It feels good seeing the dodads leaving on good terms. From the top of my balcony, my people gather to witness the strange bug people leave the city to return to their hostile home. Thank goodness I don’t have to stress over them, nor do I have to deal with any other visitors coming over to talk to us. As of now, we are free from any and all interference, for a time.

  ‘Alex!’ A Dog runs up to me, I can tell they came to me not to give me the best of news.

  I smile at the Dog, reassuring them that all is okay. ‘Yes, what do you need?’

  They gasp, taking in large gulps of air. ‘The Shaman! They want to see you. They are waiting in the courtyard and they… they don’t seem happy.’

  Oh, okay, that is not what I expected. I thank the Dog for delivering while urging them to sit down and relax for a while. But I can’t go there without some sort of protection; if they are unhappy to see me, I need to prepare for the worst.

  I make sure to grab a dagger and hide it in my sleeve before I meet the Cinari. I have done everything he has asked of me. I don’t see why there should be any problems at this moment.

  Everyone stands outside, facing the courtyard at the strange figure intensely. They all know who the Shaman is; they have every right to fear the old Cinari. He walks around, examining the dead greenery intensely, patiently waiting. I take a breath and approach him; no point wasting his time anymore.

  ‘You called?’ I say to the Shaman.

  He glares at me, his anger as clear as day, yet I don’t know why I deserve such venom. ‘You did something foolish!’ The Shaman stomps towards me, his grip tightening around his staff as the orb at one end glows a harsh hue. ‘I know what you did! Your talks with the dodads.’

  What about it? It shouldn’t matter to him when he claims to be neutral. ‘My dealings with them are my own, not yours. I held up to your end of the agreement…’

  The Shaman sneers at me, interrupting me so he can make his point. ‘Don’t be stupid! This is more than a simple agreement you negotiated and agreed to have talks with a diabolical race!’

  ‘I negotiated for peace. If it wasn’t for me, my people would have another army to face.’

  ‘Better that than to give those beasts more supplies. There is a reason we pushed them to the waste! A reason why we butcher them! For what you did, I should just kill you here and fight against you and your kind!’

  ‘And that is what, exactly? Why do they deserve to suffer?’

  ‘Because their kind doesn’t belong in this world!’ The Shaman argues, his wrath towards the bugs as clear as day. ‘They have no history, no ties to our planet. They are parasites that need to be eradicated for the safety of the world.’

  ‘No,’ I say to him, my tone is harsh and heavy. I know that sort of thinking, the reasoning that can lead someone to justify atrocities. The Shaman, a man of immense power, is spewing hate that is equal in bigotry and reasoning to any Cinari. He is no good-faith actor, not that I know of.

  I walk towards him, pointing at the Cinari for daring to question my choices. ‘I will not accept the words of a bigot in front of me! When you came to me, you gave me a simple instruction, and I listened. You told me that you don’t care about the outcome, except if we commit genocide on one another. I stood by it! I agreed to those terms. What makes this situation different?’

  ‘This makes a difference because of what they are. Have you not read a history book? Do you think they have any history before the Forgotten Era?’

  ‘I don’t give a shit about the Forgotten Era or some past. Last time I checked, my people’s history was gone! Right now, I don’t care about some sort of old treaties or clinging to the past. What matters is now! And that now will include those bugs!’

  The Shaman stares me down, his eyes turning white as power surges through his veins. I stand defiantly, not backing down from his threats.

  ‘You are a traitor to all Cinari.’ He hisses at me.

  I take a step towards him to be right at his face so I can look down at the fool. ‘Come on, do it. Prove me correct about you.’ I say to him, gritting my teeth at him. Wanting the old idiot to strike me down to prove to everyone that he is nothing but a threat instead of a neutral force.

  We stare each other down, not saying a word or making a move. But we will never be allies or friends. It is foolish to call out his bluff. In truth, I should walk away and try to reverse my decision. But I can’t, I shouldn’t back down. Someone has to stand up for their ideals. I know what I did is right, but the Cinari in front of me or perhaps on this entire island, will not understand. I’m fine with that. I can accept that they won’t like my dealings with the dodads.

  ‘Ask yourself this. Is it better to stay or to leave?’ The Shaman huffs before walking off. Not desiring to talk with me any further.

  I take a deep breath the moment he is out of earshot, relieved that he is finally gone and didn’t decide to kill me on the spot. Yet my stomach sinks, my gut tells me he is not going to let it slide. I believe he is going to participate in the war against my people, which has to make sense.

  Deep down, I know he didn’t ask me that question out of nowhere. He is giving me a choice: either I stay on this island to fight, or I leave. It is the only interpretation that makes sense. In that case, I have to prepare. I have to take steps to build a fleet to take my people in case we have to flee this island.

  To think the dodad situation being solved would lead to a different problem.

  What is clear with my interaction with the Shaman is the Cinari will not take my diplomatic actions lightly. Which means I need to check on Simon to see what he thinks about the situation. He is a valuable ally, and I need to have him on my side till the very end. I will not accept any other option, not when I am so close to making the world a better place.

  I knock on Simon’s door, and he doesn’t answer me. Simon is there. I can smell him. He can’t hide from me. I enter his room to see the Cinari packing his bags. He notices me, his expression a fiery anger that I haven’t seen from him before.

  ‘Get out!’ He sneers, his voice full of venom.

  I close the door behind me before I approach him. ‘No, we need to talk.’

  ‘Talk about what? Our humiliation with the dodads? How you single-handedly made us look like a joke to the world!?’

  A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  ‘I did what was necessary for my people, for our survival.’

  Simon throws his clothing away, and he marches towards me while he points at the man who caught his ire. ‘You did what was easy. You did what was weak! Why didn’t you consult with me about that besides walking off to talk to those fucking bugs?’

  ‘I didn’t feel your consultation was necessary…’

  ‘Bullshit!’ Simon shouts, ‘unlike you, I know what the world thinks and how the world works. How the fuck did you get them to agree to give them water and a promise of a better future when they don’t deserve it?’

  ‘What are you saying?’ I growl at him, my frustration heard with every word I speak. There is more to his anger, I can hear it in his tone. I just need to know what it is, because it isn’t just about the dodads. He doesn’t strike me as a person to hate another species when he claims to oppose my people’s slavery.

  ‘Shit, let me list them off. First, you murdered my people when they opposed their slavery; second, you feel sympathy for a species that the world wants to wipe out for very justifiable reasons. You never listen to my advice, and you almost fucked up with talks with the humans. I am the only one doing everything to help, and what I see is a leader too cowardly to make any meaningful changes.’

  He spits on the floor before he returns his gaze to me. He isn’t finished with his rant.

  ‘All of my efforts, my legacy, ruined because of you and your species. I defended you while you were underground or working in the fields. I try to prove you are good people, but all I see are fucking bastards walking around inflicting untold suffering and making stupid decisions because…’

  Before this little shit can finish, I grab his neck and lift him off the ground. I can choke him out, end his bloody life right here and there. It will be so easy, I might even gain some support from it.

  ‘Don’t tell me what is right and wrong.’ I snarl. ‘Don’t you dare imply I am in the wrong after what your kind have done to me! I did what was necessary! I prevented a war and bargained for peace. If you think what I did is wrong, then you are the fool, not me!’

  Simon kicks his legs, trying to break free from my grasp. ‘Go ahead,’ he whimpers.

  I grit my teeth. He’ll be easy to kill. Oh, it will be so easy to snap his neck, maybe use his flesh to feed my people. No one will even bat an eye if this lowlife disappears. I might even get Max to be on my side if I just kill him right here, right now.

  No, I should be better than this. This is all wrong of me. This is the same situation with me and Marak when I want something better or oppose him. The circumstances are different, but it is all wrong. There is no need to show my anger to him anymore… I am going too far.

  Simon drops to the floor with a loud thud, gasping for air and coughing by my feet.

  ‘You’re right, I should consult you.’ I admit. ‘But I am also right to facilitate a peace deal between the bugs and us. It is either that or war, and I will do everything to avoid any more death. You would do the same. Like it or not. I don’t care if you think my decision is correct or not because of some optics. However, don’t be an idiot and think war is preferable. Your Cinari arrogance is showing, and it will be the thing that’ll kill us all if we lean into it. So, let’s cut this ego crap and get things done!’

  Simon looks up to me, his anger still burning hot. ‘Get what done?’

  I can tell what he means; he wasn’t asking for a job to complete. He wants proof that I care about change. I can understand that, even if there was no goodwill.

  ‘We both know slavery needs to end. The problem is with Max.’

  ‘Then kill the heartless bitch.’

  I shake my head, ‘we can’t do that, it will only make her a martyr. Instead, we will propose a plan that will end slavery, but we also need to prepare a middle ground that can satisfy her. Say five years or so, something that makes her happy.’

  Simon gives a sarcastic smile, ‘yeah, appease the cunt that dresses nicely. Such a good idea.’

  ‘It is that, or she leads an army to kill us both.’ Simon shuts up, finally seeing my point. ‘I need to have your presence known, besides being a token member of my court. Maybe conduct a census or something.’

  ‘A bill.’

  ‘A what?’ I respond.

  Simon rolls his eyes as he stands up. ‘I can write up a bill about how to improve the living conditions for my people and why it needs to be done. It won’t be just a report about my people’s conditions. As poor as they are now. Give me the right jurisdiction and I will make them all respect my authority, no matter who they are.’

  That can work; it will make the others more comfortable with a Cinari in a position of power. Even though some won’t take it seriously. ‘I can agree to that.’

  ‘Good,’ Simon looks at his luggage before looking back at me. ‘Now fuck off. I have work to do.’

  I give a nod, but before I can leave, Simon calls out for me.

  ‘Wait, there is something I want to say.’

  ‘What is it?’

  ‘There is one thing that prevents us from ending slavery, and it is what we should do with your people. Some argue we should force you onto the Shatler Islands. Others thought it was a brilliant idea to drop you off somewhere far and make it someone else’s problem. But the most common solution would be to simply butcher every last one of you. They even have a cover story to not catch the wrath of the Shaman.’ Simon pulls a face, still evidently frustrated with me. ‘Never tell me that my protest did nothing. The only reason we didn’t kill you all off years ago is because I and the few others had the fucking balls to stand up for your kind. I can tell you what is right and wrong, because unlike anyone else, I always stand on my principles. Remember that.’

  There is no point in arguing back; I’ll allow him to have the last word. I nod before leaving his room, acknowledging his argument and his grievances. That little point should be cathartic enough for him to work for me effectively. Even if it was childish.