Chapter 396: The Cost of War
RETH
"You're telling me," Reth said carefully, "that you would bet the lives of others—that you would bet your own life on the honor of this Lupine who has brought the Tree City to its knees?"
"Yes," Suhle said, hushed, but emphatic. "He is a male, and stubborn in his pride as you are. But his good will continue to outweigh that. He has been slow to see the truth, but he found it on his own. He knows he cannot root out the cancer within his own ranks, and fight yours. He knows he is wrong. He has brought you his own people—he begs you not to kill them, but to deflect them, or take them. But he acknowledged that their deaths—and his own if it were to come—would be on his own hands, because he led them to this point. He called himself blind."
They all sat there a moment, thinking. Then Aymora shook her head. "It doesn't matter, Reth. It doesn't matter if he's good, or if he's right—even if he's given the wolves up. It only matters that we would not be here if he had not brought them to that point—with Lucine out of the way, you offered him peace! And he denied it! He is right, any deaths that have occurred are entirely on his hands. You cannot soften in this—your grace has only paved the way for this to happen. You must be cold. Ruthless!"
Suhle shook her head. "I told Lerrin it was no good if he won this fight, only to be the villain in your story, and I would say the same to you. Taking victory here does not make you honorable if in turn you lose your soul. You are merciful because the Creator is merciful, Reth. Do not lose that."
"I do not lose my mercy, Suhle. I lose my appetite for defeat at the hands of those without it. Already this conflict has split the Tree City, split tribes and families. It has cost countless injuries, and dozens of deaths. It almost took the life of myself and my best friend. It has removed my Mate from me. Where does it end if I do not draw a line and stand to protect it?"
"It ends when you bring Lerrin in and the two of you work together for the good of all," Suhle said quietly. "I believe in you. I believe in him. Together you can save the Anima."
Aymora snarled and Behryn winced, but Reth just held her gaze.
"I only stayed as long as I did because I had hope he would reach this point—and he has. My judgment proved true," she pointed out. "I have had an opportunity to influence him, and he is open to the influence of the Creator, and those who follow into good. He and the other wolves are not irredeemable. It is that dark, evil faction among them that must be torn out by the roots. You do not want those Anima, Reth, and neither does Lerrin. They will infect any they have a chance to influence. Lerrin is ready to fight them. Are you? He cannot win against them without your help. And if he does not beat them, who will? Without his honor to hold them back the bears would have been killed in their beds, and the Tree City burned. Consider what a lack of mercy may bring upon you, as well as him," she said.
Reth growled. "The bears?"
"His spymaster, Craye, positioned assassins to take them out in their sleep, to hide among them for weeks, if necessary. He offered to slay every last bear. To eradicate the tribe."
With a snarl, Reth pushed out of his chair and began to pace again. "This is why he has come for our help," he growled. "He has seen his own death coming and seeks our help to save him. But what would stop him from turning on us once those are taken care of?"
Suhle shook her head. "He does not come to you as a middle measure, Reth. He will submit to you. He will lead his people to submit to you. If you had seen the hate and vengeance that burned in him… this is a true reversal. Lerrin regrets the role he has played and seeks to repay. He would lead the good wolves back to the Tree City—back to you, Reth."
"I cannot know that."
"Not until you speak with him," she replied.
They were all tense. Aymora ran a hand through her graying blond hair and growled under her breath. She looked ready to bite something.
Hollhye reached for Behryn's hand, and he shifted his weight to put himself between her and Reth instinctively. His best friend remained silent, but his eyes were pinched and he followed Reth's progress back and forth across the floor of the cave.
Suhle put her shoulders back and spoke directly to Reth. "The only chance for peace here is if you are willing to cross the line and bring the wolves back. He cannot bring the Tree City to the wolves."
Reth snarled. "That male broke my heart. He forced me to turn away my mate. He forced me to kill operatives that he sent to kill me! I am disillusioned and heart broken. I need hope."
"This is your hope, Reth," Suhle said fervently. "No more fighting—at least, not in force. Lerrin will submit to you—and the good among his people will submit with him. Together, you can all eradicate the rest."
"I don't know, Reth," Aymora said. "Even if this were to happen, even if they were willing, the people here will no longer trust any that chose to leave. And although their numbers are smaller than ours, the difference isn't great enough to give us the easy upper hand if they should be among us and turn on us, together."
"That will not be allowed," Reth growled.
"How would you stop it if you allow them back into the City?"
Reth snarled and turned on his heel to pace the floor again. "I do not have time to think this through, to see it clearly!"
"You know you must reach out for the wolves, to stop this attack!" Suhle said desperately.
"Yes, but do I simply kill them? That is the question, Suhle."
"But—"
"Enough. We do not have time. The first part of this will remain unchanged: We have to stop the planned attack, and we must do that in a few hours. We will begin planning. We will put the people in place. In the meantime, I will consider what to do with them once they are ours."
"But—"
"No, Suhle," Reth turned on her with a growl. "You have said your piece and you have been heard. Now it is my choice, and I will consider it. I commend your mercy, and your wisdom, I always have. I pray you will continue to offer it. But do not push me further right now. That is the best I can promise you: I will consider it."
She submitted immediately. "Of course, Reth. Of course. I only… I am certain you will make the right choice."
Reth grunted. He wished he was.
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