Posted 2024-05-05; Beta'd by Eeyorefan12
"Thank you for seeing me," Mr. Othonos said, nodding to Esme as she sat across from him in the parlor.
"I appreciate your coming," Esme said, "and for returning our dragon." In the hours since receiving the news about Edward, she had spoken and moved without any display of emotion. "What did the council say?"
"I've not seen them yet. I felt you deserved the news first, Matriarch."
Esme hesitated before replying. "Then I am—thank you."
For her part, Bella felt numb, but it was a state preferable to the one she recalled from months ago. Back then, sitting in this room with these same people, she'd had to deal with the shock of her altered reality. Now, the fact of Edward's abduction pricked at Bella like pins and needles, threatening to become an even more painful awareness.
Still wearing his traveling clothes, Mr. Othonos looked tired and beaten—physically and emotionally. He leaned back slightly, wincing. The movement revealed a gash on the side of his head, close to the collar of his shirt.
"You're injured, Mr. Othonos." Esme peered more closely at him.
"I've already seen Sherooz Adnios. It's nothing time and water won't mend."
Nodding, Esme sat back. "Please tell me what happened."
Jasper walked into the room quietly, returning from stabling Demia.
"We met with the Kaethe listis."
"And before then?"
"Our journey was uneventful. We rode north to just south of Kaethe's marker, near the mountain pass. It's where—"
"I know the area, Mr. Othonos." There was a mild reproach in Esme's voice. "You set a meeting point by the memorial stone?"
"Of course you know. I'm sorry. It's—they—"
"It's alright. Please continue."
"Their lookout responded to our signal fire and agreed to hear our offer—but only from myself, Mr. Cullen, and Mr. Hatzis." Anticipating Esme's query, he gave an apologetic smile. "The others they rejected on sight, I'm afraid, as we'd feared. They were only willing to admit your son because"—his gaze traveled to Bella—"well, it was as we expected once things were explained. The men insisted on blindfolding us before taking us to their settlement and we weren't allowed to bring our mounts with us. We rode with the Kaethe for the better part of an hour to reach their encampment. There is no formal leadership, but there are . . . some voices that are louder than others. We spent the night and the next day with them listening to their concerns and beginning to explore offers to remediate them." He grimaced as he shifted in his chair.
As he talked, Bella stared at the large bruise on Mr. Othonos' jaw and cheek, and the oozing gash. If this was how he'd been sent back . . . what had they done to Edward?
Esme nudged the glass of melisikaru towards him. With murmured thanks, he took a polite, almost non-existent sip.
"There was no governing reason with them. Some wanted food. Others goods. Some . . . women." He snorted. "We made some headway with the majority in agreeing on immediately supplying them with our grain stores, but their other demands"—he shook his head—"disparate goals."
Another round of nods. Jasper drummed his claws over the table. "Things didn't end well."
"No." Mr. Othonos set down his glass. "I thought we would part amicably. And then—well, it was very fast. Another group charged the tent. When they attacked Mr. Hatzis, Mr. Cullen intervened, and they . . . subdued him."
Bella winced, all too easily imagining what that euphemism stood for.
Mr. Othonos noticed her reaction. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Cullen. Perhaps you'd prefer to step away?"
Catching Esme's concerned glance, Bella shook her head. "I'm fine. Please continue."
She thought she could feel Jasper's eyes on her but she didn't look; for once, she truly didn't care.
"The attackers accused us of being there to gather information, not broker peace."
"The same group?" Esme asked.
Mr. Othonos shook his head. "I wish I could tell you. The men who came in outnumbered the ones we'd been talking to. They chased them away. Their encampment is chaotic and their leadership equally so."
"Go on."
"After they finished their accusations and made their demands, they said they'd keep Mr. Cullen as surety."
"For the food?" Esme asked. "They didn't trust you for that?"
"No, not for the food."
"What then?"
"We can't capitulate, Matriarch," Mr. Othonos said. "You know this."
Esme straightened up in her chair."They have my son, Mr. Othonos. I deserve to know their terms. What happens—it isn't up to either of us to decide. I'm sure the council will deliberate."
Mr. Othonos shifted again in his seat, nodding. "His captors want gold, medicine, and a sherooz. As for what else they want, they don't want our land. They said they want us to leave them alone—other than to bring supplies so they can build their own homes." He snorted again as if he found the concept ridiculous.
Esme stared at the table. "Reparations."
"Pardon?"
She lifted her gaze to meet his, something in her look that Bella couldn't name. Anger? Distrust? "They've been rejected by the north and the south, and they ask for what they need to live independent of us. They ask for reparations."
Mr. Othonos spluttered in outrage. "They burned a home to the ground with a family inside, Matriarch, and took a peace emissary hostage. I'd say they're insane. As it is, they were fortunate to be offered more than war, imprisonment, or death. They don't have the expertise to accomplish what they wish, and after what they've done, I doubt they'll be left in peace to try it. If we don't take action with our combined patrols, I fear the north will—with military aggression. Something we wish to avoid."
Esme's lips formed a grim line. "Exactly how much do they want for my son?"
Bella didn't grasp all the quantities and names of the items he listed.
Jasper snorted in frustration. "Shall we offer them the house, too?"
Esme's glance was enough to silence him. "When are you due to report to the council?"
"As soon as I leave here," Mr. Othonos said. "You know they won't bargain with them, Matriarch."
"I know." She studied the table again. "How long did the listis give you?"
"A fortnight."
Bella swallowed. Two weeks to gather a massive sum. It wasn't enough time.
"I'm sorry," Mr. Othonos said.
"My son isn't dead, so you may keep your condolences until he is."
Mr. Othonos stood. "I'll do my best to persuade them to mount a rescue—perhaps even to send the reserve Pisma. I'll send word as soon as I hear."
Esme stood as well, and Bella struggled to her feet to join her before they escorted him outside. Mr. Othonos's dragon looked as beleaguered as he did.
Standing with her mother-in-law, Bella watched him ride away, only turning back when he'd become a distant speck on the far road.
— o — 0 — o —
News came from Mr. Othonos two days later in the form of a note carried by a paid messenger.
In the kitchen, Bella watched Esme unfold the tiny paper, read it, and then fold it back up again. "As we expected."
A heavy silence filled the room.
Esme stared out the window at the rear yard, where Jasper and Vanko oiled a harness.
Abruptly, she turned to Alice. "Call the family together, please."
It was odd, watching everyone gather in their work clothes in the large, formal parlor. It was crowded, too. All the household was there, down to the young dragon tender, Mika.
"My son remains a hostage and the council, in their wisdom, has decided they will not bargain for his release. Nor will there be an attempt at rescue."
Beyond a quiet shuffling, there was silence. Everyone stared at Esme, who stood in the center of the room.
"So I will go."
There weren't exactly gasps but quiet murmurs—some shocked.
Bella stared at her mother-in-law. Hands pressed to the swell of her abdomen, she felt both her baby and hope flutter.
"And what will you offer?" Jasper stood with his arms folded, scuffing the heel of his boot on the floor.
"The remaining gold from my widow's portion."
"That won't be enough."
"I know. But Demia along with it might be."
Now there were gasps.
For a moment, Jasper's mouth hung open.
"The law—" Alice began quietly.
"Is very clear," Esme finished for her. "If I'm caught, I'll forfeit my freedom. If—but given the lawlessness of the place we're going, who would care to enforce it? The dragon is near wild enough that I could plausibly say she escaped my control. And who here would say otherwise?" She looked around the room. "If anyone here has scruples about my plan—or alternatives to it—I'll hear them."
Bella watched the others exchange looks. There were a few nods.
"I'm coming with you," Jasper said.
Esme dipped her chin in acknowledgment.
Bella thought of Mr. Othonos and the injuries to his face and neck. If he and, reportedly, Stolos, the most human looking and the most like the Kaethe, were received that way, would it even be safe for Esme and Jasper?
"I should go too," she said.
The room's collective gaze swung towards her.
"Absolutely not." That was Jasper.
Esme frowned, but the wrinkle at her forehead told Bella the older woman was still thinking. Finally, she spoke. "She is the most like them, and in her state, if there is any good feeling to be found, she would be the most likely party to attract it."
Jasper's frown turned into a scowl. "So they can have two hostages to bargain for?" He glanced pointedly at Bella's abdomen. "Soon to be three?"
"They've asked for gold, grain, and medicine. I doubt they want more people to feed. They'll see her as a harmless messenger. She's a full blooded human and Edward's mate. Of the three of us, she's most likely to be successful in garnering any good will."
"We'll come back to that later. In the meantime, how do you propose to bring them the grain they wish? And the medicine? We've hardly enough." Jasper's frustration was obvious.
Listening to Jasper and Esme hammer out details, members of the household adding to the discussion, the delicate flutter of hope inside Bella grew to a swell. They were going to rescue Edward. They were going to bring him home.