“Long time ago,” Nadir answered. “During the reign before Vasillis and Zoria.” He plucked a match and struck the fire to his pipe.
Dorian stared at him, confused by the statement, and Draven seemed to catch his confusion.
“Immortality,” Draven said as he struck his own match.
Dorian settled on the floor, using the table to pack his pipe. “I didn’t know you were immortal,” he said to Nadir.
“Ageless, more like,” Nadir said as he adjusted his pants and leaned his head against the back of the chair. “Some bastard could still kill me,” he added after exhaling his smoke. “I always forget how nice the mountain herb goes down.”
“So, what’s this about?” Dorian asked after he’d lit his own.
Nadir looked at Draven, a small grin on his lips. “Eager,” he noted.
Draven nodded, and Nadir sat up, elbows leaning on his knees, as he began to speak.
Dorian had never listened so intently in his life.
He even put down his smoke after a few minutes of hearing Nadir speak about the ships, Draven agreeing with his ideas, and telling him about a plan he had working in his mind.
“We have to help Nadir with a peace treaty,” Draven said, looking between them. “At some point because we don’t have the manpower to continue to push at them.”
“But… they’re invading our land,” Dorian said, trying to understand. “If we continue to let them, won’t they just take over? Why did you not invade immediately when you found them?” Dorian asked Nadir. “Why take that step back and wait?”
Nadir’s expression softened, and he stared at his hands as he rubbed them together. “I value my people more than my bloodlust. My people deserve to live and live in peace and happiness. The Umber is our home, but… I’d rather lead them to safety than to ruin.”
Dorian’s eyes narrowed at the statement. “You would leave the Umber?”
Nadir rubbed his thighs and looked to Draven.
“We will defend the Umber for as long as we can,” Draven answered. “Defending that place is a priority. It is Haerland’s lifeline. However… our people are more important. It’s time we consider peace with these strangers instead of trying to get rid of them. It doesn’t look as though they are going anywhere.”
“What about the home places?” Dorian asked. “If the reef is taken over or the forest invaded… the lines of Honest and Venari will come to an end.”
“Which is why we defend for as long as we can,” Draven said. “We negotiate peace, offer them trading deals and anything else that will get them to see they can live alongside us.”
“If they refuse?” Dorian asked.
“We’d better have a fuck of a negotiator,” Nadir muttered.
But Dorian already knew there was only one person he would trust with that.
“Nyssa,” Dorian said, meeting Draven’s eyes. “Nyssa could do that.”
“She’s not ready,” Draven argued. “Not yet.”
“She will be,” Dorian promised. “By the time that is needed, she will be.”
Draven looked at him a long moment before pressing his pipe to his lips, and as he leaned back in his chair, he exhaled a long exhale of smoke.
“How do you two deal with it all?” Dorian asked, looking between them.
“What do you mean?” Draven asked.
“I mean… How do you deal with making those decisions for all your people? To keep them safe, even if it means letting the rest of our reality crumble around us,” Dorian asked. He looked to Draven. “How do you deal with killing those infants every cycle? Putting this world over the life of one, even if it is a monster?”
Draven took another draw and let the smoke cloud the room a moment before answering. “Monster is a relative term,” he said. “To your people, I am a monster. To many others, the Rhamocour deserves death because it is misunderstood. They would put her head at their gates as a trophy and warning, make shields from her scales and weapons from her talons and ridge spikes.” His voice trailed as he looked at the floor. “I have dealt with the nightmare of that decision by seeing how much happier my people are without worrying about them being in our ranks,” he finally answered. “Even in this last year, my people have flourished. The air isn’t as thick as it once was.”
“S’true,” Nadir agreed. “Doesn’t feel like someone will snap at any moment.”
