Hope Sundered

Lark Prentice waited in the common room of Losigalender’s house. As always, a cedar longbow stained and polished to a deep ebony, hung across his right shoulder. He didn’t hesitate to respond to the summons, though his eagerness had less to do with the governor and more with the man’s daughter.

He and Keila were to be married the morning of winter’s high moon. He hunted big game like his father and his father’s father, but he’d surpassed every archer in Aveliria at the last Spring Festival Tournament.

“Are the wolves getting too close again?” Lark asked as he brushed a rogue lock of wavy chestnut hair from his vision.

Losigalender shook his head and took a deep breath. “An army is making its way through the Nahan Valley. I want you to watch them from a safe distance and report back if they’re heading for us.”

Lark’s blue eyes covered Keila with concern. “An army? Do you think we’re being invaded, like when the Nokri attacked Wyndham all those years ago?”

“Looks like it. I sent the twins to the capital this morning to warn the patriarch. Keila and I are meeting with the council this evening, but I’d like to avoid a panic in the meantime. I trust you to be quiet about this, son.”

“I’ll leave at once and tell no one.”

“No risks,” Losigalender warned.

“Even if I can take out their leaders?”

Losigalender smirked. “Don’t let that Champion title go to your head. You know better than to provoke a hungry bear. If we’re lucky they’ll march on by and head straight for Wyndham, and they won’t get inside.”

“Understood.” Lark cast a final look at his fiancée before turning for the door.

“Be careful,” she told him with sincerity.

He flashed her a playful grin. “I’m not the one facing the Council later.”

⸞ ⸎ ⸟

Torchlight flickered from every sconce in Chastin’s audience hall, adding an ominous tone to the meeting. Losigalender and Keila stood before the Council of Seven, a group of Chastin’s elders who served as the town’s facilitators and on occasion, advisors to the governor.

They rarely disagreed with Losigalender’s judgment, but convincing them a vast army was invading proved to be a hard sell.

“No one here doubts you saw something up there Losi, but an army?” Kade Fosden was the oldest of the Seven. He kept his thin white hair short and clung to his gnarled walking staff.

“The lands west of the Dragonspine are known to be desolate,” Fantellis, another of the Seven, added. “Decent game is even more scarce this time of year. Is it possible you saw a hunting party?”

“A hunting party?” Losigalender echoed, incredulous. “There were thousands of them!” His voice held the tenuous restraint of one attempting to explain color to a man born blind.

Fantellis scoffed and ran a hand across his balding scalp. “Who among the western nations even has an army that big? And why would they come all the way here?”

“You said yourself you were high up,” Oram Yone pointed out. He was close in age to Losigalender, and could pass for a relative. “Is it possible you miscalculated the number of fires lit? A dozen torches can have the appearance of hundreds from a distance.”

“I saw them too,” Keila protested, standing firm by her father’s side. “The moon was full and bright. These were fighting men, with armor and weapons, more than could be counted.”

“Yes, but like I said—” Oram began, but Keila cut him short.

“With all due respect, Councilman, I can count past twelve.”

“I’m inclined to agree with Oram on this,” Kade said. “Everyone here respects you Losi, but your claim just doesn’t make sense.”

“What about refugees?” Jerimalgeth offered. He was rounder and softer than his colleagues, but no less wise. “It wouldn’t be the first time we’ve seen it. Everyone knows the western kingdoms are always at war with one another. Maybe this group is just larger than usual.”

“I don’t care about their motives, Councilman,” Losigalender answered with as much calm as possible. “My only concern at this time is ensuring everyone’s safety.”

“And how do you want to do that?” Oram Yone asked.

“We begin by evacuating Chastin—”

“Absolutely not!” Fantellis cried above the gasps and murmurs of surprise. “Telling everyone we’re being invaded would incite a panic!”

“That’s exactly what you’ll have if an army shows up at our doorstep!”

“Alright, alright, let’s say it’s an army for a moment,” Kade interjected, patting the air. “Wouldn’t they just pass us by? We’re not a threat, and we have nothing to offer. Wouldn’t they head straight for Wyndham?”

Losigalender shook his head. “That’s my hope, but I suspect they’d need to establish a base camp first, which makes us a convenient target. If we get to Wyndham before they do, we’ll be safe. I’ll stay behind with a few volunteers to prepare some defenses, try to slow them down.”

“So, you’d have us abandon our homes and run scared all the way to Wyndham to live as homeless beggars on the city streets?” Fantellis challenged. His thinning hair did little to hide his rising flush.

“You’re being ridiculous,” Losigalender shot back. “Besides, I’ve already sent word to Lord Bel’ami. Like his father, he’s well known for his generosity. I’ve no doubt he’ll accommodate us.”

“You did what?” Jerimalgeth balked.

“You’re in no position to speak for the patriarch!” Fantellis bellowed. “Do you have any idea the imposition you’ve placed on him?”

“I’m trying to save our people!”

“Suppose we agree, and nothing happens,” Oram Yone said. “What then, Governor?”

Silence swept the verbal debris from the room, and all eyes were on Losigalender.

“Then everyone returns home, life continues on as normal, and we’re no worse off for the defenses.”

“No worse off—” Fantellis blurted, but Kade silenced him with an upraised hand. The elder councilman had grown tired of this debate. Fantellis grumbled as he crossed his arms over his chest and looked away.

Kade exchanged looks of skepticism with the other members of the council before addressing Losigalender. “You make it sound like there’s no downside to your plan.”

“I can’t see one, Councilman.”

“Except your word would be ruined. This is no small thing you’re suggesting, my friend. No matter how well you organize this, everyone will still be frightened. People fear the unknown more than anything, you know that. It has a way of haunting dreams long after danger has passed.

“And when the nightmare is over, and they return home to find nothing amiss, it won’t take long for resentment to set in. How likely is anyone to trust you in important matters—or any matter—from then on?”

“How dare you?” Keila said. “My father’s been the best governor in Chastin’s history!”

“Which is why I’m urging such caution!” Kade shot back. “You’re not the only one here who cares about this man’s reputation, young lady.” The councilman’s ire matched hers, but faded fast as he regarded her father once again.

“Think long and hard about this one, Losi. Lives will be uprooted, and a lot of faith will be placed in you. A misjudgment here wouldn’t be easily forgiven. You’ve been the longest serving governor anyone can remember, but should this supposed invasion amount to nothing, you’ll be forced to resign and banned from all future elections.”

“You can’t do that!”

“Be still, princess.” Losigalender’s calm tone grabbed her attention, preventing any further protests. He placed his hand upon her shoulder and turned to meet Kade’s determined gaze with one of his own.

“So be it,” he declared. “If I’m to betray Chastin’s trust, I’d rather it be over a poor choice of action than no action at all. I can accept a loss of credibility, but not a loss of life.”

Another long silence ensued before Kade cleared his throat in resignation. “Then do what you must, Governor.”