Savage Empire

Aradia then announced, "As you know, the battle just past resulted in the deaths of Hron, Trang, Yolo, and Drakonius, and the forfeit of their people, lands, and goods to me. The lands of those Lords Adept will require hard work and a strong hand to be made good for their people. I cannot rule them all, nor should those who kept loyalty to my father and me, risking all against Drakonius and his henchmen, go unrewarded." She stepped to the wall, where the three shields still hung, and took down the one with the golden boar.

"Hron betrayed the alliance he had made with me. He paid for that broken pledge with his life and the forfeit of all that he owned. To Lilith, my ally who supported me, and who kept her pledge and her honor, I award the lands which formerly belonged to Hron."

She held the shield before her, and a smell of scorching rose as the paint shriveled and blackened and the image of the boar burned away. Then she handed the shield to Lilith, who said, "May the land and its people prosper under my rule. Thank you, Aradia."

"The lands belonging to Trang and Yolo I retain for my own," said Aradia. "The lands that Drakonius ruled, however, are larger than all these lands combined. Therefore, I divide them, and give to my brother Wulfston, Lord Adept, the lands from the western sea, eastward to the natural border formed by the Western Hills."

"As Wulfston moved forward to give his formal thanks, Lenardo felt a warm triumph to note that Aradia had neither claimed for herself nor given away the central portion of land from well north of Zendi to the Aventine border at Adigia. So she had set aside land to cede to the empire in negotiating peace. He felt inordinately pleased that she had taken his advice, and more certain than ever that peace could be achieved.

Until Aradia turned to the assembly once more, saying, "Finally, the portion of land southward from the border of Lilith's land, east from Wulfston's, and west from mine, I give to Lenardo, Lord Reader, to hold or to distribute as he sees fit"

Lenardo was dumbfounded. All eyes turned to him as he stared in shock for a moment, then burst out, "Aradia, you can't-"

"The land is mine, honorably won. I choose to give it to you. Will you not thank your liege lady, my lord?"

The public assembly was no place to argue. Mustering all the grace he could, he said, "I am unworthy of the honor you do me, my lady, but I thank you."

That was the end of the ceremony. As soon as most of the officers were out of the room, Lenardo hurried after Aradia, who was heading for the staircase with Lilith and Wulfston.

"Aradia-why did you do that?" he demanded. "I thought you were going to hold that land to negotiate with!"

She turned. "I would like peace with the empire, Lenardo, and you may be the one person who can achieve it.

Truly, I think the Aventine government's terror of Adept and Reader alike will prevent there ever being peace between us-but if there is a chance, I want to give it to you. My father was right: you must negotiate from strength, not weakness. There would be a degree of strength in negotiating as my emissary, but I think the only true chance you have-and that a slim one-is as a lord in your own right, representing an alliance of Lords Adept."

"But-"

"Go claim your lands, my lord. Make the people your own. Think of what I have said and what you know of human nature." She looked up at him, her violet eyes huge and deep. "If you must prove to yourself that I am right, to the detriment of us all, go now-present yourself to the Aventine emperor and give him the lands I have just given you: that is your right. He will take them, I guarantee it And after that, he will listen to nothing you have to say; I guarantee that, too."

Lenardo stared at her, realizing how acutely she read the truth he dared not admit to himself. "Then what do you expect me to do?"

"Go teach your people to love you, as my people love me. You will have to overcome the fear Drakonius instilled in them, but if you work with human nature you will gain their undying loyalty as Drakonius never did. Then, Lenardo, we will work out a scheme to negotiate peace."

"Lenardo," said Wulfston, "we share a border. We should be allies. Will you swear here and now, each to come to the other's defense in time of need?"

"Defense? My personal service, of course, Wulfston, but I'm not an Adept, and I don't have an army."

"Neither have I," Wulfston said with a laugh, "but Aradia and Lilith will lend us troops until we train our own. If we make alliances with them, that is.". In moments, a four-way alliance was concluded, there at the bottom of the great staircase, Lenardo too bewildered to do more than follow the Adepts' lead. As the four began to climb the stairs, Wulfston hung back, saying to Lenardo, "My sister has plans for you."

"I know."

"No… I don't think you realize all her plans. I'm not sure if Aradia does."

"She's sending me away from her," Lenardo pointed out.