Chapter 17 #3
Edda stepped towards him. “The Spirit has chosen Ariana. She will ascend.” Though she answered calmly, her black eyes whispered with dark fury. She would protect Ariana to no end, which I felt was the most genuine thing about the old Bavadrin woman.
“So that we can all be puppets for the Lysian who destroyed our peaceful lives?”
I chortled, earning glares from nearly all but Ariana.
“Your previous Leader Superior should hold as much blame as I, if not more. He trapped a Lysian who wished him no harm and tortured him without the decency of hearing him out. He did not even ask whether I was of royal blood.” I reminded them of the actions which placed the Bavadrins in the situation they were now in.
“This is ridiculous. You and your puppet will not lead me.” His gaze cut to Ariana pointedly.
“You have no choice,” Ariana said, void of emotion. “Someone will ascend, and you will follow that person. If not, then you are no longer a Bavadrin. If at the Ascension you wish to challenge my claim, then you or anyone else is free to do so.”
No one spoke for a few heartbeats.
“What about food?” It was the meek Bavadrin woman’s first time speaking.
Up till then, she had not made a sound. Her eyes darted from me to Ariana.
She was looking to her for advice, already seeing her as a leader.
Finally, at least one of them seemed willing to accept her.
“We are running out and quickly. The Lysians have allowed none of us outside of the walls.”
“Have they harmed any of you?” Ariana asked.
The Bavadrin glanced fleetingly in our direction before focusing again on Ariana. “If we do what we are told, then no,” she cautiously answered.
“Considering the circumstances, have they harmed anyone unjustly, in your opinion?” Ariana pushed.
“Not that I am aware of,” the woman replied, her voice calm.
Ariana nodded, turning her attention to me. “I understand your hesitance to trust us, especially considering what you have to lose. But in your actions, my people are suffering. If any of them are unjustly harmed, then I will not help you in your search. I wish for this to be clear.”
“I don’t think you have a choice here,” Kole answered.
Some questioned Ariana’s intentions and abilities to lead. She had to show them she was on their side, a Bavadrin. I did not fault her for needing to take some power into her hands, though she really did not have many options except to do as we told her.
“I give you my word that they will harm no one unless they are a threat,” I agreed.
“What good is a Lysian’s promise? They are beasts. Do they even know the meaning of a promise?” the Bavadrin male snapped.
A growl vibrated through my throat.
Ariana’s voice silenced it. “Enough. You have made your feelings clear, but you do not know Lysians. All that you know are the stories passed down by elders to frighten children.”
“And you know them?” His eyebrows reached for the ceiling.
“I know more than I used to. Lysians feel like we do, bleed like we do, and die as we do. Trust is not linked to any bloodlines. It is linked to the soul within the being. The Spirit created us all, and therefore all creatures have the capacity for good and evil. Or do you believe the great Spirit made a mistake in creating the races?”
“Interesting choice of words. All have the capacity for good and evil. Even a Bavadrin could be evil,” he said in mocking thoughtfulness.
“Yes, a Bavadrin could,” she replied coldly. When he did not reply, Ariana turned to me once more. “We brought rations with us, but they will not last long. Can Bavadrins leave the city to gather food and bring it back?”
“I could allow two groups at a time. There are four extra Lysians who accompanied us today. Two can leave with each group,” I offered.
She frowned. “Our farms are small, usually family owned. It would be better if it were small groups and many of them. Two large ones would not suffice and would be a poor use of resources. It would not be enough,” she countered, and I cursed myself for not discussing this more with her before our coming here.
“What if each family were to leave a loved one here while they went out to ensure they returned within the allotted time?” Edda offered. Ariana’s eyes grew large, as if she couldn’t believe what the elderly Bavadrin had suggested.
“You propose we leave our own as prisoners?” Ariana’s voice turned rigid.
“They are already prisoners. They would just now have a sliver of a risk of death if their loved ones do not return in a reasonable time. The farming families are close. This shouldn’t be a problem. They will all return.”
Ariana’s heart galloped.
“We could just throw them in the dungeon if their families were not to return,” the meek Bavadrin woman offered. “That way, they wouldn’t need to die for something they have no control over.”
“But then, what would be the point of returning at all?” Kole countered. He was right. Edda’s option was the only one if they wished to send out many parties at once. The consequences needed to be dire enough to avoid trouble.
“He is correct. The punishment needs to be severe for this to be effective.” Edda agreed with Kole, then turned to Ariana, whose lips pressed into a thin line.
“I know you will not like this. But our people will not let their loved ones be killed. This will work. The city will have food, and all will be well.” Ariana shook her head without a response, and Edda placed a hand on her shoulder.
“To this day, I have not steered you wrong. Do not lose your trust in me now. This plan will be good for not only you but all Bavadrins.”
“If anyone dies because of this . . .” Ariana’s voice grew low.
“You are not Leader Superior yet. It is not on you,” Edda responded, her tongue sharp yet offering an oasis.
I took the opportunity to remove the weight of the decision from Ariana’s shoulder. It was not her decision to bear. I could spare her. “It is not on you at all,” I cut in, and all eyes fell on me. “This city is under my control. And I accept these terms.”
The Bavadrin male smiled darkly to himself. “Yes, we all have the capacity for good or evil,” he commented before turning and leaving the room with another one following in tow.
The other Bavadrin female looked at Ariana. “I look forward to your return and your Ascension.”
“Thank you.” She gave a nod of her head and a forced but polite smile.
Once it was only Ariana, Edda, and my Lysians left, she spun around to face me. I thought she was going to say something, but she held back while fury burned in her green eyes. “I’m done here. When do we head back?”
“We can leave now if you are ready.”
“You aren’t staying the night?” Edda asked in surprise.
“We will stay the next time we come for the Ascension ceremony. But we are leaving today,” I answered.
“Very well.” Edda turned to me. “We have some who live outside the city. If the food-gathering parties run across others, would it be alright if they brought them back to the city to witness the Ascension?” When I hesitated, she added, “The more who are here for it, the easier it will be for Ariana to have full control of all Bavadrins.”
“I see no problem in more Bavadrins joining, but they better come planning to stay a while.”
“That likely won’t be an issue.” Edda agreed. “I will go gather my things and then meet you at the gate if that is alright with you.” I nodded, and she vanished at once.
Landin and Willis took turns hugging Ariana goodbye.
“It was so good seeing you both,” Ariana said to them.
“I won’t let them hurt anyone,” Landin whispered to her.
“Don’t be stupid. I need you alive,” she replied lowly.
“But . . .”
“No.” Ariana took Landin’s hands in hers, silencing him. “I need you both at my side when I ascend and moving forward. You are not to get yourselves killed. Understood?”
“Understood,” they replied in unison.
She then turned to Willis. “Make sure he stays out of trouble.”
“You know how trouble feels about me,” Landin said before Willis had a chance.
A slow smile found its way to Ariana’s lips, as if he had made a joke. “If you don’t behave in my absence, I will give you trouble when I return.”
Willis sighed. “I will do my best to keep him contained.”
“Thank you.” Ariana hugged them both once more.
We made our way back through the city. Ariana worked hard at avoiding the rest of us. Once her elderly Bavadrin friend joined, it appeared as though she, too, was not spared from the cold shoulder the future Leader Superior was giving.