Under a Starless Sky

Chapter 80

“We don’t need you,” Tia said.

“Then return from where you come. I ask that you respect my side of the forest,” Shen said. “Acts of

aggression against me or any people in my domain will be seen as hostility and there will be

consequences.”

“Kill him,” Tulia said. “And everyone here. We will take this place by force.”

Candace held direct eye contact with Shen. She was aware that neither he nor any of his people

flinched. Her own Sisters were not so relaxed. Their grips tightened on their staffs. The other men and Exclusive content © by Nô(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

women in their company came to attention. The men were clearly scared, she saw that much without

eyes. Only now did Shen recognize one of the men for a boy he once knew, fought with even. Spared.

“What are you waiting for?” Tulia said.

“This is a circle of peace. We were invited into this Light in good faith,” Candace said. “Neither I, or

those who follow me, will violate the sanctity of that code. Anyone who does, will sleep permanently. If

you are declaring war, so be it. We will thank those here for their ears, and retreat respectfully, knowing

the next encounter will not be friendly. I recommend we accept their offer of rest and nourishment, and

civil discussion.”

“I am in charge here…”

“I recognize the Light of your authority; no one violate codes, not even you. Without that, there would

be no way to end hostilities,” Candace said.

“Winning end hostilities,” Tulia said.

“No. It delays the inevitable dialogue,” Candace said.

“I told them you were compromised,” Tulia said.

“I am not. You had a vision. You convinced the Elders that it was worth exploring. I was chosen

because of my judgment to explore a potential threat. I was chosen because my Sister Tree is near

here. I was also chosen because if the threat was realized, that Shen is here, my relationship with him

would allow opportunities for dialogue. Dialogue allows us to understand whether or not there is a

threat.”

While Candace spoke, Orton tried to interject: “You had relations with your sister?”

Arne rolled his eyes. Jerica gave him a look that told him shut up.

“He uses tech! He uses weapons. He uses magic. He threatens our very existence,” Tulia said. “He is a

necromancer.”

“I am not…” Shen said.

“You deny it?!” Tulia said, so angry spit left her lips. Her left hand was clenched, as if she were

charging it with magic to hurl. She pointed with right index. His wives changed their posture as if they

saw this gesture as a threat. “There were witnesses. Your own sister Tama witnessed it.”

There was information projected from Tulia in her words- and Jerica saw it clearly, the whole of it that

had been collaged in her vision before it broke out whole. She now knew who Tama was. “She is the

one I saw,” Jerica said. “She can bilocate.”

“You,” Tulia said.

“We are Sister in the light, Tulia. Your ways are not the only ways,” Jerica said. “My husband speaks

truth. He is a kind man. He is extremely generous, so much so, my people didn’t trust him. I have

witnessed him put himself in harm’s way to protect others. I have seen him in combat with real giants. I

have seen him go up against a battalion of old school warriors, with projectiles and explosives and

killing machines. I have seen him use magic. I have witnessed him conversing with tree spirits. They

come to this Hall daily. You will not beat him in war. And everyone one of us here would sacrifice

ourselves to protect him. One word to my people, and there would be armies and ships here. We would

have legions of dragon born riding about your skies. Sinter will fall. There will be death and suffering

unlike you have ever seen.”

“You can’t get past the Great Ridge! Not with ships, not with dragons,” Tulia said.

“How do you think they got here?” Candace asked.

“I have a gateway,” Shen said. “I also have machines that can fly.”

There was quiet. Tulia was assessing the threat. She was assessing the man holding the child, the

resolve of his friends. She nodded.

“Then there will be war,” Tulia said.

Shen handed the baby back to Jerica. “Withdraw from the circle and this room,” Shen said.

Jerica accepted the child, but did not leave. “We stand together on this circle. That’s it.”

His friends also held their ground. “Speak your mind, brother,” Arne said. “We are likely to be in

alignment.”

Shen looked to the fire. He was frustrated they didn’t leave, but grateful, as it was likely the only thing

tempering his response. A part of him wanted compliance, so he could be ugly without witness- ugly to

the point of deadly. He sorted his feelings, first addressing his desire for compliance; these were free

people and he had no right to command them as such. Wives had more right then the men to hold their

ground because the man’s decisions affected them, it affected children; it affected everything. This was

the one thing he had not learned growing up, compromise with a group because sometimes the group

mind was more stable than the individual mind. He sorted truth and distortion. He then met Candace’s

eyes with respect and sadness. He saw fear in the men’s eyes behind her- and he wondered what they

saw. He then gave his full attention to Tulia.

“I don’t know how to deal with your level of insanity,” Shen said. “In the men’s world, if we disagree, we

fight. Fighting usually sorts itself out, and it stops at that. Sometimes it escalates, but mostly, men who

fight share a respect for each other and hostilities end. That type of conflict resolution doesn’t work

between a man and a woman. Typically, a fight between a man and a woman results in woman being

injured. You and I fighting would result in you being injured. You don’t have the muscle mass to hurt

me. Even if you have some skill in combat, I only need one good hit to level you. So, in principle, in

general, it is my opinion and practice not to hit a woman. Further, hitting you would not resolve the

conflict. The more I subdue you physically, the further in I bury the grievance you hold- which will allow

to manifest and bloom elsewhere, in the future with you, or in others. Ideally, it is best to sort this here

and now and come to a mutual compromise.

“In the absence of physical strength, you’re more likely to employ duplicity. That is not a

disparagement; duplicity and manipulation of social fact is a reasonable ploy when you lack voice or

strength. You do not lack voice. You definitely have strength about you, and so you don’t need to

manipulate appearances. You have free speech here. I find your words unreasonable. I find you

unreasonable. That puts the onus upon me to resolve this, because you won’t negotiate. So how do I

contain your craziness? If I kill you here and now, the watchers will see this and there will be war. If I let

you leave, you will rally the elders and there will be war. So, friend Tulia, how do we stop this here and

now?”

“These foreigners will retreat from this place. We will occupy this fortress,” Tulia said.

Shen nodded, hearing her. “I can live anywhere. I could live on boat on the sea and be happy. I have

liked it here, me and the ghosts, occasionally friendly Irks, but there was an emptiness. Now, I belong

to a community that accepts me. My home here allows me the luxury of meeting the needs of many

people. It allows me to continue my research, my exploration of the planet. I contribute to the wellbeing

of the land. I could rebuild this anywhere; it would take up time I don’t want to use. Going to war is a

waste of time, too- just a waste. Umph. War, what’s it good for? Absolutely nothing. I could leave, and I

could take the mountain with me, I suppose. It would leave a hole in your shield against of outsiders.

But even if I leave, I see a time in the future, assuming your people continue to prosper, where we will

be here, again, negotiating for space and resources. So, let’s deal with this now. I am not leaving. My

friends and family are not leaving. If the trees accept me, you can accept me. We breathe the same air.

We share the same light. That’s it.”

None of Shen’s people added or subtracted from this impromptu speech. Jerica and Ásdís both placed

hands on Shen, showing support and love. They as a group were resolved in this.

“If you care about people and the land as much as you say, you will leave,” Tulia said.

“I am not leaving,” Shen said. “I am not leaving this fortress. I am definitely not leaving tech with you.”

“We have tech, too,” Tulia said. “We can rain down a level of destruction that will level this mountain

and kill everything for a thousand miles.”

“I do, too,” Shen said.

“Bring it. I assure you, I will survive,” Tulia said.

Shen blinked. “You’re a tulpa,” Shen said. His eyes grew wide. “You’re a daughter of Hel. Persephone

Plant.”

“That can’t be,” Jerica said. “They have a range for manifesting bodies.”

“Unless she is a half breed,” Þuríður said. “Daughters of Hel can breed, if the male is cultivated and in

alignment.”

“You know nothing of our kind,” Tulia said. “My mother is the Light that holds Sinter. There are many of

us. We rule, not humans.”

“I have met your kind and defeated her,” Shen said.

“You did not defeat her,” Tulia said. “You left her wet and hungry. She is hardly dog, compared to us.

You can’t defeat us. Sinter belongs to mother. You and these others are not welcome. Now that you

understand, you should leave.”

“I understand,” Shen said. “And I am still not leaving.”

“We accept your offer to remain and negotiate,” Candace said.

“No,” Jerica said.

Shen looked to her. The other wives were quickly and silently in agreement on that score. Aslog was in

agreement.

“You may leave peacefully,” Jerica said. “We will respect the present arrangement of Sleeping Forest

as the borders, from the inner ocean to the mountains, to the outer oceans. Easterly will be neutral

territory, with caveats; if you attack us, we will own Easterly. Your chosen may continue to commune

with the trees of the forest, of course. The air is always shared. We, too, are the children of trees and

no one will be deprived of access to their ancestors. We are open to trade, but quite frankly, you have

nothing we want. If you come at us aggressively, we will end you. We will occupy Midelay, and we will

take Sinter. You may go now.”

Tulia opened her mouth to say something but Aslog cut her off.

“No speech, just go. We have heard enough from you, Tulia,” Aslog said. “You are not the only one of

your kind. We, too, have sons and daughters of tree tulpas. You’re not special. You’re not a goddess or

a giant. You are not like the Underworld people. You can die.”

“You are mistaken,” Tulia said.

Tulia backed out of the circle, and only turned her back when she was in the hall proceeding out. Her

people went with her. The men hesitated, but they were instructed to go without word and they

departed quickly. Candace and her Sisters lingered.

“Candace, I have love for you,” Shen said. “Do not return. Do not oppose me.”

“I would like things to be different,” Candace said.

“I hear you,” Shen said. “Go, before there is more gossip.”

The three Sisters backed up as one. Candace turned her back to the circle first and walked out,

passing between her Sisters, who only then turned to follow. Éliane presented evidence that she was

seeing Shen in a new light. The wives recognized the look and seriously discouraged it with silent

communication of their own. The guests gone, the friends and wives of Shen turned to him.

“We can have enough warriors here to hold the fortress and take Midelay before the end of the day,”

Jerica said.

“The men will be reluctant to fight women,” Arne said.

“I am not talking about men,” Jerica said.

“Uh? Oh. Oh!” Arne said.

“You’re going to call the Valkyries?” Orton asked.

“We’re not really calling those sluts, are we?” Aslog said.

“I disapprove of that word,” TL said. “Women should be allowed to express their sexuality and have a

high libido without being disparaged.”

Aslog nodded. “Of course. It’s just their appetites are as great as giants, and they’re more aggressive in

pursuing their interests.”

“No one will fight my war. I will take care of this,” Shen said.

“You will not fight,” Jerica said. “I will not have it.”

One by one, they all agreed. Arne nodded his head in agreement with the wives. “Brother, no one

doubts your courage or your resolve. This is not your war.”

“How is it not? I will not allow others to go and fight and die when I sit here safe and do nothing,” Shen

said.

“Women will fight women. Men will fight men. Magicians will fight magicians,” Ciara said. “Dragons

riders will fight everyone. The job of the king is to hold the confidence of the collective. Your job is here,

husband.”

“I do not want war. I want a solution,” Shen said.

“Call the Valkyries, then. If there is war, it will be short,” Aslog said.

Shen had an epiphany. “You acquired Boa’s service in a truce? She knows?”

“She does,” Aslog said.

“Would you bring her here? Would you allow me to return her to Midelay so she can communicate what

she knows? Maybe she can tell them a truth and war can be avoided,” Shen said.

“She’s a good servant,” Aslog said.

“She is moody as Hel,” Jerica said.

“I don’t care about mood or attitude as long as work gets accomplished,” Aslog said. “She has not

fulfilled her promise.”

“Let her go,” Arne said. “We no longer need her services and this act has the potential of serving the

community.”

Aslog nodded. “I care for her.”

“Mother, she’s an adult,” Jerica said.

Aslog pouted. “You may have Boa to do as you think best,” she said.