Seraiah and Kestrel waited in the grand entryway of the gnomes’ castle for Therill to return with news.
“This is a lot bigger than I thought it would be,” Kestrel said, studying their surroundings. “For a city that doesn’t engage with outsiders, I’m surprised they even bothered to create a space to host them.”
“Was it always that way?”
“From what I can remember. Several generations, at least. There are stories of what the world was like before, but the elves have no one who lived in that time to confirm them.” Kestrel leaned in to inspect a sculpture inset in the wall. To Seraiah, it appeared to be something abstract.
“What about the Summer King? Would he know if the stories were true? Or the dragons?” If she remembered right, Riv and Isaour had told her they’d been around just as long as the faeries.
Before Kestrel could answer, Therill reappeared.
"I've arranged rooms for you in the castle, but the clan leaders won't meet until tomorrow. You have until then to decide what to say. As you asked, I have not told them about Lonan yet."
"Thank you, Therill," Seraiah said. "We really appreciate you doing this."
"Of course," he responded, his cheeks turning pink. "I'll show you to your rooms."
After Therill left them for the night, Seraiah joined Kestrel in her room, which was conveniently across the hallway from her own.
“Any suggestions on the best tactic to convince the clan leaders to help us?” Kestrel asked. She sat in the lone chair, sharpening one of her many knives. “You’ve spoken with them before, so I will trust your judgment.”
Seraiah sighed and perched on the end of Kestrel’s bed. Her wet hair hung in ropes down her back, bringing goosebumps to her skin, but at least she no longer smelled like a lake. “I don’t know. To be honest, the last time I spoke with them, they didn’t exactly give me what I asked for. They offered Lonan, who they already knew had issues with remembering things, to guide me back to the surface, but they couldn’t provide anything else.”
“There has to be something we can use to convince them. Everyone has something they want.”
Seraiah tapped her foot on the floor while she thought. “You heard what Therill said. The gnomes aren’t interested in the affairs of the elves because the elves had never been interested in them. Is there something we could offer them? A trade agreement?”
Kestrel put aside her sharpening stone and tucked her knife away, focusing her full attention on Seraiah. “Lonan was very interested in the shops when he visited Nyrene. In particular, I remember him taking a liking to the apothecary. There might just be something the gnomes would be interested in trading with us. However, any trade agreement would only work if we were successful in taking back Nyrene and right now our odds are not looking good.”
“All the more reason for them to help us as much as they can,” Seraiah said.
Kestrel nodded. “We’d also have to hope they would take our word for an agreement, even though neither of us is of the royal blood.”
“But they know Sterling is my sister and you are a Commander in Nyrene. That’s a position of power.”
“I was a Commander in Nyrene. Now I am nothing.” Kestrel held her hands out, palms face up.
“You and I both know that isn’t true,” Seraiah said.
Kestrel shrugged and looked away. “What if they ask about Sterling?”
“What about her?”
“How much are you willing to share?”
“I would tell them everything that happened after leaving here with Lonan and how we rescued her.”
Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.
“And the shadows? Would you tell them about that?”
Seraiah bit her lip. “I think the less who know about the shadows, the better.”
“Even if they might offer help?”
“I thought you were convinced the necromancer was going to be our key to helping Sterling?” Seraiah countered.
“You can never have too many options.”
“I don’t know. It might give them another reason to avoid helping us. What if they decide the shadows mean they should side against us? It’s one thing if they choose to remain neutral, but the last thing we need is more enemies.”
Kestrel dipped her chin. “Fair. In that case, we’ll stick to the rescue story and offer an alliance in exchange for a trade agreement.”
“And if they turn us down, we move on to other prospects.”
Kestrel grimaced. “Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.”
----------------------------------------
By the time morning came, a knot had taken up residence in Seraiah’s stomach. They may have made a solid plan, but Seraiah couldn’t keep from worrying the gnomes would still turn them down. Then they would be left with either the faeries or the dragons. If the gnomes were unreceptive to an alliance, she doubted she could convince the dragons, and the faeries would likely extract a much bigger price that none of them could pay.
Therill brought them breakfast and sat with them while they picked at their meals. Seraiah was too anxious to swallow more than a few mouthfuls, and even Kestrel couldn't finish all that she had been offered.
If this alliance didn’t work out, it would mean Kestrel had to wait even longer to be reunited with Eryx. Seraiah refused to think of the alternative that he hadn’t survived the takeover.
Therill was the one to introduce them to the clan leaders, as he had the last time Seraiah had appeared before them.
She scanned the faces of those seated at the table and noticed a few new ones mixed in with those she recognized from last time. The female gnome who’d spoken for the group previously seemed to still be in charge of asking the questions.
"This almost feels like we’re on trial," Kestrel said out of the corner of her mouth.
"At least it’s better than the Elven council," Seraiah whispered back.
“Can’t argue with that.”
"Why have you returned to us, Seraiah?" the leader asked.
She was surprised the gnome remembered her name. "I have news to share with you, and it is not the pleasant kind," she answered. “I also have a proposal for you.”
“The news first, please.”
Seraiah took a deep breath and said, “My dear friend, Lonan, has passed while bravely assisting me in rescuing my sister, the rightful queen of Nyrene.”
There was a moment of deafening silence. Then, “We will honor our fallen. Please share the story of his bravery.”
Seraiah told them about finding the dragons, completing the fairy quest, and the takeover of Nyrene.
“My sister has been restored to me, but her throne has been stolen. Will you help me return it to her?”
The clan leaders exchanged looks, none of them pleased. “You would ask us to fight your war for you?” the female gnome asked.
“I would ask you for an alliance. My companion, Kestrel, is a Commander of Nyrene. We are prepared to offer a trade agreement in return. Lonan believed the world could be a better place if we worked together to keep it safe. I agree with him, and I hope you do as well.”
“We will discuss your proposal. Please, wait outside while we deliberate.”
Therill walked them back to the hall to wait. “I’ll do my best to advocate for you,” he told them before shutting them out.
A little over half an hour later, they were called to return. Therill’s face was perfectly blank as he ushered them inside, which sent Seraiah’s heart sinking. It was going to be bad news.
The female gnome came around the table to stand in front of them. "We, gnomes of Metrius, have decided not to involve ourselves in the business of the elves. While we appreciate the offer of a trade agreement, we have lived without for many generations and will continue to do so. Until there is a time when our well-being here under the mountain is threatened, we shall not muster an army to fight in a war that is not our own."
"But—"
Therill placed a hand on Seraiah’s arm and shook his head. Arguing would do no good.
“We would invite you to a feast to celebrate Lonan’s life, and then we will assist you back to the surface,” the gnome finished.
They were being kicked out. Coming here had been for nothing.
No, not nothing, Seraiah reminded herself. Therill deserved to know what happened to his friend. It was still disappointing to be turned away.
"Thank you," Kestrel said, speaking to the leaders for the first time. “We appreciate your hospitality and will attend the celebration, leaving by morning.” She let none of the anger Seraiah could see in her shoulders leak into her voice.
"I'm sorry," Therill apologized as soon as they left the meeting hall.
"For what?" Seraiah asked. "This isn't your fault. You warned us what they were likely to say. While I wish there had been a way to convince them, there is nothing to be done now but to continue our search for allies elsewhere."
“In your absence, I will work on changing their minds. I will try my best to win them over to your cause."
"Thank you, Therill. That is very kind of you."
The gnome bowed his head. "It is what Lonan would have wanted."
Later that night, they attended the feast held in Lonan's honor and listened to the stories of his life. Seraiah had her own stories to tell of him, but she kept silent. She was no longer willing to share the happy times now that she’d realized how selfish the gnomes really were.
Lonan had not been selfish like the clan leaders, and neither was Therill. But if she were a ruler, would she do anything different? Would she help another kingdom, even if it meant hurting her own? Seraiah was suddenly glad that Sterling was the queen and not her, because she didn't have an answer to that.