Karim nodded.“We learned so from the other kingdoms where a similar alliance has been proposed.”
“Did they accept?”
“Two have and one hasn’t, but it matters not.Each kingdom, be it of the elves or the gargoyles, is free to act as it sees fit.”
“Oh!”So the gargoyles had more than one kingdom, too.We humans had truly been ignorant about the world around us, believing it was just us at the top of the food chain.
“It is obviously Nature’s will that you and Queen Sue meet tonight.”
I perked up.“You believe so?”
Karim nodded.“I was informed these are the first negotiations she’s attending.”
“Really?”Nature’s will, Gods, fate–however you called it, there was something extraordinary at work here, not something that could be labeled as a coincidence.That gave me hope for the future.
Since Karim was talking freely on the topic in front of the gargoyles, I decided to continue with my questions.“Has Sue set many conditions for the proposed alliance?”
Karim cocked his head.“Interested in politics?”
“I wasn’t before the apocalypses, but now I guess I am.”
Mirth glimmered in his eyes.“And yet you said you do not wish to become queen.”
“I don’t!Yes, I like the hair decorations, toe rings, and nice dresses that go with the title,” I joked.“But that’s about it.I’m just interested in knowing what is happening and is about to happen on the surface.Besides, the Kingdom and us humans living here are directly affected by the war, and since you and I are…” I shut my mouth before I said the wrong thing.
What were we, really?He had presented us as an engaged couple to the gargoyles, but that was to make me look important enough for a hostage.It wasn’t like he had asked me to link my braid with his.We didn’t qualify formoss partners, either.Come to think of it, we’d been on a single date.In a bathroom.What did that make us in his world?
Instead of finishing my thought, Karim said, “Your interestin politics pleases me very much.Our guests tonight are offering an alliance against those shadow kinds who hunger for humans–whom King Xaniban wishes to protect–and also threaten our kingdom.Queen Mesia approves of an alliance against the moon-cursed, as an initial step.From then onward, we’ll see whether to expand the bilateral cooperation.”His eyes managed to tell me that he was all for that.Now whether his half-sister would agree with him entirely was another matter.
I nodded in approval.Those werewolves were true monsters and had to be stopped.If more enemies of humanity were targeted by an elf-gargoyle alliance, we might stand a chance of survival.
“Another item on tonight’s agenda is trade,” Karim added carefully, studying my face.
“Oh?”That, I hadn’t expected.“Trade in what?”
“Food–and humans.”At my shocked look, he specified, “I added this item on the agenda this afternoon.I’m sure our guests will be interested.”
“You’re offering themwomen?”My voice nearly broke as I said it.
“Asi.”His watchful eyes did not miss my discomfort, and he moved to sit closer.His fingers dug into the wood between us, as if he could barely keep his hand from touching me.“We need extra help for our gardeners, but if the humans prefer to live on a cloud and are wanted there, the Queen is willing to let them in exchange for fruit and vegetables.King Xaniban’s homecloud grows plenty of those.”
“But what will happen to those women?”He was conveying to me that being left with the gargoyles was good for the humans here, a means to free them from the Queen’s exploitative rules, but I feared the worst.“How will they be… used?”
I jumped in my place as growls erupted around us.Karim tensed up beside me, body instantly ready to fight.
“No homecloudusesfemales,” Saxan spat the word out, his fangs bared.“They are priceless treasures to be cherished.We givethem absolute freedom to live their lives as they choose.”
The other guards flapped their wings in agreement with his statement.They all looked deeply offended.
Hoo boy.“Forgive me,” I bowed my head the way Saxan had done for me earlier.“I’m not familiar with your ways.”
“My lady is forgiven,” he replied curtly before returning his attention to the forest.
I was amazed by how he’d directly interfered in our conversation, but Karim relaxed his stance.It could be that gargoyles, be they royals or not, tended to always speak their minds.
“Our guests are the only shadow kind with whom a human is perfectly safe,” Karim told me next.“The women who go to the homecloud will be cared for.Trust me, Jasmine.”
I took a deep breath.“I trust you,” I found myself saying.“With the life of those women and with my own.”
