The Lord of the Plains

by Sarah Chapman

Chapter 86

  When the Sunsinger arrived a ripple went through the gemengs of the caves. Even with news of Adila’s arrival travelling fast, Riley did not hear of it until Adila was leaving the caves.

  Riley arrived at the surface just as Adila did.

  The Sunsinger turned to look at her and smiled. ‘Hello, Riley.’ She said in Plains speech.

  ‘Adila.’ Riley greeted her. ‘What are you doing here?’

  ‘Aerlid took some things from the city. I had not felt them used so I worried he hadn’t been able to activate them.’

  Aerlid had brought the shields to the caves some time ago, but with Adila’s sense of time, she probably thought she had responded quite promptly.

  ‘We decided not to use them.’ Riley replied.

  ‘Aerlid said as much.’

  ‘Adila,’ Riley began after a moment’s thought, ‘would you be able to contact the Ehlkrid King for me?’

  Adila’s eyebrows rose. ‘Why would you want to speak to him?’

  ‘Perhaps we can come to an agreement, stop this fighting. I don’t know. I won’t know until I try.’

  Adila was silent for a moment, a thoughtful look on her face. ‘Have you asked Aerlid?’ she asked eventually.

  Riley nodded. ‘He won’t. He doesn’t think it will help.’

  ‘He’s probably right.’ Adila said as she observed her intently.

  Riley shrugged. ‘The humans think the gemengs are monsters and that they can never be anything but enemies. Aerlid thinks the humans and gemengs are monsters. I cannot trust another’s judgement on this. I need to try and make peace for myself.’

  ‘Very well. I will speak with the Ehlkrid King for you. I don’t know if he will agree to a meeting. But I will try.’

  Riley smiled, satisfied. She was not yet relieved, nothing had been achieved yet, though at least there was a chance now. ‘There’s something I’m curious about.’ Riley began slowly. Aerlid would be angry for asking this, angry for even asking to speak to the King.

  ‘Yes?’

  ‘The sun shield Aerlid brought. Is it very hard to turn it on and off?’

  ‘For a Moonsinger? Very few would be able to use it at all. For myself?’ she shrugged. ‘It would be… disrespectful to turn it on and off like a switch. I could not do it too often.’

  ‘I see. Aerlid mentioned something about making shields that some people could pass through?’

  ‘Well, I could pass through a sunshield. Aerlid could pass through a moonshield. But you mean the gemengs?’

  Riley nodded.

  ‘I suppose it could be done. I don’t know how, it’s not something I’ve ever tried. You want to know if the valkar will try.’

  ‘Yes. Aerlid would not be happy with me for asking.’

  ‘No, he wouldn’t be. Alright. I will tell you what I’ll do. I will suggest it as a challenge to some of the valkar. If some are interested, they can try it of their own accord. I will not tell them why.’

  ‘Thank you. That’s more than I expected.’

  ‘You ask a lot.’ Adila said, it did not sound like a criticism, merely a comment.

  ‘I won’t know the answer if I don’t ask. My intention is not to hurt your people though.’

  ‘I can see that. If I thought you would hurt the valkar, I would not even come here myself. Goodbye, Riley, and good luck.’