Chapter 747 (1/2)
“If the money was so important, include a fucking note.” Allica hissed. To have Talim blame her for something she had no control over was bringing up the deep history of aggravation that the two had shared. “And don’t expect me to come with you now to clean up whatever mess you find yourself in. I know that’s why you are here. The war is over and now you need help, eh? Must be of great importance.”
Talim stepped toward her desk. His hands clenched into fists. In the small cave-like room she had commandeered as her headquarters, it was hard to be very aware of Talim’s commanding size. But she sure as hell wasn’t going to let him gallop in and derail her plans.
“Don’t speak so flippantly,” Talim said. “If you knew the truth-”
Allica remained seated and steepled her fingers. “If you told me, I would know. How many times do you need to shoot yourself in the foot before you realize you are a fool?”
At that, Talim visibly paled. Allica winced inwardly. Reminding Talim of his past failures was a little unfair; he had just fallen in love with the wrong chieftain's daughter. In addition, the wound cut doubly deep because she had died in the civil war that followed. Still, Allica would never forget that it was Talim’s lustful young heart that had pushed Alrick to lead their tribe to war all those years ago.
How distant those memories seemed now. How small and fragile.
It was a certain sort of irony that Alrick would later offer the Widower Talim his own sister, and she too would die in a great war.
Despite all the emotional weight that Allica had spat out, Talim recovered and stood firm. “...my crimes are my own. I will carry them for the rest of my life. I have resigned myself to that. But this… this concerns the fate of our entire Race. Do you not want to have an Emperor once more Allica? Do you remember the old stories-”
“Those stories have led us to graveyard after graveyard, Talim,” Allica said. Abruptly, she felt so tired she wanted to just close her eyes and let the whole world slip away. Far too many times in their excavations had her team found twisted and broken bodies. Far too often they went down a caved-in tunnel and found the curled and starved body of a child. “We cannot chase that dream any longer.”
“It need not be a dream,” Talim said softly. “I believe we have found a way. A road to an Empire of prosperity and peace. Where we need not live in fear of the next warlord. Where we will have room and space to grow.”
In spite of herself, Allica looked up toward Talim. For all that her brother was self-important, he also genuine. He truly believed the things that he said. For him to sound so dedicated to a cause… one that Allica had pushed for years…
Like an old addict coming back for one more hit, Allica sighed and said. “What’s going on, Talim?”
He smiled. “Before we continue, I must have you swear to secrecy.”
Impatiently, Allica waved her hand. With a chuckle, Talim said. “Let’s start with the good news; sister, the High King lives. And with this, we can rise again.”
Allica felt a flutter, but then all she could manage was disbelief. “Talim… are you sure? The coalition army came and took away a body. They were very sure that it was the body of the High King. Otherwise, they would not have left as many civilians alive as they did. Even they, by the end, had to admit that he could transform any group of people into an army.”
In the darkness, Talim sneered. Allica hated that expression on her sweet elder brother. “Treachery. Even amongst the Coalition, there are those that would see the High King crowned once more. With their assistance, it was simplicity itself to survive the siege and escape. An entire Council, dedicated to the Creation of an Empire, with the High King leading us.”
Just as swiftly as she had allowed Talim to raise her hopes, everything came crashing back to the ground for Allica. Shrugging, she asked. “Leading us where? This is our land, Talim. For all that it is a broken thing, it’s our home. If this Council plans to lead us against another Land, it is useless. The others would not permit it. And we don’t possess the strength to accomplish it. For now, we need-”
“The greatest secret in the world, Allica,” Talim whispered urgently. He leaned close. “This world is a false prison. The ruins left by the Progenitor will lead us to a promised land. There, once we conquer-”
“We cannot conquer our way out of this!” Allica shouted. Her voice reverberated strangely in the small room, and both of them fell silent. The siblings gazed at each other. “Thousands will die to Sandstorms this year, Talim. Sandstorms will kill more in two months than twelve years of war ever managed. And why? Because we stopped accepting peace.”