The meeting began, the Disa stood up and held up her hands for silence. Some of her royal servants sat in the royal cushions with us, and had been conversing with our guard and with a few members of the serpiente before she signaled for them to be silent.
"I already know that this isn't going to be easy", the Disa began patiently, "But so long as both of you are willing to make an effort, there is always a chance for peace".
I heard a little grumbling from the serpiente guards, but smoldering looks from their leaders made them go quiet.
The Disa turned to the Corbianas, "Charis, you are Naga, are you not?"
Charis nodded, but then spoke, "I am, but my Diente is dead, Zane hasn't taken the throne yet, but you should address him as our leader".
"Zane have you not taken a mate?"
Zane looked at the Disa with his fiery eyes and spoke calmly, "Taking a mate in the middle of this war would be giving a death sentence to a woman in return for her love. I've learned from experience that even a woman with a child is not safe from killing, not when she's carrying a cobra's blood". His voice was as calm as death, though everyone could see that there was a deep contempt in his words.
Despite not even being in the avian court at the time, I felt a bit of shame and compassion for his statement. It had been so that the Cobriana line could not continue that avian soldiers put a knife in Sisal Cobriana's stomach, a cruel act, but it was necessary in times of war to try and destroy the leaders of the enemy. Next to me, my mother had even stiffened at this statement.
The Disa nodded, and then turned to my mother, "And among your people, Nacola, whom should I address as your leader?"
"My daughter", she answered, nodding to me, "Lilka Shardae. She will soon be queen".
"How soon?", the Disa questioned, and I raised my head, curious to hear my mother's answer.
She took a deep breath, "She will take the throne on her eighteenth birthday". I stared at her with wide eyes. We had agreed that she would keep the throne unless we could find an agreement with the serpiente! I wasn't ready to lead my people in a time of war! I kept silent however.
The Disa probed further, "And the prospect of a mate?"
My mother blinked, she hadn't thought of that, neither had I, "Her alistair was killed in war, and since she is old enough, I want her to choose, however long her choosing will take".
I sighed out of relief, I really didn't want to become some stranger's mate, just because I was to take over my mother's throne. Besides that, I still had to speak to her on her sudden change of mind about me becoming Tuuli Thea. I would protest in my loudest voice against running a kingdom in a war. The meeting carried on while I had my mental tormoil.
The Disa clearly didn't approve of a monarch without a mate, so my mother continued speaking, "I am tired of this war, tired of being queen. My daughter still has faith, and has proven to me that she has determination to try and end this war. If anyone is strong enough to lead us to pease, it is her. She will be appointed to Tuuli Thea by her eighteenth birthday, mate or not". I felt a need to protest, but I kept it quiet, this wasn't the time to speak out against her choice. There was a tone of authority, as if no one could question her about the matter, and it only infuriated me. I glanced around and saw to my surprise that the serpiente even seemed approving of her choice.
The Disa nodded, "Lilka, Zane, both of you have come here, asking for peace. Both of your families are willing to follow you. Why do you need our help?" She spoke as if we were already leading our kingdoms and it made me feel out of place to answer.
Before I even opened my mouth, Zane was speaking, "Even if every one of us wants peace ,our people would rather fight than be taken by surprise. Among my own guards", he said, glancing over to the blondes, "there is strong doubt as to how far we can trust the avians, and among many of my people there is even speculation why I would want to make peace".
The Disa now looked at me and I found the courage to speak, "I have to agree with Zane, my own people seem unable to trust the serpiente. If we don't let them continue fighting, or find some way to show them that the Cobriana family and their people really want peace, then my mother and I won't have the power to stop them from going against us".
The Disa looked between each sides before sighing. She and her husband conferred quietly for a few minutes, and then finally the Dio spoke to us.
"You are both saying that your people doubt your sincerity and the other side's sincerity", then he spoke with an intense tone, looking at Zane and I, "You two are their leaders, and if you can set the example, and show them how much you are willing to give for this peace they will follow", he paused and turned his gaze to me, "The question, is how much are you willing to give?"
The answer automatically came to my lips. This war was why I was missing for two years, why I still rebelled against my mother and the avian court. If I was able to stop the war, then I was willing to do whatever the challenge was, or give whatever the cost asked for.
And that's how I answered, "Anything".
Zane echoed my response, "Everything".
The Disa took over again, "When you have hatred, you need to start with the heart to mend it. Similarly, when you have a rift between people as great as you have, the only way to bridge the gap is to start in the center", I did not like the way this was going, and she had been taking turns looking at me and Zane with a very odd look.
I looked over at Zane and saw from his expression he did not like the turn of the conversation any better than I did.
"You came to us for advice. All I can send you away with is this: You can only sew shut a rip by making the two sides whole again. Lilka Shardae, Zane Cobriana, you said you would give anything, everything to stop this war", she looked at both of us,"Never ask your people to do something you do not have the courage, or the determination, to do. If you want peace, then start between the two of you".
She widened her attention to both families, "The advice I give is this, tie the two royal families. Make the two sides into one. If you are willing to trust each other, and willing to put aside your anger, and your hatred, then Zane Cobrana, take Lilka Shardai as your mate. Lilka Shardai, have Zane Cobrana as your alastair".
It was as if someone had begun a battle inside of the palace. Everyone jumped up, protesting, and shouting. Andreios and Karl were the first to voice their opinions of how stupid this idea was. The female serpiente guard shouted, her voice matching Andreios' and Karl's. Even my own mother's voice was among those shouting.
"I think that's an absurd idea", Zane's voice climbed among them too. I stayed on the ground, calm, and wordless.
This show of leaders, all of them shouting at each other, only proved to be how hopeless peace was. If they couldn't even be civilized to each other in a setting like this, how could we even think that the avian and serpiente societies could get along together?
The Disa voiced my opinion, "If you, the leaders of your people, are unwilling to make amends, then how can you expect you warriors to do so?". In a louder voice she spoke, "Stay here for the night, think on my words-"
Zane's voice interrupted, "Wait, please-"
"Dismissed all of you", the Disa spoke over him, "You may return tomorrow at sunset if you wish to. For now, seek your beds, rest and think on my words".
We were escorted from the hall by the royal servants. The Disa and Dio left their dais as were were taken out and to the the rooms we would be staying at.
In my head, I was already thinking of a way to escape. I had told my mother that I didn't want to rule in the middle of a war and she had gone and announced that I would take over on my eighteenth birthday, at peace with the serpiente or not. I knew I was being a coward, but I wasn't ready to rule.
The tigers lead us to our rooms and I went into my own, without a word to my mother. A Mistari had left us water to wash with, as well as an assortment of cheeses, fruit, and warm freshly baked brown bread. I saved the bread and cheese, putting them in my pack. If I was going to take my leave tonight, I needed food for the journey. It was a good thing that I had packed an extra set of clothing to change into.
I waited until night had fallen. Only Karl had come to check and see if I was alright, I had opened the door a crack, only showing my face, and told him that I was fine and was about to go to bed. He had believed me with a small smile and wished me a good night.
I waited a little for him to go to bed, I didn't want someone looking out their window to spot me taking flight. Finally, when I thought it was safe, I pulled my pack onto my back, and start to grow my wings, taking my Demi form. I would change into a full hawk once I made it high enough into the sky.
I climbed onto my window ledge and was about to jump when I felt a chill run down my back.
"Going somewhere?", I spun around to see Zane Cobriana emerging out of the shadows of the room.