"I will return for you soon, within a week or two," Brynn said to Yatol De Hamman. "After I have arranged our meeting with Aydrian."
She left with her entourage then, moving back out of Chom Deiru, then across the torn city. Not far outside of Jacintha's gate, back near the foothills of the Belt-and-Buckle, they met up with Belli'mar Juraviel.
"You will sail with Prince Midalis and Jilseponie?" the elf asked hopefully.
"Our war with Aydrian has ended," Brynn explained. "Unless he turns his eye to the south once more."
It was fairly obvious to all around that the surprising proclamation did not settle well on Juraviel's delicate shoulders. The elf moved forward suddenly, hopping right before Brynn. "He will come south once more!"
Juraviel cried. "If Aydrian wins out against Prince Midalis, he will march south with several times the forces he sent behind Abbot Olin. He means to conquer the world - can you not see that?"
"His people will be a long way from home indeed if they mean to strike at To-gai," Brynn answered. "Too long, I would guess, for even Aydrian properly to wage war."
"That is a dangerous gamble."
"No more dangerous than emptying my country of her warriors to chase Aydrian across his homeland," Brynn replied. She started to look to Pagonel for support, but changed her mind and remained focused on Juraviel instead. She had already worked through her feelings in debate with the mystic; there was no reason for her to answer to anyone but herself now.
"The Behrenese will likely splinter into their ancient tribes now, and many of those stalk about the desert below the To-gai plateau," Brynn explained. "If they see the opportunity to raid into To-gai, they certainly shall. I'll not give them that opportunity, nor will I offer Yatol Wadon the hope that he can reunite Behren yet again and successfully march against a scantily defended Dharyan-Dharielle!"
"Without your help, it is unlikely that Prince Midalis will prevail,"
Juraviel argued.
Brynn didn't answer.
"Do you not care?" the elf accused, his voice as angry as Brynn had ever heard it. "Do you not care that Lady Dasslerond is dead by Aydrian's deed? Do you not care that Andur'Blough Inninness is lost to the world?"
The words stung Brynn to her heart. Never had she been so torn in her loyalties. Of course she cared, and deeply so! But this wasn't about her, she knew, as Pagonel and her experiences here had taught her. Her decisions were not her own to make, based on her own desires, for if she did that, then she would be no better than Aydrian! She was the leader of the To-gai-ru; an entire nation of proud people depended upon her and trusted in her to make the best decisions for their benefit.
She would not betray that trust. Brynn knew that to load her warriors on the boats and land them in Entel so that she could do battle with Aydrian would leave her country badly exposed to the immediate threats, and that, she could not do.
"I want you to get word to Aydrian," she said to the elf, "that I and an emissary from Yatol Mado Wadon, who leads Behren, wish to meet with him under a flag of truce in the city of Entel in three weeks' time. Inform Aydrian that Abbot Olin has been repelled."
Belli'mar Juraviel stood very still, staring at her.
"You can do this?" Brynn asked.
The elf looked to Pagonel, then past him, to Tanalk Grenk, who stood scowling, his strong arms crossed over his chest.
It was Brynn who answered his silent plea, though. "I cannot do what you wish of me, my friend," she said calmly. "All the world will mourn the loss of Andur'Blough Inninness, but To-gai is not the answer. My people are not the retributive arm of Belli'mar Juraviel's army."
Juraviel snapped his head about to stare at Brynn again, his face showing both anger and remorse. He started to remark that he never asked that of her, but Brynn cut him short when she asked, "Will you get word to Aydrian forme?"
Juraviel visibly relaxed and even managed a friendly smile. He brought forth his emerald, offered a helpless shrug to Brynn, then stepped far, far away.
"I know how difficult that was for you," Pagonel said quietly, moving up right beside the To-gai leader. "You chose wisely, and generously for your people."
Brynn was glad to hear that affirmation, though Pagonel had counseled as much to her in their meetings