Talori / Serora Plot 501: War and Peace

Yeshua allowed each voice to debate and squabble without interruption, his mouth kept firmly shut and at times clenching, so hard that he wondered - in an apathetic sort of way - if he might break his teeth. He had kept his eyes on Jun ever since she’d approached, acknowledging the terror in her voice as keenly as he listened to the words - words that were unbelievable, if only because he could not comprehend an evil as great as described. It sounded like a mullah’s tale: ancient stories with distant atrocities that no living equine would ever have to face, much less think about beyond the boundaries of fireside stories and bad dreams. Even Aodhians didn’t slay with prejudice.

His mind grappled for the punchline. Jun did not supply it, and as he stared into her wide eyes and saw the authenticity of her terror, the realization that monsters were real struck him. He nearly stumbled, standing still.

His ear swiveled to Embryss, recognizing the tone in his sister’s voice. She had always been adept at submitting a command as a plea. Honesty is the first step, she reasoned. Yeshua wondered if the liberation and subsequent occupation of a nation was enough to earn the goddamn truth.

A child spoke, and Yeshua barely registered it as odd. He listened, gleaming from her speech that the accusations were true, that pegasi had died here upon Aquorian soil for nothing more than the circumstances of their birth. Bile rose in his throat. He swallowed.

Ciardha spoke of needing each other. Indeed, the Councillor thought, raising his head. His gaze cut to Selora as Nagisa demanded a haste removal, and for a moment their eyes met, something like tangible pain swimming in the little mare’s face.

She shouted. The pain swelled. Yeshua looked away, a brief suggestion of guilt. He had not been the one to suggest the cover-up his friend had endured, but he had enabled it nonetheless. He had kept his mouth shut. It hadn’t even required the threat of a brand.

“Talorians, you are fortunate.” He began, slowly, his blood already become ice, “My fellow Serorans seem to think that the lives of their winged family and friends is a price they can pay.”

With a deliberate flick of his tail, Yeshua crossed the room to drape a wing across Selora’s back, expressing - without even bothering to make verbal note - that neither she or her companions would be thrown from the room. In Sedo, every voice mattered. Yeshua supposed it was time for the Talorians to observe Seroran traditions.

“We have fulfilled our end of this alliance. Your Emperor promised thirty thousand Guardians in return. ” He reminded, eyes set upon Rycaron. “And if your position is not clear to you, Sage Rycaron, you have traded the chokehold of the oppressed for the occupation of our furies.”

The anger, the fear, the tension, it felt like a tide sweeping in, slowly at first but then faster and faster, threatening to pull them all down in the undertow. He watched as Yeshua entered the room, listening to the flow of words as they washed over him. He heard Embryss' speech but he did not react, even when the poor child spoke up. Selora had dragged the innocent into this mess, and the young one didn't even know the only reason she had been treated that way was because of the actions of the ones who sheltered her beneath their wings.

He felt like the weight of the palace was settling upon his shoulders, slowly drowning him under the weight. It was hard to breath, his fins vibrating slightly with the intensity of the emotions he strove to keep from otherwise expressing with his body language. He needed to center himself before he could do anything else, and he strove to breath deeply, to bring enough oxygen to his lungs to help calm his racing heart and mind. He was a paragon of patience and wisdom for his people. He needed to be that equine, he needed to fix this before it was too late.

Cascade grant me wisdom. The words dripped from his lips in a whispered prayer as Midas began to speak, an icy shiver lancing down his spine as his blessing reacted to the words, and to the current of decisions of those surrounding him. Ocean colored eyes slid closed as images swam into his mind--his beloved city is destroyed, the population reduced by half. He saw equines working to rebuild, but it was slow, so slow. Fear glimmered in eyes and movements everywhere he looked; it was there in the men, women, even the children. Rumors of more wars to come lingered on lips, and everything had taken on a darker, somber tone. It seemed there was no joy to be had anywhere. The second future he glimpsed seemed much brighter by comparison, with his city thriving and being repaired by those in good cheer. They looked happy and healthy, celebrating the solstice with smiles upon every face. New traditions had replaced the sacrifice of countless generations, but peace could be felt throughout the herd.

The Sage took a deep breath, this time feeling weight slide from his shoulders. It felt as if he'd been doused by the cold waters of Onea, and when his gaze focused once more upon those in the room, it was with a sense of determination and purpose.

The hippocampus watched as Yeshua crossed the room to lay a wing over Selora's shoulder, visibly showing they would not be removed from the room, the stallion visibly angry. He hears his words, before Embryss took center stage next. The diplomat blinked as stars appeared on her chest, only to evolve into a set of great wings, the mare's voice deepening and echoing slightly as she spoke now, visibly emanating her own blessing. The stallion shook his head slightly to himself, otherwise unmoved by the display of power. He would not be shaken, he would not be cowed. He had found his purpose and drive again, and he would not show the Serorans fear. He was a touchstone for his people, and he would act accordingly, with the dignity his decades of experience had granted him. Rycaron had no doubt she had manifested wings quite specifically, and he did find that he disliked them greatly. They were unsettling, unnatural.

His gaze was icy as it settled upon Jun finally, stepping forward as he started with her first, since she had been last to speak. "It is surprisingly easy to take on those with even double the numbers, if you attack them during a holy festival, when everyone in unsuspecting, unarmed, and bombed," he replied, before gaze flickered to Yeshua. "The situation is more than clear to me, Yeshua, for I do have eyes to see, and a brain with which to think. It had not escaped my notice that Serorans could just as easily replace or ally with the Flight in subjugating my people. But that is not what your people stand for either," Rycaron commented.

Attention shifted fully to Embryss then, settling heavily on her. "Councillor Embryss, please put your blessing away. I will not be cowed or intimidated within my own home, and you need not shout with it to be heard. Our Emperor lied to bring us aid, but that does not mean he has betrayed us--I do believe he was trying to protect his people. He has, however, indeed betrayed Seroran trust. He did lie about the numbers of guardians that could be offered, but nothing was set in stone. As you have said, it was never a binding contract, and we were all set here to cement terms of the treaty, or rewrite it as we see fit, for we all have permissions to do so, and will do so. Our Emperor will have to accept it."

He took another breath, maintaining his calm, his sense of purpose from the visions his blessing had granted him. He would not see his people destroyed, their home shattered, and they could bend before they were broken.

"You always have a choice, but none are slaughtered. There may be a sacrifice chosen by Cascade, but it is true they go willingly and peacefully, in a place of honor. There is a difference and we are not monsters. You would not have been treated so poorly had the people not been stirred into a state of fear as they have, and for that I am sorry," this time tone had gentled as he looked to the young pegasus, and his gaze truly was sincere. She should have to suffer, and it was tragic she had been drawn into Selora's web of treachery.

"My people are not brittle ice, and though we loath the fact that we must bend because of the threat of foreigners and terrorists, it is preferable to the dark vision I have seen. We can bend and replace this tradition, and we can work toward new terms for a treaty that can still help us both. You will still need more warriors for your coming war, you still need the food and medicines we can more easily provide for you than you can acquire on your own. We can provide you with those, as well as the twelve thousand guardians we do actually host. Or did before I escaped to Sedo."

Here he turned his glance upon his fellow Talorians, to gauge their agreement, before he turned back toward the Serorans, head high. From this, he would not back down. "However, the fact remains that the Flight must be driven away from Aquore. They are not welcome here. I have personally suffered an assassination attempt by them, they have bombed our citizens, imprisoned them, and stirred up a state of fear that will not dwindle unless they are gone. They cannot be assimilated into the general people, and the herd would refuse it." Gaze was hard as it shifted back toward Selora and then Jun, before resting once more on Ellecyn. "However, we can take in any children that wish to remain behind, and see they are taught more peaceful methods, integrating them into the main herd. They cannot be faulted for their parents sins, and know no better unless taught so.

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