Chapter 2: Parley Face-off
I was standing in my command tent looking at the wooden war table with my fingers on the carvings of the Southern territories. Five years ago on this same day I had looked at these maps with a heart full of hope. I had looked at them as a Bride to be
Now I was looking at them as a soldier who had already felt the executioner's blade on her neck.
"Commander," a voice said from the tent entrance. It was Captain Vance. He looked younger than I remembered. His face was free of the scars that he got during the bloody siege of the Obsidian Court.
"They are here, " Vance said, with his hand resting tightly on the handle of his sword. "The Alpha King has crossed the river line, he brought a group just like his message said, they are carrying white flags."
I did not look up immediately. I kept my eyes fixed on the map, specifically on the lush, heavily fortified valleys of the South. The white flags, I thought, a bitter taste rising in my throat. The perfect lie.
“How many men, Vance?" I asked with a voice devoid of the trembling fear I had carried in my first life.
"Fifty riders, ma'am " Vance replied as he was stepping closer looking troubled. "It's a number for a King but they are his best guards. Are we still going with your orders? We have archers hiding in the hills. If this is a trap we can end this now."
"No " I said I finally looked up meeting his gaze. "Let him come to the center of the camp to gather the officers. I want everyone to see the King sue for peace."
Vance was hesitant as he furrowed his brow "Commander, with respect we have fought the bloodline wolves for three years you hate them more than anyone why accept a talk now?"
"Because Vance " I said, with a small smile on my lips "sometimes you have to let a wolf think he has found a lamb just to see how deep he digs his grave, go bring him in."
Vance saluted, though he still looked uneasy and stepped out of the tent.
I was left alone. I let out a breath as I reached down checking the twin silver daggers under my leather tunic. They were there cold ready. I was not the naive girl who wanted a treaty to save lives, I was a ghost who had come back to change history.
Outside, the sound of horse hooves was echoing through the camp. The murmurs of my soldiers were rising and falling like a storm. They hated the wolves; they had buried too many friends to trust a sudden offer of a truce.
I stepped out of the tent into the sunlight.
Riding at the front of the group was Lucius, the Alpha King.
He looked exactly like I remembered him perfectly. His golden hair was catching the sun, his silver armor was gleaming, his face was charming wearing a sorrowful expression that I now knew was fake.
Lucius got off his horse with ease, handing the reins to a guard; he did not look like a conqueror, he looked like a savior.
When his eyes found me his face softened it was the look that had made my heart melt five years ago.
"Tiana " he said, stepping forward with his hands open "you came yourself I was afraid you would refuse to see me."
I stood my ground crossing my arms. I did not move towards him "you brought fifty killers to my doorstep Lucius. I usually see my enemies on the battlefield, not in my camp."
Lucius let out a sigh as He took another step closing the distance between us. The air was electric with tension. Dozens of my soldiers were watching from the sidelines, their hands near their weapons.
"We have been fighting for three years, " Lucius said with a low voice. . "The Red Valley is soaked in the blood of my people and yours. I did not come here as the Alpha King, I came here as a man who's tired of the graves."
"Tired?" I echoed with a calm voice "you seemed energetic when your forces burned our supply lines last month."
"An act of war ordered by my council, not my heart " Lucius replied. He reached into his cloak and pulled out a rolled parchment "I brought a treaty, no more fighting, no more borders drawn in blood."
I looked at the parchment. I knew what was written inside, it offered a withdrawal of forces, a shared neutral zone and a proposal of marriage to bind our factions together in my past life I had cried with relief when I read it I had believed every word I had believed he loved me.
". What does the great Alpha King want in exchange for this mercy?" I asked, keeping my tone light.
Lucius stepped closer as his eyes was locked onto mine, "I want you Tiana I want the Commander of the Rebel Vanguard to stand by my side not across from me on a battlefield let us merge our houses become my Luna and we will rule a valley together."
Behind me I heard Vance shift his weight, a gasp from one of the officers, a marriage treaty with the King was a shocking turn of events.
Lucius smiled, an expression that had fooled kingdoms, he extended the parchment "take it look at the terms I have given up everything to make this fair for your people."
I did not take the scroll instead I laughed. It was a sound that made Lucius's smile falter.
"You give up everything?" I asked, tilting my head "you are very generous today, Lucius."
"I am serious Tiana " he said, "I want peace do you accept?"
I looked him dead in the eye. "yes."
Lucius blinked; he was surprised by how I had agreed, "you... You accept?"
"I do, " I said, stepping forward as I smiled at him. It was a beautiful smile that masked the ice in my veins "why should we keep fighting? A marriage is a solution. I will gladly sign your treaty."
My soldiers were whispering in shock. Lucius's chest was puffed out with a flash of pride in his eyes he thought he had won he thought the rebel commander had been tamed by his charm.
"You have made a good choice my love " Lucius said, reaching out to take my hand "the valley will rejoice."
I stepped back avoiding his touch, my smile never faded, "of course but a royal wedding requires tradition doesn't it? A King cannot take a Luna without offering something to seal the contract."
Lucius's hand was hovering in the air before he lowered it his eyes narrowed, "the treaty already guarantees safety and grain supplies for your people, Tiana what do you require?"
"Oh nothing big " I said, with a sweet voice, "just a traditional gift, to show my people that you truly value this alliance."
"Name it " Lucius said, with a smooth voice. "if it is within my power it is yours."
I pointed at the map at the edge of the border. "I want the Southern Border lands, every acre of the Red Crest valley, the iron mines and the three fortresses to hand over the deeds and withdraw your garrisons by the end of the week and I will marry you."
The camp was dead silent, the wind was howling. Not a single person moved.
Lucius froze, the expression on his face shattered the golden light, in his eyes turned dark and predatory.
The Southern Border lands were not some random places. They were the strength of his kingdom's defense. The iron mines gave him the weapons he needed. Those three fortresses were all that stood in the way of an invasion from the neighboring empires. What was more important was that this was the exact place Lucius had planned to use in three weeks to attack my people when we were celebrating our fake peace treaty.
By asking for the South I was not just asking for a gift. I was taking away his plan before he could even put it into action.
"Tiana, " Lucius said with a Dangerous voice, with a strong authority that commanded attention. The charm was gone, replaced by a hard tone. "That is not possible. The Southern lands belong to the pack. They cannot be given away like a gift for our wedding."
I did not back down under his pressure. I just shrugged, with an amused look in my eyes.
"A small gift? I thought you said you wanted an alliance, Lucius " I said,as my voice was clear and strong in the silence. "You said you were tired of all the fighting and death. You said you would give up everything for peace with me. So giving up three fortresses should be a small price to pay for a lifetime of peace."
Lucius clenched his jaw so hard that the muscles in his cheek twitched. His hands were fists at his sides. He looked at me trying to find any sign of the girl he thought he could control.
He did not find anything.
There was no fear in my eyes. No hesitation. I was looking at him like a predator that had caught its prey. He knew that I knew what he was planning even if he did not know how or why.
"You are going far Commander, " Lucius said, stepping close to me, his cloak smelling of iron and ash. The strong alpha was staring me down. "You cannot ask for our defenses and call it peace."
I leaned in closer, with a sharp smile I whispered to him.
“Then I guess we aren't getting married, Lucius. Take your treaty and get off my land. Or sign the South over to me, and let's see who survives our honeymoon.”
