Chapter 43 Vynsiel
VYNSIEL
Thankfully the elven officials hadn’t written a verbatim script they wished Izzy to recite. They’d come up with a bullet-point list of items for her to touch on as part of her confession. That gave Izzy some leeway in how she communicated to the public, and she used it brilliantly.
She began formally.
“My name is Sa Brown Izzy and I am guilty of conspiring to overthrow the righteous elven authorities of this wonderful land.”
I had to smile as I watched her. Her expression spoke only of submission and remorse, but a fire blazed in her spirit as she spoke. And she’d already chosen some rather on-point words.
…righteous elven authorities… could mean they had the high moral ground, or it could mean they were pompous and hypocritical.
…this wonderful land… showing her love and support for Seial while seeming apologetic.
A good start.
“I am a traitor, guilty of sedition and treason. I had hoped to abolish the rule of elves and bring equality for all people.” And the way she shook her head after saying this was inspired.
It could be seen as apologetic and contrite to those who wished to see her fall, or…
it could show her empathy for the plight of the oppressed, garnering her support from those who wished for change.
A brilliant double-edged sword of a gesture.
“And now I see the error of my ways. I shouldn’t have even tried. This is not something I could ever have done alone.”
And it was that mostly innocuous little word tacked onto the end of that sentence, which gave it so much power.
Alone.
Izzy admitted she’d tried and failed to overthrow the government, but only because she hadn’t had the support of the people, the masses behind her.
And the way she minimized those two syllables meant most people might not notice the word.
But for those who did, it suggested that united we could fight the power of the elves.
“I accept my punishment: trial by combat against Princess El Tyrianel Saldrea. I will face her, knowing I’ll find justice and peace. May my fate be an example to all those who might challenge the rule of the elves.”
A single tear fell, tracing Izzy’s cheek.
A stunning finish.
She’d thrown the door wide open for a rebellion, and it was possible none of her captors were even aware of it.
She seemed to be accepting her fate, but her words could also be taken another way.
She’d find justice against Saldrea… if she won.
And if she did, her fate would be an example to all those who might challenge the rule of elves.
I had to stop myself from applauding.
The authorities, satisfied with her confession, gloated and left.
I had to force myself to wait until I was sure no one would overhear before I quietly congratulated my love.
“That was brilliant!”
A tiny smile crept onto her lips. “You think so? I was so sure the elves were going to see through my ploy, but… they all seemed to think they’d won at the end.”
“It’s because they’ve always been superior. Your subtleties were lost on them because they heard what they wanted to hear, what they always hear. They’re so arrogant, they can’t see or hear anything other than what they expect.”
“How?” Izzy asked baffled. “How can they be so blind, so… dense?”
“When you live for thousands of years, and everyone has always submitted to you and told you what you wanted to hear, it becomes the norm. To them it’s utterly impossible that anyone would even try to rise up against them.
And frankly, it has been impossible for so long.
Your existence changes all of that, but they can’t see it, probably because they don’t know… who you really are.”
I wouldn’t say she was a royal out loud, even whispering as we were.
“They see a half-blood, who may be strong, but has now learned her place and who they’ll soon be rid of.”
Izzy frowned at that.
“That’s what they see, not what I see. I know you’ll get out of the collar and beat the crap out of Saldrea tomorrow.”
“After the other’s free Myel,” she breathed, some uncertainty creeping back into her voice.
“Yes, of course.”
She nodded, but I sensed a resurgence of her trepidation. She’d been so strong, a stunning actress, for that confession, but it had taken a lot out of her. She was already drained, and exhaustion never helped to keep up one’s spirits.
I gave her more strength from my spirit, and she smiled.
“Thank you,” she said again. “For being here, for… keeping me strong.”
“Maybe you should rest for now, you’ve been through a lot, I’ll watch over you and make sure you’re safe. Sleep, if you can, then wake refreshed and tackle the binding on your collar.”
She nodded to that and lay down on the simple cot in her cell.
I remained as close as I could, watching over her, as I’d promised.
My phone rang a little while later. It was Koar.
“We’ve had a meeting,” he said, voice clipped, unhappy.
“Lhorine is quite certain she can’t break Izzy’s collar on her own and we have few other options…
so we’re going to do as you suggested and reach out to the titans.
” Strain lay heavy in his voice. He didn’t like it, but he’d go along with it… for Izzy.
And I was thankful. As much as I believed Izzy could break the binding on her collar, the question was: could she do it in time to face Saldrea? If someone else could break the binding for her, Izzy could save some strength for the fight with the false princess.
“Safir and Zora have confirmed that Myel is in Saldrea’s dungeon, guarded by ten dragons when Saldrea isn’t around. We can’t take on a force that size without help. We’re reaching out to other contacts, but… it seems we may need the titans for that as well.”
Yeah. Ten dragons comprised a significant force.
Ten powerful dwarves could take them, but I didn’t think we had the connections for that.
Otherwise, it would take a small army to take them on.
In the limited confines of the dungeons, the ten defenders would have the advantage, since only so many attackers could come at them at once.
But a single titan, depending on how strong they were, could take a dragon or two.
“That’s it for now. We’re looking for the leader of the titans, a man named Bayn. Haven’t found him yet. I’ll keep you in the loop.”
“Thanks, old friend. Keep up your resolve. We can do this. Izzy is strong and will survive this. Remember that.”
He grunted. I don’t think he doubted me. I assumed the non-committal response was from his dislike of the whole situation.
He hung up and that was that.
Now, it was a waiting game, at least for me. I’d keep Izzy strong in here, while the others did what they needed to, to free us and Myel.
Heavens, I hoped they could do it.
Time was so short.
Honestly, it would be a miracle if we pulled this off.