The Clash of Yesterday (Chronicles of the Stone Veil 0.5)

“Pregnant,” Arnus asks with a menacing frown. “Just how long have you two been illegally seeing each other?”

Eliana actually rolls her eyes at her father. “What we’re doing is not illegal. There are no laws that say Meadowlanders and Bluff Dwellers can’t mate, but to answer your question… Ronan and I have been seeing each other only a few weeks.”

So many gasps at this revelation because they are all now realizing how odds-defying it is for Eliana and me to have conceived this quickly.

She seizes on this moment of shock and continues, loudly addressing everyone. “This feud is nothing more than a thirst for revenge that should have been slaked when Dahlia was killed. She took Oretell’s life unjustly, which was only fair she ceded hers in just retaliation.”

Those are shocking words for her to say. She’s essentially saying Uncle Geseph was justified in killing Dahlia.

“Father,” Eliana implores. “I get that you wanted to fulfill Dahlia’s last dying wishes that you take up arms against the Bluff Dwellers, but seriously… enough is enough. It’s time to let it go.”

I decide to add my two cents. My gaze moves from group to group. “It’s time to end this feud. To accept that justice was done and let the hate go.”

No one says anything, although Rishka’s scoff is clearly heard by everyone.

In a last-ditch effort to show how serious she is, Eliana pulls free a crystal pendant attached to a silver chain from under her shirt. It was given to her by Nimeyah.

She holds it up for both sides to see. “This was my prize for winning the arena battle in Faere at the Festival. It will grant me any reasonable request. I’m prepared to use it right now on the wish that our land can have true peace. But I’d much rather everyone come to their own senses on this.”

Finally, it’s Geseph who talks, and he does so by breaking free of his group and moving toward us. He smiles at me, then turns his attention to Eliana. “We don’t need you to use your wish for this. I’d like to welcome you into our family if yours won’t have you again. You and your child will always be welcome in our lands.”

Eliana’s eyes shine with tears and Geseph moves to her, hands to her shoulders, and kisses each of her cheeks.

I look back to her family.

I can tell by many of the expressions they are not repelled by Geseph’s offer. But Rishka is having none of it by the sneer on her face, and Arnus looks wholeheartedly dubious.

It’s Rishka who draws the line. “I wouldn’t expect anything less of such a weak clan. But neither of you will be welcome here.”

To this, Eliana’s eyes move to her father’s. “Even my child? Your grandchild?”

Arnus shifts uncomfortably but remains stonily mute.

“I have something to say,” a female voice filters from the back of the Meadowlander crowd. Someone pushes their way through, and I see it’s Eliana’s cousin, Ilona.

She moves to stand on the other side of Arnus and smiles first at me, then at Eliana. “We are not governed by Arnus or Rishka. While Arnus is overlord, his job is to see to our safety, not make rules. Our ruler is Nimeyah in Faere, and if she were standing here, I’m sure she’d tell us we’re being stupid by not ending this feud. Because I am free to make my own decisions as a Meadowlander—something I wish I could have done a thousand years ago—I have the right and the pleasure to welcome you two in my home anytime you want. I suspect other Meadowlanders feel the same.”

“How can you even say such a thing?” Rishka snarls at her cousin. She points a finger right at Eliana. “She took your wings.”

Ilona nods. “And that forgiveness is between your sister and me. It’s none of your business. I happen to feel that Eliana is not the same person she was all those centuries ago when she did that.”

Looking away from Rishka, Ilona’s gaze comes back to Eliana. “I suspect that many of us are not the same people we were centuries ago. Time has changed us. There is no good reason for this feud to continue.”

Geseph steps forward, giving a solicitous bow to Ilona. “Your cousin speaks wisely, Eliana. I would like to know who among these representatives from both sides on this rock would vote to end this feud here and now.”

Every Bluff Dweller’s hand goes straight up in the air, and I smile broadly at them as a group. On the Meadowlander side, the vast majority quickly go up, with a few lagging behind undecidedly. After a moment, the only two whose hands remain down are Rishka and Arnus, and my heart squeezes for Eliana that her two family members can’t let go of the hate for her sake.