Chapter Twelve:
Behzad was meeting with me regarding the number of men and supplies that his house was contributing to Farsala's new army.
"I think they should be leaving you alone, Commander. You have years of wisdom under your belt – you are not a sapling to be trampled by the first storm."
"Thank you for your support." I replied dryly. He needed to know flattery would get him nowhere.
"I want you to know I don't agree with their current plan." I hadn't heard that they had actually agreed on anything. "They want you to make a sacrifice. To earn the god's favor."
"What kind of sacrifice?" I was wary. This was more than appeasing the gods. This was a plot to weaken me, if not outright cripple me.
"You have to sacrifice the person most precious to you."
I felt my face grow cold. How dare they.
"They're a long way from anything specific – I thought you'd like to know."
"Thank you." It did not come out as sincerely as it should have. With this information – I could prepare.
"The Gahn's council thinks I'm unworthy of my title." I spoke quietly to Sudaba in her room. "They are too cowardly to announce it, so they want me to disgrace myself by disobeying the Church."
Sudaba merely inclined her head. She was a hard woman to shock.
"I need to make a sacrifice – of a person." That startled her out of her composure.
"Human sacrifice? Nobody will believe them. The gods haven't asked that of us in centuries."
"That's how they plan on shaming me – they want me to refuse."
Sudaba gave me a cold stare, silently daring me to condone human sacrifice.
I signed tiredly. "I won't let them win. I just don't know how yet."
It was a hard week. I barely slept as I puzzled out all the possible outcomes. The level headed might be convinced that a regime change was ill advised so close to our enemies' arrival.
But cooler heads had not prevailed, and it was too late to cry over that spilt milk.
I couldn't outright disobey the Church – that would be enough to seal my fate. Then they would probably use me as Hrum bait.
They wouldn't outright say it was a test of my personal loyalty – what cover would they use?
I certainly wasn't going to allow them to kill anyone in my family. I had no surviving brothers or sisters, so there was no adult relative who could take care of themselves. Merdas might be the next choice, as he was my heir, but I had a duty to protect my family line – as well as the toddler entrusted to my care.
Sudaba was out of the question as well. She was needed to raise Merdas. And most knew we had a loveless marriage. It was convenient and comfortable – but not passionate.
That left Soraya. My daughter on the cusp of womanhood – who still had so much to learn about the world. I had an ache in my heart already from the mere through of giving her up in any way.
I would speak with Behzad again. They wouldn't risk actual bloodshed – it would enrage the populace. If we could convince them to abandon her to the elements – I could take it from there. That should make them happy – they could abandon the maiden in the wilderness. And I would make sure it looked like the gods saved her by hiding her away during the war. And bringing her home to my side once we won.
A/N: So, we get to see the Commander in action - well, planning anyway. We're getting pretty close to the end now - but don't worry, there's still plenty of story left.
A/N 2: I still don't own the Farsala Trilogy - no matter how many words I write in Hilari Bell's universe.
