Protection Money - Printable Version

Pride stared worriedly after Giggle. Had he been alone, he'd have gone after her--but he trusted Aure to know his mother better than Pride knew her. If the young King felt it best to let her go, then he would take Aure's cue.

He blinked back down to the hybrid. It took him a moment to remember the last thing he'd said, and then he blinked again, getting his mind back on track. "Ahh-... I apologize--will she be okay?" and again, he glanced, half-distractedly, after the damaged seer.

He looked to Aure again, afterward. "The Overseer has stated his belief--though he may, of course, be lying to me--that unless he begins a genuine push to return the caves to 'how they used to be,' we may all be slain in this manner, or something similar, I think. As to what they used to be, I believe that was more rigidly militaristic but I may be misinterpreting. What he wants now, is for us to obey when asked; to offer gemstones, primarily, when demanded. He has explained that we must have soldiers and scouts ready to be taken by this being, I think. For what use, I do not know; I can only presume wars outside this cave. But that is what he wants: our children, I suppose, made by their magic, in exchange for our continued existence. I think," Pride added, more quietly, "the alternative is all our deaths. But we do have a choice; we can offer this, and go along with it for now; and hope that he never asks for our stones. It will not be a pleasant life but it will be a life. Or we can kill him," Pride added, far more quietly, watching Aure closely. "We can kill him. We can do that, and take our chances with what comes next. With what returns to the cave. Neither is a good option," he added, softly.

"Or we can refuse, of course, and he will try to kill us, in turn. He is already threatening the dragons, as you know. Which is why I asked to speak with him, to begin with. But if you think we ought to compromise, to survive, well-... We will need to call a meeting, yes, with everyone. To try and lay it all out, what is on the line; to explain to them the risk we're taking, and why we need to cooperate. If, if, we choose to do so. It's why I've come to you first, at least in part; I'd like to know what you want to do."

Pride paused, watching Aure closely, and he found that he wondered what the young King thought. Whether, by some miracle, Aure might have some way out of this that Pride himself had not yet seen.

Pride sighed, softly, and nodded, but it seemed a troubled sound, not an irritated one.

"I imagine myself a protector, Aure; none of these options are protection. But I doubt that old stones will do it. He was very clear on that much, but we can gather. I warn you--if it is a meeting, I told him I would present his demands and try to convince others and I will need to try and do that. Warn the Bonebound. Take this time to plan, to find another way, if you can--to propose it then. Let us say... three days from now? In that arena, certainly, if you wish; it isn't a bad idea. Speaking of the dragons--do you have any idea how I might convince them to meet without a fight?"

...Alternatively, using them to kill Vargas wouldn't be a bad idea, either. He didn't say that, though. For once, Pride was wavering, truly wavering; he didn't know which was the right course. If what Vargas said was true, then killing him might be removing the only decent buffer between Origin cave and a very, very dark force.

"Otherwise, we may have to leave them out entirely. I also... wanted to offer to train any young ones you might have, or older, even; we have a new generation in the Seven. A few new members. I was... thinking individual tutoring or combined training. It seems a little stale, given what else is going on, as an offer--but it stands," he finished, grimly.

For a moment, the young King's idea brought him a rush of hope--of course; they could look at the bones, find viable subjects-... But his addendum brought that crashing down. "A fair point. It's hardly any more moral to hand them strangers, or the long-dead, than our own stones. Someone will still need to suffer," he said, grimly. "Vargas was talking about... rewards, motivation for cooperation. But that doesn't do anything for the children that result, does it-?"

He sighed, and shook his head. "I'll see what I can do. For the sake of the peace I will sound as though I'm advocating for Vargas' plan--but please, if you think of another way... push it. Ask your Seer," he added, glancing grimly back up toward her. Toward where she'd gone. "I'll have to speak to the dragons separately, I suppose. Play it by ear."

And then, softer, eyeing Aure quietly: "Of course. Would you like me to come here, to work with her; or would you like to send her to me?"

Pride dipped his head, a short and sweeping bow, though bereft of his usual aloof elegance. There was a faint and distant sadness tainting every motion now, as though it hung heavy, a weight across his back.

"I will see you at the arena in three days, then, unless I see you before then," he answered, offering a brief, soft smile. These decisions... they'd seemed so simple hours ago.

Now-? Not so much.

"Until then, be well."

He turned, and paced away, and even his walk, for once, seemed burdened.