Page 79 of A War Apart

“Many more of your people will die if Miroslav wins. Like his father, he believes these mountains should belong to Inzhria. Borislav would return some of the land their father took; Miroslav would take more.”

The priestess tilted her head, considering us. She stood and took a sheaf of papers from a shelf. A stack of maps, I saw as she set the papers before us.

“Show me what you can offer.”

***

Negotiations filled the next week. Occasionally, we were joined by other Drakra—most frequently, the priestess’s husband Xolok—but for the most part, Yixa na Chekke and Xhela na Zanik met with us alone.

“What good will all this land do us if it lies fallow for generations?” Yixa na Chekke asked. “My people were slaughtered during the ‘Spider Wars,’ as you call them. We do not have enough people to work the territory your tsar promises us. I can’t take this risk.”

The talks were devolving quickly. If I didn’t do something soon, the high priestess was going to refuse the alliance.

“Give us one more night to consider a solution, Lady,” I said. “Please.”

She pinched her mouth together and nodded once. “If we cannot reach an agreement by sunset tomorrow, I fear there may not be a reason to continue negotiations.”

“Thank you for your patience.” I stood and bowed, my body stiff from so many hours sitting at the table. “We’ll have a solution for you in the morning.” I just hoped it was one I could live with.

Back at the guest house, Yakov flopped down onto the furs. “She’s going to refuse.”

“We’ll think of something,” Lada said, taking a seat next to him. She put a hand on his knee. “It’s in their best interest to join us, too. I wasn’t lying when I said Miroslav would destroy them. He won’t be satisfied until he rules the whole world.”

My stomach was tight with nerves. I took a seat next to the fire pit and built the embers into a fire. “I think I know what we have to do.” I couldn’t look at them as I said it.

“What?”

“The tsar… The night before we left, he told me if they wouldn’t agree to our terms—” I broke off, shaking my head. “He wants me to offer them the prisoners of war. As slaves.”

Yakov swore. “You can’t do it.”

“Why not?” Lada crossed her arms. “We killed their people. It’s only right we give them what they need to rebuild.”

“People aren’t wood and stone,” he snapped.

I held up my hand. “It’s not up to me. If negotiations look like they’re going to fail, the tsar told me I have to make this offer. We’ve tried everything else. She's going to say no, and we can’t afford to lose this alliance.” I ran a hand over my face. “I don’t want to do this, either, Yasha,” I said, lapsing into his nickname. “But I need you on my side. Both of you.”

“How long?” Lada asked. “They won’t get to keep the prisoners for life, right? We’ll place a limit on it?”

“Eight years. That’s how long they traditionally kept their prisoners.”

Yakov grimaced. “I can’t. I can’t agree to this. You’re taking men from their homes, their families, foreight years.I don’t care if the tsar ordered it. You can’t do it.”

Lada glared at him. “It’s either taking Miroslav’s men from their families for eight years, or getting all of our men killed.” She turned to me. “If this is what we have to do, we’ll do it.”

I looked at Yakov. “I hate it, too, but do you see another way?”

Emotions battled for dominance on his face. Anger, frustration, reluctance. Finally, he sighed. “I’m with you.”

The next morning, we sat around the negotiation table one last time. Xhela and Yixa watched me, their faces as unreadable as stone.

I took a deep breath. One last attempt before I made the tsar’s proposal.

“Tsar Borislav will make a formal apology to you for the wrongs committed against your people,” I said. “Perhaps you can allow the humans to remain on the land he has agreed to return to you. They can pay tribute until your population has grown enough to work the land yourselves.”

She sniffed. “And take the chance that they may refuse to leave when my people are ready to take what was promised? I think not.” Standing, she said, “I do not see anything you can offer that will make it worth the lives we would lose.”

I had no other choice. I glanced at Yakov and Lada. Yakov gritted his teeth, but Lada gave me an encouraging nod.

---