Chapter 432: The Offer

Igma;

How do you protect your people from experiencing the same things your people did to us?

Those words curl around my mind as I stare at the warlock before us. I can not begin to understand what he expects us to say to that.

I don’t have answers...And from the look of things, neither does Rhydian. How can we, when we don’t even know the depths of pain our people must have put theirs through?

Before now, I could live with that knowledge because I was taught that our people were simply striking back. I was taught that it was defence. All that this lunatic has been saying changes way too much all at once, so no.

No, we do not have the answers to that question.

And aside from trying to understand what in the goddess’s name is going on here, I can not stop thinking about Alana. Ever since I woke up here, I’ve been feeling her tugging against our bond. She’s somewhere here. I can feel her.

And she knows I’m here. Just within reach. That knowledge is making it painfully impossible for me to focus on this back and forth.

Everything we’ve done since entering Jaggered Valley has been for her. The monsters, the chase. The fucking kidnapping. This... courtroom. Everything.

We’re only enduring this because somewhere along the line we hope it leads us to Alana.

And I’ve listened because I needed to understand what was happening, but patience has never been one of my greatest virtues, and mine is wearing dangerously thin.

I look at Rhydian beside me. He’s staring at the floor, his jaw clenched tightly, and I let out a breath.

I know he’s thinking about everything Avaren told him. About his father. About this...Gorlois. About the history he thought he knew.

But I can’t afford to get lost in that right now. Not when Alana is somewhere in this place.

If this man thinks he can throw all this in our faces and make me forget why we’re truly here...then he should think again.

I turn back to Avaren and take a step forward. Leaving Rhydian behind me as I face the seemingly blind warlock.

"Then what do you want?" I demand sharply, and Avaren lifts his head slightly.

I don’t give him time to start speaking in riddles again before I continue.

"No more stories," I add. "No more history lessons, no more telling us what our fathers may have done, what your people suffered, or what war is coming." I spit, and he leans his cheek against his fist.

I take another step forward.

"We asked you when we first got here, and now I’m asking you again. What do you want?" I conclude, and Avaren remains silent.

I stare at him, and for some reason, the fact that he doesn’t immediately answer makes me even more suspicious.

This man doesn’t behave like someone who has to rush anything. He sits there as though time itself belongs to him.

I hate that.

"I don’t trust you," I say dryly, and a faint smile touches his lips.

"I would be disappointed if you did." He replies, and I roll my eyes.

"Good. Then we’re on the same page." I reply, and Rhydian lets out a breath.

I ignore him.

"I know there are two sides to every story." I continue. "And I know I haven’t heard yours until now. So I’m not going to stand here and pretend I know everything about what happened between witches and beastmen." I go on as my fingers curl into fists.

"But I’m tired," I confess as my voice cracks slightly.

"I’m tired of listening to things that have nothing to do with the person I’m trying to save," I add and Avaren’s expression changes.

It’s a subtle change, but one I don’t miss.

"So tell me what you want," I conclude, and for several seconds, nothing happens.

Then Avaren slowly lets out a breath.

"I want BeastHeaven to admit what it has done." He says, and I feel Rhydian step closer to me.

"Not privately. Not in the shadows... Not through apologies whispered between rulers." Avaren continues, and Rhydian and I share a look.

"I want BeastHeaven to acknowledge the persecution of witches and warlocks. The segregation. The violence...The blood spilled in the name of your kingdom." He adds, and I swallow, while I hear Rhydian’s breathing hitch.

"We also want equality," Avaren adds, and my brows knot.

"Equality?" I question, and he nods.

"Equal laws. Equal protection. Equal recognition." He pauses. "A witch should not have to hide what she is because she fears the people around her. A warlock should not have to wonder whether his children will be hunted because of the blood running through their veins."

Guilt pushes its talons into my chest when he says those words, but I remain silent. I don’t like how reasonable he sounds. It bothers me. Because when he sounds this way, he seems less than a monster...and more of a ruler...A concerned ruler.

He is asking for things that, stripped of everything else, sound almost...fair.

Rhydian steps forward.

"You don’t sound like you’re done." He notes, and Avaren turns his head toward him.

There is a long pause. Then he says words I hope I misheard.

"I want your king."

The room suddenly seems to go colder, and Rhydian’s entire body stiffens.

"Y–you want my father?" He repeats, and Avaren nods.

"Yes."

"For what?" I can’t help but ask, and Avaren’s expression doesn’t shift.

"Justice. I want Wilhelm dead. I want him brought before his people. I want him to stand before witches, warlocks, and beastmen and acknowledge what he did." He says, and my heart falls into my stomach while I see rage consume Rhydian.

"How dare you!? You think I’ll surrender my father to you barbarians!?" He screams, and Avaren scoffs.

"If you don’t, the conversation changes." He says, and my stomach twists.

I don’t like the sound of that.

"If you give me Wilhelm, the war won’t happen." He says, and I blink at him.

"What?"

"You heard me." He says as he folds his hands together.

"If Wilhelm is surrendered to us, the witches and warlocks will stand beside BeastHeaven." He says, and Rhydian glares at him.

"You expect us to believe that?"

"I expect you to understand the offer." He cuts Rhydian off, and I gulp.

There are no longer riddles or hidden messages. This time, Avaren is being painfully clear.

"You give us Wilhelm." He continues. "And we give you peace."

My mind races.

"Peace?"

"No war." He answers me. "No attacks against BeastHeaven. No attacks against the Ashfangs... No attacks against the kingdoms that stand beside you." He adds, and my mouth falls open as I struggle to process all this.

"We will protect your people. Your enemies will become ours. We will protect your family—"

"Protect them from what?" Rhydian cuts him off, and Avaren doesn’t miss a beat before responding.

"From our wrath...And those who would seek to destroy you." He replies like he knows something he’s not telling us, and a chill runs down my spine.

This isn’t just about ending a war...Avaren is offering protection. For us. For our people...For everyone connected to BeastHeaven.

He continues.

"The Ashfang family will be placed under our protection. Anyone important to the Ashfangs."

My throat tightens.

I immediately think of Alana...Of Rhydian, Koda, Elián, Alpha Liandria... Even King Wilhelm.

...The people Avaren has spent all this time talking about as enemies. He is offering to protect them...If we give him one man.

I glance at Rhydian. His face is unreadable. But I know him. I know that look. And I understand it. Because no matter what the stakes are...I would rather burn the world with my own hands than give my Father up as a sacrifice of any kind.

"And Alana..." Avaren continues, and my head snaps back in his direction.

"She will be released." He says, and the words hit me so hard that my breath catches.

"We’ll let her go immediately the agreement is made." He says, and I feel my heart squeeze as I understand the implication of what he’s saying.

Rhydian’s hand catches my arm. I look at him, and his eyes meet mine.

There’s something there. A warning... Because he knows what I’m thinking.

So, I turn back to Avaren.

"And what happens if we say no?" I ask, and at first, he falls silent. Then he answers.

"Then you return to BeastHeaven."

Rhydian’s brows crease.

"With Alana?" He asks, and Avaren shakes his head in negation.

"No."

My heart sinks.

"What do you mean, no? You expect us to leave her here—"

"You won’t be leaving her here." He cuts me off, and I fall silent.

"The moment you leave...She dies." He says flatly, and everything inside me stops.

"You wouldn’t dare—" Rhyidan begins, but Avaren cuts him off.

"She will be the first."

Rhydian freezes. I do too, and Avaren continues.

"Not because I want her dead...But because every war has a cost." He says, and my fingers tremble.

"You can’t be serious." I breathe in disbelief, and he nods.

"I am."

I shake my head in disagreement.

"She isn’t your enemy!" I scream, and Avaren hums.

"She isn’t."

"Then why would you kill her?"

"Because you need to understand that this is not a game." He spits, and his words settle over me like ice.

"You came here because you wanted something." He pauses. "Now I am telling you what it will cost to take her home."

My heart pounds, and my ears ring.

Light, I hate him! I hate this entire place. And most of all, I hate that he has put me in a position where I can’t simply tell him to go to hell.

Because Alana is somewhere in this place. Alive... Waiting. And he knows exactly how much that means to me.

I look at Rhydian. He looks as lost as I feel. His hands are clenched at his sides.

"You want me to betray my father." He finally breathes, and Avaren shakes his head.

"No. I want you to decide what matters more."He replies, and Rhydian’s jaw tightens.

"You believe loyalty means protecting the person who sits above you." Avaren continues, and I swallow.

"I believe loyalty means protecting the people who depend on you." He adds, and I shut my eyes.

Rhydian doesn’t answer. Neither do I. Avaren lets out a loud breath.

"You came here for Alana. You came because she is your family."

My eyes sting.

"And if giving up one man means saving her...saving your family, your people...and preventing another war..." He pauses. "Then what exactly are you protecting when you refuse?"

My throat closes.

I don’t have an answer. Because that’s the part I don’t want to think about.

What happens if we refuse?

Alana dies.

And then what?

War.

BeastHeaven burns, the Ashfangs become targets...Our allies become targets. People we love die.

And for what?

Because we refused to hand over King Wilhelm?

I shake my head. No. There has to be another way.

There has to be.’

I look at Rhydian again. He is staring at Avaren.

I can almost see the battle happening inside his head. He’s an heir. Wilhelm is his father.

He has spent his entire life believing his father is a good man. But now... He’s being asked to choose between his father and everyone else.

I understand why he looks sick.

Avaren turns away from us. "Think carefully. I am not asking for an answer at this moment—Because once you make this choice, there will be no returning to what existed before."

His blindfolded face turns toward us.

"If you surrender Wilhelm, the witches and warlocks will stand beside you." He pauses. "We will fight with you...We will protect your kingdoms."

His voice becomes colder. "And if you refuse..."

My heart pounds as I wait for his next words.

"Then we will protect ourselves." He says almost in a whisper, and a chill travels down my spine.

Avaren doesn’t say what comes next. He doesn’t need to.

His earlier words are still sitting inside my head.

"She will be the first."

I close my eyes.

I suddenly feel like I’m standing before someone offering us a choice. A horrible one. A...painful one.

A choice where every road costs someone something.

I open my eyes.

Avaren is still waiting.

This isn’t a demand. It’s a bargain.

One we cannot simply turn down.

...Because in all this...hundreds of people depend on us...and whatever choice we make in this moment.

Their lives are now sitting on one side of the scale, and our king is sitting on the other.

Whichever way we move...

Someone is going to fall.