Farfalee sighed tolerantly. “Your charm never ceases to amaze.”

Jason looked at Lodan. “Jasher is your father?”

Drake slapped his forehead. “We’ve skipped introductions! Lodan is the son of Farfalee and Jasher. Farfalee is my eldest sister.” Drake went on to introduce Jason and the others. “It was Lord Jason who helped me find the will to forsake Harthenham,” he finished.

“You changed his mind about something?” Farfalee exclaimed. “Surely you must be a sorcerer.”

“All I did was provide an opportunity,” Jason replied. “Without Drake, we wouldn’t have fought our way free.”

“My brother has always been handy in a fight,” Farfalee said. “The question tends to be whether he’ll see it through to the end. Galloran, is it true you seek audience with the Conclave?”

“I come to discuss matters of great significance.”

“Were you aware that I now sit as an elder?”

“You’re one of the windbags?” Drake gasped.

She raised her eyebrows. “Jeneva abandoned the Vales, Prizette refuses to serve, and Lubella is in the ground. I have fixed your hearing for tomorrow.”

“So soon?” Galloran said.

“Your arrival made waves,” Farfalee explained. “We’ve already received a formal complaint from the emperor. To hear him tell it, you’re wanted criminals who murdered a dozen guards on a bridge. Apparently we interfered with the arrest of nefarious fugitives. The message even cited a signed confession by a member of your party. A displacer, no less.”

“All distortions,” Galloran said. “Maldor drew first blood when he attacked my home and slew a number of my people.”

Farfalee held up a hand. “Nobody gives any real credence to the charges. You and the emperor are at war. What concerns some is that the emperor is behaving as though he now has a grievance with us.”

“Absurd!” Drake blustered. “The emperor was indisputably in the wrong sending troops up our pass!”

Farfalee eyed her brother. “I’m certain you can imagine his arguments. It was a small force, obviously not meant to invade the Vales, but rather to bring murderous criminals to justice. Outlaws whom we protected with our troops and whom we are now harboring. Modest imperial forces are currently encamped outside the passes to both gates. Maldor demands we turn all of you over to his representatives immediately.”

“Or what?” Drake scoffed. “He’ll invade? With what army? The bulk of his forces are tied up besieging Kadara! Even with the full strength of his armies behind the endeavor, he wouldn’t dare attack us until the rest of Lyrian has been thoroughly cowed. He’s acquainted with our defenses at the gates and along the rims of both gorges, and he can’t lay siege to a self-sufficient kingdom.”

“But he can openly seek to burn our seeds,” Farfalee responded. “He can stop pretending to respect our strength and formally declare war.”

Drake shook his head. “That day is inevitable. Why hide from it? Why not commence hostilities while his forces are divided and we might actually have a chance to harm him?”

“You know the concerns,” Farfalee sighed. “The longer we have to prepare, the more likely we can endure the eventual assault. Our warriors would be much more vulnerable on offense than on defense. If the emperor wants a fight with us, he’ll have to best us on a familiar battleground that we’ve been prepping for centuries.”

Drake chuckled cynically. “The only catch being that if we have no offense, we’ll never win.”

“I wholeheartedly agree,” Farfalee said. “You know I’m with you on this issue. But many among us would rather delay the confrontation for as long as possible. They imagine that our defenses could prove so strong that Maldor will ignore the Vales and content himself with governing the rest of the continent.”

“Lunacy,” Galloran grunted.

“Agreed,” Farfalee said. “Maldor’s ambition knows no bounds. He will never be content so long as the greatest threat to his rule survives.”

Galloran spoke gravely. “Let him finish with the other kingdoms of Lyrian, give him time to marshal his forces, time to craft the attack of his choosing, and these Vales will burn.”

Farfalee arched an eyebrow. “I take it this will be the subject of the Conclave?”

Galloran gave a nod. “After imparting some news, I intend to argue that the Amar Kabal should terminate their treaty with Maldor and actively rebel against him.”

Farfalee placed a hand on his shoulder. “Should your motion fail, your opponents among my people will seek to turn you over to the emperor.”

“I understand the stakes. What are the chances of success?”

Farfalee frowned. “Unfavorable. The climate here grows ever more cautious. None wish to acknowledge the threat the emperor could pose in fifty years. Some are talking of flight.”

“Preposterous!” Drake blurted. “Where would they flee? The northern hinterlands?”

“Some have suggested as much. Others have spoken of exploring the far reaches of the western ocean.”

“Why not a ladder to the moon?” Drake proposed.

“Who currently serves on the Conclave?” Galloran asked.

“Pallas, Dregan, Naman, Ilestra, and myself. Be forewarned, Naman has gained serious influence, and no argument will quiet his skepticism. A majority of our citizens currently side with him. In these uncertain times, when the other kingdoms of Lyrian are either subdued or under siege, our people prefer the idea of defending familiar territory rather than sacrificing themselves abroad on a hopeless offensive.”

Galloran cleared his throat. “If an offensive is indeed hopeless, such sentiments would be justified. I will endeavor to demonstrate otherwise.”

“May you succeed where others have failed,” Farfalee said earnestly. “An unflinching examination of how best to oppose the rising power of Felrook is long overdue.”

Galloran reached for his horse. “If the Conclave intends to hear me on the morrow, we ought to keep riding.”

Farfalee and Galloran returned to their mounts. As they descended the looping path, Lodan fell in beside Jason. Once Jason explained his friendship with Jasher, Lodan insisted Jason recount all that he could remember about their time together. Jason told how the seedman had rescued him from an ambush of manglers and conscriptors. He related their travels through the Sunken Lands, including Jasher’s courage battling giant toads. His tale culminated by detailing how Jasher had sacrificed his life to enable an escape from Harthenham.