Trials: War by Stephanie Jones (best summer reads of all time .TXT) 📕

                “You always have a choice. Besides how else was I supposed to get an audience with you?” The only thing I hate more than this game he is playing with me is the war. He knew exactly what he was doing; the bad thing is that I don’t even have an inkling of an idea of what this game he is playing with me is about.

                “No. I didn’t have a choice in the matter; your ‘messenger’ would have drugged me and brought me out agaisnt my will. Now the reasonable way to get an audience with someone is to ask them and to set up a time and place of which the meeting will take place. If I’m correct you did none of that with me.” The more I said the muscles all over his body started to tighten and clinch. I took a full step away from him to give both of us the space we clearly needed.

                “If you’re done I would like to the point of why we are all here.” He grounded his teeth so hard I could here it.

                I nod; I feel slightly bad that I went off as much as I did, but he should learn that I will not let anyone walk over me.

                “Good. Now what is your opinion of the war?”

                Those were not the words I was expecting to leave his mouth. How surprised I am starts to show when I don’t answer for a few minutes. I thought he would have wanted me to talk my father into quiting the war. Or for me to tell my father to quit the war or he would go all out on the elvish kingdom. Sdegr surprises me once again by clearing his throat, letting me know he was done waiting for me to get over my shock.

                “Why does my opinion of the war matter to you?” I have so many questions shooting around in my head, that question was the first one that shot out of my mouth.

                “Well, what my next question is depends on what your opinion on the war is.”

                I look him square in the eye to see how serious he is. What I find is complete honesty; apparently the king is truly curious on what my opinion is. Well, since hes asked for it hes going to get.

                “Do you really care to know my opinion?” He nods once to affirm my question. “My opinion on the war is that its absolutely pathetic. I can not see any point in it. Your father got some ridiculous notion in his head that the dwarfs and the elfs were your enemy, and that he needed to attack us. What is even worse is that when you came into power all you did was worsen the war. You caused even more innocent people to die. Now that, Sdegr is what my opinion on the war is.” I hold my chin a little higher to show my pride in my answer. What makes me drop is when Sdegr and all the goblins start to laugh. Not a slight laughter but a full on laugh that has some of them clinching their sides from laughing so hard.  I take mulitple steps back to try and get away from them.

                “Everyone is so ignorant of the bigger picture. Even you princess; you think you know everything there is to know about this war; well you’re wrong. Now here you are trying to back away from me; you also aren’t leaving till I say everything I need to say. Okay, now do you understand me?”

                Now its my turn for my body to tense up from anger at what he said. I do not like to be threatened that I wont be able to leave when I wish. He sees I’m not about to let his comment go and he walks over to me. He gets so close to me we’re almost sharing the same breath of air.

                “If you think you’re going to just walk away from here you’re more of a fool than I thought you were.” He whispers in my ear. I tense up when I feel his breath so close to me. He backs away a little bit to look at my face. I make myself look him dead in the eye; all hes trying to do is intimidate me. What he doesn’t know and what I don’t want to admit is that it’s working. I break the eye contact to look at all the goblins he brought with him. All of them were heavily muscled, along with huge swords and spears. Their amour was bronze and their chest plates as well as pieces for forearms and legs. They didn’t cover or hide much skin, but with the way that goblins fight they don’t need much protection.

                “Now, are you going to let me speak?” He growls at me. I nod my head to show im listening.

                “Good, so I decided that I needed to get to know the young beautiful fire princess. One of the things that made me want to meet you was the fact that you have killed more of my men then any other person alive or dead; that does not sit well with me or my men. Now you also have a very big influence on what military decisions your father makes; even more than his top general. So I have thought up a plan that benefits us all; do you wish to here it?” He asks with a smile that would even make a demon shrink away. I think carefully over what he said to see if he is playing any tricks; I can’t seem to find any. I find myself nodding my head to here of his ‘plan’ that will benefit us all.

                “Its actually very simple, all you have to do is convince your father to stop sending in troops and to then go and convince Grentheon the Dwarf king to also stop sending in troops. So see its all very simple.”  At first I stare at him letting the words sink in. Once they are done sinking in I realize how stupid and idiotic the goblin king really is. I let him know what I think of his ‘plan’ by laughing. Pretty soon I’m cluching my side because I got a stich there from laughing so hard. I happen to catch glimpses of his face, while im catching my breath, and I see that his face is one of murderous rage.  I take a deep breath then I begin to explain my laughter.

                “Do you honestly think I would do that? And for someone who has just meet me, and that somoeone who has also killed thousands upon thousands of my comrads.” I’m so serious with my question that I don’t even notice that im getting closer and closer to Sdegr. I realize it when he leans down to get in my face again.

                “Why wouldn’t you do this? Aren’t you willing to do anything for peace?” His questions shocks me; I take a couple shallow breaths. How does he know about the vow that ive made. The only people that would possibly be able to guess at it would be my family.

                “How do you know about my vow?” I whisper.

                “I have my ways.”

                I stay silent and look him in they eye; trying to see if hes serious or if hes just messing with my mind. The one thing I do know is that I have to find out why hes here; then try  to get away so I can go back and tell my father.

                “Why me?” I have to get as much information from him as possible.

                “You’re the only one who wants peace just as much as I do.”

                “If you want peace as much as I do then you would have stopped this war many years ago.” I hiss at him, while I lean in to where our noses are almost touching.

                He straightens up away from me and walks a little ways away to pace infront of his wolf. I didn’t notice it but the his wolf has now laid down into a more comfortable possition. I look over at the horizon line and I see the sun starting to rise. It startles me, making me realize that I have been in this field nearly the whole night.  He stops and turns to stare at me.

                “Do you really think I have the power to stop this war?” his voice replied sullenly.

                “Yes. You’re the only one who can truly stop this war.” No matter what he said it still doesn’t change the fact that his father started the war and he has continued it.

                “I have a probosal for you.” He states . “If you come with me we could stop this war for once and all.” His stare was so intense and broading I had no cause to think that he was jesting with me. Sdegr honestly wants me to come with him to goblin country. I break away from his stare and look to all of the goblins he brought with him. Some looked me in eye, others had their eyes closed, some looked up to sky. Their bodies still in defense postitions if I decided to attack them.

                I turn back to Sdegr, look him dead in eye,and see that I have no choice. Either I accept his invitation to go with him under my own free will or ill be taken. He thinks I only have two options but I realize I have two more options on top of his own that I can do. I can either fight and try to take out Sdegr; my chance of surviving is slim at best with this option. My other option is I can try and wait it out and hope that when my family discorvers that im missing in a couple hours that when they come looking for me that they find me in time.

                “Why should I even go with you? You could kill me as soon as we would get in your territory.” I prepare my self if he commands the goblins to attack me.

                He looks at me for some time before answering me.

                “I would go with you if you offered me this chance.” My gasp of shock at his answer escapes me before I am able to stop myself from showing my complete and utter disbelief. My mind is completely blank; I have so many things running through my mind that I could say but yet at the same time I have none. I decide to just open my mouth and if anything comes out then great, if not, then I’ll look like a fool.

                “We are not the same person. I would not continue a pointless war that my father started.”

                “If you come with me I will show you why I have continued this war that you call ‘pointless’.” He presses closer to me; trying to force me with his presence to choose in his favor.

                “You cannot guarantee my save return or even my life if I decide to go with you.” I press back.

                “What if I could?”

                “But you cannot, so why even bother making an empty promise, when I know it is an empty one.” If he thinks I’ll go with him on an empty promise he is sadly mistaken.

                “What if I could though? Make sure you stayed alive while you are with me?” He gets so close to me that my nose comes up to his chest, with my nose so pressed up to him I realize what he smells like.

                He smells of fire, soot, rain, the trees, the ground, and he smelled of power. I