Inheritance: Scales of Change

Chapter Twenty Two - Negotiations

    The Shade sailed away from the protective formation as the sun began to fall from the center of the sky. You flew a white flag, in a mock surrender, and the same small ship broke off from the Calormen formation to meet you midway. Your two ships stopped parallel to each other.
"We wish to discuss terms of surrender with the General." Caspian projected over the portside.
"I can pass any communications between yourselves and the General." The officer responded.
    "No. We will only speak with Vorsud." You had to fight the tremble in your voice. You were about to, once again, voluntarily stand face to face with the man who kidnapped and raped your mother, forced her to birth children for him, then attempted to do the same with you. Last time you were within arms reach of him, you could barely keep yourself from running your sword through him. You weren't sure you would be able to restrain yourself again.
"You will relay this message to him." Caspian commanded. "If he wishes the return of his property, he will be present at the negotiations himself."
The officer didn't respond, but nodded and pulled his ship around.
"Now we wait." You sighed.
Caspian moved to your side, and placed his hand on your lower back. "I won't let him touch you."
"It's not him touching me I'm worried about..."
"If it comes down to it, I will run my sword through him myself."

    A long, sloop-like ship with triangular sails emerged from the center of the blockade circle. None of the Calormen ships bore names on the hulls, instead they each carried different symbols on their flags and sails. You noted the red markings on the sails of this one that looked like a large raptor. You tensed when it approached. A wall of archers bordered the perimeter, bows at the ready, and on the bow stood General Vorsud.
"King Caspian, how pleased I am to hear you wish to return my possessions." He smirked as he called out over the heads of his men.
"General, we wish to discuss the return of your assumed possessions. Forgoing any bloodshed." Caspian responded with his arms folded proudly behind his back.
"Wife, will you be present for these discussions?" Vorsud turned his conniving gaze to you.
"I will." You crossed your arms.
"Very well, you will both be welcome aboard..." Vorsud began to motion to his ship.
"Negotiations would usually take place on land would they not?" Caspian interrupted.
"And allow you both access to your troops? Unimpressive as they are, that would be a poor tactic for me Sire." The General shook his head. "No, you will not be allowed near your precious island."
"Nice try." You whispered to Caspsian.
    "It would be a poor tactic for me to voluntarily walk one of the people you have laid claim to onto your ship as well, General. Might I suggest meeting aboard our ship then?" Caspian was unwavering.
Vorsud did not respond, but nodded and motioned to his men to pull closer to the Shade.

    The plank was dropped, the General and his men crossed, and both your men formed a circle around you three. Your men behind you and Caspian, hands tentatively on their hilts, and Vorsud's men behind him, equally armed with their strange curved blades. You glanced over your shoulder where your father and Raxe stood, and your dad gave you a reassuring nod as if to remind you they were there.
    "I am not so naive as to believe you are willing to concede everything you have stolen from me Sire, although it would be the wisest decision." Vorsud stuck his chin up proudly.
You felt Caspian take a grounding breath beside you. "State your exact terms for vacating our waters." He demanded, taking a domineering stance.
    "I believe I already have." The General stroked his beard. "The return of my and Lord Ishta's property, as well as reparations for the damage you caused. These islands would be an acceptable trade..."
    "Your property?" Caspian dropped his arms and took a step towards Vorsud, causing his men to close their circle around him. "You do realize these islands have always been Narnian territory? Kidnapping my people from their homes, forcing them into slavery...you are rather fortunate I didn't retaliate with more force."
    Vorsud stroked his beard, an evil grin cracking on his lips. "Come now Sire, we both know Narnia's entire navy is currently present, while this is only a fraction of our ships. If a country does not have the means to defend their lands, should they even be permitted to keep them?"
    "Unlike your barbaric Emperor, I allow my people to choose for themselves if they wish to be a part of my kingdom. They are not property for me to keep. They have chosen to remain loyal to me, and for that have my protection."
"To insult My Father is to seek death." Vorsud drew his blade, and his men followed his example.
    You were easily outnumbered, and though you had every faith that your men could hold their own, you didn't want to risk anyone's lives. You calmly stepped forward, your hands shaking as you grabbed one of Caspian's arms. "Please, General," to ask anything of this man caused a sour taste in your mouth, "we are here to discuss terms. You have stated yours, but perhaps you would be willing to hear a counter offer?"
    You felt Caspian tense under your hand, expecting the Calormene to ignore your request for de-escalation. The General looked to you, then Caspian, then back to you, and studied your body up and down. You fought the urge to cover yourself up with your hands.
    "You are lucky you are so beautiful, my desert flower." Vorsud finally resheathed his weapon, and his men again followed suit. "You have poisoned me with desire since our last encounter, as unfortunate as the ending was..."
You had to squeeze Caspian's arm to urge him to remove his hand from his hilt.
"You unjustly stole my father from his home, he does not belong to you." You quickly spoke.
"But you gave yourself to me, wife. You do belong to me." Vorsud's glared.
"Granted." You nodded.
"Not granted." Caspian whipped around to you, then looked up at the General. "She traded her life for two people who were falsely imprisoned."
"Falsely imprisoned? You invaded my country." Vorsud raised his voice.
"Invaded? I feel sorry for your country if you felt like a small handful of sailors counted as an invasion." Caspian matched Vorsud's volume.
"We apologize if your Emperor felt threatened by our presence." You interrupted their escalating argument.
    "Ha! Not so much a threat as much as a nuisance." Vorsud placed his hands on his hips. "Still, you also allowed several other slaves to escape, and killed many of my men in the process! How do you plan to excuse those actions?"
    "Slaves that you, again, wrongfully kidnapped from Narnian territories. As far as your men being killed, their blood is on your hands, not ours." Caspian's eyes were now jet black.
    You took a hard breath. "General, we will not be returning any people to you that you took from our territories, we also will not be relinquishing the islands to you. For the sake of the lives of your men, we are however willing to pay for the damages to your fortress."
Caspian once again turned to you. "We are?"
"It's just gold, it's not worth a war." You whispered back.
"And you wife? You will be returning to me. That is not negotiable." Vorsud demanded.
"She is not your wife!" Caspian exploded.
"Aha...so we come to the root of it..." Vorsud mocked. "You envy my property Sire, not that I can blame you, but still, I am not willing to relinquish my ownership of her."
"Then these negotiations are doomed to failure..." Caspian glared at Vorsud. "Though I have one more proposition for you."
"And that is?"
"One on one combat. Let us forgo the excessive bloodshed and destruction, and let our outcome be decided between just two."
"Caspian!" You reached for his arm, "This wasn't part of what we discussed."
"King." He stated firmly, not looking away from the General.
"Hmm." Vorsud stroked his beard again. "I assume you wish for me to be the combatant?"
"It seems fitting." Caspian responded.
"Well in that case, I accept on one condition."
"What's that?"
"That my wife be my opponent."
"What?!" You gasped.
"Absolutely not." Caspian denied.
"Sire, if your wish is for my wife's freedom, it seems only fitting that she earn it herself." Vorsud smirked. "Those are my terms. You may discuss it, if you like."