Chapter 23 #2
"As strange as it sounds, that's correct.
The enclosure and the harem were built to be cages.
You and the other women here are kept apart from the immortal males, just as the harem ladies and staff are kept apart from them, and the result is that those are two spheres of this island where information can move freely without fear of it spreading beyond their respective walls. "
She let out a slow breath. "This all sounds like a twisted joke."
"And yet, it's all true."
Sullha turned to look at her son. Tomek's sand construction had collapsed, and he was arguing with the girl about whose fault it was, but the fight didn't seem to need adult intervention, and she turned back to Number One.
"So, Lord Navuh is either dead or the captive of the clan, his son Losham is managing things, and you want to help him keep the power.
But you are planning to escape the island, so you are worried about him surviving without your help.
" She shook her head. "Now I understand why you can leave so easily and even take a bunch of women and children with you. "
"You were always a quick thinker."
She smiled. "Thank you. My next quick thought is, how are you going to help Losham maintain power while you are gone, and whether it is really important that he does stay in charge?
Is he really better than his brothers? Why not let Kolhood rule the island?
He's not going to be worse than Lord Navuh, right? "
He lifted his hand to stop her from firing more questions.
"I can only answer one thing at a time. Losham is the smartest of the brothers, and by a wide margin, but he is not the strongest or the most charismatic.
Kolhood wins on those two counts. None of them are good people, but Losham is not as bad as Kolhood and the other two.
Under his leadership, things will just continue as they are and not get worse.
They might even get better because he's under the clan's control, and they are the good guys. "
"You didn't sound sure of that before, I mean, about the clan being the good guys."
"I still can't be sure of that because I don't have enough information about them, but they seem okay, and they promised to help us and whoever we liberate from this island. We will need all the help we can get."
"What's in it for them?" Sullha asked.
"Information, and the enhancement protocols. We are helping the scientists escape as well because we need them to continue supplying the medications we need to take."
He hoped she wouldn't ask about the drugs because he wasn't ready to admit to his full dependency on them.
Sullha was quiet for a long moment. "Will they use the enhancement protocol to make their own soldiers stronger?"
"I don't think so. They just want to know what Navuh has been doing."
She frowned. "Do they want to attack the island? To conquer it?"
"I don't think they can. There are not enough of them. But they said that they want to free all the women and children from the breeding enclosure."
She went very still. "Do you believe them?"
"I believe that they wish to free everyone, but I don't know their military capabilities. My team and I are going to make it easier for them."
"How?"
Now came the part he had been building up to this entire time. "By eliminating the other brothers and securing Losham's position."
"You mean killing them?" She didn't sound shocked or appalled.
"Yes. We have a plan to do that so it will look like Losham had nothing to do with it.
That's important so the army will be loyal to him.
And then once he rules supreme over the island with no one to oppose his decisions, the clan's compeller can direct him to release those in the enclosure who wish to leave.
The Sacred Mothers can stay, although the clan would love to remove them from the island as well.
With no mothers, there will be no more immortal warriors for the Brotherhood. "
Across the yard in the sandbox, only Tomek remained. His friend had left with her mother, who had looked around, probably looking for Sullha, but unable to see her because the thrall forced her eyes away from the bench she and Number One were sitting on.
Tomek was left alone to keep building his elaborate castle. Several older children were playing a game of stones, and others were sitting in a circle and talking, but it was getting dark, and soon everyone would go inside.
The seven who were waiting outside the compound for him were getting tired of waiting, too.
"When are you going to do it?" Sullha asked.
"Soon. Probably days."
She nodded. "So, why not free everyone who wants to be freed right away? With no one to stop Losham, he can just order it."
"It's not that simple. There are still the junior brothers.
There are eight of them. They are not strong enough individually to challenge Losham, but they fill positions in the army and the administration.
Some of them are senior commanders. If Losham starts doing things that go against the interests of the Brotherhood, they will rebel, and the rebellion will be supported by the rank and file.
Losham will be killed, and one of the juniors will take his place.
They will probably make the conditions worse. "
"So, freeing the enclosure has to wait."
"Yes. It has to wait until Losham has consolidated his leadership, and the rank and file have accepted him as their commander. That might take years."
"Years."
"Yes."
She closed her eyes.
He gave her a moment.
"How will you do it?" she asked.
He hesitated.
"Losham's brothers have been pushing him to provide more proof that their father is alive, and Losham has been finding all kinds of ways to deflect them.
But now he will tell them that he is tired of their distrust, and if they don't believe him, they should go to the harem and verify that their father is there themselves, risking Navuh's wrath. Naturally, it will be a trap."
"Will they go?"
"They will. After pushing for so long, they cannot back down, and if needed, we can apply a small compulsion. Most likely, their pride will propel them toward the harem."
"They will expect to see Navuh, but he's not there. Instead, you and your team will be waiting for them."
"Correct."
"Are you sure you can take them? I mean, there are eight of you against three of them, but they are experienced warriors, and they might come in with many guards."
"That's the beauty of the plan. They can't bring guards or weapons with them.
They will be brought to a cliff where their father will be waiting for them, angry that they defied his rules and dared to breach his sanctuary.
Only instead of Navuh, it will be one of us waiting for them on the cliff, dressed in one of Lord Navuh's robes. "
She drew in a breath. "You will kill them, and it will be blamed on Lord Navuh."
He smiled. "As I said, you always had a sharp mind.
The harem staff will be thralled to remember Lord Navuh throwing his three sons over the cliff in a fit of rage and then retiring to his apartment again.
That will be the official story, and no one will dare to enter the harem again.
The fear of Lord Navuh will be reinforced. Losham's position will be secured."
She stared at him. "That is a brilliant plan."
"Thank you."
"Was it your idea?"
"The Eight of us came up with it together."
"You are a good team."
He nodded. "We talked it over, and the others want to see if their mothers can be saved."
Sullha smiled. "I've been wondering about that. What are their names?"
"Number Two's mother's name is Mirumah. Number Three…"
He stopped when she lifted a hand. "It would help if I knew their real names. Not their numbers. If I approach their mothers, I might need to mention that."
"Next time I see you, I'll give you their names.
For now, all I have is their mothers' names.
Number…" He stopped, realizing that telling her who was whose mother was meaningless without their real names.
"I'll just give you the mothers' names. Mirumah, Rohilah, Baruha, Karina, Zohara, and Gindah.
You already know Vinnah, and she's not a candidate. "
"Mirumah, Rohilah, Baruha, Karina, Zohara, and Gindah," Sullha repeated. "Got it. I hope there is only one of each. Some names are more popular than others."
Across the yard, Tomek was scanning the benches for his mother, looking worried.
"I need to go." She rose to her feet. "Thank you for telling me all this."
"You're welcome."