Truce by Jacquelyn Frank

Author:Jacquelyn Frank [Frank, Jacquelyn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: BIN 08398-02713
Publisher: Changeling Press LLC
Published: 2018-05-04T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Four

Grulon arrived not to long after they finished their repast. It was either very brave or very foolish for him to walk into his enemy’s camp with only a few men for protection, but the act itself told Valerian what his answer was.

“I will join you. My men will fight for you, if only to keep Vicktor and the Jorku nation off of our backs forever. I am taking you at your word that you will do so only because I trust my sister’s estimation of your character. She has never steered me wrong and has always done whatever it took to take care of me and our family, even to the sacrifice of her own happiness.”

“How many men do you command, and are they willing to follow you?”

“I have three thousand men. And they say they will follow me if it means freedom for Moglu. But they will answer only to me… so you cannot be rid of me.”

“I have no intention of being rid of you. In fact, you will be key to the actions we take. I would have you among my best lieutenants.”

This seemed to take Grulon by surprise. He had clearly not expected it to be so easy.

* * *

Grulon took in the picture before him. Valerian was seated in a large chair at a table with many missives on it. Sitting down at his feet was his sister. A part of him balked to see his sister in such a subservient position. She should not be treated like a slave. The sister he knew would never have allowed herself to be treated as such. Had captivity changed her so much? She couldn’t possibly be as happy and content as she seemed.

When he had a chance, later on when she was separated from him, he would talk to her more about it. In their brief meeting yesterday all they had discussed was the summit between him and Valerian. He wanted to know about her. About their sisters. About everything. Valerian had reiterated the promise to find their sisters to Grulon, but he was not as easily convinced as Melena seemed to be.

“I have one other request,” Grulon said, “before I accept this situation.”

“And that is?”

“All Moglu slaves must be freed. All,” he stressed as he looked at Melena.

“When I have taken the seat of emperor and my brother is captive, I will free all the Moglu slaves. You have my word.”

“And Melena. Melena will be freed?”

“I thought we discussed this,” Valerian said with a frown. “Melena is not a slave. She holds a position of honor at my side.”

“She sits at your feet like a slave,” Grulon pointed out bitterly.

“I sit here to please myself as much as to please him,” Melena said sharply. “Do you think I would accept this place without careful consideration and without looking to my own happiness?”

“I think your brain has been washed of all sense and all the fierce fire I know to be within you!”

“That fire is still here!” she snapped back at him.

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