The Wolf, the Butterfly, and the Kraken

Chapter 46

Joann

I wanted to be anywhere but here, in Finton. The council had grudgingly admitted they needed to call a truce to speak with Captain Harris. However, now they were arguing over the terms of the truce they would offer. They'd been at it for hours. The sun would soon set, and there was no end in sight as to how they could offer a truce without seeming weak to Captain Harris.

I had healed two broken bones, and a cut while they argued. It went on and on.

Vam came back from checking the missives and delivery area on the trail. He held a scroll and set it on the table between the arguing council members. They stopped and stared at it. Silence fell.

"It smells of blood." Eyes raised to me. "What does this mean?"

"Something serious to be sealed in blood."

Mogan said, "Please, read it for us."

I picked up the scroll. It had three thumbprints on the outside. I opened it, and read:

"To the honorable council members and warriors of Finton, from Captain Harris, Lieutenant Apin, and Lieutenant Green.

We have vowed to return you to boats to take you home. The armies have moved on to other battlegrounds, and we would like to discuss with the council, in a neutral area, how this might be accomplished peacefully.

Please do not be alarmed if you hear noises on the mesa this evening, or see lights above. Several earthcasters have been designing an area for a couple of days that will hold us comfortably for meetings. The area will be lit by elemental firelight lamps tonight as they work.

If your council has had days like we have these past few days then you will know that we will need as much time to discuss this as possible. We would like to invite you, the council, Vam, and Joann to breakfast at what our earthcasters have dubbed Cliffside, which will be done by then.

This is to be a peaceful gathering, and no weapons will be brought by us. If you need to bring weapons for any reason your culture deems necessary, please do not draw them without explaining your reasons for doing so.

Breakfast should be done about an hour after sunrise. We will see you then.

At your service,

Captain Harris

Lieutenant Apin

Lieutenant Green"

I set the paper down.

Kroser laughed, "Hah! They are weak, asking for the truce first!"

Everyone at the table showed restraint and merely glared at him. Except me. I stormed over to the huge grey Lycant warrior, and smacked his face. "You have been sitting here for days offering useless, horrid, utterly frustrating, and stupid suggestions to this council! You should be ashamed of yourself! Maybe, just maybe, if you had kept a bit more of an open mind you would have been the ones to end this stupid standoff before now."

Kroser bared his teeth and started to rise. Mogan placed a hand on his shoulder and said, "Friend, she is right. Although she should not have struck you. Your words are offensive, even to my own ears, especially at this time. You have not been yourself lately."

Mogan's hand that had been placed lightly on his shoulder felt the side of his face. "You are burning up. Fever."

"I just need a walk to cool down, clear my head," Kroser said.

I placed my hand on his head. He was hot. Very hot. I looked at his eyes, praying I wouldn't see any of the telltale signs of anything more serious. They were slightly pink, but that could be exhaustion, or dehydration. "I can't tell," I murmured.