Descend- Seeing Stars, Sean Oswald [best e books to read .txt] 📗

the midst of a battle,” challenged Al-fa-hed, elder of the civet clan.

      “That is what I am trained to do, elder. It is my very reason for existing,” she replied.

      Jad-bal-ja cleared his throat and brought attention back to himself. “And if I told you that we believe their numbers were less than thirty and that most of the fighting was only done by barely more than a dozen of them, how would that change your assessment.”

      “To think that so few could kill almost a thousand warriors from the clans is staggering. To do it apparently without taking a casualty themselves, does not bode well for us at all. Even if that were all of their numbers, how many thousands of warriors would we have to throw away to completely defeat them,” Eesa replied.

      “That is my mind. I thought at first as I directed the battle that we would be able to eventually overwhelm them. Even believing them to be the Forlorn, I fretted about how many thousands of lives would be lost to bring them down. But then the battle changed. Tell me Pilot Eesa, did you get a good look at their leader,” Jad-bal-ja asked.

      “No, only that he was larger than all the rest, clearly male. What I did experience was the shield that appeared after he arrived. I don’t understand how such a shield could have been created. I didn’t see a generator for it. That technology would be worth a fortune. But I did hear his voice in my head.”

      “What if he were the one creating that barrier instead of any technology?” The Leon elder asked.

      “I would say that such a thing is not possible, and it must simply be a technology that we don’t understand,” Eesa replied.

      “Your file and your father point out that you are a very pragmatic young female. You have little use for what you believe to be the discussion of mystics, but let me assure you that under the Source many things are possible that you might find hard to believe,” Jad-bal-ja said.

      Unsure if she had been asked a question or not, she risked answering and said, “If it were true that one individual could create such a barrier then that one would be akin to the divine messengers of the Source from the stories I learned as a child.”

      The four elders then sat there watching her. Finally, Al-fa-hed asked, “Child of Lepar are you willing to serve the clans?”

      It bothered her that he had called her child rather than pilot as protocol dictated but rather than correct an elder, she simply put it off as a sign of his nervousness. “My life for the clan, given happily and without hesitation.”

      Namur-san said, “Warriors often talk about dying for the clans, but the greatest service can often be rendered by living for the clans.”

      She didn’t know what to say in response, so she remained quiet. Finally, her father said, “My daughter, it is the decision of this council that we will parley with this human, Jay, tomorrow. If we can reach terms, then an alliance will be made. It will then need to be sealed in the traditional manner.”

A wave of horror came over, Eesa. She wanted to curse, but her military bearing prevented it. “This is your will, esteemed elder?” Then she added, “Father?”

“It is the will of the council and you are the only daughter of a chieftain of the appropriate age. We don’t even know if you would be compatible, but if peace can be reached you can serve Tamoori best by living. I fear if peace can’t not be reached that you will die but leave no people behind you to remember your sacrifice.”

      She bowed her head. Tradition was clear. “My life for the clans, given happily and without hesitation.”

      Then she was dismissed although she could tell that her father wanted to say something more. Perhaps they would find a chance to speak now. For now, she wanted to scream. She needed to hunt something. So, she ran out and leapt into the trees. The larger clans’ men lacked the agility of a leper. For her she was just as at home in a star fighter, the branches of a tree, or the floor of the jungle.

      She ran quickly, imagining that if she somehow ran fast enough, she would be able to outrun destiny.

Chapter 19- Alliances

      Jay didn’t sleep much, but did spend plenty of time in meditation. He pushed off any offers for company he received, generally explaining that he was still too angry about the events from earlier. Eventually though he got a telepathic message from Amelia.

His first inclination was to block her out, but he realized that would be childish. He could sense through the fusion that they all were sorry for it, even if some of them still felt the decision was justified. While he couldn’t support the decision they had made, he was strangely reassured that despite the fusion it was possible for them to have a disagreement and still like one another.

      He opened himself up to Amelia as she said, “They sent a messenger. They have agreed to meet with you in thirty minutes. You are allowed to bring an honor guard of up twelve, but they guarantee that they won’t attack first.”

      Jay thought about it for a second before telling her to agree to their terms. He knew they were trying to set the meeting without enough time for him to prepare any sort of trap. It was silly though. They didn’t know what Jay could do with thirty minutes, to him that could be turned into a lifetime.

      Now the question was who to bring with him. Ironically, his study of history