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Parley:
By
Markus Thyme:
Previous
episodes are in The Master’s Hand archive.
A
small group of folk, some distance east of the South tunnel were gathered
around a fire for the evening sup. A small doe was on a spit over the fire.
Then they heard the sound of a flyer. The fire was quickly doused and one of
the group ran, at full speed, toward the South tunnel. The men faded into the
shadows of the forest with bows notched and ready. The women lead the children
into the cover of the deeper forest. All were quiet.
In
the peach grove near the South tunnel, Bruce the Elder squatted with a group of
the folk when the runner approached.
“Where
be Bruce the elder?” he shouted.
“I
be here,” answered Bruce. “What news have you?”
“There
be a flyer.”
Bruce
cocked his head and said, “Aye, I now hear it.”
He
turned to his group and gave instructions. “Go quickly to each group and
warn them. Tell them to be ready, but do no harm to the Invaders lest they act
against us.”
There
were several “Aye’s” and runners went off in several
directions.
A
few moments later the flyer put down near the peach grove and a ramp came down.
The first person out of the flyer was Bruce the Younger carrying the white
flag. He was followed by
“What
be this?” whispered Bruce the Elder to Mathew.
“I
know not, Elder. It be your son and Randolph of Willits, but they emerge from a
flyer. I be befuddled.”
“I
too be perplexed. I fear, yet it be my son. I must go to him.”
“Nay
Elder,” said Mathew firmly. “You must not risk yourself. I will
go,” and Mathew strode into the open before Bruce could act.
Bruce
saw his approach and smiled.
“Mathew,”
he said. “If you be here, my father be not far away.”
“Indeed,
Bruce.”
“I
would speak with him, Mathew.”
“Be
there many Invaders in that flyer?”
“Nay,
Mathew. Not Many, just five and one be a female.”
“They
bring their women into harms way?” demanded Mathew with wide eyes.
“Nay,
Mathew. The Invades will keep her inside, until we show no ill intent. Now take
me to my father!”
Those
words were in the tone of command and were not to be ignored.
“He
be among the peach,” said Mathew quietly.
“Stay
with Mathew so the Invaders may see you,” said Bruce to
“Aye,
Bruce. You must assure him, that he must speak with the invaders.”
“Indeed,
Bruce
turned and strode toward the peach grove. He saw his father as he came into the
shadow of the trees.
“Father,”
exclaimed Bruce. “I be home.”
”Indeed,
and I be pleased you be safe. What do you in the Invader’s flyer?”
“I
come with the Invades, who wish to speak of an end to fighting. We advised them
only you could speak for the folk. Would you speak with them, father? It be our
chance to walk as free men again.”
“It
seems I must,” answered Bruce the Elder. “Will they come out, or must
I go in?”
“It
would be best if you go in, father. The only way you may speak with them is to
speak with the one who was our prisoner. He will then tell them what we say and
tell us what the Invaders say.”
“Why
cannot we do this out here?”
“I
sense, father, that they do not trust this one who speaks our tongue. The woman
inside, I believe, can detect deception, but they will not put her in harms
way.”
“I
can honor that, my son. It be what I would do.”
“Aye,
father. It be what any of the folk would do.”
“How
say you, son? Be they honorable.”
”I
so believe, father. I so believe.”
“Then,
I will go to them, but you must remain safe. I will send Mathew to be with you.
Bruce
the Elder then went out of the shelter of the trees and went to Randolph and
Mathew. Then he went on with
“Fear
not Mathew,” smiled Bruce. “I believe these Invaders be different
than the others. They be honorable.”
“I
trust you be right,” whispered Mathew.
Inside
the flyer, Bruce saw first a tall commanding person and knew it was the leader
of the Invaders. He acknowledged his host with a nod.
“Where
be the prisoner?” he asked of
“I
be here,” said Ghraib as he stepped forward.
“Can
you speak for these others?”
“I
can Elder,” answered Ghraib, “But they will not allow it lest that
woman be here.”
Bruce
smiled with some humor. “They trust you not more than we did,” he
grinned.
“Aye,
Elder. Perhaps less,” said Ghraib sadly.
“Where
be this woman, then?” asked Bruce. “I would speak with these
Invader folk.”
“I
will tell them,” replied Ghraib.
He
turned and spoke very humbly to Fovea. Fovea gave an order and
There
was some protocol while chairs were brought and all were finally seated.
“Let
us begin,” growled Bruce. “It be time to begin.”
Ghraib
turned to Fovea alert and ready.
Without
the interpreter, the conversation was thus:
I
greet you,” said Fovea. “I come seeking peace. Would you hear
me?”
“I
must needs hear you, for the sake of the folk,” answered Bruce.
“I
know your people have been ill treated by my people,” said Fovea.
“I know not the details, but I know it has been a sad and terrible
ordeal. I wish to end it and bring peace to you and your people.”
“”I
too would have accord,” replied Bruce. “The folk have suffered
long, so long that it was not in my time that our cities were destroyed. It was
in ancient times. We understand it not. We did no harm to anyone in my
knowledge, yet we were set upon and brought to ruin. The folk, who once stood
like men and walked free upon the earth are beleaguered and forced to live like
rodents in tunnels and caves. We have been powerless before you. We cannot stop
you. The anger we feel from that lies deep in our hearts. Yet, I would seek an
end to it.”
“I
am sorry,” said Fovea sincerely. “I know not how it came about. I
know only that you were brought to ruin, just as you say. I know not who did
this thing to you. A great evil has been done here, and I will try to find how
it happened and seek justice. In the interim, I would have peace such that you
may come out of the tunnels and walk in the sun again.”
“I
too would have safety for the folk, yet I trust you not.”
“Indeed,
nor should you, Elder. Yet, I do trust you, with good cause. Even as you were
being hunted you acted with honor toward us. You took time to build a cairn for
the slain Marines and you returned the one you captured, such as he is.”
Fovea
said the last words with a wry smile.
Even
Bruce had to smile at that. He had little more respect for Ghraib than did
Fovea. He had seen how Ghraib had fallen victim to Elderberry wine.
“Aye,”
smiled Bruce. “I trust you not, yet your words and your manner feel true.
I trust you not as an Invader, yet as a man before my, I trust you to be a man
of honor. My son has told me that be so, and I so believe. I seek peace for the
folk. What would you do to make that true, and what would you have us
do?”
Fovea
broke into a broad smile. “I will ask nothing of you except the assurance
that you will not attempt to slay more of my people. We have learned with some
regret, that your bowmen are very good,” said Fovea thoughtfully.
“I
do regret the slaying of any man,” answered Bruce. “I will tell the
folk that it cannot occur again.”
“Thank
you,” said Fovea, “and I will give my promise that, so long as I am
here, none of my people will bring harm to any of your people. It has gone on
long enough. Let us end it here.”
“Aye,”
agreed Bruce. “let it end here.”
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