“Are you able to leave the Council meeting?” Tristam asked softly. “There’s someone who wants to talk to you.”
“Is it important?” said Malikel.
“It’s Kyra.”
The briefest flicker of surprise crossed Malikel’s face, and then he nodded and followed Tristam out of the room. The Council debate continued without a pause.
Kyra was visibly nervous when Tristam and Malikel came back. She stood close to the window, and her posture was such that she looked ready to spring back out at the slightest provocation. Malikel seemed to sense this and stopped a good distance away.
“Kyra,” he said simply.
“I’m sorry I hid what I was,” said Kyra. “I didn’t mean for you to pay the price for my secret.”
“There’s no use dwelling on what has happened already,” said Malikel. “Best we can do is move forward.”
Malikel’s response was so mild that Tristam couldn’t help but interrupt. “You knew what Kyra was, didn’t you? Why didn’t you confront us outright?”
“I took a gamble. True service can’t be forced.” He fixed his eyes on Kyra. “Tell me if my gamble paid off.”
Relief washed over Kyra’s countenance, followed by resolve. “I’ve an idea for breaking the siege. It’s a last-ditch effort, but if what Tristam tells me is right, you don’t have many choices. I’m now in contact with the Demon Riders. I can carry a petition to them if you’d like.”
“Why do you think an appeal to the Demon Riders would work when they wouldn’t even talk to us before?” said Malikel.
“Because they’ve been taking losses. I think they’re starting to see that they can’t carry on a war against the humans here, even with their increased numbers.” Kyra looked in the direction of the Council Room as muted shouts echoed down the corridor. “I also…have reason to believe that Leyus may be more kindly disposed toward humans than I first thought.”
“How do you know this?” asked Malikel.
Something flickered in Kyra’s eyes. “I know you don’t like secrets, and I’ll do my best to be honest with you. But let me keep this one.”
Malikel leveled a long gaze at Kyra. “Say we attempt this—what’s your plan? The Demon Riders will want something in return,” said Malikel.
“Peace might appeal to them, now that some of their number have been injured. They want adequate hunting and a place to live.” Kyra looked to Tristam as she said this, obviously bracing for an objection from him. When he said nothing, her surprise was more damning than anything Flick or Pashla could have said.
Malikel’s brow furrowed in concentration. “We could offer the Demon Riders protected hunting in a portion of our forest, and terms of trade for what they cannot get.”
“Can I get the Council’s word on this?” asked Kyra. “Will you pass a resolution to negotiate peace with the Demon Riders if they help defeat Edlan?”
“I will need to bring it before them,” said Malikel. “This is a decision that must be made by all of us.”
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