Shard Knight (Echoes Across Time Book 1) (16 page)

Danielle enjoyed Eliot Rousseau’s company. He engaged in excellent conversation, and she learned something new every time they spoke. In addition, he used his mind for humanitarian efforts. His research on restoration via botanical agents saved the lives of thousands across the Heartwood. But, his cautiousness could cost an equal number of lives abroad.

Rousseau nodded toward Diana Lord. “Thank you Madame Chairwoman.” He bowed toward Connal. “And, thank you Prime Guardian.” He rested his hands on the lectern’s sides and focused his attention on the audience.

“Good morning members of the assembly. Thank you for giving me a few moments of your time. I promise to keep my remarks brief.” He perched a pair of glasses on his nose and pulled a sheet of paper from his breast pocket.

“Over the last five years, we’ve seen an influx of Meranthian refugees pour across our borders. Their citizenry continue to flee the brutal regime established by Merric Pride since his ascension to the throne. Allowing safe passage for these refugees has placed an enormous burden on our troops, shard bearers, and the general population. Those opposed to invasion aren’t here to argue over King Pride’s despicable nature. We agree that his attitude and actions are disgusting.” He sipped on a cup of water and adjusted his glasses.

“Ayralen forces hold supremacy here in the Heartwood wielding dominion over every plant and animal. We've nothing to fear from Meranthian invaders so long as we defend the Heartwood.”

“If we commit forces to an invasion, we risk every Ayralen’s sovereignty. We face an opponent wielding their own lethal brand of shard magic, and we engage them on their home ground. There’s a good chance we’ll fail our liberation attempts. Ayralen will lose the troops we’ve committed, and the shards they drop. Our failure will kill those very souls we’re trying to liberate. With such staggering loss comes the inability to defend the Heartwood should Pride choose retaliation. If that happens ladies and gentlemen, we’ve lost Ayralen itself.”

Seeds of doubt took root in Danielle’s mind. Rousseau argued with sound facts and eloquent speech.

“We’ve managed to avoid confrontation with the Meranthian army for two thousand years. Let's uphold the policy set by our forefathers. There’s wisdom in that policy. I ask you to vote against committing our forces in Meranthia. Thank you for your time.” The assembly offered polite applause as he bowed toward the Prime Guardian, Diana Lord, and the general assembly.

Rousseau left the dais and walked back to his seat amid muttered conversations.

Diana Lord stepped to the lectern. “For the opposing argument, I call Danielle Deveaux to the assembly floor.”

Danielle’s stomach did full back flips. She stood and made her way to the dais. As she faced the assembly, the room spun. She placed her prepared remarks on the lectern and took a deep breath.

Danielle nodded toward Chairwoman Lord. “Thank you Madame Chairwoman.” She smiled at her father in the front row.

Connal offered her a reassuring smile and a gentle nod.

“Thank you Prime Guardian.” Danielle found the opening page of her speech and read through the first few lines. It read flat and uninspired, and she decided to improvise.

The assembly fell silent as every member gave Danielle their full attention.

“I want to thank Monsieur Rousseau for his well-argued speech, and I agree with him. He’s right.”

Murmured conversation rippled through the assembly.

Danielle paused allowing the assembly to digests her remark. “Instead, I’d like to share some intelligence gathered by our guardian spy masters.” She motioned toward two pageboys kneeling just offstage. “Jack and Drew would you bring out the map please?”

The boys scrambled across the dais, unrolled, and hung a large detailed map of Meranthia.

Danielle strode to the map and grabbed a wooden pointer. “I’d like to highlight two locations on the map. The first in northern Meranthia.” She pointed to a symbol just south of the Snowdrift Mountains. “The second location is due south of Freehold.” She marked a position midway between Freehold and the Southern Mountains near the city of Prynesse. “In the last two weeks, the Meranthian military finished construction on both facilities.” Danielle faced the assembly. “Each location has a series of large single room dormitories with combined space to hold ten thousand people. Each has a twenty foot tall reinforced fence topped with needle sharp spikes and barbed wire. The fence encloses the camp including the dormitories.” She moved to the map. “At both locations, Pride’s construction teams have dug broad shallow pits outside the eastern fence.”

She faced the assembly. “In these internment facilities, or death camps, the Meranthian military will torture tens of thousands of Ayralen citizens living abroad.”

Conversations buzzed among the assembly members.

Danielle stood behind the lectern and reviewed her notes giving the assembly time to reflect on the information. After the conversation faded she continued. “I ask each one of you to close your eyes and travel in your mind to a Meranthian death camp. Look around you and see the fear, desperation, and pain etched on the faces of your friends and family. Picture your son or daughter locked away and left with no food for a month. Picture a Meranthian guard beating your son, and raping your wife and daughter. Watch as they toss your family into a shallow pit like a piece of rubbish. Feel your own fear as they close the bars in your face.”

Every assembly member sat with eyes shut, several with tear-stained cheeks. The room remained quiet as Danielle's words hit home.

Danielle’s nostrils flared as heat flashed through her face. “Can we stand by and do nothing because it’s safe? Can we rise each morning and face the dawn with a light heart and clean conscience knowing we held nothing back? How can we speak of justice and liberty inside our safe homes when we're unwilling to die saving those principles when the road grows bumpy?” She moved to the dais’ edge and glared at the stunned assembly members. “As an Ayralen citizen, I demand action! I demand your action!" She pounded her fist. "I’ll fight for every Ayralen life no matter their location. Vote for what's right not for what's safe. Vote with your heart." She held the rapt attention of every assembly member. "Thank you for your time.”

As Danielle walked off the stage her footsteps echoed across the silent chamber. Not a single assembly member stirred for an entire minute.

Diana Lord rose and crossed the dais to the lectern. “Thank you Mademoiselle Deveaux. The assembly will cast their vote by public roll call. As the secretary calls your name, shout ‘For’ or ‘Against’. A ‘For’ vote signifies your support of an invasion. An ‘Against’ vote signifies your opposition.”

Chairwoman Lord read the roll call, and as she did each member yelled their vote. The assembly secretary marked the votes in his ledger near the assembly floor.

A spark of hope burned in Danielle’s heart. As members voted, the side holding the majority vote became murky. Before her speech, she held the support of a small minority of assembly members.

As the final assembly member voted, Diana Lord, who voted ‘For’, walked to the secretary’s desk. She reviewed the tally sheet, and a private discussion took place between the two.

Diana Lord took the tally sheet, walked across the dais, and stopped behind the lectern. She faced the gathered assembly. “We’ve a tie vote.”

Murmurs erupted from the gallery. The assemblywoman raised her voice above the noise. “When the assembly cannot reach consensus, the Prime Guardian casts the deciding vote.”

Danielle’s heart sank. She had never intended to place her father in such difficult position.

Every head swiveled toward Connal Deveaux.

Connal stood and faced the gathered assembly. “Despite Miss Deveaux's stirring speech, I must consider the millions of lives in the Heartwood. With a heavy heart, I vote against invasion.”

***

The sound of gurgling water rose above the urgent chirping of two red breasted robins jumping from limb to limb. Insects scurried for cover under a fallen tree, and water splashed as a giant bullfrog leaped from a river rock into the pond’s calm water.

The source of the panic, a giant red falcon, circled the glade overhead in a lazy figure eight.

Danielle cocked her head and glared skyward. “You may as well land. You’re scaring away half the forest.” She shifted in her seat on the edge of the small bridge, and let her feet dangle in the cool stream.

The stream ran over a half dozen smooth uneven stones before emptying into the Deveaux family lily pond.

Danielle’s stomach sank as she braced for the conversation to come. Her father had made no secret of his Meranthian position, but it still left her boiling.

A shadow shaped like a giant falcon glided overhead in a path that intersected the bridge.

Danielle felt the air stir as the falcon landed next to her on the bridge.

Connal Deveaux shifted into his human form and moved behind his daughter. “Mind if I take a seat?”

Danielle shrugged. “It’s your bridge.”

“Are you going to stay mad at me forever? It’s been three days.”

“I don’t understand Papa. Why won't you take a stand? I never believed you a coward.”

Connal lowered himself easing onto the bridge next to Danielle. “Danielle, it’s not so simple.”

“You doomed thousands of lives with your vote. You’re the Prime Guardian. It’s your job to protect our people no matter where they live.”

Connal scratched his chin and paused. “I don’t believe an invasion is the best way to help our citizens abroad.”

Heat flashed through Danielle’s body “Do you think letting that madman kill thousands is what’s best?”

“Danielle, what do you suppose Pride would do if I sent an army across the Meranthian border?”

She breathed out. “What do you mean? Pride would send out his armies.”

Connal nodded. “Go deeper. Think like a madman willing to slaughter thousands of men, women, and children.”

Her eyes grew wide. “He’d slaughter our people outright. In cold blood.”

Connal nodded. “Yes. Now you're using your head, and he’d claim it Elan’s will.”

“You can’t let it end now. You can’t hide in the forest and leave thousands alone with no hope,” Danielle said.

Connal laughed. “If you think I’d let those people die then you’ve underestimated me.”

Her brow furrowed. “But the vote -”

“I voted against an invasion. I didn’t say anything about not lending aid.”

Danielle pulled her feet out of the water and turned to face Connal. “Tell me more.”

“I’m sending in an elite force from the Guard to take out Pride,” Connal said.

“So a new madman replaces the old madman? Are you going to rely on Pride’s successor to set our citizens free? Until Queen Arianne, Meranthian royalty has shunned our country for centuries.”

Connal sat motionless and stared at the coy pond’s glassy calm surface.

A golden coy fish broke the surface devouring a water bug before returning to the murky depths.

Danielle waited for her father to speak. Had her words upset him?

“Come walk with me Danielle.” Connal stood and extended his hand.

Danielle grabbed hold and pulled herself to her feet.

Connal crossed the bridge and walked along the muddy shoreline. “Do you remember skipping stones across this pond? You were maybe five or six years,” Connal said.

“Yes. I remember trying to skip stones. I never had much luck. You told me to keep trying, and one day I'd find the other side.”

“Do you think today’s that day?” He smiled.

Danielle grinned. “No problem.” She picked up a jagged stone and threw it side armed the way he’d taught her.

The stone skipped twice and sank.

She laughed. “I stink at skipping stones.”

“You’re just rusty. Twist your body while you throw. Watch me.” He picked up a stone and moved his body in time with his arm as he threw it.

The stone skipped five times over the pond’s surface before landing on the opposite shoreline.

Danielle smiled. “You make it look so easy.”

The tone of Connal’s voice turned serious. “Danielle, I need to tell you something.”

“What’s wrong Papa?”

Connal pulled a note from his pocket.

Danielle’s stomach twisted. She recognized it. Connal had received the note prior to the assembly meeting.

“First, I’d like you to read this. A man your mother knew and trusted sent it to me. I’d trust him with my life. His name is Patron Tyrell.” He handed her the note.

Her chest tightened. She remembered his reaction the morning before the vote. “Are you sure you want me to read this?”

“Yes Danielle.” Connal nodded toward the note. “Go ahead.”

She opened the note and read the contents.

The hawk flies free. Send help.

Danielle’s brow furrowed. “Papa, this doesn’t make any sense to me. Who’s the hawk?”

“That’s what I need to explain.” He sat on a worn stone bench near the pond’s grassy bank.

Danielle followed and eased onto the bench next to him.