The men broke out in disagreement, arguing amongst themselves, and Gwen thought it all over quietly as they did. She wondered what her father would have done if faced with this situation. Then she shook her head and realized that did not matter. She was ruler now. She had to trust herself.
Gwen finally cleared her throat, and the room fell silent.
“There is greater might in love than fear,” she said.
The men turned and looked to her, quiet, hanging on her every word. She could see the love and respect in their eyes.
“We must try to make the McClouds love us,” she continued. “We must try to unify the two Rings. If we attack , we may occupy them for a while; but not for the long run. Force is short-lived; the greater strength lies in harmony. Which of you would want to make peace with a kingdom that has slaughtered your wives and children?”
All the men looked down, humbled, silent, realizing she had a point.
“Peace may be the harder course,” Gwen continued, “but it is the course we must embark on. The McClouds may look upon as an enemy still; but they may also be looking to us for leadership. We must assume the best in them until they give us reason otherwise.”
“Yes, my lady,” Aberthol said.
“Bronson!” Gwen called out.
Bronson stepped forward, kneeling.
“You have served our kingdom bravely in our fight with the Empire. I owe you an apology. You should have not been mistrusted due to the deeds of my sister.”
Bronson bowed.
“Thank you, my lady. All is forgiven. I am grateful for your taking me in and giving me a second chance.”
“To reward your loyalty,” Gwen said, “I will give you leadership of the Eastern Kingdom of the Ring. You will rule the McClouds, and you will rule with my name.”
“My lady,” he gasped, shocked. “Are you certain? I am but a simple warrior.”
Gwen shook her head.
“You are far more,” she said. “You are the son of a king. And you are a McCloud. The McClouds know and respect you. You know them. Who better to lead them? Embark and cross the highlands and act as my emissary. Show them love and peace, and help them rebuild. Unify our armies.”
Bronson nodded quickly.
“As you say, my lady.”
“A most wise and tempered decision, my lady,” Aberthol said. “Your father would be proud.”
He cleared his throat and pulled out another scroll, squinting as he read.
“While we’re on the topic of the McClouds, there is another, more unpleasant, matter that needs to be dealt with. Your sister. Luanda. She has been caught.”
Gwen gasped. So, her sister, who had betrayed them, had survived after all.
“What shall be her fate?” Aberthol asked.
The men broke into an agitated murmur.
“She must be hanged for her crimes,” Srog said.
“She betrayed all of our people,” Erec said.
“She betrayed Thorgrin most of all,” Kendrick said.
Gwen burned as she thought of it. She turned and looked at Thor.
“My lady,” Thor said. “I hold no grudge against her. She is your sister, after all.”
Gwendolyn thought it all through, debating. Luanda had been a thorn in her side her entire life. Her ambition was limitless, she had a streak of ruthlessness in her, and Gwen knew that would never change.
“My lady, if I may,” Bronson said, clearing his throat, stepping forward. “Forgive me, I do not mean to intrude on affairs not my own. But Luanda is more than your sister—she is also my wife. I do not dispute her faults, or her wrongdoing. And yet, I ask you a favor. I ask for your forgiveness, your mercy, on her behalf. If I have done any good to merit it, please forgive her. It is greater for a leader to show mercy when underserved than to punish when it is.”
Gwen paused, debating, seething with conflicting emotions.
“Where is she?” Gwen asked Aberthol.
“She waits outside, my lady.”
Gwen thought long and hard, debating. Finally, she nodded.
“Bring her in.”
Aberthol whispered to an attendant, who ran from the room. Shortly, he returned, accompanying Luanda, hands bound behind her backs with ropes.
The men parted for her as she walked down the center, placed before her sister. Luanda hung her head low, not even meeting her eyes.
Gwen was shocked at her appearance. She looked much aged. She looked broken. Her head was shaved, her face covered in bruises and scratches. She looked as if she had been through hell and back.
Luanda also wore a look that Gwen had never seen: humility. She continued to look down to the floor, her lips bruised and chapped, her cheeks swollen. Despite everything, she could not help but feel some pity for her.
“Forgive me, my sister,” Luanda said, and she dropped to her knees and burst out sobbing. She wept, and as Gwen watched, her heart went to her. She’d always had a rivalry with Luanda—one of Luanda’s own making— yet despite that, she had never wished her harm.
“I am ashamed of what I have done,” Luanda said. “Not just to you, and Thor, but to the entire Ring. To our family. I do not know what overcame me. If I could take it all back, I would. It is your prerogative to have me killed. But I beg your forgiveness. I do not wish to die.”
Gwen watched her sobbing, the room quiet. Gwen sighed, realizing all eyes were on her.
She thought long and hard and realized there was much truth in what Bronson had said: there was more power in mercy than justice. She knew that any good ruler must exhibit both, and weigh both carefully.
“I will pardon you,” Gwendolyn said.
Luanda looked up with shock, and hope.
“But your face is not welcome here anymore. I have dispatched your husband to the Eastern Kingdom, and it is with him that you shall go, not to cross to this side of the Highlands ever again, on pain of execution. Not because of what you did to me, but because of what you did to Thorgrin.”
Gwen thought Luanda would be relieved to have averted a death sentence; yet to her surprise, she seemed dismayed.
Luanda wept again.
“You are my
“No you don’t,” Gwen said. “It’s taken me my whole life to realize that. You love ambition. Not your family.”
Gwen nodded, and two of her attendants stepped forward and took Luanda’s arms, and led her away.
Bronson bowed.
“Thank you, my lady, for granting her mercy. I shall never forget this kindness.”
Gwen nodded back.
“Accompany your wife to the Eastern Kingdom,” she said. “Represent me. Our people are counting on you. I am counting on you. A Ring divided will always be weak.”
Bronson bowed, turned, and hurried from the room, and a long silence followed.
As Luanda was being dragged from the room, she resisted, bucking.
“No!” she cried. “Don’t do this! This is my home, too!”
The men continued to drag her away. Before she reached the door, she turned and yelled out to Gwendolyn one last time.
“You are my younger sister! When we were young, you would do anything for me. What has happened to you?”
