Aven felt the aches before he awoke. Not just where he’d been impaled, but everywhere on his body. It took a long moment to remember the pain, the raging, screaming voices as his body tried to rip itself apart from inside. Or maybe rip apart everything else around him. They were silent now. Only his own thoughts. And he was alive. That was...nice. For a certain value of nice. Every limb felt stiff as if he hadn’t moved for years. Every muscle ached, every bone complained.

  He was lying in a bed. Scratchy sheets. Hard mattress. A pillow that was barely worth the name.

  Aven’s eyes opened.

  The infirmary, back at Hellfrost. He was in one of the beds. Cleaned. Bandaged. Clothes that weren’t his, just a simple smock and trousers, both a bit too big for him. Fewer beds were filled than the last time he’d been here. Which meant enough time had passed for some to heal or die.

  Black specks flickered in his vision, like motes of dust in his eye, but every time he tried to follow them, they retreated from his vision.

  He sat up.

  A gasp, and his eyes found one of the younger healers visible in the doorway. No, not younger, just a minari.

  “My lands!” the healer exclaimed. “Mama! Mama!”

  Tanya bustled out of the main room and smiled at Aven, “Well, about time! Poor Etrani’s been driven to distraction worrying over you.”

  Aven opened his mouth and had trouble finding his voice. A couple tries before managing to croak, “How...long...?”

  “Oh, right about a week,” Tanya pat his knee. “You remember what happened?”

  Aven closed his eyes. He did. Mostly. “I...killed Sergrud.”

  “And good riddance!” Rani cackled and staggered into the doorway, giving a snaggle-toothed grin. “I’d kiss you if you weren’t so hideous!”

  “Now, no need to be rude,” Tanya tutted and shook her ladle at the old pirate. “Don’t listen to her, Aven, you’re as handsome as ever. The marks just add character.”

  “Marks?” Aven reached up to touch his face. He could feel the patterns standing out against the skin where his blood pulsed. His hands and arms were changed too, black veins standing out starker than before. Not fundamentally different from how he’d looked before, but...more.

  When he closed his eyes, he could feel the void thrumming, running through every vein. Stronger than before. Deeper. Once, the void had only been a creeping presence, subordinate to the wellspring of vis energy except for the few times it rose stronger. After diving into the voidpit and remaking his body, vis and void had been in balance, neither stronger than the other, each able to shape the other. Now, the void was stronger. Strong enough that the vis energy felt only like a lesser part of it.

  The Battle Mind...still functioned. He could still split, still analyze. But the splits were so much deeper now. Each felt like a whole person, a foreign presence simply mirroring his own thoughts until he yanked the pieces back together.

  “Don’t,” Esharah’s presence came into his head. “Not yet.”

  “You’re safe,” Aven thought back. “That’s good.”

  Amusement pulsed in their connection, “You were in far more danger than I was. Wait a moment; I’ll get Etrani. She’s negotiating, but it’s a good time for a pause.”

  “Negotiating?”

  “She’ll tell you all about it.”

  The connection faded, leaving Aven in ignorance. Tanya took the opportunity to shove a bowl of soup in his face, and hovered by until he drank every drop, immediately refilling the bowl when he did.

  “Good, you’ve still got a healthy appetite,” she nodded with approval. “You’ll need it. Third circle’s need more food, you know. Drink too. Drink up.”

  Third circle? Aven wondered as Tanya pressed a cup to his lips.

  Yes, the power in him was definitely stronger than before. The Brand on his back pulsed stronger when he reached for that power. Sure enough, when he focused he could feel a third circle in the Brand, a new mark of power. Enough power, apparently, to reach the heights that Sergurd and Erdrak had walked. And Father. Aven had once despaired that he’d never match Father’s power. Certainly, Father would be more horrified by the path Aven had chosen than proud at having reached that height.

  The door to the infirmary burst open, bringing with it a blast of cold air even here in the back room. Etrani rushed in, gasping from exertion. She froze, right in the middle of the doorway, eyes locked on Aven. Tanya and Rani stepped back, giving each other a knowing grin as they did.

  Etrani’s mouth opened and moved soundlessly. Finally, the words came out, “C-Captain Avarnius. You are...awake. That is...good”

  Aven caught Tanya rolling her eyes and suppressed a smile. He must look like a real monster if he was making the executor flustered. If Etrani found his appearance as hideous as Rani did, she didn’t say anything.

  “Etrani. I am glad to see you well,” Aven said. “Esharah said you were negotiating.”

  Etrani’s fumbling hesitation vanished. The executor was back. The nervous woman gone, replaced by the imperial official.

  “Yes,” Etrani took a seat on a stool at his bedside. She took another deep breath to compose herself. “I...have been meeting with the acting leaders of Frostwood, Clan Hravast, and Tribe Kvormskaja.” She spoke the clan and tribe name precisely, forcefully. Spoken like one who had been practicing a name carefully so as not to stumble over it. “The details remain a matter for discussion, but...we will have peace. Thanks to you.”

  Aven chuckled, “I only killed one man.”

  “It is the most important part,” Etrani said seriously. “With Sergrud dead, the threat is ended. With Sergrud dead, we have a corpse to signify that the enemies of Hellfrost have been defeated. One man’s death, so that we may have peace. Many...many others died, but had Sergrud lived, the Governor would demand further retribution.” She hesitated, “...he still might. We’ve yet to hear word from Northstar. For now, though...we have peace. It only remains to shape that peace.”

  “A task now in your good hands,” Aven said.

  “I hope my hands will prove adequate to that task,” she stared down at her palms.

  Aven reached out and took one of her hands in his own, “I can think of none better.”

  Etrani froze. Staring at their joined hands. Then to Aven’s face. A flush crept up her neck. Her almond-dark eyes were suddenly very, very wide. Her hand was very warm in his. She squeezed back.

  Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

  “Well, are you going to kiss her or just stare all day?!” Rani called impatiently.

  Etrani gasped and jerked her hand away as if burned.

  “Rani!” Tanya chided. “Don’t rush the poor babes. These things should be done in their proper time.”

  “Bah!” Rani scoffed. “Youth is wasted on the young! When you’re my age, you’ll look back on every opportunity for a kiss that you missed and curse your own foolishness! Girl! This boy charged out into a blizzard to defend your honor, slew your enemies, and now lies bandaged and half dead for you. What more are you waiting for him to do, huh? Build a statue to you in the courtyard?”

  Etrani, red as an apple, stammered out, “Your...advice has been noted, Rani.” She looked to Aven, “When...when you are well...we may discuss this further.”

  She ran out of the hospital. Aven blinked.

  Rani cheered, “Looks like you’ve got something to look forward to when you’re back on your feet, eh Captain?”

  Aven lay back in his bed and allowed himself a grin. Whatever came next, he certainly did have something to look forward to. Rani’s raucous laughter echoed his thoughts as he drifted off to sleep.

  * * *

  Aelia had the unfortunate task of returning to negotiations directly after that mortifying display. The memory of Aven’s warm hand on hers was unpleasantly distracting. Or pleasantly, which was almost more distressing. The feel of his skin, the sincerity in his voice...it was all...quite a lot. Relief, embarrassment and...other feelings had to stand down, because she had a job to do.

  War was a province for others, and her failings there had nearly led to disaster, only saved by Aven’s reckless heroism. Peace demanded skills that she could provide. In this, she would not fail. Aven won the battle against Sergrud. Now, it fell to her to win the peace.

  Ever since Aven’s victory, she’d been hard at work writing the treaty. The fact that three of the four parties supposed to sign the treaty were illiterate was an unexpected wrinkle. Hence spending extra hours explaining all the intricacies of the treaty, quibbling over the wording until even the leaders of the Frostwood villagers and the Kvormskaja and Hravast representatives could understand them.

  “I apologize for the interruption.” She swept back into the office where Esharah waited with the three leaders in question. Mensikhana, speaker of the Kvormskaja. Hrolf, acting jarl of Clan Hravast, a barrel-chested (and barrel-bellied) man with a braided beard that must be exhausting to keep groomed. Cascia, an older woman who had settled into being the de facto leader of Frostwood, largely by virtue of being the only one bold enough to speak out on their behalf without seeming afraid of imperial reprisal.

  “I trust the captain is well?” Mensikhana asked, her voice echoing in Etrani’s mind.

  “He is...awake,” Etrani jerked her mind away from the lingering ghost of his hand to focus on the more important information for them (namely, his health). “Recovering.”

  “Good,” Mensikhana’s tone held quiet satisfaction. “A great debt we owe to him.”

  The Hravast warrior nodded gravely, “The hero who slew the vicious Sergrud shall be honored. It is good that he lives to see such honors himself.”

  Cascia sniffed and said impatiently, “Heroes can be honored when the rest of us have made sure we aren’t starving. What’s to be done about food for the winter, hm?”

  Aelia gave a small smile, showing her approval at the woman’s practicality, “Yes, that is a part of the next provisions of the treaty. First, I wish to confirm what we have agreed upon so far. As leaders of the forces threatening Hellfrost, do you each agree to surrender, under the agreed upon conditions of amnesty?”

  “As acting jarl of Clan Hravast, I agree to your terms,” Hrolf said. “We will assist in rebuilding the damage we have caused.”

  It was, perhaps, a stroke of fortune that while the warriors of Hravast (predominately the men) were busy dying for Sergrud, the noncombatants (predominately women) had managed to partially integrate with the residents of Frostwood. Conflicts between those groups had so far been minimal. With the Ragashars and Sergrud such dangerous threats, hatred could concentrate upon them.

  “Now, we don’t want a bunch of barbarians occupying our village,” Cascia spoke up, glaring venomously at Hrolf.

  Not fully integrated, apparently. The hatred remained. Even a touch from Esharah only soothed the rage to the point it did not break out into a further shouting match.

  “An important point,” Aelia acknowledged. “Captain Breton has agreed to allocate a portion of his troops to help rebuild as well. I hope the presence of imperial soldiers will provide stability during the rebuild.”

  “Strapping, unattached imperial soldiers,” Esharah commented.

  Why that detail was important escaped Aelia, but it did seem to give Cascia some thought.

  “I...suppose the presence of such soldiers would give our poor widows and daughters comfort after so many of the men of our village fell in battle,” Cascia seemed to catch whatever hidden meaning Esharah was trying to convey.

  “As further assurance that there will be no further conflict,” Aelia continued. “Half of Clan Hravast will remain in Hellfrost during the duration of the Frostwood rebuild.”

  Hrolf’s face fell, “You mean to use our people as hostages.”

  “They will be granted the same right and privileges as another other citizen of the empire,” Aelia said. “It is simply to ensure peace.”

  “A hostage is a hostage,” Mensikhana dismissed the interpretation. She looked at Hrolf. The ogress’s voice was calm, measured. “If we had not fought, more of us would have died. If we continue to fight, all of us will die. This is...a just price.”

  Hrolf bowed his head, “If it is the price my clan must pay to survive...we shall pay it.”

  “Damn right you will,” Cascia sniffed. “If you ask me, it’s no more than enough to make sure we’re safe from these...” she gestured vaguely to the other two leaders.

  “And what of the ogres?” Hrolf looked to Mensikhana. “You’re not taking them hostage too?”

  “The Kvormskaja have already agreed to offer our lives to fight the voidspawn threat,” Mensikhana’s mental voice came accompanied by images from Esharah of the monstrosities they faced, the things Aelia had only read about in dry imperial dispatches. And seen dead, long after the battles ended. “This is, and always has been, our purpose.”

  “If you wish to fight against the voidspawn as well,” Esharah said. “Perhaps we could re-negotiate your portion of the agreement.”

  Dismay filled Aelia at the thought of redoing the treaty from scratch after this much effort. So many more hours of work before-

  Oh. Esharah was just pressing the point, reminding the others that they had a choice in the matter. Dismay turned to relief when Hrolf leaned back and grumbled something about the terms being acceptable.

  “You’re talking a lot about rebuilding Frostwood, but how are we to survive until then?” Cascia demanded. “Our supplies are gone. The Vulgares...they took everything. And the blizzards will only get worse.”

  “If you remain until spring, Hellfrost’s stores will be enough to support the remnants of Frostwood and the Vulgares,” Aelia checked the figures again, “...with strict rationing. I have written to Governor Iraias requesting additional food relief. The plan in place will be sufficient until the Governor’s reply.”

  “But what if it’s not?” Cascia pressed.

  Aelia produced the document in question. She’d checked it rigorously. “You are welcome to go over the figures yourself. I assure you, my calculations are correct.”

  “I can’t read,” Cascia said flatly. “Your scribbles don’t mean anything to me.”

  Esharah, bless her, did not wait for Aelia to stammer out a reply, “I can translate it for you.”

  “And we are happy to allow you an inspection of the granaries,” Aelia added. “To see the stockpiles for yourself.”

  Cascia blinked and folded her arms, “We’ve got children to feed and clothe. Don’t need to spend time checking your granaries.”

  “What else could we do to reassure her?” Aelia asked Esharah.

  “Nothing,” the reply came back tinged with amusement. “She likes to complain.”

  Ah. That was...not entirely helpful, but it was a piece of the puzzle. Cascia was not acting in bad faith. Just cantankerously.

  “What about shelter?” Cascia pivoted her complaints, which Aelia took as a sign that the previous issues had been resolved beyond her ability to gripe. “Can’t live in tents for the winter.”

  Hrolf gave an odd glance, “Why not? Our clan has done so for generations.”

  “Well, we’re not barbarians,” Cascia sniffed. “We have standards.”

  Esharah projected amusement again before working to cool the tensions, and Aelia found herself smiling despite the headache starting to form behind her eyes. Thankfully, Esharah was prepared and rushed in to cool tempers before another round of sniping commenced. Cascia subsided with a grumble. She was a woman who liked her world to be a certain way. And it was, right now, very much not.

  Aelia could not blame her. First by the Vulgares, now by the defeat of the Vulgares, Frostwood had been upended twice over. They had lost homes, families, and any sense of security. Cascia’s complaints were, in Aelia’s professional estimation, completely understandable.

  And unhelpful. But understandable.

  Hours later, the logistics were sorted to the satisfaction of the three leaders. Three parties signed the treaty. And the battle was ended.

  Pending Governor Iraias’ approval. Aelia had authority to create such a treaty, but it was only binding until the governor had chance to give final word, either ratifying or rejecting. The latter could prove...disastrous.

  Still, for now, there was peace. It wasn’t perfect. But it was peace.

  * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

  patreon.com/OrpheusDAC