Chapter 11
The Alphas started to withdraw, but Aquilla turned on Piwaka. “We can’t just let them walk away, with no consequences.”
Piwaka faced him. “There is a consequence. They’ve lost the territory they thought was theirs on this side of the rock, and their peace process is delayed by years, maybe even decades. If no one can decide and agree on the location of their borders, the peace process is dead.”
Aquilla thought it over. Then he nodded. “All right. Let’s go.”
Faruk leaned toward Donen, but he kept his voice low. “So that’s it? That’s the end of it? Are we going to let him kill our peace agreement without even a squeak of protest?”
Donen laid his hand on Faruk’s shoulder. “You heard what he said. He said when we finish establishing the borders, we will meet here and discuss the next phase of our peace process.”
Emily came to Faruk’s side. “That means the peace process is still alive. All we have to do is meet each other along the border and make sure we agree where it is. Since the Ursidreans, the Lycaon, and the Felsite are already at peace, that shouldn’t be a problem.”
“If it is a problem,” Chris added, “we’d better get any disagreements out in the open now. We have to resolve any border disputes before we can discuss anything else. It’s the perfect test of the peace we’ve already won.”
The whole company turned away, and the Avitras started to retreat. Renier cast a glance over his shoulder at Piwaka and Aquilla still watching them. “I don’t like leaving like this. We’ve come so far. It seems a terrible waste of all we’ve accomplished to be sent packing at his whim.”
“This could be the end of the negotiation with the Avitras,” Carmen told him, “but no one is making us leave. The Felsite, the Ursidreans, and the Lycaon can stay here, well inside Ursidrean territory, and discuss our own plans to settle conflicts across our borders. Aquilla can’t stop us from negotiating with each other.”
Renier’s laugh rolled across the rock, and he threw his arm around Carmen’s shoulder. “You’re right, as always. By golly, we’ll go all the way. We won’t let him stop us from building peace between our three factions. If he wants to drag his heels, let him. He can patrol his border alone for the next ten years while the rest of us live and thrive.”
The company broke up and headed down the hill. Donen called over his shoulder. “Everyone come back to the Ursidrean camp. I want to celebrate our victory.”
Anna glanced at Emily. “Victory? What victory? He sent us packing.”
“At least he didn’t declare war on us,” Emily replied. “The peace process isn’t over. He only gave us some homework to do.”
The Avitras fell back to the treeline and vanished into the foliage the way they’d come. The Ursidreans led the way down to the camp on the plain. No one noticed Aimee standing in the same place. Piwaka, Aquilla, and Penelope Ann stood still while the Avitras Guard withdrew. Then Aquilla took Penelope Ann by the hand and followed the Guard into the trees. Piwaka stayed where he was, and he and Aimee gazed into each other’s eyes until the last Avitras disappeared. Then he, too, withdrew and vanished between the swaying branches.
Aimee watched until she lost sight of him. The negotiation was neither a success or a failure, but that didn’t matter to her. She’d seen him. The connection between them remained alive. When would she see him again? Would Aquilla order the Avitras back to their own territory and leave the other factions to their own devices? She might not see him again for years.
She couldn’t believe that, though. Piwaka pulled the strings behind the Avitras. If he wanted to see her again, he would find a way to turn this negotiation around. He would give Aquilla some hint to keep the Avitras here, where she could find him and where the other factions could convince Aquilla to agree to peace.
The sun rode high in the clear sky. The rock radiated heat, and Aimee turned away into the cool forest. She walked between the trees instead of running. She didn’t want to hurry back to the camp for Donen’s celebration. He and Renier executed to perfection the arguments Aimee gave their mates to suggest to them. But what next?
She had no more suggestions to give her friends on how to swing this negotiation. She wandered in the fog, just like them. She couldn’t face their questioning eyes, but she couldn’t stay away forever. She got back in the late afternoon and found everyone standing around the giant metal box Emily called the store chamber. They all held plates of food in their hands and mingled like colleagues at a cocktail party.
Aimee strolled up to Anna and Aria. Donen, Caleb, and Turk stood on the other side of the circle. “What’s going on?”
“We were just talking about the meeting with Aquilla,” Anna replied. “Some of us think it’s the worst defeat we could possibly suffer. Others think it’s a sign of hope. What do you think?”
Aimee shrugged and looked back up the hill. “It’s hard to tell. I wonder, though, whether the Avitras are still up there somewhere.”
“Why would they stick around?” Aria asked. “Piwaka said we should all go back to our own territories until we have a chance to confirm our borders.”
“That’s what he said,” Aimee replied, “but he could have been saying that for Aquilla’s benefit. He may have other plans.”
Anna and Aria glanced at each other. Donen put down the fruit he was eating. “What do you mean?”
Aimee shifted from one foot to the other. “I didn’t say anything before because I didn’t want to confuse the situation. I delivered the message about Aquilla’s invitation to dialogue, but I didn’t tell you everything.”
Caleb’s eyes widened, and Turk frowned. “What didn’t you tell us?”
“It was Piwaka who suggested the meeting to Aquilla,” Aimee replied. “He’s manipulating Aquilla to bring him around to accept the peace agreement. We shouldn’t leave without giving him a chance.”
Donen cleared his throat. “How are we supposed to find out if they’re still there? We can’t exactly walk across the border and check.”
“I’ll go up,” Aimee replied. “I can cross the border and find out if the Avitras are still there or if they’ve gone back to their own territory. Then we’ll know whether it’s truly hopeless or not.”
“It would only be hopeless for the Avitras,” Anna pointed out. “There’s nothing stopping the rest of us from continuing our negotiation.”
“Give them a chance to join us,” Aimee told her. “If they’re still here, it means Piwaka still thinks there’s a chance to sway Aquilla toward peace. We shouldn’t leave before they do.”
Donen put down his plate. “Okay. You go find out if they’re here. We’ll wait until you get back before we make any decision.”
Aimee studied Anna’s plate. “What are you eating?”
Anna stared at her. “Aren’t you going up the mountain?”
“Not right now. I’ll go later tonight.” She nodded toward the plate again. “Is that spare ribs?”
Anna waved her plate toward the store chamber. “Go get some. They’re divine.”
Aimee turned away, but she couldn’t help overhear Anna and Aria talking behind her. “What do you make of that?”
“She’s spending a lot of time up there,” Aria replied.
“You don’t think....?” Anna asked.
“Why would she?” Aria replied. “She brought that message from Piwaka. We wouldn’t be here now if she hadn’t.”
Her ears burned, and she hurried away. She couldn’t keep her activities secret forever, and she didn’t want to hide them, anyway. Better for everyone to find out the truth sooner rather than later.
She studied the control panel on the store chamber. She’d spent so much time away from camp, she hadn’t learned how to use it. Emily came to her rescue. “Let me show you how to use it.” She punched the control panel, and the unit came to life. “You must be hungry.”
“Starving,” Aimee replied.
“What are you hungry for?” Emily asked.
Aimee blushed. “Something simple. Maybe some trail mix and a bowl of walnuts.”
Emily frowned. “Are you sure? There’s a really good recipe for skidhopper jerky in here. Marissa swears by it.”
“I never really liked jerky all that much,” Aimee replied. “I’ve always been something of a vegetarian.”
“I know,” Emily replied. “It boggles the mind how you survived in Lycaon territory all these months.”
Aimee smiled. “Well, you know, maybe I didn’t. Maybe some part of me had to die in order to get through it.”
Emily cast a sidelong glance in her direction. “You’ve been spending a lot of time away from camp.”
Aimee’s cheeks burned. “I’ll bet you’re all wondering where I’ve been.”
“Sure, we’ve wondered,” Emily replied, “but it’s for you to tell us when the time comes. Here’s your trail mix.”
“Thanks,” Aimee exclaimed. “Thanks for not asking.”
Emily smiled. “Every one of us has taken a different road to get here. I hope someday you feel comfortable enough telling me about yours.”