Think of the Children

JP with Cindy and White_Caribou

Shalia's nerves settled steadily as Islana continued to talk, though in that moment it felt slightly more Seer than mortal. She commanded the room with the sophisticated and assured aura, and the Fang witch couldn't help herself but to be enthralled...and perhaps a bit challenged.

To know war was so close and the Horde’s call to arms had nearly begun was always pleasant to hear, straight from the mouth of the Prophetess no less. But one of those statements tensed Shalia’s expression noticeably.

"Keeping the Odonine away from collecting war spoils will be incredibly difficult; such is the way of our people and has been for centuries. Koshnem and I will consider your wishes, but we make no promises in that regard. I was under the impression that this was an extermination, not a culling. How is it you intend to use the spared as resources without being harmed?”

The calming of the dark-haired woman was noticeable and then came the tension which suddenly seemed to hang in the air between them. None of those who now lay within Islana’s consciousness were surprised by that, so neither was the redhead herself. It was a big ask to allow some Helians to live.

Wisdom of the past was dictating to perhaps let this go but Islana still had her set of convictions that didn’t allow such an easy pass. It was like having an argument inside of herself. There would probably be many of those before her time was over.

“I do understand that the Odonine want their spoils, to be honest, it likely will be a lot to ask of the Ozanine as well. I am not asking to go against their traits. However, aren’t some of the spoils of war gaining slaves, workers, and gathering knowledge neither the Odonine nor the Ozanine, and perhaps not even you or I have? The farmers in Ostiarium have some methods that might make farming easier in both of our regions. There is a way the Helians have with making weapons and armor that might help both of our sides. I’m certainly not saying to save everyone, any members of the Inquisition and the Helian soldiers clearly need to no longer be a scourge on this land. Not even every civilian but a few could prove useful. The children could be useful as workers, trained in our traditions, as well. I leave that decision for your own people up to you and Koshnem, of course. It’s just out there for your consideration.”

While Islana's thoughts were going to her friends and the children, the other Prophetesses were basically screaming the Ozainine came first. There would be bound to be times, they didn't agree.

Shalia thought it over.

“I get the feeling these farmers and smiths would much rather die than serve us well. Who is to say they would not sabotage us by intentionally poisoning or mishandling our crops, or setting us up with faulty weaponry? A close eye on them at all times would be due, and if they slipped up they would be put to death, but along with them their secretive methods. The damage to our people would have been done. There are lots of dangerous possibilities in sparing workers to help later, but if the Ozainae wish to use their potential knowledge, then you may take as many of them as you wish. Share the information if it proves useful. Perhaps when the forces are slain, we clear the buildings and bring the civilians forth on their knees. See who of them would rather die right there than pledge their lives to us in chains. But you know I'd prefer them going cold, everything considered.”

She sighed heavily and took a quick sip to wet her lips. Talking this much was not kind on her throat, either. But she expected nothing else. The subject matter of war was always dark.

Somewhere distantly in her mind she told herself that what the Prophetess could be vaguely getting at is destroying the powerful presence of these intruders, not so much a demand of wiping their existence from the land. This thought was drowned out soon enough by her eagerness to see the bloodshed. To make them pay in more ways than just loss of a foothold. The loss of their children, their women, their lives. The brutality of it all.

"Slaves come with conquering. I am unsure about raising Helian children, however. Caring for the spawn of invaders, rounding up and separating them off into desert and mountain, shaping them to our liking. If they even survived that journey. How would we be sure they would not come to resent us for what was done? At the end of it all, the children are Helians that may one day come to fulfill your prophecy, even decades following the war. Maybe we should let them be casualties as a precaution…it is the truest mercy in this life amid a battle they will lose.”

But she would consider all possibilities. Child-killer is not something she really wanted to be known for.

“Say the surviving young come with us. Suppose you surround them with enough culture and training--their malleable little minds would adapt for what else can they do but learn? I myself learned quickly while grown, and it seems in some similar capacity you did too,” Shalia nodded to the redhead in recognition of their overcoming adversities.

“It still begs the question…do we slaughter or save the children in light of these risks? Do we leave them in the collapse of a city with an unknown fate? I am sure you’d say no to their intentional deaths, and it is not something I am fond of either. Unfortunately, our hands are getting bound tighter every passing day, so a decision must be made before the time comes and weapons are raised. The Odonine are used to claiming the women and children of defeated clans, so it would be nothing new for us by taking half of each. I wonder, would the Ozainae take well to their enemy becoming part of their society as slaves?” She concluded finally, eager for a brief rest.