She felt Sen pause. Mairae stopped and looked over her shoulder at Bal. The Dunwayan smiled.

“Speak,” he said.

Auraya looked from Mairae to Bal and drew up the words she had practiced silently for days. “This can go one of four ways,” she said. “Firstly, the Dunwayans could give in and let the White have their way.” She glanced at Bal. “That’s not likely. Neither is it likely that the White will give in and wait for a better time to make an alliance, because they don’t want anyone copying you.”

Her mouth was so dry. She paused to swallow.

“It seems like the White have to let the Leven-ark kill us. Then either the White or I-Portak will kill the Leven ark. We’ll all be seen as martyrs to our land or cause.” She looked at Bal again. “Or will we? If you die, the Sorceror Clan will still end. You fail.” She looked at Mairae. “There must be another way.”

Everyone was staring at her. She forced herself to look at Bal once more. “Make it look as if the Leven-ark failed. You cast aside all honor and came here prepared to sacrifice your lives to save the Sorceror Clan. Are you prepared to sacrifice your pride instead?”

Bal frowned. “My pride?”

“If you let the White escort you out of Hania in shame—if you appear to have failed—then we need not fear others will copy you.” She looked at Mairae. “If he agrees, will you change the terms of your alliance?”

“To allow the Clan to continue?”

“Yes. Even I, living in this tiny village, know of the famous Dunwayan Fire-Warrior Clan.”

Mairae nodded. “Yes, if the Dunwayan people wish to keep it.”

“Alter the terms of the alliance—but not straightaway or others will still see a connection between the Leven-ark coming here and the change. Arrange for something else to prompt the change.”

Bal and Mairae looked thoughtful. Sen made a low noise, then said something in Dunwayan. At Bal’s reply he stiffened, but said nothing more.

“Anything else you wish to say, girl?” Bal asked.

Auraya bowed her head. “I’ll be grateful if you don’t kill my family and neighbors.”

Bal looked amused. He turned to regard Mairae. Auraya fought a growing suspicion that she had just made a fool of herself.

I had to try. If I thought of a way to save the village and didn’t try it, I’d…I’d end up dead.

“Are you willing to let the world believe you failed?” Mairae asked.

“Yes,” Bal replied. “My men must agree, though. If they do, will you change the terms of the alliance?”

“If my fellow White and I-Portak agree. Shall we consult our people and meet again in an hour?”

Bal nodded.

“You will not harm any of the villagers before then?”