Chapter 115

The prime minister stopped whatever it was he’d been about to say and stared at her. “Fossil fuels?” She nodded. “You’re sure?” Again, Rain nodded, even though she wasn’t a hundred percent sure. She was only going by what Mist had said, what she’d gathered on their journey, and the evidence she’d seen in Dafo.
Mist’s eyes were heavy on the side of her face, as if she wished Rain had not said anything, but it had been a last resort. Her friend spoke up now. “There’s documentation in Michaelanburg that shows many of the Military Mothers’ vehicles run on oil based fuels. Dafo knocked one out of the sky not long ago. They may have more information for you.” She left out the part that Dal had not recovered the vehicle.
Prime Minister Bissett’s expression changed, but only slightly. It seemed clear this information was something else to consider. Fossil fuels had been banned long ago, and the Mothers had declared time and time again that Michaelanburg was not using them, despite their location, situated right over top of one of the only remaining sources of petroleum in the world that hadn’t been completely depleted during the war.
Prime Minister Bissett cleared his throat. “Thank you all for your time,” he said, standing. How the guards standing outside the thick door knew the conversation was over, Rain didn’t know, but it opened, and she turned to see Stringer and several guards situated there. “I will consult with my cabinet members and we will decide what is best for Quebec.”
He offered his hand again and shook each of theirs. Rain thanked him for his time and mumbled that it was nice to meet his wife and daughter. Then, Stringer escorted all of them back to Mist’s room.
They took up the same seats on the couch and chairs that they’d had before the meeting, no one saying a word, defeated expressions on their faces. Rain fought tears, wishing they had another chance. Maybe if they could go back in there and speak to him again, they’d do a better job. But Mist had expressed herself well, and they’d given him as much information as they had available. He’d just have to be swayed to think it was in the best wishes of his nation to risk the lives and well-being of their soldiers, and invest possibly millions of dollars, to defeat a nation so far away from them, Michaelanburg would truly be no threat to Quebec under any circumstances.
“We did everything we could,” Seth said, finally cutting through the silence. “If he says no, we’ll go back to Oklasaw and see if there are enough militia willing to invade.”
“Do you think that’s even a possibility?” Mist asked him. “Haven’t your people given enough?”
He shrugged. “We do the right thing. No matter the cost.”
“We can’t ask you to do that,” Adam said, shaking his head. “You, personally, have already given so much to our cause. Your mom would be so upset to hear you were planning to try to convince your leaders to do even more.”
“My mom needs to understand that this isn’t just about stepping in on behalf of some friends,” Seth said, his voice stronger. “This is about looking at the state of the world, saying something’s not right, and being strong enough to stand up and change it. I was raised to know right from wrong. My grandfather would’ve never stood by and let others fight while he sat on his hands, and neither will I.”
Rain wanted to say something, to thank him, to praise him, but the words wouldn’t form. No matter how much time she spent thinking about the best way to express herself, she just wasn’t any good at producing the right statements when she needed them most. If only she could’ve come up with some compelling speech to move Bissett to action. Now, he was likely doing what he said he would, consulting with his cabinet members because he’d given them his word, but nothing would come of it. Perhaps Stringer would come in a day or two from now and tell them they were all welcome to stay, but Quebec could not afford to send help.
Their entire journey had been for naught. Now, they’d have to return to Michaelanburg to face the Mothers essentially alone, perhaps with a few spirited warriors from Oklasaw or Dafo, but that wouldn’t be enough. They’d all die, and the Mothers would go right on forcing their twisted values onto generation after generation.
Adam’s fingers closed around hers. “It’ll be all right, Rain,” he said. “I know it will be.”
“How do you know?” she asked him, her eyebrows arched as she looked into his blue eyes.
“Because it has to be.”
She shook her head slowly. “Sometimes that’s not enough.”
He pulled her close, and she rested her head on his shoulder, trying to clear her mind of worry and trust that whatever was meant to be would be, but in the back of her mind, the fear that they had failed simply wouldn’t go away. Now, they were back to waiting, waiting to find out their fates. Whether it would be another few days, weeks, or months, she couldn’t say, but the nervousness inside of her would continue to build until she knew for certain whether or not Quebec would do the right thing and step in on their behalf or if they’d have to face the Mothers alone.
The answer came only a few days later, and it wasn’t Stringer who knocked on Mist’s door one afternoon when the five of them were gathered in the same nervous tension they had been since their arrival. When Mist pulled the door open, it was Josie standing there, her brown eyes wide as she said, “Excuse me for interrupting.”
“No, it’s fine,” Mist said, dropping her head in some sort of bow in recognition of her stature. “How are you?”
“I am well, thank you,” she said. “Can I come in?”
“Of course.” Mist gestured for her to have a seat, which she did, on the sofa, near Seth but leaving a good foot or two between them. The girl’s cheeks pinked slightly when she looked at him.
“I have news. My father’s been meeting with his cabinet the last several days. They are always slow to action. There is a lot at stake,” she explained.
“Yes, that makes sense,” Mist said, reclaiming her seat next to Walt, across from Josie. “Have they made a decision?”
She nodded. “It is a tentative one. They want to start small, but be prepared for further action, should your claims be correct. While we are certainly concerned about the state of human lives in Michaelanburg, which you explained, the world will be more interested in your claims regarding fossil fuels. In order to justify our invasion, we will need proof that Michaelanburg has broken the treaty from the last world war and is using fossil fuels to power military vehicles. If that’s the case we have every right to invade and conquer their territories.”
“Wait!” Seth said, turning to face her. “Did you say start small? Does that mean--Quebec has agreed to invade?”
When Josie nodded her head, Rain could hardly believe what she was seeing. “The Secretary of Defense, General Gustaf Duquette, is calling up our first division now. We plan to launch our first attack as soon as they are ready, in a few weeks.” She looked at Seth then. “We will need permission from your government to launch from Oklasaw.”
He nodded. “I can get you that.”
Josie smiled at him, and Rain hoped he was right. Was Seth that connected that all he had to do was ask? The last time Oklasaw had helped them, it was to keep an invading nation out. Now, they’d be intentionally letting one in. She had to believe it would be trickier to get permission for that. Still, just the idea that this was moving forward, that help had arrived, was more than she could wrap her mind around.
“I have asked that the five of you be placed under my command in the Royal Coalition, it is a group of our finest soldiers. While we are trained to fight if need be, our objectives are usually the securing of intelligence. We think that you will be more valuable in that regard, assuming all of you wish to return and fight.”
“We do,” Mist said for all of them. “But… did you say your command?”
The prime minister’s daughter nodded. “I may look like the unassuming daughter of a dignitary, but I am much more than that.” She winked at Mist and then stood. “I will be in touch.”
All five of them jumped up and followed her to the door, thanking her. Josie stopped just before her hand went to the knob, and she turned to face them. “I truly think we will be successful,” she said with a sharp nod. “The five of you should be so proud of what you’ve done, all the lives that will change because of you. Together, we will conquer the Mothers and make the world a better place.” A confident smile graced her pretty face, and then she left.
The rest of the group immediately began to cheer, hugging and jumping up and down. Rain went through the motions, but in the back of her mind, she couldn't help but wonder… in the process of changing and saving all of those lives… how many innocent people were about to die?