Kilorn

It's true, I took much for granted. I trusted fate back then.

Chapter Music: Red blood is the Price

I will admit, meetings are horrible. They drone on for hours until the dewy morning at the Piedmont Base gets devoured by heat. Making the air sticky and thick, something I have come to despise. I should count myself lucky, its not like I have to do much training in it. 

The Piedmont base was designed with soldiers in mind. Machines that Cal said are called, air conditioners keep the buildings cool. Which means I have one less thing to complain about while training. 
When I walked into my first training session, I wasn't sure about it. When we were still travelling the countryside, I didn't do much of it. Only hunting. But that was on my terms, my rules, training isn´t. I'm not sure how Cal tolerates it. 

Right now, I would give anything to be in training. 

As long as it would get me out of these meetings. They were Montfort's idea. Apparently they hold these often in their own country. Montfort isn't like anything I've ever known. They´re free. They don't have kings and queens, but have Premieres who in turn rule things from the descisions of large councils. Red and Silvers work together, rule together. No blood greater than the other. They are the best of us no doubt.

The Guard sits on one half of the table, Montfort representatives on the other. The Premiere of Montfort hasn't arrived yet, and we're missing our spokeswoman as well. Farley is nowhere to be seen, leaving one of the newbloods, Ada Wallace, to preside. Ada's ability is her never ending thrist of knowledge by being able to memorize anything in that brain of hers. She never forgets a face, or a snip of information. She learned how to fly a jet when we were on the run by reading a manual, and never having to refer to it again. What I would give to not forget to pick my socks up off the floor.

To my right, Cal nudges me with his shoulder. "How did Farley get herself out of this one?"

"I need her luck right about now." The meeting hasn't even started and I'm ready to go. If the Premiere doesn't show up soon, I just might. But as always, he comes in, green robes flowing. Asshole. 

"I apologize for being late," he says, eyes flicking over the table.

"General Farley will not be in attendance today," Ada says, "She apologizes for any inconvenience this may have caused." 

"No apology necessary. I assume Guard business has taken her away. Hopefully we will see her next time." The Premiere smiles, turning his gaze on us. He clasps his hands before continuing, "As you all know, I am Premiere Davidson. Shall we begin?"

The negotiations are long and dull. Everyone's voices muddling into one mess in my mind. At times I see Cal lighting his finger and stinging himself to stay awake. I do something of the same, sticking myself into painful positions to keep me from nodding off. Even without Farley in the room, if she were to catch wind of me falling asleep at a meeting with our allies she would string me up for sure. I slip in and out of listening. When they need me, they will make me aware. Even if it's by shouting my name until I answer. 

"She believes Norta is hers," One of the Montfort representatives say.

"That doesn't mean we need to bomb the capital," Ada snipes.

"Don't act like the Guard hasn't had their fair share of bombings," The Monfortian says, crossing his arms over his chest. 

"Norta is hers." Davidson says, glancing over to his representatives. "She holds the crown, the capital. By all definition, Norta is hers. We cannot bomb the capital. It may weaken them, but if Archeon falls we will be entering a nation newly liberated with no central area of defense."

"So we rebuild," Cameron shrugs. 

"It's not that simple," Cal says, turning to Cameron,  "Norta has allies. We may have managed to take half of Piedmont, but if it comes to working with a Red or losing their silver rule the Piedmont royals will not hesitate to work with her."

"If Norta falls, Norta won't have allies anymore. Problem solved," Cameron says, sounding almost bored. She probably is.

"No, then Norta will have enemies. More specifically we will have enemies," Cal says. Cameron huffs in annoyance but Cal pushes on, "Most likely, Piedmont and the Tiraxes. We should count in all of the  Nortan High Houses."

"And the Lakelands," Davidson says. 

"The Lakelands wouldn't be involved, they aren't allies," Cal says but Davidson ignores him and gestures towards one of his Montfortians.

"I am Lu Wallace, a Montfort general," the Montfortian says, "We have had reports of Lakelander royalty travelling to the capital."

"Are we sure this information is correct?" Ada asks.

General Wallace nods. "There's been movement everywhere from the Silvers, but its hard to mistake foreign royals."

"An Alliance?" Cameron says.

"It could be but the Lakelands and Norta haven't been united in a century," Cal says, brows tightening.

"Well it looks like theres a plan to change that," Davidson says. 

"What would the number be of our armies if she were to ally with them?" Cal asks.

"We'd be evenly matched, its possible Mare might even have more depending on the size of her New Blood legions." Ada answers as she crosses her arms.

"So if the Lakelands were to unite with Norta, she'd be unstoppable?"

"Possibly," Davidson looks on cooly, keeping his face void of his thoughts. "Mare's power lies in the fact that she is a Red. A Red who was groomed for a life at court and has abilities to control even the most powerful Silvers. She attracts both bloods and offers peace. However, she is a queen. And no queen, not even her, lives forever. When she dies, so will her ideals and she will have built a throne from our blood for another Silver king to sit upon."

"Are you suggesting we assassinate Mare Barrow, sir?" Ada's voice rumbles, almost trembling, as she looks at the Premiere. 

Davidson opens his mouth to answer, but I already hear myself talking, "Mare isn't our enemy. She's the reason everyone in this room that wears the Guard's colors is even alive. How does that warrant her death? She's a Red. A New blood--"

"And she's a queen. Before Montfort was a democracy we had kings and queens. They were given everything and they gave back nothing. Mare is no different," Davidson says, keeping his voice carefully low.

"She liberated Norta. Reds are paid fairly, Silvers no longer are the ruling class."

"That is what she says. But have you seen the reds risen from their life, treated differently. There isn't even a red house that sits in her court," Davidson replies. Around him, the Montfortians nod in agreement, "Make no mistake, Warren. Just because she broke the blood laws, does not make her a saint."

"I think you underestimate her," Cal says, commenting for the first time. Davidson nods to Cal.

"I do not wish to kill the queen. I understand what she means to many of you, and the Reds of Norta love her for the little freedoms she has given them already. Us killing her would only make her a martyr. But, theres more than one way to eliminate a threat to our work. We must dismantle her power, beginning with the Lakelands in the north. That alliance cannot happen. If it does, it means war."

"We can take over the rest of Piedmont, assemble a stronger force. We can surround Norta on all sides," Ada adds, drawing out an invisible roadmap of the plan on the table. Of course, I will have to confirm any plans with my generals and Command."

The discussion pushes on, but next to me Cal stiffens. His eyes swim for resolution. He doesn't say anything else the rest of the meeting. Neither do I. Together we lapse into a dangerous silence.

When the meetings are over, Cal and I walk the base. It's large, with multiple buildings stretched out across the coast while still having room for outdoor training yards. Cal's been quiet, letting me keep an eye on the ocean. I miss the life of a fisherman. I would give anything to go back to it. Maybe I will when the war is over, if I'm even alive to see that happen.

"Are you going to boil everyone around you?" I chide at him, wiping the sweat off my forehead with exaggerated annoyance. 

"Sorry," Cal grumbles.

"What's your problem lately? You've been prickly all morning. I don't blame you for after this morning, but you've been like this for the past week."

"It doesn't make sense. Mare aligning with the Lakelanders. She may need more soldiers but they're just another country with silvers ruling over the reds."

"Maybe that's the point." Cal states in surprise. You're helpless. "An ex-Royal silver General and you can't piece together Mare's motive? You know the way she thinks, Cal. Through and through. It's no different now that she has a crown on her head." 

"Iris won't give her equality. She doesn't even have the power to do so. King Orrec would rather die than lose his power."

"Well she's not an ally with them yet or else we would know. Mare wouldn't miss that opportunity to show off." 

"KILORN!" Someone screams behind us. Cal's hands are aflame and the gun that was holstered on my waist now lays in my hands. "Hold your fire boys," Gisa says as she slows down from her sprint, a mad twinkle in her eye. Next to me Cal makes a low, strange rumbling sound. He's laughing. 

"You choose now to make a fire pun?" Cal says, letting his flame dissipate into the air. 

"How long have you been waiting on that one, Giz?" I say, tugging at one of her braids.

"Too long." 

"Are you going to tell us why you've come to find us?" Cal says.

"I'm sure both of you noticed a certain general missing from your meeting today?" By the size of her smirk, she's enjoying torturing us. "Farley's baby is on its way."

"A little Barrow is making an incoming and you're just telling us this now?" I say.

"I'm telling you now. Come on Farley will have my neck if you're not there. You may be a Warren but you're as good as a Barrow." She says, shoving me with her shoulder. 
 
I move to follow, but Cal hesitates. He teeters on his feet, glancing from us to the shoreline and back again. 

Gisa nudges him with a smile, "That counts you too." 

When we enter the room, the entire Barrow clan has already assembled. Although, Farley's father, the colonel, is nowhere to be seen. Farley is laying in the bed, eyes half closed. Rest while you can, you have a lot to catch up on, Farley.

"About time you showed up, Kilorn." Bree says, waving us over. When he sees Cal following in behind me, his frowns. "What are you doing here, Calore?"

Next to him, Ruth, mother of the Barrow clan, turns towards us. In her arms is a bundle of blankets. A baby. "Bree, Cal is as welcome as any and I expect you to treat him as such. Put the past behind you."

"He lost Mare." Ruth freezes at her name. We've always tried to avoid the topic of Mare with her. It always ends with tears.

"No one lost Mare, Bree," Daniel says. He stands nearly as tall as Bree now, discarding the wheel chair for restored legs and lungs from a New blood healer. "Mare made her own decisions." 

"So he says," Bree grumbles. I remember that day when Farley, Cal, and I went to get her. We didn't get the hard business of telling the Barrows what went wrong, the broadcast announcing Mare as the new queen did that. We had a much harder role. Explaining why. 

"So I say," I say, stepping up to Bree, "I was there as well. She chose her own path." Everytime I think of Mare I remind myself of this. She had the choice to come home, but she didn't. She has a plan for us, and even if I can't see it yet I'll rest my faith in Mare to tell us somehow. 

"Enough," Farley hisses. She breathes heavily, wincing as she sits up in the bed. "Enough," she says again, quieter this time. Ruth walks to her, cradling the baby in her arm and squeezing Farley's hand with the other. I've forgotten how close they've become these past few months. 

"What are you going to name her?" 

"Clara," Farley says, smiling at the bundle. I've never seen her like this before. 

"Clara Barrow has a nice ring to it," Cal says. Again, he looks helplessly unarmed. I'm not sure if it's from Bree or the baby. 

"She already looks like Shade," she says. Even from here I see the smallest wisps of Barrow-brown hair. "Would you like to hold her?" Farley looks over at Cal, a half smile on her face. Did hell just freeze over? 

Cal walks to the bed and Ruth hands over Clara. Almost laughable, Ruth angles Cals arms so that he holds her properly. He walks back to me, taking Clara with him. Bree looks on, mouth drawn open. 

Clara already has Shade's eyes. Although they have more blue than I would have thought. I still see the depths of grey under them. I've seen the eyes before. In another Barrow entirely. We'll protect you. From the whole mess, we'll protect you.

From the warmth in her cheeks I can see she is a red. Maybe even a New Blood. Cal takes Clara away, giving her to a smirking Farley. Now I understand why Farley let him hold her. A truce. No more bad blood between them. Whether Cal knows it or not, he just accepted her terms.