“And in return, you still offer energy production? Defense against other daeyari?”
“Wherever it’s needed. As much as I’m able.”
“Because heneedsus!” Kashvi cut in.
“I do,” Antal said without hesitation. “I need you desperately. I can’t remove Verne on my own. But whatever you think, rightly, of my kind, you must know we’re good to our deals.” He pressed a hand to his chest. “I have always been good to my deals.”
This time, Antal looked to Boden.
“He has,” Boden agreed. “He told me he’d leave Nyskya untouched, and he has.”
“I don’t ask you to forgive,” Antal said. “I don’t ask you to like me. I ask us to work together, for our best interest.”
And he claimed he wasn’t a politician.
This time, the murmurs through the room rang less of outrage, more uncertainty.
“Verne would be easier to face,” Mal mused, “with another daeyari’s help.”
“So long as he doesn’t eat us, first,” Savo countered.
“Are you all mad?” Kashvi snarled. “You can’t be considering this.”
“We need to do what’s best for Nyskya,” Boden said.
“By allying with one of the creatures who used to hunt us through the woods?”
“Verne’s already coming for us,” Fi shot back. “This is the best ally we’ll get.”
Yvette strummed their nails along the tabletop. A thoughtful lean in their chair. “So long as we’re making deals, I want more daeyari technology for my metalworks.Bettertechnology.”
Again, the mood shifted. A spark of opportunity.
Antal considered. Nodded. “You’ll have it. I’m familiar enough with the technology, I can teach what I know.”
“And updated energy conduits?” Savo added.
“Of course,” Antal agreed.
Fi drank in the exchanges with forced calm, heart racing.
“Well hold the fuck on!” Mal said. “If we’re all making demands? I want better stock for my general store. Summer Plane strawberries,year-round.”
“That’s…” Antal paused. Sighed. “Consider it done.”
This was working. It was actually working.
“How about a better governing council for the territory?” Boden added. Because of course he did. “Not just a governor. Input from all the settlements.”
“A fine proposal,” Antal said. “I’d be glad to have your input, Mayor Kolbeck.”
As the deal came together, Fi wondered if the others saw the shape of it like she did, theimmensityof it. For millennia, deals with daeyari had always looked the same: a sacrifice of flesh, in exchange for aid. This was something new. Two sides working toward a common purpose, not coerced by fear. A pact that might actually benefit them both.
Next came Kashvi. As everyone looked to her, she scowled with renewed vigor.
“I want my dead sister back, fucker. Until you figure out how to pull that off, you can move right along.”
Well, maybe not a benefit to everyone. Still, a start. Antal’s jaw feathered, but he didn’t argue.
