The subtle shake of craft touching ground was the only thing giving away that the Tulax had landed.
The sound of powering down engines hummed softly as soft beeps from small fingers finished the job.
Grabbing the large leather folder and her pack which Mia had made from the leather from a cow-like animal hide, she headed out of shuttle.
Looking at the gleaming suns, though strangely distant from this planet, Diabolique found herself strangely home sick, though she did not dwell on the fact – she didn't know which home she missed! The path leading towards the village was cobbled, a lot like the medieval villages of old.
Diabolique wondered as she headed towards the village if these people were any relation at all to them? She just hoped they were not tough - her life and her family's life depended upon it.
Diabolique bit her lip as she watched the room, for it was large, wooden with intricate carvings of past leaders.
As for the people in the room, there were six; four males and two females, all individuals except with scale-like skin that graced their bodies. They were the Anguis.
Diabolique's fingers fiddled with the paperwork she held with bated breath as the group looked up from the semi-circle.
"When you entered these halls, speaking of a treaty for a planet too small to consider a threat, too unpopulated to allow even our sights to set upon it, we knew signing would bring only trouble to our peaceful world."
The tone was strong and deep, bringing a leader to anyone's mind's eye, yet the man who spoke had kind eyes of deep blue. The leader of council of Anguises, his name was Roach.
He had wrinkles under his eyes showing he smiled so many times in love and laughter.
"Yet," he continued as though not seeing the fear in the child's eyes, "there you stood after many of days arguing with us until the truth was spoken. You child of Tullan, you show courage many would not, you suffer everyday and yet you wish your people free." Roach bowed slightly causing Diabolique to watch in shock and yet she was surprised by his little speech. "If we sign, we sign for two things: one, our people will never know of this so called treaty and two..." He paused, looking to his fellow council people who in turn nodded in
agreement before he once again looked towards the small child before him, who not only shocked him and the others with the skill she held of diplomacy and cunning, but also with her child-like innocence, despite her past and future so far.
"When the time comes, when you decide to fight for your people to be free from him, then we will stand beside you, we will help you fight dear child."
Diabolique stood speechless as Roach spoke. The shock, horror, fear and hope danced in her eyes as she watched them, yet she couldn't comprehend how Roach knew her so well.
With wonder she watched the council members of the small planet of Anguis sign the treaty she had passed, one down, two hundred to go.
Diabolique sighed heavily as she exited the Tulax, breathing in the sea air that was a warm greeting as she hefted her pack to look over towards the red sea of Tullan. She was home, for now.
Heading over the dune, watching the sea taunt the sand, she felt the warm rush of home once again - something she detested and welcomed. Heading towards Haven, Diabolique found herself stopping to take in the view, it was at that moment she figured one thing out.
She would be doing this again and again, she would be risking her life and that of her new 'family'. She would have to pull all strings attached and hope for the best, and yet she knew another thing. One day she would fight... and win.