Who will do those duties?”
Loch smiled at the young elf, who was probably dozens of years older than Loch himself. He leaned closer, the elf backing up a step.
“I guess you’ll have to do it.”