between the shadows and the soul - demian, gallows, everdeen

[Gallows]

I swish my tail impatiently. Talking is less and less my forte. It's hard to believe but I was the model of diplomacy in older days. I think immortality has ruined me for small talk. I am incapable of not saying exactly what I think. I am, however, completely capable of restraining my actions until the appropriate time. And this. This is becoming the appropriate time. “If we're going to go fishing, and we really should change that to a when, it ought to be quickly. The Gates is weak but sometimes idiots jump on the cause of the lesser man and call it chivalry. Striking quickly before our target has time to prepare would give us the advantage. Unfortunately, I don't know if we can catch Lagertha sleeping. Still, the Amazons are always full of themselves and definitely need a wake up call. Warrior women, indeed. As if that makes them special. I dismiss the Tundra mentally. The ice makes the stallions frozen in time. They are rarely populated by more than two or three active members. Attacking them would be like blowing up an anthill. Overkill. “The Deserts might be a good choice, but I think raiding them would only put the jungle on high alert. We don't want the fight coming to us if we can help it. Better their lands burn than ours.” I pause, glancing over at my daughter exploring the Valley. “And on that note perhaps you would be interested in hosting your, hm, extended guests and young ones behind the wall. The last thing we need is a counterattack or a rescue party while our fighters are busy.” Not that we would completely empty the kingdoms. We'd hardly need that kind of force. But we would certainly be open for attack if there were mostly children and captives left at home. Did I check this out with Demian first? Who me? No, not at all. But I think he'll agree. In the end, I will leave the final decision up to Straia and Demian. I've said my piece and now fire runs through my veins. I wonder if Kushiel feels like this when he is burning the world. G A L L O W S We must all hang together or, assuredly, we shall all hang separately.