"Is Amdijefri safe?" the Flenser suddenly asked.
"What?" said Ravna, not recognizing the name at first. Then, "Yes, they are fine."
"Good." Now all the heads turned back to the Queen, and the creature continued in Pack talk; "Like a dutiful creation, I have come to make peace with my Parent, dear Woodcarver."
"Does he really talk like that?" Ravna hissed at the puppy on her shoulder.
"Hei, would I exaggerate?"
Woodcarver gobbled back, and Pilgrim picked up the translation, now in the Queen's human voice: "Peace. I doubt it, Flenser. More likely you want breathing space to build again, to try to kill us all again."
"I wish to build again, that is true. But I have changed. The 'timid teacher' has made me a little… softer. Something you could never do, Parent."
"What?" Pilgrim managed to inject a tone of injured surprise into the word.
"Woodcarver, have you never thought on it? You are the most brilliant pack to live in this part of the world, perhaps the most brilliant of all time. And the packs you made, they are mostly brilliant, too. But have you not wondered on the most successful of them? You created too brilliantly. You ignored inbreeding and [things that I can't translate easily], and you got… me. With all the… quirks that have so pained you over the last century."
"I-I have thought on that mistake, and done better since."
"Yes, as with Vendacious? [Oh, look at my Queen's faces. He really hurt her there.] Never mind, never mind. Vendacious may well have been a different sort of error. The point is, you made me. Before, I thought that your greatest act of genius. Now… I'm not so sure. I want to make amends. Live in peace." One of the heads jabbed at Ravna, another at the OOB down by Hidden Island. "And there are other things in the universe to point our genius at."
"I hear the arrogance of old. Why should I trust you now?"
"I helped to save the children. I saved the ship."
"And you were always the world's greatest opportunist."
Flenser's flanking heads shifted back. "[That's a kind of dismissing shrug.] You have the advantage, Parent, but some of my power is left in the north. Make peace, or you will have more decades of maneuvering and war."
Woodcarver's response was a piercing shriek. "[And that's a sign of irritation, in case you didn't guess.] Impudence! I can kill you here and now, and have a century of certain peace."
"I've bet that you won't harm me. You gave me safe passage, separately and in the whole. And one of the strongest things in your soul is your hate for lies."
The back members of Woodcarver's pack hunkered down, and the little ones at the front took several quick steps toward the Flenser. "It's been many decades since we last met, Flenser! If you can change, might not I?"
For an instant every one of Flenser's members was frozen. Then part of him came slowly to its feet, and slowly, slowly edged toward Woodcarver. The crossbow packs on either side of the meeting ground raised their weapons, tracking him. Flenser stopped six or seven meters from Woodcarver. His heads weaved from side to side, all attention on the Queen. Finally, a wondering voice, almost abashed: "Yes, you might. Woodcarver, after all the centuries
… you've given up yourself? These new ones are…"
"Not all mine. Quite right." For some reason, Pilgrim was chuckling in Ravna's ear.
"Oh. Well…" The Flenser backed to its previous position, "I still want peace."
"[Woodcarver looks surprised.] You sound changed, too. How many of you are really of Flenser?"
A long pause. "Two."
"… Very well. Depending on the terms, there will be peace."
Maps were brought out. Woodcarver demanded the location of Flenser's main troops. She wanted them disarmed, with two or three of her packs assigned to each unit, reporting by heliograph. Flenser would give up the radio cloaks, and submit to observation. Hidden Island and Starship Hill would be ceded to Woodcarver. The two sketched new borders, and wrangled on the oversight the Queen would have in his remaining lands.
The sun reached its noon point in the southern sky. In the fields below, the peasants had long since given up their angry vigil. The only tensely watchful people left were the Queen's crossbow packs.
Finally Flenser stepped back from his end of the maps. "Yes, yes, your folk can watch all my work. No more… ghastly experiments. I will be a gentle gatherer of knowledge [is this sarcasm?], like yourself."
Woodcarver's heads bobbed in rippling synchrony. "Perhaps so; with the Two-Legs on my side, I'm willing to chance it."
Flenser rose again from his seated posture. He turned to help his crippled member back on the cart. Then he paused. "Ah, one last thing, dear Woodcarver. A detail. I killed two of Steel when he tried to destroy Jefri's starship. [Squashed them like bugs, actually. Now we know how Flenser hurt himself.] Do you have the rest of him?"
