“I, for one, would be willing to forgive far more than an ache in my head at the prospect of possibly being able to retain my life,” she said, her tone somewhat on the dry side. “Do you believe I estimate the matter correctly, Deegor?”
“I do indeed, Siitil,” Deegor answered, gleeful enthusiasm moving her to a grin as she sat. “We must, however, confirm our surmise with Terril.
“What surmise do you speak of?” I asked, putting words to what a lot of the others seemed to be thinking. In some strange way I reverted to where I had been before the accident, and maybe even beyond that. Somehow I was beginning to feel as though I were one of them.
“It has come to us that one who possesses precise control of the power as well as great strength, will likely find it possible to save many lives,” Deegor said in a comfortable way, Siitil nodding in agreement. “In order to attack the palace, one must consider the three greatest obstacles to success: the w’wendaa of the guard, the abilities of Farian, and the Hand of Power on duty at the time. Farian herself must be faced only after the other two obstacles have been overcome, and although nearly half the guard are sympathetic to our cause, they may not be discounted. Should the palace be attacked, the Hand of Power will send fear and doubt to the attackers and confidence and loyalty to the guard, assuring a battle in which much blood will flow, for the most part ours.”
“We therefore came to the conclusion that the Hand of Power must first be slain,” Siitil said, taking up the narration while Deegor paused for a swallow of wine. “The sole manner of achieving this seemed to be a force protected against their output by a potion, led by one or two who were clear-minded and therefore able to lead. None of that force, you understand, would strike with the expectation of surviving. Those who were not downed by the Hand before they fell, would surely be done for by Farian’s guard. All save those who were taken by the madness.”
“Farian has taught each Hand to protect itself with an output of madness,” Deegor said while I stared at Siitil with chills touching me. “To face death is scarcely difficult for a warrior, yet the thought of madness-in which one would be left alive and forced to endure-forever, should one’s sisters fail to find victory- Suffice it to say that although there were those willing to dare such a fate, we others hesitated to allow the sacrifice.”
“And now such a sacrifice-to the cause of all in this city and elsewhere, to the cause of deposing Farian-may be unnecessary,” Siitil said with a sober happiness which seemed less personal than she had maintained it was. “To send one’s output into large numbers of minds is not difficult, not for the Hand and not even for myself. To send such output precisely where it must go, into the combined awareness of the Hand, with strength enough to halt their own output-would such a thing be beyond you, Terril?”
The question hung in the air supported by the silence of everyone in the room, buoyed up by the stares of ten pairs of eyes. Even before anyone could consider facing Farian the Hand of Power had to be knocked out, and I finally understood why Deegor and Relgon had hesitated to say they could best the Chama. To make people commit themselves to death or insanity on anything less than an absolute certainty would have been beyond them, just as it would have been beyond me. I listened to the crackle of the fire and the dull thrumming of the rain for a moment, then remembered the goblet of juice I was holding.
“The thing would need to be done just after a new Hand had taken its place,” I said, looking down into the juice before going for a swallow of it. “As I understand it, each Hand operates for a set amount of time before being relieved by a fresh Hand, therefore would the fresh Hand have none save those already drained by previous duty to call upon for aid or replacement. Their own replacements would not yet be assembled. ”
“You would pit yourself against a fresh Hand?” the woman who had spoken once before demanded above a new babble, her tone more confused than accusing. “We had thought to attempt them when they were nearly drained, trusting to upset and fear to keep the new Hand from forming.”
“And if their fear of Farian is greater than that which they feel for us—which it likely shall be?” Relgon countered, speaking to everyone. “No, Terril is quite right concerning the time they must be taken on, and yet- Are you certain you will find it possible to down all five of them, girl? Apart they are somewhat less than Deegor and myself, yet in concert—”
“They comprise a strength which must be overcome,” I interrupted with a shrug. “Those who broadcast must have their minds opened wide, else is such broadcasting impossible. If they lack the knowledge of the manner of protecting themselves at such a time, it should be possible to overcome them. ”
“There is a manner of protecting oneself during broadcasting?” Siitil asked in a small voice in the middle of the new silence which had fallen, sounding more awed than at any time previous. I had the distinct impression that she wasn’t really expecting an answer, and apparently everyone else thought the same. Before I had the chance to say anything everyone was talking at once, and that was only the beginning.
The eager arguments and discussions went on and on, not just allowing me to be a part of them, but demanding that I add my bit. Everyone had something to say and everyone else did their best to tear that something apart, looking for flaws in the plans rather than leaving those flaws to be found the hard way. Even what I occasionally suggested was attacked, and when I attacked one of Relgon’s ideas, at least half the women agreed with me. I had never felt like that before, a real, true part of something that actually wanted me to be a part of it, and I think it briefly went to my head. I argued and insisted and shouted down those who disagreed with me, and nobody minded! Oh, a couple of the women threw their hands up in disgust and called me a child, but that was actually better than having the others on my side. Even after what I’d done to them, they weren’t afraid to disagree with me, and that really made me feel I belonged.
“It h-as now become clear what our plan of attack must be,” Leelan said at last when most of the shouting was over, checking her goblet with a grimace to find that it was empty. “Shall we pause first for a meal, or come first to agreement?”
“Should we come to agreement, we will have no time for a meal,” Siitil said with what had to be endless impatience, already having given up on her own goblet. “Speak, Leelan, and then we shall go and do.”
“Very well,” Leelan agreed when almost everyone else nodded, ignoring the few grumbles, making herself more comfortable among the cushions. “The needs involved are not ours alone, therefore are we urged to now strike swiftly after having waited so long. Terril has brought us to the belief that we must indeed launch our attack as soon as we may, yet have we in turn convinced her that it may not be done this darkness. I believe the time has come to inform you that Farian herself may have set the thing for us: I have been summoned to the palace and must appear there upon the morrow, before the mid-day meal.”
Surprised and disturbed muttering rose up at that, and everyone frowned at a calm-looking Leelan. On my own I wouldn’t have known how to judge the revelation, but everyone else seemed to consider it more insulting than alarming.
“She means to name the one she will give you to,” Relgon said after the briefest pause, her eyes hard and angry. “And you, of course, will not be able to refuse her commands.”
“With all of you and half the city held hostage to those commands?” Leelan said with a snort, her own held-down anger clear. “She believes I have no choice save to obey her, yet I may indeed have a choice. We have agreed that to avoid a great deal of bloodshed, Terril and a small number of others must enter the palace first, before an attack is launched. Come the new day, Terril will enter the palace with me.”