Zanru was such a self-involved bitch that she took everything Valdis said as if it were an insult. Admittedly some of it was, but not all of it and Valdis had to keep from rolling her eyes. She appreciated Gene's attempt at diplomacy, but she didn't think that Zanru would respond as he intended.
"I'm not trying to make an alliance," she replied, her voice level, "I'm trying to protect my own. The Chihuelans are looking for something and they are willing to kill and sacrifice their own people in order to obtain it.
"You say that we have no concept of family, but my best friend has left, the man I loved is gone and all the power I possess is not enough to bring them back. We have all suffered in one way or another, so do not make the mistake of thinking that we don't know the pain of loss. I could not even protect the man I call father from the cultists, and feeling helpless to prevent such attacks is infuriating.
"But perhaps you don't care about our feelings, that's fine, I'm not asking you to, however, you just implied that you still care about the feelings and safety of your own people. Without true unity between all the people who live in Keeliai, then we will all lose. That includes the Chihuelans that the Justicar is now hunting."
She took a breath, "But that part is up to you, as I said, I simply wish to know what the Justicar is truly after and I suspect that Celaunn knows. If she retains any loyalty to Evandau and the kedanese people, then I hope that she will at least consider speaking with us."
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"I'm not trying to make an alliance," she replied, her voice level, "I'm trying to protect my own. The Chihuelans are looking for something and they are willing to kill and sacrifice their own people in order to obtain it.
"You say that we have no concept of family, but my best friend has left, the man I loved is gone and all the power I possess is not enough to bring them back. We have all suffered in one way or another, so do not make the mistake of thinking that we don't know the pain of loss. I could not even protect the man I call father from the cultists, and feeling helpless to prevent such attacks is infuriating.
"But perhaps you don't care about our feelings, that's fine, I'm not asking you to, however, you just implied that you still care about the feelings and safety of your own people. Without true unity between all the people who live in Keeliai, then we will all lose. That includes the Chihuelans that the Justicar is now hunting."
She took a breath, "But that part is up to you, as I said, I simply wish to know what the Justicar is truly after and I suspect that Celaunn knows. If she retains any loyalty to Evandau and the kedanese people, then I hope that she will at least consider speaking with us."