“No. And I don't think we will. But that's not why I'm here. We have another problem.”
“What now?” Garet asked, folding his arms across his chest.
“The Harshini are in danger.”
“The Harshini have been in danger for the past two centuries.”
“This is more than just the threat of discovery, Garet. Sanctuary is no longer hidden. The Kariens can find them now.”
“I'm heartbroken,” the commandant told her unsympathetically, returning his attention to the map.
Tarja frowned at Garet. He appeared a little more sympathetic. “How long have they got?”
Brak shrugged. “Before the Karien priests locate Sanctuary? They've probably pinpointed it already. It will take them some time to get there, though. A few weeks, maybe.” He noticed Garet's sceptical look and continued his explanation looking straight at the commandant. “The reason the Sisterhood could never completely eradicate the Harshini was because Sanctuary was taken out of time. I won't try explaining how - you probably wouldn't believe me, anyway. Suffice to say that the strain of keeping it hidden has finally taken its toll on King Korandellan. Sanctuary is back in real time and the Kariens will be at its gates within weeks.”
“That would be convenient,” Garet remarked. “It might get them away from ours.”
“But can't the Harshini simply hide Sanctuary again?” Mandah asked, with a glare at Garet. She was a pagan and worshipped the Harshini along with their gods. R'shiel found herself with an unexpected ally.
Brak shook his head. “If Korandellan let it return, then he's exhausted. Keeping Sanctuary out of time takes a lot less effort than actually sending it there.”
“I can't spare the men to go trekking off into the wilderness, or wherever Sanctuary is to help them, R'shiel,” Tarja told her. “Even if we could get past the Kariens.”
“Then we have to bring the Harshini here. To the Citadel.”
They all turned and looked at her.
“
“The Harshini can't be killed here. The Citadel won't permit it.”
“And you think we're going to let you bring the Harshini into the Citadel? Absolutely not!” Garet snapped before anyone could say a word.
“But you must!” Mandah cried. “The Harshini will be slaughtered if you deny them shelter.”
“Young woman, every Defender in Medalon has been trained to hunt the Harshini down and kill them on sight. And you expect us to let them back into the Citadel?”
“Tarja?” Mandah begged, her green eyes moist. R'shiel watched her with interest, and more importantly, Tarja's reaction. He seemed decidedly uncomfortable. Was Mandah the reason Tarja found it so easy to deny the geas? She forced the thought from her mind. She had other, more important things to deal with.
“Even if I agree, what makes you think the Harshini will want to come?” Tarja asked.
“It's that or die in Sanctuary. They can't willingly take their own lives and staying at Sanctuary would be tantamount to doing that, if there was a chance they could return here to safety.”
“What about Loclon?”
“He'll keep.”
“You were burning with vengeance a couple of hours ago.”
“A couple of hours ago I hadn't inadvertently put several hundred innocent lives in danger.”
“You bring the Harshini back in here and we'll be neck deep in pagan rituals within days,” Garet warned.
“We have a common enemy, Garet,” Tarja pointed out. “I'm inclined to let them come, simply to frustrate the Kariens.”
“If you don't let them come, you'll have the blood of the Harshini on your hands,” R'shiel added.
Garet laughed sourly. “Do you know how many Harshini the Defenders have killed in the last two hundred years, R'shiel? There's plenty of blood on our hands already. A bit more won't make that much difference.”
“Then it is time to undo some of the damage,” Mandah declared. “You must let them back, Tarja! If you want the pagans to follow you, you can do nothing else.”
“It didn't take you long to learn the art of political blackmail, did it?” Garet snapped at Mandah, and then turned to Tarja. “It's your decision. You're the Lord Defender now. Just so long as you understand the trouble you're bringing down on us if you agree.”
Tarja nodded, but did not answer. Instead, he turned to Brak. “Where is Sanctuary, exactly?”
“In the Sanctuary Mountains.”
Tarja glared at him.
“It's north-west of Testra,” Brak added. “That's about as specific as I'm willing to get.”
“Then how are you going to get them out of there? I wasn't kidding when I said I don't have the men to spare, and it's too early in the spring for the passes to be cleared of snow, in any case. Even if we didn't have half of Karien camped around our walls, I have a list as long as my arm of Sisters we need to arrest before they can get organised against us. I don't know that I can help you, even if I was inclined to.”
“They can fly,” R'shiel said. “On dragons.”
“Oh, well that should reassure the population,” Garet remarked sourly. “A few hundred dragons landing in the Citadel loaded with a race we've spent two centuries convincing them we've eradicated.”
“Tarja, please,” R'shiel asked, ignoring Garet's sarcasm. She needed him to agree. She needed the Harshini safe. Her conscience would not permit anything else.
“I don't suppose there is any way you can do this discreetly?” he asked.
“You mean try to avoid a few hundred dragons landing in the Citadel loaded with a race that you've spent two centuries convincing your people you eradicated?” Brak asked drily.
“That would be a good start.”
R'shiel glanced at Brak, who thought for a moment then shook her head. “Not with the Kariens blocking their path.”
“Even if you can get them here in one piece,” Garet pointed out, “chances are they'll be attacked on sight, once our people see them.”
“Then you'd best make sure they're protected,” R'shiel warned. “You claim you want a different world from the one the Sisterhood left you. Learning to live with the original inhabitants of Medalon seems like a good place to start. You never know, Garet, you may even learn something from them.”
“I'm learning where your loyalties lie pretty quickly,” he accused.
“My loyalty is to Medalon.”
“You've an interesting way of showing it.”
“Enough, Garet,” Tarja sighed. “Arguing will get us nowhere. The Harshini can return, R'shiel, but only if you can promise me that they will not try to reclaim the Citadel or cause any more trouble than they have to.”
“Interesting that you suspect the Harshini of trying to reclaim the Citadel,” Brak said with a smile. “Have you considered what will happen if the Citadel tries to reclaim the Harshini?”
“What do you mean by that?” Garet asked suspiciously.
“He doesn't mean anything,” R'shiel cut in, before Brak could say anything further. “Do I have your word on this, Tarja?”
He nodded, but he did not seem very pleased with the decision.
“Then I'll summon Dranymire and the demons.”
“Will you send the Divine Ones a message?” Mandah asked. Her eyes were alight at the prospect of seeing a real demon and of meeting the fabled race that she so admired.
“No. I'm going to have to return to Sanctuary myself to convince the Harshini that any asylum they are offered in the Citadel is genuine.”
“Can't Brak go alone?” Tarja asked.
He shook his head. “I'm not the one who brought this on, nor I am going to be the one to convince Korandellan and his people that you have opened up the Citadel to the Harshini. It will have to come from R'shiel.”
She nodded and looked at Brak. “Will you come with me?”
“Don't I always?” he said.
