Age of Swords (The Legends of the First Empire #2)

“And exactly what will?” Persephone asked, throwing up her hands in frustration.

“Her,” Arion said in Rhunic, and pointed at Suri.

Suri had only been peripherally listening to the conversation. She was more interested in introducing the one named Rain to Minna. He bent down to join Brin and together they discovered what Suri had known for years, that Minna loved being scratched behind her ears. But there was no mistaking that last part. “Me?” she asked.

Arion nodded. “My people think Rhunes are animals, mindless beasts. They feel no guilt about killing your kind. Just like you don’t consider it wrong to kill a deer. I know. I thought the same way before I met you. We need to prove to my fane…to all the Fhrey…that you are worthy of life and deserve respect, dignity, and sovereignty. If they can see we are more similar than they think, they’ll see their mistake.”

She turned to Persephone. “You want to save your people, and so do I, but not at the expense of my own. Both our people can live together peacefully, and Suri is the key. She’s not Fhrey, but she can use the Art even without training. I’m not sure you can appreciate what an amazing discovery that is. Artists, true Artists, aren’t common even among the Fhrey. If my fane could see that the Rhunes can use the Art, it will prove that the things that divide us are fewer than the many things we have in common.”

“So that’s why you have been pushing so hard,” Suri said.

Arion frowned. “You’re special, Suri. I can feel it the same way I sense the seasons. It’s not merely that you can use the Art. It’s you, yourself. I’m certain you’re the key to everything. You need to prove to the fane that Rhunes are just as wonderful, as important, and as deserving of life as the Fhrey. If you can do that, they will see their mistake and change their minds. But this can only happen if you accept who you are. Only then can you change the world.”

Persephone didn’t say anything for a long while. Her brow furrowed in thought. Finally, she said, “I wish it could be that easy, but the reality is that my people are vulnerable. As long as we can’t defend ourselves, we’re helpless. Obtaining weapons is crucial to our survival. Suri, what do you think?”

“I think summers should last longer than winters. I think dandelion wine isn’t nearly as good as Tura said it was. I think Minna is the wisest of all wolves, and she sees several problems with Arion’s plan. Don’t you, Minna?”

“Such as?” Arion asked.

“First, I’m not an Artist. Yes, I can light a fire, but I don’t think that is very impressive, and your fane wouldn’t think so, either. The only other time I used magic it ended in disaster, remember? That giant paid for my mistake with his life.”

“You killed the giant? The one from the rol?” Frost asked, his astonishment unmistakable.

Suri was equally surprised—she didn’t know the Dherg knew the Fhrey language well enough to follow the conversation.

“Yes, but I was trying to free him.” She turned her attention back to Arion and continued. “And second, I’m not likely to meet the fane. Am I? He sent giants and lightning to kill you, so you probably won’t be able to return home at all, let alone with me tagging along.”

“It’s definitely more difficult than it once was. If Gryndal hadn’t been killed, it would’ve been easy, but now things are more complicated.”

“Can I say something?” Frost asked Suri politely.

She looked at him curiously. The tattoos around her eyes shifted with her furrowed brow. “You just did.”

“Can I say something else?”

Suri sighed and looked to her wolf. “If he’s going to keep this up, we could be here for a very long time, isn’t that right, Minna?”

“I was just thinking that if you can kill a giant, then maybe we don’t need her.” He nodded his head toward Arion.

“Why would you want that?” Suri said.

“We have one in the city of Neith, which keeps us from our homeland; your chieftain wants to trade Belgriclungreian weapons in exchange for getting rid of it.”

“I just told you. The first time was an accident,” Suri said.

“Another accident would be fine.” Frost smiled.

“Nobody has to kill anyone,” Arion said, and then switched back to Fhrey. “Why must everyone turn to such drastic actions as death and war! There are dozens of ways to deal with a giant, and none of them would require its death.”

“I’m sure you wouldn’t feel that way if you met him,” Frost said.

“That’s because you’re not an Artist. We’re trained to think creatively.”

“Suri,” Persephone said. “We really need help with this. It’s very important.”

“I’ll do what I can, but caterpillars really aren’t much help.”

“Huh?” Persephone was as confused as the others.

Arion waved a hand dismissively. “It’s her way of saying she’s not qualified, but she could be. How about this. Suri and I will go to Neith and deal with the giant…deal with, not kill. Rapnagar’s demise was a mistake. One which we both need to atone for. I shouldn’t have asked her to attempt such a complicated weave with her current abilities. If properly trained, she’ll not only be able to rid Neith of the giant, but she’ll also prove to the fane that she truly is an Artist. Persephone will have her weapons, so the Rhunes won’t be defenseless. And as much as it saddens me, I understand a fight with my people is inevitable now. Respect must be earned. And if you can win a battle or two, the fane will be far more inclined to seek out a peaceful solution. That’s when Suri can be the solution everyone will welcome.”

She paused, then looked directly at Suri. “But…you must agree to let me teach you. No more resistance. No more fighting. Your mastery of the Art goes beyond your desire to stay as you are. You must spread your wings, for the sake of both Rhunes and the Fhrey.”

“And I’m coming, too.” Persephone said. “To negotiate for the weapons. If no agreement can be reached, then no one is doing anything. Understood?”

“Agreed,” Frost said. “But I think when you see the giant, you’ll realize death is the best way to deal with it.”

“Let me worry about that,” Arion told him. “As I said, Miralyith are trained to be creative. He’s likely as unhappy about being locked up in your mountain as you are having him there. I could shrink him to the size of a mouse, put him in a bag, and return him to his homeland.”

“Uh-huh, but—”

“Quit while you’re ahead. She’s coming, and that’s the important thing,” Persephone said.

Frost nodded.

Suri looked down at Minna, and the wolf looked back. “Will you still love me if I become a butterfly, Minna?”

The wolf brought up her head and licked Suri’s hand.

“It’s settled then,” Persephone said.

“What’s settled?” Brin asked. “What’s going on? How am I supposed to act as Keeper if you talk in a language I don’t understand?”

“Maybe you should learn Fhrey,” Persephone told the girl. “Come, I’ll fill you in while I pack.”

“Pack? You’re going?”

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