The Chronicles of Heaven's War: Burning Phoenix (36 page)

Turning his attention back to Mihai, he
shook an accusing finger at her, crying, “Were these not the very
words used by RaphaelNohaseiChee to lure the man, my close
companion, Azazel, up to Drissamore’s heights, to there murder him
by casting him to the rocks far below? And then that very same
she-beast spread a falsehood of evil accusations against that most
innocent of men so that his name came to be ostracized down to this
day even among his brothers?”

He raised his arms high, waving them
frantically, shouting out in angry desperation, “Men! Brothers! Has
not the treachery and deceit of the she-beasts been manifest to our
kind over and over against us? “The Gemini…the twin sisters, Sarah
and Tarsha...how many of our innocent brothers did their assassin’s
arrows murder? And then there were SonaFeuatee, UrielZoeFitinna,
GynnaSonnahFae
,
and HannahPfienah -all deceitful, murdering
she-beasts, and these to only mention a few of their wicked
kind!”

“Men! Brothers!” Legion now pointed his
finger at Mihai. “Before us stands the most treacherous and wicked
of all the she-beasts! Warped and demented it is, always seeking
vengeance for imagined wrongs, raising high the offense for trivial
indiscretions, and waging war against innocent people over tiny
misunderstandings. Do you believe
it
can be trusted to
deliver to us the promised goods after we have surrendered to
it
all that
i
t
desires?”

Everyone in Asotos’ camp began to rant and
curse Mihai, Lowenah, and all the children faithfully standing
Lowenah’s side. Pounding fists upon shield and armor, they cried
out angry chants to leave this retched place after taking back
their imprisoned brothers by force. Louder and louder, the ravings
of the incensed crowd grew, all the while Legion wagging his finger
in Mihai’s face. Mihai and her people remained silent, no one
moving.

At length, Legion raised his hand to quiet
his people. When the raucous noise was subsided, he asked Mihai,
“What say you, oh harlot beast-woman, shall we take our people and
go home or will you prove to us that, for once, you speak with a
truthful mouth? Show my people what you have delivered here to
compensate them for all their sacrifice and diligent efforts.”

Much to Legion’s disappointment, Mihai did
not respond in kind, nor did she attempt a military coup. She was
terribly distraught, the rules of protocol providing for no other
person to confer with her other than her herald, and
Trisha
was not on her list of accepted councilors. How her heart ached for
Gabrielle. What was she to do?

So much Mihai wanted to know that her
comrades were still alive, wanted to see them, yet she knew it
would be an impossibility to gain that success until Legion’s
current charges were addressed. At the same time, if she gave away
all her bartering chips to pacify Legion, he or Asotos might very
well renege on releasing the hostages. Mihai needed some assurance,
some way to keep the few cards remaining available to her.

Mihai lifted a hand, palm out. “There is no
need for violence. Remember! The soldiers with me are not innocent
as to the arts of war. Many would be those on both sides not
returning to home and hearth should such a contest be pressed, and
there are some here who would be guaranteed to fall forever dead if
swords were drawn.” She paused, giving Legion a piercing stare.
“Other solutions there are. Allow me to suggest such a one.”

Understanding Mihai’s message was not a
threat, and recognizing the likelihood of his demise if fighting
broke out at the moment, Legion agreed to listen to his
opponent.

Mihai offered, “You say that my brothers
live and are as well as may be. Then I suggest that you deliver up
Kutill the Younger, captain of the Zephath, and allow him to
testify to the truthfulness of your words. I, for my part, shall
allow you to select a fellow of your choosing to come forth and
declare the same for you. Upon seeing that all is as has been
presented, then we shall discuss the exchange of goods for your
services.”

Legion broke into a self-righteous tirade
that consumed several long minutes but, in the end, agreed to allow
Captain Kutill be brought out to within hailing distance, Mihai
agreeing to deliver one of their prisoners the same way. Legion
chose to have Salak be brought forth for him to speak with. In
time, the two men, both manacled at the wrists and ankles, stood in
the desert sands at each one’s respective hailing distance.

Captain Kutill looked a sight, a tattered
uniform little more than shreds, cuts and bruises that had not been
tended, a blackened face with one eye swollen shut, and his stature
revealing the man to be in a great deal of pain. This was in
complete contrast to Salak’s appearance. He was dressed in fresh,
clean garments, appearing well-nourished and rested. Though also
manacled, his hands were at his front instead of behind him, and
the cuffs lined with a soft fiber to prevent bruising his
flesh.

Legion spoke with Salak at length, the man
going on for the greatest time about all the sorry mistreatment he
and his fellows had received, and how his appearance was little
more than a pretense to cover up the mental and emotional tortures
they had been forced to endure. Eventually, his malcontent
exhausted for lack of further vocabulary, Salak finished.

After sufficient complaint on Legion’s part,
Mihai was allowed to hear from Captain Kutill. He painted a much
more disturbing picture, but using innuendo and illusive comment,
fearing additional abuses for his fellow hostages should he speak
too freely concerning the torture, rape, and murders practiced
against his people. Legion quickly cut the conversation short,
stating the need to finish the day’s activities. Kutill was hurried
away by the guards, being almost dragged along, he writhing in pain
at the forced gait.

After both Kutill and Salak were returned to
their holding areas, Legion demanded to have payment for the rescue
of Mihai’s people delivered over to them for examination. Mihai
knew better than to do such a thing, answering his request by
stating, “It is not only the she-beast that has disappointed. Many
are the he-beast who have raped and murdered my kind for sport and
conquest, the one I am looking at being
foremost
among
them.”

Legion became enraged, recoiling at such an
insult while defending his honor. He decried accusations being
levied against him and his other fellows while on this diplomatic
mission, threatening to close proceedings and leave at that very
moment.

“Bull-
shit!
” Mihai retorted
abrasively. “Your men would skin you alive if you abandoned your
brothers, and all… all the wonderful presents we have promised,
because of some
imagined
insult to you, words that they know
to be absolutely true!
You have tortured, murdered, raped, and
abused the children of both worlds over these many millennia, clear
down to this day.
Your closest lover, Ishtar, you murdered in a
jealous, drunken rage, then publicly desecrated her by dismembering
the woman’s lifeless body and feeding it to the lake monsters. Then
you lifted her up to godhood by making your people worship her
image. This you did in front of the eyes of all, many of them
standing here this day. Your robes of
sainthood
are dripping
with the blood of the innocent,
both of your kind and
mine!
”

Legion was nearly frothing at the mouth, in
a growing rage. What might he have done if Asotos - who was
actually quite amused that his herald was contending poorly against
this mere woman creature – had not coughed at that very moment?
Remembering his place, and the fear of what might become of him
should he gather the wrath of the King of the Wraiths, he settled
down, bringing his rage in check.

Still seething, Legion demanded Mihai
apologize. “Get down on your knees and beg the forgiveness of this
crowd of innocents who have had to witness your abhorrent behavior
and endure your contemptible speech, so that their honor may be
redeemed!”

Mihai’s heart was racing, in fear that she
may have reached too far with her last comments. Although every
word of it was true, protocol was still in order, and she had
seriously violated it. The twisting of truth and abuse of protocol
was commonplace for Asotos’ people, but if their opponents did the
same, the consequences might be catastrophic. Mihai failed to
ponder the reason why Asotos was not pursuing some kind of official
redress, which would have been his usual stance, failed to ponder
why he was holding back. Instead, the woman attempted to reconcile
the moment in order to put negotiations back on track.

Mihai extended her hands. “I will surrender
up my apologies to any of your people who are innocent of my
accusations, and I will recognize my overstepping of diplomatic
protocol. It does not serve any of us to resurrect what lies buried
in the past while the heat of the day presses us to conclude our
current business soon. Shall we be on with it?”

Legion fumed, complaining at length about
Mihai’s mistreatment of him and his people. Finally, he settled
down to current business, demanding payment for their services.

Mihai stopped him. “You have not stated a
specific price, nor do you know what we have brought with us. Shall
you then first state a price, or do you wish to hear our
offer?”

Legion retorted, “Whatever you have
delivered here is not worth
half
the value of our risk and
effort! There is no price that can be placed on the lives of my
people who sacrificed all to rescue their enemy from the hands of
wild madmen. That said, we will have you tell us first what
pathetic
items you have brought to us to make partial
payment.”

“Very well, then.” Mihai began.

It hurt the loyal children of Lowenah to
hear of the beautiful treasures being offered to these
miscreants
for the return of their dear brothers and sisters
who were kidnapped by these villainous scoundrels. Many an eye
welled up with tears as Mihai listed off those precious items that
caring hands had labored so hard to produce.

“There are aged liquors and wines from the
cellars of Medeba, gems and diamonds from the mines of
TilgathPilneser, silks from the Ecbatana and crafted by
KerenHappuch’s own hands, the purest of chrysolite from the deep
mines of Chrusion, blackened teakwood from the ancient forest of
EthoHule…”

These were only the beginning of a long list
of goods being offered up to the League of Brothers for the safe
return of Mihai’s people. Many were the barter goods mentioned.
Legion’s eyes betrayed his lusting desire to have these priceless
riches. Why, among the crafted items of stone, gold, silver, and
other precious materials, were individual pieces worth more than a
king’s ransom! Yet here they were all being delivered into greedy
hands for the release of some very dear companions.

At long last, Mihai came to the final
offering. She turned and signaled someone near the rear of the
wagon train, and then turned again to face Legion. “And from the
fields of LathraNesion…” She waited, sweeping her arm back as a
rider on a saddled horse strode into sight from behind the last
wagon. “three times twelve of the finest KaminosKtisis to be found
in the galaxy.”

An audible cry of wonder filled the air when
Asotos’ people saw these magnificent animals trot into view.
LathraNesion was the ‘land of wonder’, a mystery world belonging to
Lowenah, a world of fantasy visited by only a very few, and that
many long ages ago.

It was heartbreaking for Lowenah’s children
to know these wondrous steeds were to be handed over to their
murderous brothers. The animals were Mother’s personal gift
provided to help secure the release of her children so dearly
loved. Only days before the company departed EdenEsonbar, report
was made that some silver ships had silently settled down beyond
the hills of the city. Soon these three dozen equine were being
loaded aboard transports departing for the Prisoner Exchange.

A half-dozen riders drove the KaminosKtisis
out to an open space to the left and behind Mihai. A weary smile
grew on her face as she watched the greedy gazes cast upon those
majestic creatures. Possibly things could be hurried along now. The
sooner she could get her people returned, the happier she would
be.

Legion began to quip about the
paltry
amount of reward offered, this despite almost wetting himself at
the possibility of having one of those KaminosKtisis for his own.
Mihai argued that the amount provided was worth a thousand years of
tribute to the grandest of rulers. Still, Legion could not be made
to budge regarding his accusative questions concerning the goods’
value.

Mihai knew well the proverb, ‘
To buy a
rich man, offer him power. To buy a powerful man, offer him riches.
To buy a powerful, rich man, offer him glory that is beyond his own
reach
.’

Raising her hand as her face clouded in
disgust, Mihai caustically rebuffed Legion’s complaints. “Then we
shall take back the prizes offered and give them to the Stasis,
ourselves, for payment to wage war against you for a return of our
kindred. What matters to whom the payment should go, or of what
care is it to us should the blood of our enemy be poured out
against another of our enemy, if it is done to accomplish our
purpose? Prepare for death and slaughter at the hands of those who
will conclude that our gifts are of greater worth to them than any
alliance or treaty with you.”

At that, she ordered her attendants to
return the KaminosKtisis to the rear of the train.

Legion nearly squealed like a stuck pig.
“
No! No!
We have not rejected your offer! Wait! There has
been a misunderstanding.”