The camp went silent. Every soldier there had come out to listen to her.
“If you want peace, let my daughter go!” Lena's dad shouted.
Vor winced.
“Dad, stop!” Lena motioned at him. “Vor brought me here to show me the truth about his people. I want to be here. I wantto help them. We betrayed them, buried them under the ground, and stole the surface from them. It's made them lose part of themselves. But I've helped them. My music aligns them, Dad. I've seen them change. They need access to the surface to feel emotions. It's our fault that they became unfeeling. We made them into what they are. Now, I need to help them become what they're supposed to be.”
“Lena, I'm glad they've been good to you, and I'm not surprised that you want to help them. You have a big heart. But they've put you in danger, sweetheart.”
“They had to. Tech led Vor to me, and I've helped his soldiers. Now, you need to help them.”
“I can't, Lena. I don't have that power.”
“I don't either.” A big man stepped forward with a voice amplifier lifted to his mouth. “I'm General Caden, Lena. I've been speaking with the Paradefense Counsel. They are discussing the possibility of peace. But this will take time.” He shifted his stare to Vor. “Commander Vor, you need to release Lena. It would go a long way to proving to the Counsel that you are honest in your request.”
“I'm not leaving, General.” Lena lifted her chin. “That's my decision. But I've asked Commander Vor to release some prisoners as a show of goodwill. He's agreed to release four.”
“Four?” the general called back. “You have hundreds of prisoners and all you're offering is four?”
Vor held a hand out for the amplifier, and Lena gave it to him. He lifted it to his mouth. “Step by step, General. I'm willing to give you four now, and more with every bit of progress we make toward peace.”
The general grimaced. “Agreed.”
“What about my daughter?” Lena's dad motioned to her. “He needs to let her go first!”
“She doesn't want to be released, Mr. Drask.” The general lowered his amplifier, but his voice still carried. “You've heard her. She believes she's some kind of Nethren healer.”
“She aligns us, General. You saw what I did to defend myself.” Vor set a hand on Lena's shoulder. “That was Lena's doing. She fixes the discord inside us. As she said, we are not monsters. We've merely been in the dark for so long that we've lost sight of who we were. Lena reminds us. Now, I will send the captives out if you will stand back and lower your weapons.”
The Nethren on the walls did the opposite, aiming their weapons down at the Paradefense soldiers.
“Back it up!” The general waved at his people. “Rennux! Get your ass back here!”
Liria lifted a hand, her gaze locked on Lena.
Lena took the voice amplifier from Vor. “I love you, Sis! I love you, Dad! Don't worry about me. They won't hurt me.” She waved at her family. “And, Dad, you do have the power to bring peace. All of us do. The council may make the final decision, but it rules on our behalf. Our voices mean something. Speak! Tell the council the truth.” She looked over all the soldiers of Paradefense. “All of you can make a difference if you speak up. Let them hear the truth from all of you. Make them understand. If you stand up for peace, you can change the world for the better.”
There was silence, and then someone clapped. It was Liria. Tears streaming down her face, Liria applauded and nodded. Then Thaxvarien did the same. More and more soldiers joined in until most of the camp applauded.
“You see?” Vor whispered. “Your frequencies have great power.”
Lena smiled at him and then down at her family as she handed the voice amplifier back.
Her father looked miserable, but there was understanding and pride on her sister's face. Liria backed away, dragging their father with her. Thaxvarien brought up the rear, blocking them from attack.
Only when everyone was at a safe distance, did Vor speak into a Nethren communication device. “Lower the ward.” He looked down into the courtyard and waved a group of Nethren soldiers surrounding four prisoners forward.
The ward went down. The Nethren motioned two Aethari and two Medeans forward—a man and woman of each race. The gate rose enough to let them pass, the Nethren remaining behind, and then the prisoners ran toward the camp.
They made it ten steps.
Pops of sound came. The released Aethari prisoners opened their wings, providing cover for the two Medeans as they ran for the barriers. Paradefense soldiers lifted their pulsers and fired upon the Nethren beyond the gate. The Nethren scattered for cover as those on the wall returned fire.
“Lower the ward!” Vor shouted even as he pushed Lena down and covered her with his body. “Cease fire!”
The booms stopped. A shimmer came down in a dome over the fortress. The ward was up. With that security in place, Vor stood and glared down at the camp. He lifted the amplifier. “I was trying to free your people! Why would you fire upon us?!”
General Caden appeared at a distance, behind a barrier. “You're the traitors! Liars! You can forget peace! We'll find a way in, and when we do, you'll all pay for this!”
