The first unfamiliar Bavadrin to have spoken did so again. He addressed me as before, with palpable distaste. “So now that you know we had no hand in any of that nonsense, why not leave us in peace?”
“I do not know that for certain.” It was the truth. There was nothing that proved the Bavadrins’ innocence. Without that proof, I would not risk Lysian lives.
“And you plan on using Ariana to do your bidding?” He scoffed.
“I plan on keeping her close until I know I can trust you all,” I clarified.
The man twisted towards Ariana and Edda. “Shal should be here for this meeting. Fraser would have chosen him as his second in command.”
Ariana’s green eyes sliced into him. “After Fraser’s second died, he never officially chose a replacement. Shal has no place here.”
“Fraser made a mistake taking so long to hand you over to Shal. You should know your place is on your back instead of assuming you could stand and lead,” he sneered.
I was struck by his words. Foolishly not expecting any oppositionto Ariana’s claim. But no one witnessed her being chosen, only outsiders and her. This was an oversight on my part.
Energy shifted around Edda, darkening in a way that pointed towards her being something more than she appeared. “I suggest you be careful with how you speak to your future leader,” she warned.
“What if she never ascends?” There was a threat in the comment. His chin jutted forward as he looked down his nose.
Edda stepped towards him. “The Spirit has chosen Ariana. She will ascend.” Though she answered calmly, her black eyes whispered with dark fury. She would protect Ariana to no end, which I felt was the most genuine thing about the old Bavadrin woman.
“So that we can all be puppets for the Lysian who destroyed our peaceful lives?”
I chortled, earning glares from nearly all but Ariana. “Your previous Leader Superior should hold as much blame as I, if not more. He trapped a Lysian who wished him no harm and tortured him without the decency of hearing him out. He did not even ask whether I was of royal blood.” I reminded them of the actions which placed the Bavadrins in the situation they were now in.
“This is ridiculous. You and your puppet will not lead me.” His gaze cut to Ariana pointedly.
“You have no choice,” Ariana said, void of emotion. “Someone will ascend, and you will follow that person. If not, then you are no longer a Bavadrin. If at the Ascension you wish to challenge my claim, then you or anyone else is free to do so.”
No one spoke for a few heartbeats.
“What about food?” It was the meek Bavadrin woman’s first time speaking. Up till then, she had not made a sound. Her eyes darted from me to Ariana. She was looking to her for advice, already seeing her as a leader. Finally, at least one of them seemed willing to accept her. “We are running out and quickly. The Lysians have allowed none of us outside of the walls.”
“Have they harmed any of you?” Ariana asked.
The Bavadrin glanced fleetingly in our direction before focusing again on Ariana. “If we do what we are told, then no,” she cautiously answered.
“Considering the circumstances, have they harmed anyone unjustly, in your opinion?” Ariana pushed.
“Not that I am aware of,” the woman replied, her voice calm.
Ariana nodded, turning her attention to me. “I understand your hesitance to trust us, especially considering what you have to lose. But in your actions, my people are suffering. If any of them are unjustly harmed, then I will not help you in your search. I wish for this to be clear.”
“I don’t think you have a choice here,” Kole answered.
Some questioned Ariana’s intentions and abilities to lead. She had to show them she was on their side, a Bavadrin. I did not fault her for needing to take some power into her hands, though she really did not have many options except to do as we told her.
“I give you my word that they will harm no one unless they are a threat,” I agreed.
“What good is a Lysian’s promise? They are beasts. Do they even know the meaning of a promise?” the Bavadrin male snapped.
A growl vibrated through my throat.
Ariana’s voice silenced it. “Enough. You have made your feelings clear, but you do not know Lysians. All that you know are the stories passed down by elders to frighten children.”
“And you know them?” His eyebrows reached for the ceiling.
“I know more than I used to. Lysians feel like we do, bleed like we do, and die as we do. Trust is not linked to any bloodlines. It is linked to the soul within the being. The Spirit created us all, and therefore all creatures have the capacity for good and evil. Or do you believe the great Spirit made a mistake in creating the races?”
