“I don’t need her protection,” Chevalier said angrily.
“I have faith that Chevalier can defend himself, and in the incident where he was captured recently, it was because of me. In which case, the immunity of your faction is null and void, and you should then watch out for me,” Emily said, and smiled slightly. “After I’m done wiping out the Council in your faction, then I will simply… disappear.”
“What if you break this yourself? What if you do defend Chevalier in a battle, or wipe out half of the Encala on a rampage… what then?” Sotomar asked her.
“Then again, this agreement is null and void.”
“This is preposterous!” the youngest Encala Elder yelled. “She can’t dictate to us an ultimatum. We are more superior than her, and I won’t sit here and take orders from the Equites’ mortal.”
“Sit down, Aaron,” William said to him, and he sat down and glared at Emily.
“Your factions are nothing more than a gang affiliation. What do you war over? It’s not over land… it’s not over money… why then are you always fighting? Can’t you be at peace for… just... fifty years? How hard can that be? No more sneak attacks, no more undercover work. Just leave one another the hell alone,” Emily said, frustrated.
“It goes deeper than money or land,” Chevalier told her.
“Then what is it? Sotomar, why in the world do you hate William?” Emily asked him.
“Because he’s an Encala,” Sotomar told her.
“That’s a name… no reason to fight over a name. Tell me why you hate him?”
“The Valle have always hated the Encala and the Equites,” he said.
Emily nodded, “So no reason.”
“That is reason enough,” Zohn said.
“You have to understand, Em. We are a highly unstable species, and when you pit predator against predator, they will fight for no other reason than to fight,” Chevalier explained. “The night you ran from the Valle, and the Equites guards attacked them and killed all twenty. Do you remember what the guards said?”
Emily nodded, “Yes, they asked if I could bring the Valle to all of their parties.”
Sotomar growled.
“That’s our species. We like to fight,” Chevalier said, and sat back.
“So is there no hope? Is this ultimatum going to end here?” Emily asked them.
The Elders glanced at each other around the large round table.
“No,” Sotomar said. “I’m not willing to have you disappear. It’s too dangerous for us to have you out on your own.”
“I don’t care if she disappears,” William said. “The Encala gain nothing with this.”
“The Encala gain peace to re-grow. You were hurt the worst by the Winchester abilities. You had not one single council member left when she was done,” Sotomar said.
“That’s because she took parts of them!” William said angrily.
“Calm… down…” Emily said to him through gritted teeth.
“If she disappears because you’re an idiot, the Valle will personally wipe the Encala off the face of this Earth,” Sotomar said.
Emily sighed, “You have the ultimatum, leave me and my children the hell alone, or I’m gone. It’s simple really.”
“So what if the Equites tick you off and you run? How is that kind of control over you fair to us?” William asked.
“Chevalier?” Emily asked, and looked at him.
He glanced over at her, “Yes?”
“You and I... have we ever gotten into a fight?” she asked.
Chevalier grinned slightly, “A few.”
“Would you say they were little bickering fights, or knock-down, drag out, bloodthirsty fights?”
Chevalier sighed, “They were pretty bad.”
“At any time after one of those fights, did I take out my anger on any other faction?” Emily asked him.
Chevalier shook his head, “No… I’m pretty sure you took it out only on the Equites.”
“Well I won’t change that now. If the Equites and I have a falling out, it won’t be factored into this agreement,” Emily said to Sotomar.
“What if we feel your life is at risk with the Equites? Maybe we come to find out they are keeping you against your will,” Sotomar said. “Who is to decide to act?”
“Doesn’t matter, the second I’m mistreated by the Equites, I’ll wipe them out,” Emily said, and saw Zohn frown. “I’ll leave you alone now to discuss. I will be back in one hour, and I will need a decision. There are two options… you take my peace agreement, or I disappear today.”
Emily stood up and took Alexis’ hand and walked out of the room, shutting the door behind her.
Sotomar sighed, “Do we have a choice? Really? We can’t let the Winchester line die out. They are too powerful, and we have so much more to find out about them.”
“Yes we have a choice,” William said. “We can show her who is the stronger species and just take her now and lock her up.”
Quinn grinned, “Good luck with that.”
“No! We have no choice. If we want to be able to keep tabs on the Winchester line, then we have no option but to agree with this,” another Valle Elder said.
“It’s only a matter of time before the Equites kick her out anyway,” Sotomar said.
“Says who?” Chevalier asked. “What makes you think we keep her around just for her abilities?”
“Why else do it? She’s a mortal and can hold no value… of course… she does produce valuable children, so I see another reason,” Sotomar said.
Chevalier rolled his eyes.
“Emily has many traits and qualities that the heku lack and we’ve found ourselves, as an entire faction, becoming quite drawn to her and I, myself, do not want to see her go,” Quinn said.
“So you are telling me if tomorrow she loses all of the inherent abilities and can no longer produce children, that you would keep her in the palace?” William asked.
“Yes, we would… and to be honest, I think Emily is a pain in the ass that could use a really good punishment, but yes, we would keep her,” Zohn said, and glanced at Chevalier.
Sotomar threw his hands up, “Why?”
“It’s nothing you would understand. You would need to first care about Emily, and then get her to care about you. It would change your world,” Quinn said, and grinned.
“I say we kill Emily and keep the children,” one of the Encala said.
Chevalier stood up, his hands balled into fists.
“He didn’t mean that,” William said, and glared at the other Encala Elder. “Please, sit, he’s just mad.”
Chevalier glared at him and sat down.
“When did our species become so infatuated with this mortal?” Sotomar said, partly to himself. “I have a high-ranking member of my council that thinks he’s in love with her, and often leaves for weeks at a time to try to find her, himself.”
“If you would stop kidnapping and torturing the child, then you would know,” Quinn said. “It doesn’t take long for the heku to become infatuated with her. Yes, part of it is her scent, that can’t be denied, but the other part is just Emily, her personality, her temper…”
“Her looks?” William asked, and grinned slightly.
Chevalier glared at him.
“So we are agreeing to her terms?” Sotomar asked, and looked around the table.
“As Equites, we agree,” Quinn said. The Equites decided before they arrived that if the other Elders were present, Quinn would speak for the entire faction because of Chevalier’s involvement with Emily, and Zohn’s dislike of her.
“Yes, fine,” William said. “The Encala agree unless we can, somehow, agree to share the children?”
Chevalier shook his head, “No.”
“Fine, then, yes, the Encala agree.”
The hour was almost up, and the Elders decided to wait quietly for Emily so as not to bring up any hostile issues that could scare her away. She came back exactly on the hour, and Alexis ran off to color
while Emily came to the table.
She sat down between William and Sotomar again, “Have you made a decision?”
“Yes,” Sotomar said.
“Let me have it… Valle?”
“Yes, we agree,” Sotomar told her.
“Equites?” Emily asked, and looked at Quinn.
“Yes, we agree.”
“Encala, then?”
William nodded, “Yes, we agree also.”
Emily smiled, “Good, then it’s settled, and the agreement is in place. I will even grant you a grace period of one month to alert your faction, and get things settled. During this first month, I will ash anyone I see that may be after me. So mark your calendars, one month from today, and the agreement is in effect.”
The Elders all nodded.
The Equites Elders waited while the Valle and Encala left the building. When they were gone, they turned back to Emily.
Emily smiled slightly, “So, how’s it going?”
“Do you have any idea how worried we’ve been?” Quinn asked, frowning.
“Yes, I think I do.”
“This is… quite some stunt you pulled,” Zohn told her.
Emily nodded and looked nervously at Chevalier.
Quinn stood and took Alexis’ arm, “Come, let’s find some ice cream… Zohn?”
“I don’t want to go get ice cream,” he said, irritated. Quinn grabbed his arm and pulled him from the room.
“Two months, Em?” Chevalier asked, his voice hurt.
Emily nodded, “I’m sorry, I had to.”
“Not a single word even?” She noted an angry tone growing in his voice.
“Please, don’t be mad. I had to force a change.”
“Without a single word?”
Emily looked down at her hands, “I’m sorry. But you left me alone for two months too, during the trial. Consider us even.”
Chevalier stood up angrily, “Are you running off again or are you coming to Council City?”
Emily looked into his eyes, “Am I welcome back in Council City?”
“Of course you are. Though, I am guessing I still don’t get a choice in the matter,” he said, and walked out, slamming the door behind him.
Emily leaned her head on the table and started to cry. Her worst fears were coming true. She hoped Chevalier would see why she had done this, but she was afraid he would be furious and it would cause a rift between them. She wanted nothing more than to feel his arms around her. It had been a long and lonely two months.
Emily looked up suddenly when she felt a hand on her shoulder.
Quinn sat down beside her, “He’ll get over it. He’s had a very rough two months.”
“Well join the club. I had to do this,” Emily said, almost pleading.
“I know, and he will too. I wish you could see how hard he tried to find you, and how every phone call you could see it flash in his eyes that he thought it might be you.”
Emily nodded, “I don’t know where to go.”
“Come back to Council City.”
“He doesn’t want me there.”
“Yes, he does. I’m certain he will see that what you have done will benefit all of the factions.”
“Maybe I should just stay away for a while, let him calm down.”
“I’m not putting up with his grumpy self if you decide not to come back,” Zohn said, and leaned against a wall beside them.
“Zohn, he doesn’t want me back. That was obvious,” Emily told him, and he avoided looking at her tear filled eyes.
“Yes, he does,” Zohn said, and glanced quickly toward the door.
Emily looked toward the door, but it was still shut.
“Em…” Quinn said, frowning. “Your scent… it’s not right.”
“I lost the baby,” she said, watching her hands.
“Fly back with us. You’ll see things are different tomorrow,” Quinn said, changing the subject. This was something he thought she should be telling Chevalier.
“I have the Jeep here,” Emily said. “Take Alexis back. She’s missed her Dad. I’ll be there in a couple of days.”
“I could bring the Jeep,” Zohn offered.
“No, really, he doesn’t want me there,” Emily said, and pulled her suitcase from behind a curtain.
“Let me get that…” Quinn said, but Emily shook her head and hauled it outside. Quinn and Zohn followed her out and glanced at Chevalier as he watched from the other side of the room.
“She’s going to drive back, go with her,” Quinn whispered to Chevalier.
“No, let her drive alone,” he whispered, and picked Alexis up off of the floor.
Zohn walked over to Chevalier as Quinn and Emily stepped out into the hotel’s parking garage.
“You’re being stupid,” Zohn said calmly.
Chevalier frowned, “Excuse me?”
“She did the right thing. No one’s ever come so close to a peace agreement between the factions. You can’t stay mad at her.”
“Watch me,” Chevalier growled.
“I have, and it’s pathetic how miserable you’ve been over a mortal. Now you’re going to let her drive for two days by herself,” Zohn said, and looked over at the door.
“Let’s go,” Chevalier said, and headed for the rental car that would take them back to the helicopter.
Quinn joined them after a few minutes, “You’re an idiot.”
Chevalier threw his hands up, “What is up with you two?”
“You’re an idiot,” Quinn said again, and pulled the car out into traffic.
“It’s none of your business… either of you,” Chevalier hissed, and looked out the window.
“Where’d Mommy go?” Alexis asked, and looked behind them.
“She’s coming in the Jeep,” Quinn said, and smiled.
“Mommy tries,” Alexis said, faking a sad face.
“Your Mommy tries what?” Quinn asked.
Zohn sighed, “For heaven sakes. She said her Mommy cries.”
They drove for a few minutes in silence.
“You have two days to calm down or you risk losing her forever,” Quinn said.
“If that’s what she wants, then so be it. I don’t have a say in it,” Chevalier said angrily.
“Two days,” Quinn said again, and turned into the small airport where Equites 1 was waiting for them.
Chevalier grabbed Alexis from the car and carried her to the helicopter. She had a tight grip on his neck as he buckled in and waited for Quinn to get the checks over so they could take off.
“Fine, let’s say you don’t take her back, then what?” Zohn asked.
Chevalier frowned, “I didn’t say I wouldn’t take her back.”
“You’re sure acting like it. She’s out there driving right now, trying to decide if she’s even welcome back in the city,” Zohn said, and crawled up front with Quinn just before the helicopter took off.
Alexis tightened her grip on Chevalier and yelled into his ear, “Is Mommy toming?”
“Yes,” he said, and wiped a black ringlet off of her face.
“Is Allen at home?” Alexis asked.
“Yes”
“Is he miss me?”
“Of course.” Chevalier smiled.
Quinn landed the helicopter on the roof of the palace just after dark. A stream of guards came out of the doors and made a path to the helicopter from the door. Quinn powered down the Blackhawk and stepped out.
Alexis was asleep in Chevalier’s arms as he carried her into the palace.
“So, where is she?” Kyle asked, and touched Alexis’ hand softly.
“Who knows, probably out doing whatever it is she wants to do,” Chevalier said, and handed Alexis over to Silas.
“Let’s go, the Council wants an update,” Zohn said from behind them.
The rest of the Council was eagerly waiting for them in the council chambers. The Elders sat down, followed by Kyle, who was still trying to get someone to tell him where Emily was.
“So, tell us
,” Kyle said anxiously.
Zohn grinned, “It was quite interesting. It was the Elders from all three factions, together, at one table.”
The new Chief Interrogator frowned, “That seems dangerous.”
“Not when your host can turn you to ash if you get out of hand.” Quinn laughed, “She actually got everyone to agree to a type of cease fire.”
“Cease fire?” Kyle asked.
“Yes, the three of us had to agree to leave her alone, or she threatened to disappear. The whole month we searched for her was to prove that she could disappear forever,” Quinn explained.
“Like we ever had any doubt of that. Did she really get the Valle and Encala to agree to leave her alone?”
“Yes, believe it or not. They decided that her terms would be met.”
“What terms?” Kyle asked skeptically.
Quinn chuckled, “She stays with us, but agreed never to help us in battle.”
“Damnit, we’ve been trying to get her to do that for ten years,” Kyle said, and shook his head.
“They agreed to stop trying to kidnap her, and she agreed to leave them be and let them rebuild. If anyone breaks the agreement, she takes Alexis and disappears… forever.” Quinn frowned slightly.
“What? We can’t let her disappear if the Valle or Encala do something stupid,” the Chief Interrogator said.
“You don’t know Emily yet. If she decides to disappear, then there’s nothing we can do,” Kyle told him.
“She is coming back here now. If she stays, remains to be seen,” Quinn said, and glanced at Chevalier. He hadn’t said a word, but was glaring at the far wall.
“What do you mean… if she stays?” Kyle asked.
“I mean, she and the Elder had a falling out and neither of them are happy at the moment.” Quinn sat back in his chair and quit talking when Chevalier glared at him.
“Permission to go accompany her?” Kyle said, and stood up.
“How do you plan on doing that?” Zohn asked.
“Mark and I can head out in his car. We’ll catch up, and he can come back here while Emily and I bring in the Jeep,” Kyle explained.
“Fine by me,” Zohn said.
“Me too, Chevalier?” Quinn turned to him.
“I don’t care,” Chevalier said, and sighed.
“Just one word of caution. Emily gave the factions a month from today to get their acts in order. So for now, she’s still fair game,” Quinn said, and laughed as Kyle nodded, hurdled the desk, and ran out of the room.
Equites : Book 4 of the Heku Series Page 70