Queen Yavara Ch. 17

Prestira pried the stone from Brock's hand. "Your systematic eugenics program has made your tribe too small to matter, Brock. Numbers are what count in war."

"What will war matter to the Terdini if there is no Terdini?" Trenok said beside me.

"You don't have the stone, Trenok." I whispered. He sneered at me, and I bared my fangs. His sneer faded.

"Why not just give one of the Ten the Protaki?" Elena suggested, the stone in her hand.

"Because the Protaki are mine!" Brock snapped at her, "I didn't leave Sherok here to die just to give my boon to some underserving whoreson!"

"Will the Terdini even fight for Yavara if they cannot lead?" Zander asked, proffering the stone.

Brock glowered at him, plucking the stone from his palm. "The Terdini will always fight for the Dark Queen." He looked at Mom, "But they will not bow to anyone else."

"Then the Terdini will not bow to anyone." Prestira said sharply, "If the Froktora is named someone other than Brock Terdini, and the Terdini refuse to fall in line, then the Terdini will not be part of the queen's army. They will be disgraced."

"You don't have the stone, witch!"

"I don't care about your fucking rock!"

"Enough, Prestira." Mom said, putting a hand on her blood-mother's back, and resting her other hand on Brock's bunched shoulders, "Brock is the only chieftain I will consider for Froktora. We should be thinking of a way to support him, not to replace him."

"As you wish." Prestira said with a thin smile, "I was only contemplating all of our options."

Mom turned back to Brock. "We'll talk of your candidacy when the time comes. Right now, we're talking about the immediate ranger problem. What can be done to counter these attacks?" She focused her eyes across the table, and rolled the stone over its surface. "Elena?"

Now it was Elena's turn to feel uncomfortable. She cleared her throat. "Adarian has moved from patrol units, to seek-and-destroy units. The most effective way to combat guerilla tactics is with guerilla tactics. Right now, they own the forest, and use it as their ally. You need hit squads to show them the trees have no allegiance."

Trenok grabbed the stone. "Orcs aren't made for that kind of war. Hiding in wait for hours, covering ourselves in foliage? We'll be picked apart without even seeing our enemy."

I took the stone. "I believe we might be able to help in that regard."

Elena shook her head. "They'll be back in Castle Thorum before dusk, and that fortress is impregnable."

"The trees do have an allegiance, Elena." Zander said, levitating the stone to indicate it was his turn, "We have yet to petition the nymphs for their aid."

Elena pushed the stone back to the tabletop. "The nymphs might ally with us, but they are pacifists. They won't fight."

"They might be convinced otherwise if they know that an elven army is being amassed to invade."

Brock grabbed the stone. "They say the nymphs can see through the roots and leaves. If it is true, then they would not even need to shed blood." A smile crept across his face, "They would know exactly where Adarian is patrolling; they would just need to tell us."

Elena narrowed her eyes at him, taking the stone. "Ranger companies operate with autonomy. Trying to kill Adarian would cost you greatly, and earn you little if you succeeded."

"Afraid I might hurt your boyfriend, Ranger?" Brock sneered.

"Sherok died in my arms, Brock." Elena said with a clenched jaw, "I would gladly watch Adarian die." I looked at Prestira from across the table, and saw her subtle eyeroll. She hadn't bought it either.

Brock turned to Mom. "My queen, I have asked nothing of you, but I ask you this. Grant me leave to avenge my wife."

Mom inclined her head thoughtfully. "No." She said at length. Brock's fist clenched, and Elena's relaxed.

Brock grabbed the stone like it would make a difference. "My queen, do not deny me this!"

Zander carefully took the stone from Brock. "It's not a question of vengeance, but of respect." Zander said to Mom, "Brock will be seen as weak if he doesn't avenge his wife's murder. Also, having Adarian's head in his possession will go a long way in convincing the Ten that he is worthy of Froktora."

"I can't risk Brock going out on some damned vendetta." Mom said, then turned to Elena. "Elena, you were appointed by Adarian himself to be a solo-tracker, were you not?" Elena nodded, her brows knitting in confusion. Mom gestured magnanimously to her, "Then who better to track him? Once you get the nymphs to help you, you will hunt Adarian, you will capture him, and you will bring him here for Brock to... enact justice."

"Yavara?" Elena asked, disbelieving.

"Queen Yavara when we're in conference." Mom smiled placatingly, but did not offer room for argument, only rolled the stone across the table to the her beloved.

Elena cupped her hand over the rock. "Well, my queen, I do not think Adarian can be captured. Killed, maybe, but he'd slice his throat before chancing imprisonment by orcs."

"Not if he couldn't move his limbs." Prestira said, taking the stone, "I will go with Elena to the Spruces, and assist her in negotiating with the nymphs. I have some experience with their kind. Once they've agreed, I will help her capture Adarian."

Elena chewed on her lip, then looked to Zander. "I remember what you said to me that night; don't think I forgot."

Zander nodded to her. "Can you do it?"

"I will do it, if that's what you mean." Elena looked at Mom, "Have you ever seen orc justice, my queen? Do you know what you're condemning Adarian to?" Yavara nodded solemnly. Elena looked at her like she didn't recognize her, then looked to Brock. "I will bring you Adarian, Brock, but Adarian won't bring you peace."

"I'm not looking for peace, Ranger." Brock grinned, then brought the stone before him, "And that brings me to my second order of business for the day. As secretary of war, I propose that we formally change our non-aggression stance on the Highlands."

"And I formally propose that Brock fucks himself with that rock." Elena said flatly.

Brock held the stone. "Wait your turn, Ranger. I'm not suggesting a full-scale invasion all the way to Bentius, but my queen, if you go to the Ten and propose war without offense, you will be laughed out of the room."

Mom glanced at Elena, then back at Brock. "I would jeopardize my relationship with King Dreus if I turn myself into the aggressor. I can't afford to lose trade with the Lowlands."

"I don't think King Dreus will dissolve a lucrative trade deal over a few raided villages." Brock said amicably, "We could say unaffiliated tribes carried out the attacks. Ultimately, the Ten just want riches and slaves."

"Slaves?!" Elena growled, "Slaves?!"

"Yes, Ranger, slaves. The things your people have made of us for a thousand years!"

"Are you slaves, Brock? Are you even servants? When was the last time you even paid taxes to your 'imperial overlords?'"

Brock stood up suddenly. "And where we seek justice when elven raiders burn our villages to the ground? We are under occupation! We have no rights!"

"Oh, so that give you the right to slaughter and rape with impunity?"

"Yes, it does!" Brock snarled, "An eye for an eye! The imperials have treated us like cattle for so long, maybe they should know what they've wrought!"

"If you didn't always act like animals, then you wouldn't have to be put down like them!"

Brock laughed. "And there she is, ladies and gentlemen, the true ranger finally revealed!"

Elena leapt onto the table. "I've killed more rangers than you, mighty Brock of the Terdini. I saved your village while you were seeking trophies!"

Trenok jumped up. "Now listen here you little-"

"You don't have the fucking stone, Trenok!" Elena snapped at him.

"No, I've got the fucking stone!" Brock roared.

"Well then fuck you fucking stone!" Elena screamed, and ripped it out of the orc's hands, marched to the window, and threw the rock into the Gorge. It cracked as it bounced from rock to rock, then splashed when it hit the water. The sound echoed from the bottom of the fjord, and hung in the air between Brock and Elena. Around the perimeter, the succubi began positioning themselves, the one called 'Ruby' easing toward Brock's rear. Zander's knuckles whitened around his staff, Prestira's fingers twitched with readiness, and Mom was poised to pounce, the air around her shimmering with power.

"And thus, concludes the first council of Queen Yavara Alkandi, first of her name, ruler of Alkandra and the Great Forest." I said, and smacked Brock's gavel onto the table. I let out a tired sigh, "Well, that was fun. Who wants to get wasted?"

All eyes went to me, confusion writ across their faces. Elena was the first to break. "Shit, I could sure use a drink." She turned to Brock, "What about you?"

Brock's fists lowered, his shoulders relaxing. "I've got whisky and beer in the back."

"I'm a whisky and beer kind of gal." Elena smiled.

I locked eyes with Mom from across the room, and in my mind, heard her voice. Thank you.