“I did not get stories from books, Your Majesty,” she said stiffly. “I relayed to your son what I experienced.”
For the first time, the Queen looked a little taken aback. “Whatyouexperienced? Are you saying you were alive then?”
“Yes,” she said simply. “I was young, so I was not providing counsel or support. A few of us sneaked out to witness the sealing of the breach, even though we’d been sternly admonished not to do so. The humans set the camp alight when they started killing all those who had helped. It’s the only reason we survived. We were able to run when the killing started.”
Perian reached out and squeezed her hand. She looked a little annoyed and a little bit pleased.
The Prince took control of the conversation once more.
“Even if you don’t believe her, Mother, though she is clearly in the best position to know, it’s not even the most compelling argument. Our best argument is standing right here.” He gestured at Yannoma. “She’s a carnalion. We’ve been taught to kill them on sight like any demon, as though they are indiscriminate killers. Yet she’s killed none of us. She slept in the house with us for days. She’s the one who confirmed the danger I’m in from wraiths, nightmares, and lesser demons. I am a walking feast for demons, and she hasn’t tried to take any energy from me. We’re not saying that all demons are suddenly our friends, but we’re asking to acknowledge an undeniable truth: carnalions have higher reasoning just like humans do, and they should therefore be treated in such a manner.”
“Even when they kill people?” the Queen asked.
“Yes,” Kinan answered without hesitation. “Then as at all other times. Because I can kill people—or I could, when I could touch them. Brannal is capable of killing everyone in this room right now, but we don’t kill him on sight because of it. All our Warriors, Mage Warriors, City Wardens, and District Wardens could be required to kill people as part of their duties. We’ve always allowed people to defend themselves in extreme situations. Accidents happen. That is completely different from someone who is willingly and deliberately killing other people without cause. But then we are condemning thecrime, not the person whomightcommit it.”
“Carnalions can kill us with a thought,” the Queen pointed out.
“Mother, so can Cormal and Brannal,” Kinan said sternly. “So can every Mage Warrior. Why are we lauding Elemental Mages but condemning those with other abilities?”
“I hardly see how the ability to steal energy from people should be lauded in any way.”
Perian interjected, “They aren’t taking energy to be malicious, Your Majesty; they’re taking it as a matter of survival. It doesn’t have to kill. It can, and you’re right, that seems scary. It may always seem scary to people. But if we learn to see them as people instead of simply demons, I believe we can get past it, just as we have for Elemental Mages. If all carnalions indiscriminately killed everyone they fed from, then the situation would be different. People would be fighting for their survival and defending themselves. The Mage Warriors and Warriors see that every day when they fight lesser demons and wraiths and nightmares. We can’t reason with them, they always attack, and their attacks are almost always fatal. But carnalions don’t. Most of the time, carnalions live peacefully among us, and we don’t even realize it, that’s how little a threat they are.”
The Queen raised an eyebrow. “If they were never a threat, then my Mage Warriors wouldn’t need to kill them. They are alerted to their presence because there is a problem.”
Brannal said, “In the years that I was Summus, carnalions were the least likely demon for us to face, even less than the lesser demons that could be handled by Warriors. Cormal and I killed them believing we were doing the right thing to protect our people. I have faced more than one carnalion who tried to seduce me and who killed colleagues and friends.”
His body was tense, his gaze on the Queen intent. “But I’m no longer certain that the situation could only have resolved that way. Did they attack us because they were out of control—or because we attacked them and they feared for their lives? I can certainly tell you exactly what I would do if someone came at me with a fireball, and it would not be to stand there and take it, whether they thought they were justified in their actions or not.”
The Queen’s gaze transferred to Cormal’s. “And what of you, Summus? I seem to recall you being of a rather different opinion recently.”
Cormal tried not to squirm. He forced himself to stand straight, blowing out a careful breath.
“Yes, Your Majesty. I didn’t believe Brannal’s change of behavior, as I saw it, was natural. I was convinced that Perian was seducing him, and then I came to believe that he was harming Molun when he was injured. I felt certain that he was a threat, and I allowed that to blind me to the truth.”
He sighed. “He spent months among us harming no one. In fact, he was often healing people, though we didn’t understand that until the end.” He swallowed. “I clung to the old rules and tried to force them to apply, instead of asking if those old rules were still serving us. What we’re all asking is that intelligent, reasoning beings be judged on their own behavior and actions, not on what we fear from their kind.”
It was impossible to guess what she was actually thinking as she asked, “And you think others would do the same?”
“I think it will take a lot of work, Your Majesty,” Cormal admitted honestly. “I think there will always be those who are afraid of what they don’t understand, rather like I was. But that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be done. There are those who are terrified that I can do this.” With a thought, he summoned a ball of fire, let it hover above his hand for a moment, and then let it dissolve away again. “Could you argue that the country would be a safer place without me in it? Perhaps. But that fails to take into account the good things I can do as well as the bad, the protections that I can offer in addition to the potential destruction. There will always be voices full of fear, but they can be the minority. They can be overruled by common sense and their peers—and the laws of the land.”
“You propose monumental changes.”
Kinan spoke again. “Yes, Mother. We’re proposing huge, sweeping changes that will alter the reality of our country forever. But there is so much more to gain than to lose.”
Her eyes narrowed. “What precisely do you think we will gain from a small group of demons being acknowledged?”
Kinan said promptly, “In the first place, removing an entire category of demon to be fearful of is a material benefit to your citizens.”
He and Cormal had discussed some of these potential points in that interminable carriage ride back to the castle, but Cormal was still impressed with Kinan’s calm support.
“Or it might simply make them fearful of their neighbors,” his mother proposed.
Kinan countered, “Those who feel that way are already fearful of their neighbors because everyone knows that carnalions can hide amidst humans.” His voice was full of passion as he swept his arms wide. “Imagine if they didn’t have to hide. Imagine if everyone truly understood that carnalions don’t have to kill to feed.”
“Is this true?” the Queen asked Yannoma. She held up a hand. “I phrased that poorly. I know it’s true; I’ve seen Perian fail to kill people. But is itfrequent? How do you normally… eat?”
The Queen only sounded a little awkward asking the question.
