“What the fuck?” Liria hissed at Thax.
Thaxvarien just shrugged, his gaze on his warrior.
“And yet, she is in my possession, Aethari,” Commander Vor said calmly. “She has sung for me and shared a beloved beverage with me. Has she ever offered her cup to you?”
Liria transferred her shock to the Nethren. That song had been for him? And what was that crap about beverages? No. There's no way her sister would sing for that monster. Not unless—
“Lena would only sing for you if you forced her!” Rallorival roared. “You creature of Tech! I will tear the metal from you and shove it down your throat!”
Commander Vor grinned while his soldiers laughed and taunted the Aethari. Then, lowering his device, he raised a metal fist and shouted without aid, “Not if I shove my metal down your throat first!”
The Nethren cheered. The Aethari shouted obscenities. The Medeans watched silently.
“That's enough!” General Caden shouted at Rallorival as he snatched the voice amplifier from Liria. “Get your man under control, Thaxvarien!” Then he clicked on the amplifier and spoke into it as he focused on Vor. “I am General Caden of Paradefense. Your people kill magic, Commander Vor. We cannot allow you on the surface. It's for the good of Para.”
Commander Vor lifted his amplifier to reply in a more rational tone. “You know that's a lie, General. I can see it in your stance. You don't want to believe the truth, but it is right before you. Look upon me, a Nethren, and yet I flew one of your converged erials across the surface to the coast and back. It never faltered, but flew smoothly for me. Look uponthe land around us. Nothing is turning black. I assume you are converging devices down there with no issue, despite your proximity to us. Am I wrong?”
The general just glared at the commander.
“I have not brought my army here to conquer, General Caden,” Commander Vor continued. “My ancestors were born on the surface. We have a right to it as much as you do. But because our bite can kill the Aethari, they trapped us underground. Their bite is fatal to us as well. And yet, they are free to walk the surface. You're a Medean man. Do you know why this happened?”
“Your people threatened the welfare of—”
“Please, General. Let's be honest here. We both want a peaceful resolution. It's time for the lies to end. Let my people come to the surface. If you would accept us, we would offer no harm.”
The general sighed. “I can't do that, Commander. I don't have the authority. Even if I did, I can't just open all the pits on the planet and welcome the Nethren to the surface. It would cause mass panic.”
“Then we do it slowly. But it must be done, General Caden. If you don't allow us to come up peacefully, it will be a war unlike any Para has seen. We are done hiding underground.”
“Commander Vor, your people have never hidden. You constantly test our barriers and kill my people.”
“Only to be free. What would you do to be free of a cage, General?”
The general grimaced and lowered the device.
Liria's chest clenched as she listened to the exchange and watched the Nethren man whose face she knew so well. He thought Lena would help them come to the surface? How? This was insane. Despite that, she sympathized with them. It didn't seem fair to her either. Just because they were dangerous to the Aethari, they got buried alive. The Aethari were just as dangerous to them, if he was to be believed. So why should one race suffer imprisonment while the other roamed free?
Liria snatched the voice amplifier back. “We have your soldiers, Commander. We'll give them back to you for Lena.”
“You do not have the authority to make that offer!” General Caden shouted.
Lowering the amplifier, Liria glared at him. “You will honor it, or my destru and I will leave you to face this threat alone.”
The general glared back at her. “Fine.”
“I am here to negotiate a trade,” Commander Vor said.
Liria spun back toward him, hope flying to her chest.
“But not for Lena,” he went on. “I have hundreds of your soldiers imprisoned here, including Commander Havers. I will exchange the same number of hostages for those you've taken.”
“No! You will free my sister, or I'll fucking kill your men myself!” Liria shouted even though she used the amplifier. It made her voice rumble like thunder and echo off the walls.
The general grabbed the voice amplifier from her and pointed in her face. “Stand down, Rennux! You are not a part ofthis negotiation. You're not even part of Paradefense anymore. One more word, and I will have you escorted from this camp. I don't care how powerful your husband is. Understood?”
Liria clenched her hands but nodded.
The general lifted the voice amplifier. “If you release Commander Havers with five others, I will release your soldiers.”
