Page 60 of Knot All Is Ruined: Part 2

“So does this mean your father and the Southern people are behind you on this?” Branko inquired.

There was an awkward pause as we waited to see how Sorin would handle that question.

“You’re looking for honesty from us, to put all our cards on the table, right?” Sorin pressed, resting his elbows on his knees as he leaned forward. “My father does not know I’m here or that I’ve bonded with Danella. No one but the people around this fire knows Lucian is part of our pack or that we’ve come up with this fucking crazy ass idea. However, if I come back with a signed peace treaty with Lucian’s name and mine once the General is gone, he one thousand percent will support it.”

This had our guest frowning as he crossed his arms. “You’re doing this without approval?”

“Oh my god, you can’t be serious right now,” I said with a burst of laughter. “The rebel is upset that the heir to the South didn’t ask his dad if he could end a pointless war that was killing thousands of people a day? Bran, what the hell?”

“Hey, rebels understand what it means to be labeled a traitor for doing what you think is right. We also know there is a time and place to make that happen. Throwing it in the president’s face that his son turned his back on his people and fled to the North is not a good look,” he reasoned.

“That’s not what happened at all,” I argued, my irritation turning to anger at his purposeful manipulation of the facts.

Arms reached out and circled my waist before I was pulled onto Lucian’s lap. “Settle down, My Heart. Anger is not going to help get us anywhere in this problem. Bran is making a valid point. The South’s first response isn’t going to be one of joy but of fear. It’s how everyone seems to take in change. They fear it and lash out at those who created it. Right or wrong, it’s the way of the world.”

Everything in me wanted to deny that, to think people wouldn’t be so closed-minded. Then I thought of all the times people looked at us Omegas, and the moment we tried to show them we could be more, they locked us away in Care Centers or breeder houses. As long as they could control us, then all was right with the world.

“So, how do we make sure that doesn’t happen?” I bite out.

Bran motioned for me to slow down. “Whoa, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. I still haven’t agreed to shit, but no matter how you go about this, you will need to be aware of that backlash. Who knows, it might be worth bringing the south in on this to prevent all that from being an issue.”

“Won’t make a fucking difference. We got our backing elsewhere,” Victor announced. “Sorin here is buddies with a certain exiled prince, if you will. Savo. He’s now in with the leadership of Oscad, and they are going to lend us a hand taking out the General.”

“Savo… the son who abandoned the North?” Bran scoffed. “I wouldn’t trust a traitor’s word for shit.”

“It’s not his word we’re trusting,” Petru said calmly as he tossed more wood on the fire. “We spoke to the Head Speaker himself along with another government advisor when we pleaded our case. This is not an under-the-table transaction. We gave our request, it was voted on, and then confirmed they would offer their assistance. On top of that, once the new leader of the North is in place, they will happily develop trade agreements with both the North and South countries of Asturg.”

Victor shoved Bran with his arm and smirked. “That enough backing for you?”

“H…how is that possible?” Bran gasped.

“You ask that a lot, you know,” I mentioned. “How is it so hard for you to believe that there are people out there sick and fucking tired of living this life? I wasn’t born here, Bran, but I’ve decided this is where my home will be with these men, and I want the best life we can live. My dream is to see everyone have the chance to find their pack, a family to love them. Isn’t that worth taking a risk and reaching way farther than you thought possible just to see if you can?”

He held my gaze as if searching for the lie, yet couldn’t find one. This wasn’t a joke to my men or me. What we dreamed of is so simple, but if this war didn’t come to an end then we’d never be able to be together peacefully. Unless we hid away in the Forbidden Mountains with the rebels, that’s not real life either.

“If, and I mean if, I bring you to the stronghold, you’ll need to surrender your weapons,” Bran explained. “It's the same rule we have for every person coming to seek asylum with us. Many are soldiers, and we can’t risk danger to families and children we can prevent. Once you’ve surrendered your weapons, you’ll be placed in holding until the council can speak with you. Normally they do it one at a time, however I might be able to convince them they are better speaking to you as a bonded pack.”

All of us were nodding in agreement before he even finished speaking. Whatever it took, within reason, we would do it. We didn’t have a purpose or need for our weapons, so giving them up would be simple. The necessity to keep us contained until they were ready was also logical. Anyone would do the same thing. What all of us were waiting for was the catch we knew had to be coming. All of this was far too sensible to be the whole deal.

“Finally, if they say no to your request to help you with this war… you’re not permitted to leave the stronghold. Our biggest advantage is no one having knowledge of where it is. Even if we blindfold you to get there, you’ll know where to look once you've seen it. You would remain with us until we felt you were loyal to the cause and then given some small freedoms. There is the ability to become free-moving citizens once more, but that’s after you’ve proven without a doubt you’ll never speak of the stronghold to anyone.”

And there it was.

“So what makes the difference if they say yes?” Victor questioned. “We still know where they are.”

“True, but you would be an ally against a common cause,” Bran reasoned. “You wouldn’t be able to bring anyone from Oscad to our stronghold. We’d need to meet them in a neutral location. The stronghold must be protected at all costs, so know that if they feel like you’ll be a threat, they will either kill you or imprison you to ensure that happens.”

Lucian and Sorin looked at each other momentarily as if having an entire conversation in just one look. Sorin nodded as they’d come to an agreement and addressed Bran. “We agree to the terms. There’s no way to win this without the rebels' support, so either we try and fail, or we just give up the idea altogether.”

“All right, then I will return to my men to make sure they’re okay, and we’ll leave at first light,” Bran decided and rose.

“Yeah, not so fast,” Lucian cut in. “We agreed to go with you to the stronghold and meet these leaders of yours. None of that involved having a group of fifteen armed men escorting us to this meeting.”

Branko frowned. “You expect me to just leave my men with no clue as to where I’ve gone and take you to the stronghold?”

“I mean if you want to write them a note. We can drop it off,” Lucian offered. “What would you do in our shoes? We only have the smallest amount of trust in you because Dani said you were the right person to make this happen for us. Other than that, there is no mutual trust.”

Branko seemed to ponder this a moment. “Now that you put it that way I can see how having my men along would be perceived. What if we came to a meeting in the middle of sorts? You can keep all your weapons until we get to the entrance of the stronghold. At that point, you will have to give them up. If I plan to double-cross you, it won’t matter if I have my men with me or not the second we enter. There are more than enough people in the stronghold to take you in an instant.”