Finn attended the Council meeting with some trepidation. She'd been included in the gathering because of her previous relationship with Gwen since the grey-haired woman's reappearance in their world. She'd hugged the Fae tightly with a short-lived relief. Surely everything would be all right now.
Not so.
Gwen had little good news to share, and when Simone and Shayn returned from their ill-fated attempt to bring back Kyler, the outlook seemed darker still.
Roland had borne it heavily. Publicly, he was brave, and bold, and helpful. At home, he looked about to crumble under the weight of leadership. She supported him as best she could, but an ill feeling crept up inside her.
The private council meetings had recently become more semi-private, with certain prominent citizens of Klain summoned to consult about particular matters. Finn was here as unofficial ambassador to the Fae and with some knowledge on herbs.
She also had a good relationship with Tom, the halfling chosen to represent the others in these interactions with the humans. Jarnsaxa was also typically present to give what intelligence she could about the areas within her knowledge.
Just now, Tom was once again haranguing the woman on a topic of great interest to him.
"What specific steps did you take to become human?" He was asking.
"I gave up my pride, and humbled myself," The former giantess answered patiently for at least the tenth time.
"But how? Was there a spell? An incantation with herbs?" Tom pressed.
"Are you so eager to become human?" Riley interjected curiously.
"I am not, but if the Fae's magical help, and the Sorcerer's, will be focused on humans, it is an option I would like to have." Tom answered evenly. "A volunteer attempted to give up pride and become humble, but nothing happened."
"Pride was the giants' flaw," Finn shook her head. "In the legend, the giants thought much of themselves and were grown to the size of their pride. I imagine you will need to conquer your own shortcoming—flaw—" She winced and corrected herself, "to break the spell that keeps you as halflings."
"So according to you, the solution would be?" Tom glanced at her, and she shrugged.
"I think you need to find it for yourself, like Jarnsaxa did. Forcing the issue seems like it wouldn't work or be sincere." Finn replied apologetically. That was the impression she'd gotten from Gwen, who was strangely quiet on the subject.
"Can we get back to Council business?" The Peacekeeper interrupted.
"Please, let's." The queen agreed easily, sending a wink towards her husband. Roland seemed distant, and she hoped to cheer him up a bit. He cleared his throat and spoke somberly.
"We received communication from Captain Napier. The sickness in the North is deadly, and dire. Scouts to the surrounding villages confirmed that the illness is not confined to one township. With the Beast closing in from the West, the acidic water from the South, and the mountains to the East, we have few options now."
"We cannot meet the Beast in battle," Riley said. "He can turn the loyalties of our own men against us. Turn us against each other. Make brothers into enemies."
The last sentence hurt Finn's heart. Kyler was lost to them, for the time being. It clearly affected the General deeply to have his younger brother betray him.
"We have to," Roland took a deep breath. "But not all of us. I want to evacuate as many as we can out of the city."
"And go where exactly?" Caspian asked from the corner, his favorite place to listen but not be spoken to unless he chose.
"North," Roland's mouth was set in a firm line. "Although it is unseasonably cool here, the missive from Napier talks of unusually hot weather. A caravan of as many people as we can manage should head North, and then turn East into the mountains, splitting off some additional aid for the ill areas. Though the illness is grave, there is a surplus of harvestable summer crops. I think it is worth the risk, but the leaders on site will have authority to make the call when the time comes."
Finn had guessed as much from his nighttime musings. Saving everyone was an impossible task, and so saving as many as he could became the new goal.
His dream haunted and comforted him in equal measure. She turned the images he described over in her mind the way he had told her. The cut on his hand, the blood spilled as the glue to bring the world back together.
That could easily be a reference to his death, his blood spilled across the portal-makers that began the cascade of the worlds colliding.
As a king, it could also be the blood of his people, which was an interpretation they both dreaded.
Still, there was no reason for the Sorcerer to give Roland such a dream, and to talk to him personally, if humanity were going to be wiped out in the process.
The beauty of the new world, all put together and whole once more, was something human eyes would see. Finn thought the flower growing out of the vase in the dream represented the living things the Sorcerer had created and put there to live.
There was no knowing how much blood would be spilled before that day came, but it was likely to be no small amount.
The room was silent for a moment.
"How would you decide who to evacuate?" The Treasurer asked quietly.
"I would welcome your input," Roland declared, but his eyes were on Gwen, who had her most impassive expression fixed in place. "I thought many of the Cetoans, led by Caspian, might be most willing to leave, since this is not their original home anyway. Convincing locals to leave everything behind might prove more difficult."
"That is true," Caspian nodded. "But how much military protection would we have? The Cetoans are a naval people, less trained in land combat if that should be required. I would do my best, but I am no great warrior."
"I have debated that heavily." The corners of Roland's mouth pulled tight. "I… cannot leave the city undefended. And yet, if Beast is so skilled at bending people to his will, leaving the army to guard the city would be akin to gifting him the force."
"He cannot change all, right Gwen?" Finn interjected. She had met with Simone the day before to hear a debrief of all information the woman had gathered.
When Jarnsaxa was done with the meeting, she would go to the library with the young woman for the purpose of transcribing all the giants' knowledge for the benefit of humanity.
The Fae shook her head slightly. "Those hiding their darkness deepest in their hearts are most easily turned. Only the Sorcerer can truly keep someone from Beast's grasp."
"Then why doesn't he??" Riley demanded. "Didn't the Cetoans say he created us? Does he not care for us at all?"
"The Sorcerer's ways are greater than you know," Gwen was gracious about the outburst, and Finn thought the enigmatic woman must be rather used to hearing even the calmest of people rail and rant in their minds on occasion.
"Sure, sure," The General threw up his hands, "but can they be greater… sooner? Why the delay? If he's going to save humanity, why not do it now? If he's going to let us perish at the hands of Beast, why are we even talking about him?"
"Riley," Finn warned, and he calmed. Roland shot his wife a grateful look. There were few who could make Riley back down from his sarcasm.
"The Rhone were nomadic," Duncan entered the conversation from the first time. The former Rhone king was weak, but sharp. "Our soldiers know how to defend a column of women, children, and laborers."
"The halflings will flee, if the humans intend to," Tom narrowed his eyes. "We will not be left behind as feed for some beast, to serve against our will once more."
"Do you have any healing herbs that would help the dire situation in the North?" Finn asked gently.
Tom considered the question. "Some. We have been planting and growing our seeds since we arrived. With enough wagons, we can bring our pots on the journey and continue. Your magical children, they will come?"
"Yes," Roland answered.
At the same time Finn answered, "No."
The couple looked at each other. The queen's eyes held fire, but Roland's held stone, unmovable.
"If the city is to be taken over and destroyed, the heirs cannot be here." He said firmly. "It is not only my desire to keep them, and you, safe that compels my decision, but the future of humanity. All the better if they can help the halflings grow healing herbs along the way to help bring an end to this sickness. They were born to help, and help they shall."
"I won't leave you." Finn's eyes narrowed, but Roland's expression did not change.
"I will not abandon my people. If the Sorcerer wills me to join you, I shall, but not until the city is beyond my ability to help."