TRUCE

 

TRUCE

by Ellen Pepper


"Senor Líder-Salvia, I come to broker peace with you and your clan. We've been feuding down three generations and we've both lost kith and kin to endless vengeful vendettas.

 It's advantageous for all of us to cancel these death-dealing sorties. Let us come together in peace and cease acting like modern day Cain and Abel, Jacob and Esau, Hatfields and McCoys and all the others. We all share the same lineage, the same great great grandparents.

 Let us come together and take up cudgels against the Northern Invaders. They are our true enemies. They desire to destroy us all. The courage and testicular fortitude of our peoples can swiftly eliminate this imminent alien threat. The scouts have seen them near the caves on the other side of this hill and their attack could come at any moment. We must decide with haste. Our lives depend on it.

Even if we truce only until our mother country has been made safe, it will be worthwhile to give our descendants a safe and secure homeland. What say ye, honourable relatives?"

Stepping forward, Líder-Salvia declares with a gravelly voice, "You speak good sense, Eric Armskeeper. I will confer with my people and give this some thought. We offer you and yours refuge and sustenance for the nonce and hope that you are in agreement that it would be wise to avoid intoxicants until we take our leave of each other. We'll meet to discuss this and give you our decision on the morrow. Meanwhile, sup and be at ease. There will be no hostilities on this night."

Both sides are vibrating with tension and uncertainty. They are all in agreement that this is the wisest course to take to ensure the continuance of their breed but to trust the others after generations of decimation seems to be a bridge too far - too risky. Can they be trusted or is this a vile trick?

While they wait, the supplicants are fed and then bed down peacefully. 

In the meantime, Senor Líder-Salvia is conveying to his people the wisdom of accepting this offer. Again, the only argument against it is the topic of trust. The wrong choice, if it's a trick, could destroy what's left of their own people.
An alternate incorrect decision, the one to resist the offer to fight together and defeat the enemy from the North, could also wipe them off the face of the earth. They're on the horns of a dilemma. What to do, what to do?

They call in Larissa, the Lady of the Book to cast the cards in the hope of finding the correct direction to take.

She settles herself on the bearskin rug, sets out her reading table, and begins to shuffle.
"The first card, the Dove shows that this offer has been made in good faith and in the hope of finding Peace. 

The second card is the Dog, known for Loyalty. A trustworthy creature.

The third card, the Elephant has a good hold on Memory. Your relatives will show care and compassion toward you and will never forget that you took up the fight to save your peoples together.

The Enemy Card is the Serpent - chaotic, fearsome and untrustworthy. They can be defeated by cutting off its head - kill their leader and they'll lose the ability to fight. Their blood will fertilize the fields it falls upon.

The Outcome is made up of the Lotus, the Peony, and the Olive Branch - Happiness, Fertility and Peace. The Northern Enemies who yet live after the battle, will intermarry with your peoples and, ultimately, their mating with your womenfolk will end the generational feud finally and forever.

 It's up to you - the best choice would be to merge with the tribe of your genesis. 

The most skillful time to strike the enemy is at midnight because, like serpents,  they are more likely to attack before dawn or just after dusk."

Senor Líder-Salvia looks at his warriors. As one, they nod their assent to the Lady's advice. He departs immediately to confer with Eric Armskeeper rather than waiting for morning.

In agreement, the Defenders gather their arms and silently move toward the Enemy. A scout leads a small team to where the leader sleeps on the ground within a cave and his head is instantly separated from his body and carried out by its hair to be shown to his army.

Initially, the Northerners begin to do battle, buckets of blood are shed - but in seeing the head mounted on a pole being carried forth, they fall to their knees, their strength ebbing from their bodies.

They raise the Flag of Defeat and remain bowed down in humility before the victors who have mercy upon them and bring them into the fold as foretold by the Lady of the Book, Larissa.

In the end, goodness and mercy will follow them all the days of their lives.

 

©Ellen Pepper 2025

Image credit: FAUNABELLE TAROT DECK