“Did you know?” I ask, forcing the leaden words out of me as if winded. She distantly shakes her head; a sprinkle of relief is added to the mountain of horror inside of me.
All those children taken from Avlym, the hushed names, the broken families, all a part of the deal with the colony. The children were all warned not to go venturing into the forest, we were all told the stories of those that had gone missing. Damion and so many others had been taken, we all thought it had been by spirits or demons but no, yet again it all led back to the colony. They had allowed us to believe in our monsters and our superstitions while it was actually them who took our people from us, stole them away so that they may serve our oppressors behind these high walls. So many children from so many villages, are they all here now, waiting at the feet of King Breyden?
Turmoil rages inside me and, considering Orrian has been returned to us without immediately agreeing to the offer, it must rage inside him as well. I have no clue which way the young king will sway, after all this time with these people I don’t know if they’re capable of abandoning their pride like this. The colony’s offer would ruin them and everything they stand for.
The decision is Orrian’s, but I know his father’s choice must weigh heavily on his mind. Will he and King Theodluin be united in their defiance even if it means their end? Or will he be forced to part with his father’s stance, for the same reason that we chose not to fight from inside our mountain refuge, so that his people may survive. Should he choose to agree to the terms, would some of the tribespeople lose their respect for their inexperienced and defeated king? I know he’s proud, but I also know he keeps a more level head than a lot of his peers.
Would I be able to sacrifice everything I stood for in his position? I hope I would, I’m fairly sure I would lose it all to keep on living. But still. It would mean letting the colony win, continuing under their rule that has tormented us for so long. The memories of those lost children swim before my eyes, blurred faces taken from us before I had properly gotten to know them. That process would continue, I would have to watch knowingly as mothers and fathers were continued to be separated from their daughters and their sons.
That would not be all, whilst everyone would continue to draw breath it would be while on the brink of starvation. A situation that we were all too familiar with in Avlym. We will never have the opportunity to prosper and thrive, always restricted in case we begin to grow to a stage where we may rival the colony’s army.
Despite all this, I know the value of life and from here we are in no position to bargain. I certainly wouldn’t call it mercy but perhaps we should be thankful that the colony would prefer to have us enrich them instead of just executing us and being done with it. I’m sure that Arthur and everyone would agree with my thoughts, but of course, our people aren’t nearly as proud or stubborn as the tribe. If we had been, then Avlym would have been reduced to cinders long ago.
“I have to do it,” Orrian says breaking the settled silence. Predictably, a chorus of mixed reactions follows.
“Are you sure?” Horas asks, for once questioning his king. I get the feeling that he asks not out of disagreement however, but merely to appreciate the weight of such a momentous decision. I can almost feel everyone around us holding their breath, listening intently as their king decides their fate.
“We are all that’s left. If we die, what good is our pride. We will be forgotten, and the colony will continue onwards without so much as a second glance,” says Orrian, his voice growing stronger and more certain with each passing word. “It is not dishonourable to choose life, I know my father would have understood. And it doesn’t matter what words I say or who we kneel too, our loyalties will never change.”
Horas and many of the others nod in agreement. Whilst they all accept their king’s points with a grimace as if tasting something foul, they thankfully outnumber the few who protest. Unfortunately, it is the protestors who make the most noise.
“No!”
“We can’t!”
“Don’t you dare!”
“Traitor!”
The dungeon is filled with aggression as the complaints are met with those in support of Orrian.
“We’ll lose everything!”
“At least we won’t be dead!”
“Better dead than bowing to them!”
“Think of the children!”
“We might not have them even if we agree!”
“SILENCE!” Orrian’s voice booms loudest of all. “My decision is final, I will not let our tribe vanish down here, there’s no other choice.”
Orrian stands, taking his time to move over to the bars. I spring to my feet.
“WARD-” he begins before my hand clamps shut over his mouth.
Orrian turns furiously, ripping away my hand, but calms when he realises it’s me and not one of his opposers.
“What?” Orrian grits his teeth. I know it was a risky move stop him in front of his people, especially when he needs their unwavering loyalty now more than ever.
“There might be another way,” I rush, keeping my voice low.
Orrian gives me a searching look, up ahead comes the familiar sounds of a certain bolt sliding out of place. There’s uncertainty behind those eyes but also hope, eager for any alternative to the colony’s choices. He nods at me once and then moves over to quickly whisper something in an old
