Page 97 of Consumed By Fire

“Okay…okay…fine.” He keeps his hands up. “It’s not that I don’t agree with him; it’s just that I think it’s probably a fanciful dream. I don’t see how it can ever become a reality, but perhaps I was wrong. Perhaps it will work after all.” He starts to sound excited.

“So, you are in agreement with your brother? You want peace as well?” I ask.

“Yes, of course.” It sounds like he is smiling.

After a few seconds, I roll my eyes. “Go on! Give me the proposal,” I bark.

“You work for us. You stay and live here on Mistveil. You can tell us more about the Draigers to start…enlighten us. We want to know—”

Does he think I’m that stupid?

“So that we will be more easily conquered.” I’m not falling for this bullshit.

He snorts. “Not at all. You think so little of us. We want peace. It will be easier to forge peace with a people we know and understand.”

Suddenly, it’s “we.”

It sounds hollow, even though he is saying all the right things.

“So you keep saying,” I rasp.

“It’s true. I am the king’s advisor. I will talk to Arctic about bringing you on board. We can learn about the Draigers. You can be our go-between when it comes to peace talks with your HQ and the rest of your people. It will work perfectly. I am sure that Arctic will love it. It’s right up his alley. We can all finally live in peace.” Once again, he sounds animated, talking quickly.

In principle, the idea makes sense, but I have this little niggle. I’m not sure what it is. I always trust my gut, and right now is no exception. “I’m not sure I can trust you to make good on your word. I don’t know you.”

He chuckles. “Of course you can trust me.”

That’s what they all say.

“You will have to,” he goes on. “The alternative is risking all three of our lives. The general won’t let you escape. I know him. He can be like a dog with a bone. I suggest you try doing it my way.” He has a forked tongue. He’s too smooth. Too damned confident. I don’t like it.

“What will happen if the king declines? What if he doesn’t want me on his team?” I think it’s a crazy notion. “Surely the people of Mistveil would have something to say about it? They wouldn’t be happy with a Draiger staying here.” The niggle turns into a scratch. I can’t see it working.

“Arctic might lose some ground for a while, but I am sure that you would prove yourself to be useful in the long run. You seem like a resourceful fellow. As to what would happen to you if I were unable to convince Arctic… Well, I give you my word that you would be permitted to return to Draig unhindered.”

His word isn’t worth much to me.

“What about Trinity?”

“Her too. You can take the female.” It feels a little like he is telling me what I want to hear. I don’t like it. I don’t trust him.

“No! I think that we will take our chances. We have more chance of making it out if I use you to do it. If we all die, then so be it. The way I see it, we’re probably dead already. I have nothing to lose, Red. The bottom line is that I can’t trust you. It sounds to me like you’re telling me what I want to hear. That you would say just about anything. I don’t believe you. I think you’re lying.”

“You can trust me. I swear it. Is there anything I can say to change your mind?”

There it is again.

“Nothing. Sorry! It was a nice try. You almost convinced me there for a second, but only because I, too, have a vision of peace between our people.” I sigh. “I hope it happens one day.”

“This is your chance, Octane.” His voice has an excited edge. “You should—"

“You can stop there. Didn’t you hear me? I don’t trust you. It all seems a little too…I don’t know…convenient.” There’s that word again. The word has popped into my head several times since we were captured.

It’s convenient that they got an anonymous tip-off. Convenient that I managed to overpower the prince, who practically offered himself to me on a silver platter. Now, his offer is also convenient.

I don’t trust him.

“Unless you have something else to offer, I’m not interested.”

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