Page 115 of A Rising Hope

“Since when doyoudonegotiations?” Zora questioned, not hiding the surprise in her tone.

“If it saves our people from a decade-long siege of the city, I am willing to give it a chance.” I shrugged, unbothered and unconcerned. Zora’s wrinkles deepened as she frowned, unsure.

“They don’t know Gideon is alive. So my husband is hoping I pretend to make a treaty, guarantee them safety just for him to gain entry to the city and then burn them all.” Finnleah scoffed, catching her up to our conversation.

“It’s a real treaty, blood oath and all if needed. Simply put, I wouldn’t be the one making it and you wouldn’t be the one doing the burning. It’s the fine lines of the bargains.” I winked at Finnleah, as she rolled her eyes at me.

“Even if my father doesn’t see through that, you forget that he only recognizes the Destroyer empress as a masterful castle decorator and a good companion for the emperor to have, not a true ruler. He will not make the treaty with a female, Justice Wielder or not.”

“We should set the meeting, anyway. Perhaps he’s changed. It’s worth a try if we keep the news about Gideon’s return quiet for now,” Orest argued, his sight masterfully pinned on Zora, as if none of us existed in the room.

I expected Zora to object, but she stayed silent.

“Okay then, let’s send him a message,” I agreed.

“You are just baiting him,” Finnleah murmured to me, “so you could feel justified in burning the city when he refuses to recognize me as a ruler. We need actual solutions that will keep the people alive.”

“As his daughter, I will tell you that there is a reason why he was the old Emperor’s renowned strategist. There is a reason why he picked Svitar as his final battle. It’s the city he grew up in and spent years commanding. If you plan on killing him, it won’t make much of a difference; by now he’s prepared for about every scenario we could think of, ensuring his strategy would outplay regardless of his existence or not. He will also be much more elaborate with his plans, he knows there is no end game in this. There is death on both ends of the spear. He has no interest in preserving life but his legacy instead. He has no heirs, no family; this battle is his final chance to ensure his name is revered and remembered for generations to come.” Zora met my stark look.

I knew her father. As much as he was a prick, even my uncle sought his advice at times. I grew up studying his books, his mastery, his strategy. He was well-known, and he’d ensure that this battle would seal his legacy.

I released a slow breath. I should’ve killed the man when I had the chance.

And yet I didn’t.

Because as much as I hated him, I cared for Zora more. And in some twisted way, she carried a broken hope in her heart that one day, that someday, he would change.

“Well, I refuse to live in this peasant town forever.” Priya glared from her corner.

“So what is it that you propose?” Finnleah asked, still determined to find a way to finish the war with the least amount of carnage. Justice and mercy all in one.

“There is one thing that we haven’t considered yet.” Zora reached for a smaller map near her, opening the scroll. “There is one other way into the city besides the gates or the river.”

I frowned, already disliking the idea.

“The Svitar tunnels are a maze. We have a higher chance of getting lost in there than making it to the city,” I replied. “Besides, he’d barricade all the potential entrances.”

“Perhaps. But there is still a chance.”

“A terrible one.” I doubled down.

“Tunnels?” Finnleah questioned near me, her eyes digging into the new map.

“Yes, thousands of years ago in the Elvish-Destroyer war, after a fifty-year siege, Destroyers breached the city walls. But when they entered, the streets were empty, homes abandoned without a single soul around. It was rumored that the elves survived and consequently left through the maze of tunnels burrowed underneath, some leading to far beyond the city walls,” Zora explained, “If the elves left through the tunnels unnoticed, maybe we could enter.”

“The tunnels are nearly a myth at this point. And the ones that were found are long gone, most of them collapsed.” I glanced between Zora and Orest, running my hand through my hair. “River attack seems to be our most likely chance of breaking through the city walls. Predictable? Sure. But even if we spent time finding the underground maze, all it would take is for a tunnel to collapse, burying our armies underneath?—”

“Not if we bring Creators with us,” Zora objected.

“Mages have no place in a Destroyer’s war, Zora.” I narrowed my eyes at her.

“They wouldn’t bekilling, they would be saving us only in case of a collapse.”

“Even so, we are risking getting slaughtered at the entry points in the city,” Orest opposed.

“Not if we cause a diversion,” Zora answered, not braving to return his stare.

“You want us to still attack the city by the river?” My brows raised at her idea.

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