Under a Starless Sky

“We don’t need you,” Tia said.

“Then return from where you come. I ask that you respect my side of the forest,” Shen said. “Acts of aggression against me or any people in my domain will be seen as hostility and there will be consequences.”

“Kill him,” Tulia said. “And everyone here. We will take this place by force.”

Candace held direct eye contact with Shen. She was aware that neither he nor any of his people flinched. Her own Sisters were not so relaxed. Their grips tightened on their staffs. The other men and women in their company came to attention. The men were clearly scared, she saw that much without eyes. Only now did Shen recognize one of the men for a boy he once knew, fought with even. Spared.

“What are you waiting for?” Tulia said.

“This is a circle of peace. We were invited into this Light in good faith,” Candace said. “Neither I, or those who follow me, will violate the sanctity of that code. Anyone who does, will sleep permanently. If you are declaring war, so be it. We will thank those here for their ears, and retreat respectfully, knowing the next encounter will not be friendly. I recommend we accept their offer of rest and nourishment, and civil discussion.”

“I am in charge here…”

“I recognize the Light of your authority; no one violate codes, not even you. Without that, there would be no way to end hostilities,” Candace said.

“Winning end hostilities,” Tulia said.

“No. It delays the inevitable dialogue,” Candace said.

“I told them you were compromised,” Tulia said.

“I am not. You had a vision. You convinced the Elders that it was worth exploring. I was chosen because of my judgment to explore a potential threat. I was chosen because my Sister Tree is near here. I was also chosen because if the threat was realized, that Shen is here, my relationship with him would allow opportunities for dialogue. Dialogue allows us to understand whether or not there is a threat.”

While Candace spoke, Orton tried to interject: “You had relations with your sister?”

Arne rolled his eyes. Jerica gave him a look that told him shut up.

“He uses tech! He uses weapons. He uses magic. He threatens our very existence,” Tulia said. “He is a necromancer.”

“I am not…” Shen said.

“You deny it?!” Tulia said, so angry spit left her lips. Her left hand was clenched, as if she were charging it with magic to hurl. She pointed with right index. His wives changed their posture as if they saw this gesture as a threat. “There were witnesses. Your own sister Tama witnessed it.”

There was information projected from Tulia in her words- and Jerica saw it clearly, the whole of it that had been collaged in her vision before it broke out whole. She now knew who Tama was. “She is the one I saw,” Jerica said. “She can bilocate.”

“You,” Tulia said.

“We are Sister in the light, Tulia. Your ways are not the only ways,” Jerica said. “My husband speaks truth. He is a kind man. He is extremely generous, so much so, my people didn’t trust him. I have witnessed him put himself in harm’s way to protect others. I have seen him in combat with real giants. I have seen him go up against a battalion of old school warriors, with projectiles and explosives and killing machines. I have seen him use magic. I have witnessed him conversing with tree spirits. They come to this Hall daily. You will not beat him in war. And everyone one of us here would sacrifice ourselves to protect him. One word to my people, and there would be armies and ships here. We would have legions of dragon born riding about your skies. Sinter will fall. There will be death and suffering unlike you have ever seen.”

“You can’t get past the Great Ridge! Not with ships, not with dragons,” Tulia said.

think they got here?” Candace

Shen said. “I also have machines that

assessing the threat. She was assessing the

will be war,”

back to Jerica. “Withdraw from the

leave. “We stand together on this circle. That’s

brother,” Arne

men to hold their ground because the man’s decisions affected them, it affected children; it affected everything. This was the

Sometimes it escalates, but mostly, men who fight share a respect for each other and hostilities end. That type of conflict resolution doesn’t work between a man and a woman. Typically, a fight between a man and a woman results in woman being injured. You and I fighting would result in you being injured. You don’t have the muscle mass to hurt me. Even if you have some skill in combat, I only need one good hit to level you. So, in principle, in general, it is my opinion and practice

you, and so you don’t need to manipulate appearances. You have free speech here. I find your words unreasonable. I find you unreasonable. That puts the onus upon me to resolve this, because you won’t negotiate. So how do I contain your craziness? If I kill you here and now, the watchers will see this and there will be war. If I let you leave, you will rally

from this place.

time, too- just a waste. Umph. War, what’s it good for? Absolutely nothing. I could leave, and I could take the mountain with me, I

from this impromptu speech. Jerica and Ásdís both placed hands on Shen, showing support and love. They as a group

care about people and the land as much as you say, you will

not leaving this fortress. I

level of destruction that will level this mountain

too,” Shen

it. I assure you,

tulpa,” Shen said. His eyes grew wide. “You’re a daughter of Hel.

can’t be,” Jerica said. “They have

“Daughters of Hel can breed, if the male is cultivated

“My mother is the Light

kind and defeated

left her wet and hungry. She is hardly dog, compared to us. You can’t defeat us. Sinter belongs to mother. You and these others are not welcome. Now that you understand,

“And I am still not

to remain and negotiate,” Candace

“No,” Jerica said.

and silently in agreement on that score. Aslog was

from the inner ocean to the mountains, to the outer oceans. Easterly will be neutral territory, with caveats; if you attack us, we will own Easterly. Your chosen may continue to commune with the trees of the forest, of course. The air is always shared. We, too, are the children of trees and no one will be deprived of access to their ancestors. We are open to trade, but quite frankly, you have nothing we want. If you come at us aggressively, we will

opened her mouth to say

kind. We, too, have sons and daughters of tree tulpas. You’re not

mistaken,”

of the circle, and only turned her back when she was in the hall proceeding out. Her people went with her. The men hesitated, but

for you,” Shen said. “Do not

like things to be different,”

said. “Go, before there is

walked out, passing between her Sisters, who only then turned to follow. Éliane presented evidence that she was seeing

here to hold the fortress and