Under a Starless Sky novel 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 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.”