longer.”
He obviously
thought I was still in the hotel with the doctor. Either she was still asleep,
or she’d been too scared to contact him and tell him I’d escaped. I told myself
I had no need to be afraid of Lolek now I was in Alpha sector, but I still
nervously checked there was only an anonymous wall behind me so Lolek couldn’t
tell where I really was.
“I was just
summoned to hear alliance council’s decision,” he continued in rapid, eager
tones. “My impression is that opinion was evenly divided during the debate, so
the closing speech by Marissa Breck Thane decided everything. The alliance have
deep respect for her opinion.”
He paused with
the air of someone about to give momentous news. “You read her, Lolia. I freely
admit I thought you were being stupid last night, but you’d read Marissa better
than I had. When she spoke this morning, giving alliance council’s verdict, she
said she was struck by the way you hadn’t just told the truth, you’d even given
details that could count in clan Eastreth’s favour. She said that gave the
alliance the best possible chance of finding an amicable solution,
demonstrating our clan was willing to put the long-term interests of the
alliance ahead of our own immediate benefit.”
He gave me a
smile of pure jubilation. “Our clan is to stay in the alliance, Lolia! Even
better, alliance council ruled that the Eastreth clan could only remain in the
alliance if Arden publicly apologized to both of us for his insulting behaviour.”
He laughed. “Well,
Arden couldn’t stomach doing that, so he decided to withdraw the Eastreth clan
from the alliance.”
I blinked. How
would the Eastreth clan council react to that? If Arden lost his position as
clan leader, Ardreath might be made clanless. For a second, I pictured a
clanless Ardreath wanting to rejoin me and Lolmack. The three of us could be
together, just like before.
But no. Things
could never be like that again. I’d seen the true, coldly self-centred Ardreath
hidden under his charming, handsome exterior, and I didn’t want him back.
Lolek laughed
again. “Arden seems to have convinced his clan that Marissa and the alliance
council ruled against them because they disliked their reactionary leanings.
The Eastreth clan have announced they’re going to join one of the reactionary
faction political alliances.”
I was hugely
relieved that Ardreath and his father had survived the crisis. I didn’t want
Ardreath being made clanless and coming to ask me for help. I wanted him to
remain happily with his clan, stay out of my life, and never bother me ever
again.
“That means a
complete victory for us, Lolia!” said Lolek. “No one will hold the Eastreth
clan leaving the alliance against us, because they’ve done it in a way that has
offended everyone. We aren’t in the alliance through the charity of another
clan any longer, but in our own right. That’s all because of you. I’m
impressed. I’m really impressed. I’d no idea you had such political acumen. You
can’t be a clan council member until you’re 30, but I want you to attend future
meetings as an observer.”
I stared at him
in disbelief. I wasn’t going to be made clanless any longer. I could turn
around, join the next cross-sector block portal back to Beta sector, and have
my old, secure life back.
No, I corrected
myself, it wouldn’t be my old life, it would be better. I would be one of
Lolek’s favourites, destined to be a member of clan council one day.
I pictured that
and shuddered. I’d finally escaped from Lolek, and I wasn’t going back to live
under his rule again.
“You are to
return to the clan hall at once,” said Lolek. “Marissa Breck Thane wants us to
visit her tomorrow. Since Arden refused to apologize to us, she …”
“I’m afraid I
can’t do that,” I interrupted.
Comms portal
relay lag meant that Lolek kept talking for a couple more seconds before he
reacted to my words. He stared at me.
He obviously
thought I was still in the hotel with the doctor. Either she was still asleep,
or she’d been too scared to contact him and tell him I’d escaped. I told myself
I had no need to be afraid of Lolek now I was in Alpha sector, but I still
nervously checked there was only an anonymous wall behind me so Lolek couldn’t
tell where I really was.
“I was just
summoned to hear alliance council’s decision,” he continued in rapid, eager
tones. “My impression is that opinion was evenly divided during the debate, so
the closing speech by Marissa Breck Thane decided everything. The alliance have
deep respect for her opinion.”
He paused with
the air of someone about to give momentous news. “You read her, Lolia. I freely
admit I thought you were being stupid last night, but you’d read Marissa better
than I had. When she spoke this morning, giving alliance council’s verdict, she
said she was struck by the way you hadn’t just told the truth, you’d even given
details that could count in clan Eastreth’s favour. She said that gave the
alliance the best possible chance of finding an amicable solution,
demonstrating our clan was willing to put the long-term interests of the
alliance ahead of our own immediate benefit.”
He gave me a
smile of pure jubilation. “Our clan is to stay in the alliance, Lolia! Even
better, alliance council ruled that the Eastreth clan could only remain in the
alliance if Arden publicly apologized to both of us for his insulting behaviour.”
He laughed. “Well,
Arden couldn’t stomach doing that, so he decided to withdraw the Eastreth clan
from the alliance.”
I blinked. How
would the Eastreth clan council react to that? If Arden lost his position as
clan leader, Ardreath might be made clanless. For a second, I pictured a
clanless Ardreath wanting to rejoin me and Lolmack. The three of us could be
together, just like before.
But no. Things
could never be like that again. I’d seen the true, coldly self-centred Ardreath
hidden under his charming, handsome exterior, and I didn’t want him back.
Lolek laughed
again. “Arden seems to have convinced his clan that Marissa and the alliance
council ruled against them because they disliked their reactionary leanings.
The Eastreth clan have announced they’re going to join one of the reactionary
faction political alliances.”
I was hugely
relieved that Ardreath and his father had survived the crisis. I didn’t want
Ardreath being made clanless and coming to ask me for help. I wanted him to
remain happily with his clan, stay out of my life, and never bother me ever
again.
“That means a
complete victory for us, Lolia!” said Lolek. “No one will hold the Eastreth
clan leaving the alliance against us, because they’ve done it in a way that has
offended everyone. We aren’t in the alliance through the charity of another
clan any longer, but in our own right. That’s all because of you. I’m
impressed. I’m really impressed. I’d no idea you had such political acumen. You
can’t be a clan council member until you’re 30, but I want you to attend future
meetings as an observer.”
I stared at him
in disbelief. I wasn’t going to be made clanless any longer. I could turn
around, join the next cross-sector block portal back to Beta sector, and have
my old, secure life back.
No, I corrected
myself, it wouldn’t be my old life, it would be better. I would be one of
Lolek’s favourites, destined to be a member of clan council one day.
I pictured that
and shuddered. I’d finally escaped from Lolek, and I wasn’t going back to live
under his rule again.
“You are to
return to the clan hall at once,” said Lolek. “Marissa Breck Thane wants us to
visit her tomorrow. Since Arden refused to apologize to us, she …”
“I’m afraid I
can’t do that,” I interrupted.
Comms portal
relay lag meant that Lolek kept talking for a couple more seconds before he
reacted to my words. He stared at me.
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