Helmond stepped into the middle of the plenum, taking in the scene. Chalise was standing to the side, her head bowed. She was weeping. From the stands, delegates of the three tribes present in the border region observed him. Silver wing was now in his back, his tribe and largest presence. Red wing, the brash sun-followers, to his right, and finally, a small detachment of pretentious sky elves to his left in the white wing. Some delegates showed a hint of a smile. Others frowned. He had no idea how to gauge the mood.
"Legate Helmond", said a new, somewhat unfamiliar voice.
Helmond faced the speaker. The assembly had chosen a new Interpreter. Elation at his victory caused him to smirk slightly.
"This vessel is Interpreter Aldaris.", the regent said, from another female body that was known to Helmond.
"...and this vessel is Interpreter Ivine.", came a more feminine voice from next to him.
Aldaris was middle aged, wearing the traditional robes of a decorated civil delegate. Her expression was even and smooth, the dragon's emotions not puncturing her mien just yet.
Ivine was old and bent by time. She was dressed in illusionist garb. Her careworn eyes regarded Helmond, pleasantly.
Both dragons had decided to join the Senate for this session. His smirk faded. Normally, they were busy in different places of the world at the same time. Them both being here meant something extremely important was going to be done here, tonight.
Ivine stepped forward. "I have called you from retirement, Helmond. Through my mate. I apologise. Perhaps I should have known better."
Her tone was genuinely sweet and concerned, like that of a grandmother hearing the words "I've not eaten yet."
"You have been an exemplary servant of our state. Explain why this is no longer so", said the regent.
"It has not changed, Excellencies. I apologise for my poor record of late. When I started my service, I vowed `My hands for harmony`, and I intend to carry this burden forward until I burn. All I've done in my own name was in the service of that goal."
"Harmony!", the regent flared, but his queen placed a quieting hand on his arm.
"Helmond, I understand how you might believe that peace with the Pentarchy is a worthy goal. Peace with humanity would spare countless lives. But, it is not us who are the aggressors, it is them who see our gardens as sources for their disgusting practices. It is them who cannot see past the colour of your skin. It is them who slew your son tonight."
Helmond started his rebuttal, but froze.
"They… gave me this…", said Chalise haltingly, stripped bare of her privileges, rank and motivations.
She handed him a letter. "I am sorry Helmond. He was a good boy. I tried to warn you. You should have done as ordered. He would still live if you had."
The Legate unrolled the letter, reading it in silence. When he was done, there was no sound that could express his grief, so he said nothing. Did nothing. He had no reason to distrust this letter, sealed by his son's own ring. He stood in the highest halls to be had near the border - and had no voice.
"Legate", Lunaris Regina started, "I am so sorry for your loss. We will mourn your son, as he is due."
The Plenum fell utterly silent.
Helmond felt nothing but emptiness. Oh, he had felt sadness. Grief. This was so much worse. He wanted to feel. Wanted there to be a way forward. It did not come to him. Had this happened three days ago, he would have likely wept and continued his work. But now? Now he'd made plans to see his son again, to be a father to him.
"I can not continue.", he said, too quietly to be heard, turning to the door.
"Legate, you are not dismissed.", the Draconarch said, his voice heavy with sorrow, "We feel your pain. It is the same pain most dragons felt at the news of Regem Draconis' death and Azmondias' disappearance. It is imperative that we make plans to ward off further danger to Xadia tonight. Much of that hinges on your position, Legate. We have heard a great number of accolades in your favour tonight. Our conversation is at a standstill. If you say, the human prince can be trusted to deliver his charge, we will likely argue to instate a armistice until it is so."
The officer turned back and faced his lords, his face without emotion.
Torlan's face swam on his consciousness.
He saw him, as a newborn, sleeping peacefully in his mother's arms.
He saw him, as a child, playing with figurines of soldiers.
He saw him, in the clearing, in the moment of startled recognition.
He saw him, in the town square, attacking him.
He saw him, looking over his shoulder while he helped him escape.
He saw him, talking to Rayla and Callum in the forest.
"Lord", he started shakily, "I trust them to deliver their charge. I've made that abundantly clear. I placed my trust in them. This however...", he threw the letter to the ground and exploded, never having felt such anger. His voice doubled over, instantly turning hoarse as he admonished the leaders of his people, "How DARE you use this tangentially related personal tragedy to attempt to sway this high body!?"
The entire Senate stared at him, aghast at his outburst.
"You blame the humans for everything! Everything! If tomorrow, your food was spoilt in your cellars, it would fall on them! If you found hair in your drink, you would pour it in their faces! They have killed us for eons! We have killed them for eons! How will we make progress if all we ever do is pay back sins in kind? Blood feuds are outlawed among the tribes since the days when Xadia was whole! How is it, we recognize the wisdom of such measures among our people, but not in dealing with our enemies?"
He started walking the circumference of the Plenum's center.
"The Sicarius Assassin spared my life! She showed me that murder must not automatically beget murder, that soldiers have a moral choice to make, even under orders! The Prince gave me no grief, even after I had tried to kill him! He understood his place to be one of inquiry, not influence - an example you would do well to follow, Lords! Do what you will! I cannot prevent you from seeking battle with this enemy. I cannot sway you if you are eager to place blame and instigate the killing of thousands to make up for your lack of communication! For lack of innovation! Lack of will! But, yes! My son was killed by a human! A bounty hunter! Criminal! Terrorist! Stateless vagabond! Blaming the Pentarchy will serve your bellicose agenda but fail to deliver any semblance of justice!"
He was now standing right in front of the Dragons.
"You put on the air of caring parents, but you understand little what this loss means to me! To us!", he thrust his right hand at the silver wing, meaning moon elves, "You do not appreciate our culture, otherwise this letter would have been handed to me, personally, not thrown at me by my would-be killer under the open sky! You do not feel as we do! Sol Regem would still have the sight of his eyes if it was so!"
The pure, unadulterated shock across every face he saw gave him numb satisfaction.
"I say you are nothing but lizards in this moment, looking to vanquish a people you cannot control! Oh, they are a menace, those humans, doubtless! BUT. SO. ARE. WE. I am living proof of this!"
He lifted his hands in the air, spreading his fingers.
"I alone have rivers of blood coursing over my palms, both indigo and red! I took this debt upon myself in your service. But...", he was now speaking hoarsely and quietly, his gaze wandering aimlessly, "... but that... is over now. I shall not compromise myself any longer."
He stepped back and bowed, then smartly turned and left the room with no further challenge.
A breath's length later, the entire silver wing got up, accounting for a little less than half of the assembled delegates. In near perfect synchronicity, they filed out behind him.