章 668: Fish and Peace?
Brinn's decision to exit the barrier was a rash one. The humans were going to wait to see what the bears would do with the fish.
While not everyone could hide behind the crates, the soldiers' packs had been added to make a respectable little wall.
It wasn't one that would withstand a long assault from the snowbears, but it would at least give them a small defensive position. Those who could took their places around or on the sled next to Aurora, while the rest fanned out in a line.
However, when the bears stopped and did not seem to be doing anything, Brinn pulled away from Alvar and decided to engage.
Reyan had been able to speak to them briefly. Perhaps a little more diplomacy would do what the grumpy curmudgeon could not.
She fled the false safety of the wall despite Alvar's "No!"
"We mean no harm!" she began before looking up. When she did, her words went dry.
The white creatures were even larger up close. They were taller than Unicorns and twice as wide. That wasn't even counting their fluffy fur.
Worst of all, they did not look as intelligent as the elf expected. Had Reyan really spoken to them? Now she was not so sure.
A span of what felt like a million seconds--but was likely only one or two--passed with Brinn completely frozen in place.
She had faced bigger threats than this on multiple occasions, but there was something oppressive about the way the snowbears stared at her. It was as if they were condemning her.
"You speak the Ancient Tongue?"
The words pulled Brinn from her stupor. 'Say something. Anything!'
The red-head nodded. Channeling what she thought her mother--or better yet, Aurora!--would say, Brinn gave her best court impression. "I am an elf. As much as I do spend time with humans, I would never forget my roots. Forgive me for not introducing myself. I am Princess Brinn of the Elven Kingdom."
'That wasn't half bad. Now give a bow...' Brinn hid her satisfied smile with the dip of her head.
When she looked up, the she-bear in the lead was twisting her head from side to side, confused.
The bears all began to growl. They fell into some quiet conversation that was outside her ability to understand. While elves only had the Ancient tongue to call their own, animals often had other ways to communicate. The longer the creatures grumbled, the less confident Brinn became.
Something was not quite right, and the elf soon found out what it was.
"Very well, Princeesbrinn Oftheelvenkingdom." The bear's garbling of her name made it almost unrecognizable. Brinn held her smile as if it had been said perfectly. The snowbear continued."My battle is not with the elves. Step aside and return to your land in peace. We will destroy the humans and the fake fairy. I see no other way for this to end."
Brinn gulped. "Well then, we have a problem..."
'I didn't even mean to say that aloud," the princess wanted to slap her own face. By her inner dialog spilling out, it sounded like she was challenging the bears. Really, all she wanted was peace.
"You would side with the humans knowing you will die by our hands?" the she-bear again began twisting her head as if some other view might give her a clearer picture.
"I will defend the humans with my life, yes." Brinn was about to say more about the value of humanity when the bear cut her off.
"What have they done to gain such loyalty?" the creature asked with a low growl.
"It is not what they have done so much as what they want to do. They want to restore magic to the land. It is dying. Without it, the whole world will perish." The elf spoke quickly. She realized when she was done that her words were likely confusing.
But the bear squinted her black eyes instead. "A likely story. The magic here is not gone, and I have no idea if it is dying. What I do know is that humans took my child and killed it for fun. They killed my he-bear with their wounds. They should not lie to me. It will do them no good."
"It was not these humans who did that horrible deed. These humans offer you fish and peace. Let us pass to the South so we can repair what is broken." Brinn's voice was on the verge of begging.
Behind her, things were deathly silent. Likely every soldier was holding their breath to see what would happen next. Although none of the guards knew what was being said, it was better not to upset the balance accidentally. All were frozen like statues.
Before them, the bears fell into another round of growling. There seemed to be a great debate on how to proceed. Some of the creatures looked reluctant to fight while the he-bear in the front kept roaring over them to be heard.
It was an unsettling feeling to know that creatures were talking about them and deciding if there would be a war.
At last, the front she-bear silenced them all.
"It is decided," she told the elf in the ancient tongue. "I am willing to let the death of my he-bear pass, but my child...my only cub...I desire blood for blood. Send one human to sacrifice his life, and I shall be satisfied."
Brinn stayed silent for a long time. A moment before, the bears had wanted to murder them all. Now they would settle for one victim. One life to save more than seventy? It wasn't the worst trade.
"Tell the humans," the she-bear growled. "I want their answer."
The princess swallowed. "They said they will settle for the death of one human. The rest of us can go without a problem if someone is willing to forfeit their life."
The soldiers began to murmur. Each seemed to be weighing their options. They wanted to save their companions, but they did not want to die without a weapon in hand.
"This is ridiculous," Devrim whispered to Zan.
"I'll go," Gandr said, startling everyone. "I have lived more than my fair share of life."
"No!" Those around all objected at once.
It was Alvar whose voice finally broke through. "Even if we let you do it, the bears wouldn't. You are not human. I think they will notice that detail."
Devrim gripped the pommel of his sword. "We did not kill her cub. Can the bears really expect us to atone for what we did not do?"
"We didn't do it, but humans did. Misguided as is it, she wants justice," Aurora slid forward on the sled toward her husband. He moved aside to let her legs dangle off. "I volunteer!" she yelled over the barrier. She repeated the words in the Ancient Tongue.
"What?! No!" Devrim tried to push his wife back on the sled. "I won't allow it."
Aurora looked deep into her husband's eyes. "Trust me."
The two were locked in each other's gaze for what felt like an eternity. A silent conversation occurred. Finally, the Emperor looked away.
"I trust you," he said at last.
"Well?" the she-bear asked the elven messenger. "Do you have someone or not?"
"We have a volunteer," Brinn answered reluctantly.
"Who is the one who will satisfy me?" the snowy creature demanded to know.
The elf cleared her throat. "The leader of the human world has volunteered herself."
The scraping of Aurora's brace filled the air as she dragged her injured leg using her crutch. The men reluctantly parted, letting their leader pass by with solemn expressions.
Coming around the barrier, the Empress's eyes widened slightly. There were so many bears! Far more than the soldiers she had with her. There was no way to win when the creatures had both numbers, strength, and the terrain on their side. Aurora knew she was making the right decision.
"The leader of the human world?" the she-bear asked. She sniffed at the air.
"Yes, I am," Aurora answered in the Ancient Tongue. Her speech was not as smooth as the elf, but it was comprehensible. "I am Aurora. What may I call you?"
"I'm Isbora. Tell me, Aurora...Why not volunteer one of your men?" The bear watched as the Empress skirted around the offering of fish and continued to come forward.
"I know the man that murdered your cub." Aurora could see the bear's face change as her teeth shone.
"Is he with you?!" Isbora growled. If he were, that would change things.
If the Empress was protecting her child's killer, then all of the group would be wiped out without a second thought.
"He is not with me. He is dead." The Empress lowered her eyes.
It was a sign of respect, but also, she was having great difficulty navigating on the ice. It was a small miracle that she had not slipped and fallen.
"He is dead," Aurora continued, "but it is my fault he was not stopped sooner. If I had found out Sir Taran's treachery sooner, your cub and he-bear would be with you now. I am to blame for both their deaths. If anyone should be sacrificed, it is me."
The scraping sound stopped as the Empress came even with the bears. Unable to fall to her knees, Aurora bowed in half.
The action made the she-bear snort. "The man responsible for my cub's murder is dead? Tell me, how did he die."
Aurora tilted up her head to look at the she-bear. "I killed him."
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