Page 74 of Triplets for the Barbarians

But the rest of my words get stuck in my throat as I see the setting in the grand hall. It’s not the luxurious, antique furniture that’s caught my eye, nor is it the exuberant feast laid out on the massive dining table in the middle, either. It’s the presence of more captains and clan leaders than I can count.

Many I recognize as members of the Fire Tribe, and judging by the astonished look on Garza’s face, I’m guessing the others are part of the Sky Tribe. What makes this slightly confusing is the absence of tribal colors altogether.

“They’re all wearing white and gold,” I breathe, standing still as Yossul and Fadai flank me.

Solomon’s widows turn to face us, the three of them smiling broadly. “We wanted it to be a surprise,” Sarin says. “The guests started arriving earlier this morning, and when we saw how many had come, we knew you’d appreciate this moment more if you didn’t expect it.”

“Oh, it’s definitely a surprise,” Garza manages. “Your Graces, I didn’t expect this, I assure you.”

I’m thrilled to see so many familiar faces, and I’m this close to exploding with joy when Amber, Cynthia, and Alicia come forward, joined by their respective mates. Izzo and Binzen Mal. Kai and Maur Hadana. Helios and Kharo Tallas. The whole gang is here, even though I see some of our chiefs were replaced by their sons and nephews. They perished in the Sapphire City siege, and we have been mourning them along with our Kreek brothers and sisters ever since the war ended.

“Ah, so you three made it, too,” I quip, grinning at my best friends, my human sisters. “Where are the kids?”

“In Sapphire City with their nannies,” Cynthia replies. “We had to be here, obviously.”

One of the Sky Tribe captains comes forward and offers Garza a solemn bow. “Greetings, Commander. I’m glad to see you’re still alive.”

“Captain Luka, it is an honor to see you, as well,” Garza replies, then glances at the entire crowd of tribal leaders with a warm, pleasant smile. “An honor to see you all, for that matter. May this lead somewhere better and brighter.”

Captain Luka nods slightly. “We have adhered to the queens’ demands upon entering Opal City. All weapons were left at the northern gates.”

We did the same as a sign of respect. Not a single laser weapon is left active inside the citadel, and it will remain so until a peace treaty is signed. I, for one, don’t mind it one bit.

Some of our men moaned about it, but in the end, they had no choice but to agree that it helped enforce this temporary ceasefire. I’m glad the Sky Tribe is also on board with this.

“Good. It will make our conversations infinitely less tense,” Garza says. “I don’t expect us to sign a peace treaty today, but I do want us all to sit down and discuss our options for the future. Clearly, a lot has changed since we last sat down.”

“The last time we tried to negotiate something with the Fire Tribe, we ended up losing Sapphire City,” another Sky Tribe captain scoffs and crosses his arms. I’m guessing he’s a Shaytan loyalist.

“You didn’t give us another choice,” Yossul replies bluntly.

“All of that must be left in the past,” Izzo speaks up, raising his voice and drawing every pair of eyes to him. “I agree with Commander Garza. We need a resolution, and I, for one, won’t be leaving this grand hall until we have one. The queens of Opal City and our human partners have agreed to bear witness and take notes, making sure that no one’s voice goes unheard. Does that seem fair to all of you?”

He looks around and smiles upon seeing nod after nod in return.

“Then it’s settled,” Sarin declares and motions for everyone to sit at the giant feast table. “Let us eat first. Some of Opal City’s finest meats and pastries were prepared for this auspicious occasion. Let us break bread together and forge new bonds of trust and loyalty for tomorrow. Yesterday shall be a lesson, not a habit.”

My heart skips beats as Yossul and Fadai gently escort me to my seat. Garza sits across the table from us, along with an even pairing between Fire Tribe and Sky Tribe leaders on both sides. The queens made sure there would be no true separation over the course of what looks like a lengthy but delicious meal.

I’m practically drooling at the sight of plum confit jars and black wheat cakes. The fresh fruits look fantastic. My God, I’d eat the whole table if I could.

A thought crosses my mind. Something I didn’t even think about until earlier. I give Yossul a soft smile, my hand resting on my belly. Could it be? I didn’t keep track, but it’s been a while since my last period, and the three of us were quite careless in that sense. I decide, however, that now is not the time for this particular conversation.

The conversation between the tribes is tense at first, but there is enough spiced wine going around the table to take the edge off as the hours pass quickly, and we offer assessments from both camps. Izzo and Kai lead the conversation from our side, while Garza and Luka lead from theirs. The others are given their turns to speak while the rest of us listen. Naturally, the Sky Tribe’s concerns remain the same.

“There aren’t enough women on Sunna; that is the bottom line,” Captain Luka says. “Everyone here has said the same thing in different ways for the past hour or so. That is our conclusion, our biggest problem.”

“We cannot force the three thousand women of Opal City to take one for the team here either,” Cynthia mutters. “The ladies of Sapphire City are split on this, as well. Some wish for mates, while some have agreed to participate in our artificial womb trials. All will be donating their eggs for this. A few will be carrier mothers, having chosen to surrender their future newborns into a foster system designed to place them in the appropriate care.”

“What do we define as appropriate care?” I ask.

Cynthia lights up at the sound of such a highly anticipated question. I know she had notes prepared precisely for this. She’s been working on a responsible program for the past couple of months.

“I’m glad you ask, Jewel,” she says. “So here’s how we’ve categorized our options, at least for Sapphire City, and it’s a model we recommend for the whole of Sunna. First, there are the women who wish to have two mates of their own and start traditional families.

“Then, there are the women who may wish to remain independent. They will either donate their eggs or will carry children to term. They may choose to raise them themselves, or they may pass that torch onto our foster system,” she continues. “Then we have the artificial wombs that can be used in the absence of a traditional surrogate.”

“And these will work?” Garza asks.

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