Malinha stood with her hands at her sides as she listened to Leonardo talk, which seemed to become a battle between the two; two forces that would neither cease or desist without the other giving up their position. It was a conversation that she had never imagined herself having with this man in this place.
"I was never raised by my father." He said which made her think that her tactic had failed, but then he began to talk again, "Nor have I ever been in his grasp. Maybe, a long time ago, I craved to be given attention. To be treated as a son instead of being handed off to nurse-maids and mentors as something barely worth mentioning, I joined the war because of my people. Not because of my father.". When he said this, she knew that she had managed to hit something, and kept her expression of calmness, and Fink had turned to her, sensing her sudden return of energy. "The most time I have ever spent with my father is when he is condemning my actions. I see his attempts now at trying to reconcile, but I have no desire to do that. Why should he be able to remove the black stain on his, otherwise, impeccable history? Perhaps he fears people will look at him and believe that it was his influence that created the dreaded Red Prince. But yes, I was also raised as you were. To be who we were born to be. I never tried to run though. Maybe I lacked courage, but I believe its because life any other way was alien." Malinha enjoyed all of the insight he gave her. While her reports told her about the physical happenings going around them, she was never privy to the emotional ones, which according to his voice and the way Fink was looking at him was a mixed with shame being present.
When he stated that her desire for peace would eventually end, she had to stop herself from responding. She faced criticisms like this from her people, always claiming that her desire for peace was hurting them overall. It always hurt her, but she always said she never wished for a temporary peace, but rather a permanent one. When he gave his nickname as Silk Princess, she knew she had hit something. That name was a huge point of shame for him, and for him to tell his enemy about that was a sign that she was making progress, even if he was unawake of it. He finished by stating that no matter what he wished, he had to remain loyal to his people.
"You claim that you do what you do under your banner of Red Prince for the good of your people, that not agreeing to peace gives a better chance that mine will not retaliate. This claim is false." She looked him dead in the eyes as she stated this. "The greater thing for your people is go help with a peace that will not last a few years, but one that will last for centuries. You claim you do not wish a peace because I will not last. Do you not live, even though death is inescapable? I live my life the best I can, but know that I can not while thousands of young men and women die fighting." She paused for a second, facing the forest once again, catching her breath before returning to him.
"Your name that you were called; Silk Princess? This name is a title that the weak minded bestow upon one who is different." She said, and had she not felt the pain that he had brought to her, she would have reached out and touched him, as a sign of understanding or friendship. "My fellow chieftains call me The Sugar Chief, due to my standing of peace, but their true meaning in it is that I will melt away when the rain comes.I dare not think of what my people call me for my inaction. A Chieftain not leading her tribe into battle, unthinkable. I am sure some who claim my head to be taken off." She brought her hands to twine together, much like Leonardo's. "And you claim that because one day that the destruction of my people will be needed to insure the survival of yours. That is claiming to never try and eat outdoors because of the chance it will rain."
"Leonardo, we both wish the same thing; what is best for our people. Let me tell you, I have read every book in my library, and I find something is common in them; The good guy always takes out the bad guy. That is sound logic in a book where good and evil are clearly defined, but in real life, we must make compromises to ensure that the destruction does not befall on us. Your duty is to protect your people, mine is to protect mine. Can we not both fulfill our duty at the same time?"
She turned to the forest once again, before returning to him. Fink was simply enjoying watching these two go at it. They were like two lone kings stuck on a chess board, never able to beat the other, but always moving and trying to catch the other. He always did love to see her when she was arguing a point, the feeling around her got very strong, and that lead him to feel better as well, and this Prince had the same effect, which caused his interest to be piqued.