JUNIPER
you think i'm happy because i'm smiling,
but it's the easiest thing to do
Juniper nodded. "As we understand it, she'll need a great deal of raw meat to regain her strength. I've asked our hunters to keep our stocks up, so that we'll have supplies when we find her."but it's the easiest thing to do
Another, sharper nod. Juniper was a little surprised to hear Nephele speak so -- without the assumption so many had made, that the Greatwood would automatically join a war between the gods, would automatically become the Old Gods' staging ground. But Juniper agreed. She would like to see no war at all, but if it was bound to come, sparing her home would be second-best. "Everyone has assumed that we will fight the Ascended, allying ourselves with -- do you know of the Order?"
As Nephele continued, Juniper frowned a little. She remained, of course, completely ignorant of that blood -- or fluid -- on Nephele's blade; if she had known, this would have been a very different conversation. After all, Juniper had promised Sunjata that she would help find Nate's attacker. "The Governor's marriage may work to our advantage, though. It might give him some leverage in negotiating with the Ascended -- they may be more receptive to someone they have reason to believe has some sympathy for them."
Of course, if Juniper had known the full story of Sunjata's recent travails -- of his deal with Safrin, of the resulting fallout for his family -- she might have spoken differently.
"I'm sure they don't want to face justice, but they may find it a more appealing prospect than all-out war ... though, sadly, the two events are not mutually exclusive." Juniper couldn't promise that bringing Wessex and Samuel to trial would prevent the looming war, but she wished she could.
She listened to Nephele's last words with a furrowed brow, carefully parsing the other Fae's meaning. Biting her lip, Juniper replied, "I understand hating the Ascended -- but such hatred doesn't have to rule our actions. What is Ludo's will in the matter?"
if you looked a little closer,
you'd find my eyes aren't smiling too.
you'd find my eyes aren't smiling too.
