The Crow and The Rabbit

When Councilman Varnon finally arrived, Taradira pulled him into a private meeting, not giving the man time to rest. She quickly summarized what they knew, and expressed her desire to get moving as soon as possible.

Lips pushed together, Varnon frowned thoughtfully. "This does not sound like the kind of negotiation we were expecting."

"The emperor being replaced was not within my plans, no."

He took a deep breath, letting it out slowly, and repeating the process. "Fine. You, me, your captain, two guards, and one of your messenger scouts. We go into the imperial palace and meet with the new emperor, and negotiate an end to the war with someone who isn't the person that started it. Does she want to continue it? What kind of pushback can we expect to insane demands? Is this an opportunity to push for more? Can she be expected to stay in power long term, or will she be replaced and any agreement ignored? We'll need to be on watch while we are there, gaining information about the new state of the empire. I do not have a lot of confidence in the situation right now."

"She is strong, smart, and knows how to lead an army."

"Even if that did transfer to running a country, what matters is the support she will get. I don't know the last time a woman sat on Celngi's throne. Do the nobles support her? Do the people like her? Her former position in the army means she will have their support making any kind of civil war unlikely, but a disgruntled mayor rejecting her rule and getting support from other cities could lead to a landslide. The wrong minister thinking that she's unfit could end with a knife in her back or a poisoned meal being served."

"Is this what people in your line of work think about?" Taradira asked, watching him closely.

"I've read history books. All of those things have happened before, some of them multiple times."

Nodding, Taradira rose to her feet. "Time to make your place in that history as the man who ended the war."

In uniform, Ferene rode at the front of the group, Tanja at her side. Taradira followed them, on top of a massive draft horse. The time traveling passed quickly and silently, little words being said during the breaks to rest the animals. With the direct route, it took them four days to reach the capital. Ferene and Tanja lead Taradira's selected group inside, silent tension filling the air. The palace guards, despite their numbers, were uneasy around the general, not getting too close to her imposing armored figure.

In the throne room, Ferene moved to Ines' side as Tanja announced the party. Standing behind the new emperor, she looked across the room at Taradira.

She wanted to help her. Help Taradira end the war to the north. Free the Hatharen from their endless struggle. See Rilya again.

Why was she standing beside the emperor?

Taradira reached behind her, pulling a weapon off her back. The guards drew their own weapons, but stopped when Ines held out her hand. Taradira approached the throne, holding the large axe by the head, presenting it, handle-first, to the emperor. "You left this behind, last time we met."

Ferene could not see the expression on her face, but heard a faint laugh coming from the emperor. "Thank you for returning it, but I will not be needing it now. Please, keep it. As a token of your victory."

A single gray eyebrow rose, Taradira's face making an expression Ferene wasn't sure how to interpret. "I am unsure that I won, on the battlefield."

"Then a reminder that you defeated yourself by making your goals too complex."

The massive Hatharen smiled, strapping the weapon to her back again. "That is a good thing to remember. Let us talk, then. King Roland Ettsgras wants six thousand citizens to be added to his domain, along with the land under their feet."

Ines walked back to her throne, sitting down in the chair. "If my estimates are correct, that means you will be giving back one of the cities your forces are occupying."

Stepping backwards, Taradira motioned with her hand, and the young, well-dressed negotiator - Councilman Varnon - stepped forward. "The Kingdom of Ettsgras" He began, his voice carrying across the massive chamber, "is prepared to remove forces from the city of Galbr, provided that the Empire of Celngi will cease all hostilities towards Ettsgras, and permanently cede the cities of Barakin and Naymoor to the kingdom, the residents of those cities to become citizens of Ettsgras, the lands becoming the territory of Ettsgras, to do with as the kingdom wishes."

Celngi's assorted officials stood at the sides of the chamber, and Varnon's declaration sent them into a whispered frenzy, which quieted immediately when Ines tapped her cane against the floor. "One and a half thousand in Naymoor. Three thousand in Barakin. Enough smaller towns and villages to add up to more than a thousand in the land between. Likely twice that. Four thousand in Galbr. Are these the numbers you are working with, Councilman?"

Keeping his face blank, he nodded. "If you wish to have a discussion of details, we could move to-"

"No." Ines cut him off sharply. "The proceedings will be done here, in the open, with an audience. My people will know exactly what I am giving away to make peace. They will know why I am giving it away. Tell me, General." She pointed her cane towards Taradira. "If I say that the price you ask us to pay for peace is too steep, what will you do?"

"If you permit, I will return to my army and march them here, to your capital."

"And if I don't permit you to return?" Ines asked, her tone curious and not threatening.

"I will not be easily taken prisoner." Taradira replied flatly.

Rising to her feet, Ines raised her voice, addressing the room. "This is a war that will only lead to the suffering of our people." She lifted her cane over her head. "The Imperial Court may object to the surrendering of our lands to an invader, but they are alive to object. The leader of the invading army stands before you. You were told of the threat the Hatharen pose. I have brought one in front of you. Look at her. Do you believe that General Taradira is capable of doing what she says? I bring you the reality of our situation, not dread of a future that may or may not come to pass. As an Empire, we face a decision. Lose a small part of our land, or lose everything. However, the people of Celngi would never go without a fight. I do not give away our land, our people, freely." Turning, she faced Varnon. "You cannot have Barakin."

Ferene watched as the negotiator glanced at Taradira, his face tense. The crowd observing the talks remained silent, not even whispering, simply waiting.

"Then cede Galbr."

"I will not give you Galbr, either."

Taradira spoke up again. "Then what do you offer us, Emperor? You wish to surrender, we give you terms. You refuse them, despite talking about accepting your position."

"Naymoor, the city on the border between Celngi and Ettsgras, will be yours."

"That is not enough." Varnon said, loudly but calmly. Something about his expression changed. As he stared at Ines, he raised an eyebrow, tilting his head slightly.

"The borders will have to be redrawn." The emperor announced. "Naymoor stops being a border city, but a city near the border. Barakin will also become a city near the border - an imperial city, inside the empire, half a day's walk from the new border."

As Taradira frowned slightly, Varnon smiled. Ferene glanced from one of them to the other, unsure of what she was watching.

"Rather than complex, curving lines, I will move the entire border back, from north to south. You may have everything east of the designated point near Barakin."

"General Suladan tells me Imperial forces evacuated and then razed a large number of villages in that area near our advance. You would give up this land as a peace offering?"

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

While Ferene could not see Ines' expression, she was sure the emperor was smiling. "As I said, I will not give up the lands of the empire without a fight. This territory is a challenge to you. The people who lived there wish to return to that land. The Empire will do nothing to prevent them from doing so. All you need to do is demonstrate that you will treat them well, as citizens of the Kingdom of Ettsgras. Help them rebuild, rebuild for them, make deals with them and convince them to join you. At the same time, the Empire will be rebuilding on our side of the border. You are being given more territory than you would get otherwise, in exchange for less people, but the people will be there if you prove you are trustworthy. I will not demand these people live under your government against their will." She raised her voice, addressing the imperials in the room. "Is there any objection to this arrangement?"

Varnon waited, but her question was met with only silence. "And the people of Naymoor?" He asked.

"It is my understanding that you have already won the hearts of the people in that city."

"We will accept your agreement, pending discussion of details of the new border. Surely looking over maps can be done elsewhere?"

"Certainly. I will have you shown to your rooms, as honored guests of the empire."

Several servants moved forward, guiding Taradira and her group away. After they were out of the room, Ines rose to her feet, making a gesture. More than half of the audience moved forward, the nobles and rulers of the empire taking their places. Ferene's eyes moved from one to the next, unsure of how the situation changed since she left. At the same time as this group moved forward, the rest of the audience was ushered out. The spectacle of the negotiations was over.

"Your majesty," an older man began, drawing himself to his full height, "Is it wise to deny these invaders what they want?"

"You would have the emperor beg for mercy as she sells the lands and people of the empire away?" A younger woman cut in, glaring at the first man.

As the gathering descended into bickering, Ines tapped her cane on the floor, instantly silencing them. "The war was a loss. Celngi has been defeated. Were my father still the emperor, the situation would be different. I am young and unknown. A new ruler asking for a prolonged war with a foe that is willing to negotiate would divide the empire. One or two of you saying there is no reason to fight would instantly destroy the war effort, and you would be correct. For victors, Ettsgras wants relatively little. It may hurt our collective pride as a nation but we can hold on to our most important territories this way. The loss of Barakin or Galbr would-"

Ferene relaxed, seeing Ines speaking with confidence, maintaining control of the situation.

"There's something more going on here." Varnon concluded. "Several somethings. I believe that we are being used. To a very extreme degree, even."

Taradira reached upwards, placing her hands on the ceiling of the common room in the wing of the palace they were given. The doorways were too short for her, and she risked bumping her head on the oil lamp chandelier. "Should I be concerned?"

"Not yet. They've given themselves something very interesting. By putting the border next to Barakin, instead of halfway between there and Naymoor, for example, they make that city the primary trade spot between the two nations. Instead of being a large city focused on mining, it will have to expand into the new role. She's giving the mayor an incentive to go along with her rule, while also giving us a lot of territory."

"Good for her. I want to talk with her alone. About things unrelated to your negotiations."

"It might not be good to be seen as overly friendly with her. You are feared. She said all of that about you to her audience. She is using the spectacle of these negotiations to influence her court and her people. Smart, but also shows how weak her position is. Shows that she knows how weak her position is, which means she won't likely be replaced, given her apparent competence."

Taradira looked at one of the chairs, before deciding to sit on a couch instead. "That is one of several things I need to talk with her about. Her mentions of Hatharen worry me. There is also the case of the Hatharen she has here."

Varnon nodded, but remained silent. Taradira couldn't get the sight of Ferene standing behind Ines out of her head. Something about the two of them together made her uncomfortable. Despite being Ettsgras' general for multiple generations, Taradira kept herself out of politics and never used her position to influence the direction of the kingdom's growth. She told herself that it would be wrong to do that, as she was not a human. Yet there seemed to be some kind of trust between Ines and Ferene, despite them only knowing each other for a few months. The events surrounding the previous emperor's death forged a bond between the two, she was certain of it.

"Come with me." Ines whispered as she rose from her throne, after hours of discussion with her people. Ferene did as instructed, following the emperor out of the audience chamber, through several hallways, and into a room she had never seen before. They were deep inside the palace, yet light filled the room despite no visible flames. In the center of the room was a single large four poster bed surrounded by curtains. Pillows and cushions littered the room, no proper chairs in sight. Tapestries lined the walls, the space between them occupied by shelves filled with various colorful trinkets and a select few books.

Ines walked directly to the bed, stared at the curtain in front of her for a moment, then turned away, flopping gracelessly onto a pile of cushions, her cane falling at her side.

"Where are we?" Ferene asked.

"The emperor's private bedchamber. Different than the emperor's public bedchamber, which is where I actually sleep, under guard in case of assassins. Nobody watches this place, and the only people that enter are the ones I bring in with me."

Ferene blinked. "So why am I here?"

"You have a chance to kill me."

It took her a moment to respond. "I don't want to kill you."

"Of course you don't." Ines said, spreading her arms out. "There is a suspicion that you are working for Ettsgras. Should we both walk out of here alive, they will know that you are not an assassin. However, I also wanted to talk to you in private. We didn't get a chance before you left."

"What do you want to talk about?"

"I have a list of things. Your knowledge of that Hatharen general, your knowledge of the Hatharen as a people, what you knew about my father that I did not, some other minor questions that you may or may not answer. But first, I have a curiosity. Rilya - that is a female name, is it not?"

Ferene frowned, but nodded.

"She is your romantic partner?"

Another nod.

Ines sat up, her eyes studying Ferene's face. The emperor took several deep breaths, then finally nodded. "I want you to imagine that I am Rilya, and kiss me like you would kiss her."

Ferene waited for a time, thinking. She couldn't understand the request. "Why?" She gave up, asking.

Every time she saw Ines, the woman confused her. Her subservient behavior to Elhaten, despite her lack of enthusiasm in doing what he ordered. Her professional attitude as a commander and then a general. Her brutal rejection and execution of Elhaten when he was the emperor. Her serious attitude towards her court, and now her strange behavior, ending in this request. Ferene did not understand the woman at all.

"Men have confessed to me before. Before…that one." She showed Ferene a pained expression. "I kissed some of them. I was curious. I didn't enjoy it, though they did. Some of my new advisers have questioned me about choosing a partner. I have no interest in men. I want to see if a woman feels any different. I do not ask that you feel anything for me, but to allow me to feel what it is like."

"Do you need a partner? Your father-"

"My father might not have married, but he did have a number of children. That is what they want from me, but if it is presented as the need to marry, I can marry whoever I want. I find a woman, marry her, shift the burden of lineage on to some of my siblings - who are still unknown - and continue to go about what is left of my life. I did not want this, Ferene." She sighed, tilting her head. "You are easy to talk to, I can see why my father liked you. Now, a kiss. I will order you, if I must, not that it means anything."

"You didn't talk this much before."

Ines laughed. "I was a servant of the empire. Even as a general, I did as instructed, thinking of the best way to carry out my orders. I was a tool, one single thread in the tapestry of the empire. My world changed." Her face changed - her eyes dropped, her smile vanished. "I don't know who I am. The people I thought were my mother and father…they are still the ones who raised me, but the lies they told me poison the memories. Everything I did that was in their name is erased. As the emperor, I can give them whatever they want, but we both know that I cannot be their child. I never was their child. The man I devoted my life to serving was my father. The future I envisioned for myself, the goal I finally attained was taken from me." She stood up, walking towards Ferene. "I have to become the emperor. I have to give eloquent speeches, appeal to the masses. I can prepare for those, but here I find myself just saying what is on my mind. To practice talking. So." She stopped just a step from Ferene, her expression now blank. There was no playfulness, no eagerness. Just a curiosity.

Closing her eyes, Ferene thought about Rilya. If she were here right now, in front of her, what would Ferene do? Reaching forward, her hands found Ines' shoulders. Too low to be Rilya, but she pushed that thought from her head, pulling the other woman towards her. There was the briefest, faintest touch between their lips before Ines pushed her away.

"No, no. That's enough."

"Can I go, then?" Ferene asked.

Ines was looking away from Ferene, rubbing her lips with the back of her hand before the comment drew her attention suddenly. "Do you wish to leave me?" Her voice was level, dry. The same way she had talked to Elhaten. Ferene caught the difference immediately. She didn't respond, staying still, watching the Emperor.

"You are…unique. I can trust you to be on my side, at least for now, but you aren't a servant. We both know that if I ordered you to do something you did not want to do, you would step out of your role without hesitation. You were more than ready to fill the throne room with blood that day."

"Your way was better."

Ines sighed, walking back over to the bed and falling onto it. "I once asked you if you were all broken. I think I was too narrow minded, back then. I'm broken as well. I didn't see it before, but my new position forces me to see it. When the negotiations are over, you are leaving, aren't you? Going with General Suladan and leaving me alone."

Ferene frowned. "I don't know how to help you here."

"You shouldn't have to."