The room was tight, all windows barred as we sat along a round table, every single elf in my party having moved along into the room, except for Ina, who apparently would sleep for the next couple of days. Both the king and the princess sat among us. They talked to themselves, and Malor was apparently trying to take charge or make a scene, while her sister was keeping him quiet.

Lariel and Alynna sat at my side. Neither of us had changed and caked blood still stained our armor, but each of them held one of my hands in reassurance. I’d been in this world just a few nights, and I’d fought most of them instead of sleeping soundly. I felt like shit.

Everyone exchanged looks. I expected Zyra to open, but her eyes were fixed on Kent.

Wasn't this supposed to be our meeting, where Kent was invited?

I decided to open up, clearing my throat and looking around the room. “Lord Kent. First of all, thank you for helping us and bringing us to your castle. You came right on time and there's no way to repay this great kindness.”

Kent nodded and waved his hand in a dismissive gesture.

“It is nothing. I personally believe in your cause. I’ve said it before. But now we’re really in a dire situation. Not just you and your people, but my people as well. And with how things have further developed, let me say, it’s risky for you to stay here, and we should manage it well..”

“Lord Kent,” Malor exclaimed, slamming a hand on the table. Camilla whispered something in his ear. It looked like she was stressed about him saying something stupid. His face was agitated. I understood he had gone through quite an ordeal.

“I have a request for you, as your king. I am the king of this land, and you are my vassals. Please, please help me get back to my people and present myself to them.”

Kent let out an exasperated breath. He leaned his head down to bow.

“Your majesty. I would advise against that.”

“I am the king,” Malor retorted. “I know it’s risky and all, but let me take those risks. Let me be there when my people need me the most. I am no coward to hide while that mess is going on in my palace.”

Camille sharply pulled at Malor’s arm. “Cut it at once, little brother. Do you think you’re under control when you’ve literally been played by our uncle? Yes, he did it, and with the city’s guard and Larendo on their side. Don’t you believe, in that innocent little mind of yours, that he hasn’t told those men to shoot you on sight?”

“We are the hope of Alabenia!” Malor replied. “We are responsible for our people. There areways to reach the city without being recognized.”

If only this kid could slow down.

Kent gritted his teeth.

“Alright, you majesty. We’ll talk about your proposal, but first let’s go through our emergency meeting. Dawn has barely broken, and things might not be good for a while. The question is, what do the elves need?”

“First of all,” I said. “How is the situation for you? Are you being watched? Are people from the city coming in as guests? Of course, we’d love to leave as soon as it’s safe to do so, but that in itself might take some time.”

Kent nodded sharply. “We are bent on covering our tracks. Suspicions will linger and I agree that we’re not safe. Larendo and Virna, and whoever else is with them are taking quick control. As far as your people are concerned, you may stay as long as it’s possible.”

“I won’t stay here forever,” hissed the king.

Camille whispered in his ear, but we all could hear. “You are not his people.”

“Now,” Zyra added, her eyes narrow. “What’s the next step? I would not like to stay if our people are in danger. Is there another road through the mountains that can lead us back to our home?”

Kent shook his head. “I’m afraid any eastern passage is controlled by your enemies. And even traveling in disguise might be a great risk.”

I took a deep breath. "The king… He's made a very good point in the sense that if we find someone who's on our side, or receptive, could actually rally our support. I don't know what's gonna happen now. If they suspect you. They're gonna storm your castle and search for him. We should prepare, protect your own people and protect them."

Zyra shot me a glance. “Connor! Our duty first and foremost is to protect the elves.”

“That’s what I’m doing Zyra,” I replied. “What? Do you think you stand a chance if Alabenia, God forbid, sends all their armies there? Ala Bin, as far as I know, still hasn’t taken sides against the elves, and I believe we can stop it from happening.”

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"That will be seen." Kent shook his head. "It's tough. My intention is to pretend to collaborate with Larendo and the others. We're not strong enough to face him now. If I come out claiming that the king is alive I’ll get sieged."

"Who do we have that can help us?" I asked.

Kent let out a sigh.

"The Church of Aria would unconditionally support the elves, but they're anything but warriors. It has been filled with pacifist elements."

Zyra leaned back, her arms crossed.

I narrowed my eyes. I admittedly knew little about the organization of that kingdom, but I hoped and expected that there was at least a little that carried over from how the church worked in the middle ages. “Doesn’t the Church have like orders of knights?”

Kent chuckled.

“The Knights of the Mauve Rose? They’re basically a monastic order. Some of them are here with me. They do have martial arts but are pacifists. They’re not prepared for war. If we were to arm them, they’d lose catastrophically.”

Zyra lifted her hand, and the entire room fell silent, all eyes moving toward her.

"There's another very important point that none of you have addressed. It's basically what we came to do here. You saw what happened. Lord Kent, you know sorcerers have been involved in this attack and the one the previous night. Hath-Aman has now gained a great foothold in Alabenia."

Malor looked down. I could see that the kid was feeling like a fool. He'd been too trusting.

But I wouldn't have blamed him. It all started by having a family like that. And each inch given to Hath Aman, politically, would inevitably end in a catastrophe like this.

Zyra looked straight at the king.

"Our only ally has fallen,” she said through her teeth. “There is no hope for us anymore in Ala Bin. His majesty might rally supporters, we might find someone, or even have you and your troops to sustain him openly. But this kingdom is now a puppet of Hath Aman, and we're inside enemy territory. I don't mean to be an alarmist, but I can practically guess that your uncles will send troops to my people. And, looking at what they've done to His Majesty, they are not interested in negotiations."

Camille, who had been biting back her own frustration, finally spoke up. “We cannot just sit here and wait to be hunted down like animals,” she said sharply. “My mother spoke about this. She feared this moment and I did too. But the prophecies of the Book of Life have all come true.”

Prophecies? I raised an eyebrow. This was the girl who was spouting the proto scientific method.

“Alabenia is a puppet now,” she said. “We must think beyond it. We need allies outside of this kingdom. Ones who hate Hath Aman as much as we do.”

Kent raised an eyebrow. “And where do you propose we find such allies? Everyone who stands against Hath-Aman is weak or in hiding. And the North and the West despise us and have been waiting to conquer us for decades!”

Camille's lips pressed into a thin line. “There are still some nomadic tribes who hate him. How about the Northern Satigians.”

The words hung in the air, and the room tensed. The elves and even Zyra turned around fixing their eyes on Alynna.

“Those horse-robbing savages?” Alynna said, shrugging and blowing a strand of hair away from her face. “They’re not my friends. Nor yours. Much less yours.”

“Even the barbarian dame calls them savages. How could they possibly help us?” Kent asked, his tone filled with incredulity. “The ones who have raided our borders for decades? You can’t be serious.”

“I am,” Camille said firmly. “They’ve fought Hath Aman’s forces before, and… well, in ancient history, they were once our allies.”

“That’s because we had a king who paid them as mercenaries. But once they wanted to charge more they attempted to siege our homes. Your Highness, with all due respect, this is not a frontier novel.”

Camille shrugged. “They’re fierce, resourceful, and—most importantly—they hate Hath Aman just enough to listen to us if we offer them the right terms. Listen, even other nomadic confederations have been scattered by Hath Aman. At the very least, they must see him as a threat.”

Malor straightened. “You can’t be serious. The tribes have been our enemies for generations! They would sooner slit our throats than ally with us.”

“Maybe,” Camille said with an icy tone.. “But if you haven’t noticed, we’re fresh out of friends. And desperation has a way of creating opportunities. We can offer them land, protection…”

“Would they consider protection anything of value? From you?” Zyra asked. “As far as I understand they’ve been wanting to spill over your borders forever.”

Zyra’s eyes then fixed on Alynna.

The barbarian girl let out a sharp breath and leaned her head on her palm.

“Listen, so… Arcanians like me don’t get along with them. And neither would you. They have their… you know, their oaths and customs. If you give them enough money they’ll raid enemies for you, but they’ll be ready to turn on you if they get bigger money. Because those are not oaths. When it comes to oaths of vengeance… Now they’d be willing to fulfill them to the end of the earth.”

“See?” Kent exclaimed. “They have no honor!”

“Is there a way of convincing them to help us?” I asked, cocking my head. “I mean, have they fought for Hath Aman too. So I guess, if we pay them more, they’d come to us.”

“They would. They’d take money and attack this land. I’m guessing.”

I narrowed my eyes.

“Is there any kind of religious, maybe even ethnic sense of duty that could rally them against Hath Aman?”

Alynna played with the end of her hair.

“Now you’re thinking like a statesman,” Zyra said softly.

It felt kind of manipulative, but from what I’d seen, even fuzzy notions of patriotism, moral duty and religion did more to stir people than other things. And hunger.

“How about their religion?” I asked.

Alynna played with a lock of her own hair. “They don’t even believe in Aria. I guess.”

Camille cleared her throat. “That might not be entirely true. The historian Phalanius associated the Flower Goddess of the Satigians with Aria.”

“Not the same!” Alynna replied. “Aria is supposed to be a virgin, their Flower Goddess has slept with every single god. They have their own gods, you know. The Goddess of Purewater. The God of the Sword of Lightning. It’s kind of similar to our own religion, but they got all the stories wrong!”

I sighed, leaning my hand on my head.

“Alynna. Did your tribe have any dealings with them?”

She took a deep breath.

“I’ve told you we were enemies. But… To be honest we did have more dealings than with you guys. I have no tribe anymore.”

“What about… going in there and telling them how terrible it was facing Hath-Aman. Any chance that’d work?”

She clenched her teeth.

“Would you do that to me, husband?”

“I could come with you, as ambassadors. Although seeing what just happened, coming as ambassadors kind of doesn’t end well sometimes.”