"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. 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."
Leonardo was going to shake his head and say that she misunderstood him, but he stopped as she had more to say. "Your name that you were called; Silk Princess? This name is a title that the weak minded bestow upon one who is different." Despite the fact that she was merely referencing the name it stung. He had longed ago decided that he would merely accept the name and make it his own; it was why he wore Silks in the first place. Make your weakness into your strength, but for some reason, whenever Malinha called him by any name save for his own. It stung.
"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." Sugar Chief? Leonardo kept his face passive even though he was contemplating the name. Sugar Chief, it fit. Especially if he considered her eyes.
"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?"
With her rebuttal at its end, Leonardo smiled, "I fear you misunderstood me, this peace you are seeking. I agree with it; however, I merely see it as nothing more then a temporary truce. Both our nations are tired and need time to rest and recover from this latest war, but I do not believe it will last. I do not say this out of fear of the rain, but out of assertion that the rain will come." He said, "It is why I carry an umbrella when I go out on picnics.." He stopped when he realized that she might now know what that was, "An umbrella is a large," He stopped trying to find the right word, "Shield, of sorts, held up by a handle. It blocks out the rain."
"Anyways." Leonardo said returning to the topic at hand, "These peace talks always have such hopes. Of building a lasting peace, but they never do." He stopped and closed his eyes for a second, "The cruel truth of our world is that there will always be powerful men sending others to fight and die for them. That will never change as long as we retain our humanity. There will always be powerful men leading others, and so how do we stop the cycle? Can we?"
He took a deep breath, "I cannot put my faith in maybes. Or what ifs. I do not have that luxury. I wish I could believe in your 'peace' as you do. But I do not. I know our nations will fight again. I know blood will continue to spill until one, or both, of our nations are gone from this world. Unless you know of another way to guarantee that our people never fight again."
Leonardo gazed out across the forest and the city, "If this where a book of dreaded Monsters and noble Heroes, I would be the monster." He said evenly, "I am glad, that our life is not as a book or something that is being written by others as I would hate to have to be slain by the noble hero who goes off to promote his philosophy of peace and love. Or perhaps heroine in this case." He admitted and smiled, "Perhaps the book can be called: The Waltz of Silk and Sugar." He was about to mention the waltz was a dance popular in Metargo, but decided against it.