Chapter 30

There was a great party in Lilly's honor. Everyone grouped around the table in the room. Space was cleared and plates were put down, as well as steaming trays of food. People talked and laughed like this was a normal dinner. Someone based off a bird of paradise got up and danced.

Lilly had been a little intimidated by the more dangerous birds before. She was less so now. That had been extremely funny, and she tried not to laugh, it was probably rude. There was also a puffin person. Not the most intimidating.

Occasionally, a bird person would walk up to her and ask for words of wisdom or advice. That wasn't really Lilly's area of expertise, and she didn't know anything about the people here, but if they wanted something general, she'd rack her brain for the most generic bits of wisdom she could think of. She said things like "the pen is mightier than the sword", "the best way out is always through", and "the journey of a thousand miles beings with a single step". It didn't always work, but from the way these people responded, they'd never heard some of this in their life. Well, it was a different planet.

After some prodding from Dekk, Lilly announced he was the one who'd found her, and he was greeted with applause.

"I hope everything is to your liking," Ther said, leaning closer.

Lilly nodded. The situation was a little overwhelming, but it wasn't like she had anything to complain about.

"Excellent. And I have some good news." Ther stood up, raising a golden wine glass. "My friends, the Sun God has truly blessed us. They have revealed the location of our enemies' secret base."

The room filled with more applause, but it seemed quieter than before. And Lilly's own heartbeat picked up.

"What?" she asked.

Ther looked at her like she was particularly dim. "The enemies' base. One of their leading generals is there, along with their largest force. With this location, we can finally crush the enemy and win the war."

Again, there was subdued cheering. This time, looking around the room, it was easy to see why. Only about half the people seemed happy about this, and even some of them seemed strained. The others were completely quiet or clapped along awkwardly.

That, and the horror of these people jumping into war, was good enough. "No."

Ther turned back to her. "What?"

Lilly stood up, matching his tone and expression from a few moments earlier, when she'd asked that, as best she could. "I said, no. You say the Sun God has shown you this location? Well, I am the Sun God's spokesperson, and I say they have not. The Sun God has had enough of your war mongering."

"We have been at war an awfully long time," the bird of paradise said.

"And every time he says we're almost done, something happens," another added.

"How dare you? I am the only reason we've made any progress in this war at all." Ther drew up to full height. "But perhaps, you've had enough. Perhaps you'd like to stop. Tell me, do you want to lose to the Kinnome? Do you think they'll be particularly welcoming to enemy soldiers? She seems very confident we accept that risk, but she strongly resembles that species." He turned to Lilly. "Tell me, do you really think they'll be so forgiving to their enemies?"

"Well-"

"And if you are the Sun God's messenger, what are his five tenants?"

"What?" Lilly asked quietly.

She tried not to panic, but this wasn't going well. Even if some of these people didn't want to keep fighting, it was only some, and none of them wanted to lose. And Lilly couldn't reassure them.

Dekk got up behind her. "She doesn't have to explain herself to you."

Right. She could've said that. Luckily, her earlier expression could've been interpreted as being incredulous.

"Well she should explain herself to someone," Ther said. "There's a different between having faith and blindly accepting anything put in front of you, isn't there Dekk?" he asked pointedly.

"Who are you to talk?" Lilly said, trying to find her footing in this rapidly changing conversation. "Everyone here blindly follows you."

Several people around the table inhales sharply.

"We don't just blindly follow him," a peacock man objected.

The puffin person nodded along. "He was chosen by the Sun God."

"And his actions always bring results," a bluejay type said.

"But you just said he doesn't get results," Lilly said, pointing to the peacock.

He suddenly looked very nervous, eyes darting around and lowering a bit in his chair. "I said the war goes on longer than he predicts. He, he still gets results. And he doesn't just work on the war efforts." He was silent for a moment. "You'd think the Sun God's messenger would know that."

"Exactly!" Ther said. "I told you this woman is an imposter."

"I'm not!"

"If that's all you have, you're going to need a better case. You are an imposter. Now we've wasted valuable time and resources on you, and given you private information about the running of our base." He spun towards Dekk. "And you brought her here."

Dekk gasped and dropped to the floor, head bowed. "Lord Ther. I am so sorry. I wanted only the best. I humbly beg for forgiveness. I shall make it up to you."

"But-" Lilly said quietly. He'd been swooping in to save her up until now.

Ther eyed Dekk, hand on the hilt of his blade like he was going to take it off and behead him. But then he didn't. "You will make it up to me by executing her at dawn. The rest of us have a battle to get to." Then he swept about of the room with an order to lock her up.

Lilly looked around. She saw sympathy in one or two pairs of eyes, but it seemed everyone was inclined to listen to Ther. Talon like fingers dug into her shoulder and began pulling her away. This was bad.