The corridor was glaringly white, lit by glowing orbs suspended by some unseen force from the high ceiling. Visitors to Ursa often had to shield their eyes against the brilliance, but not so the Lord of Thundera. For once, the growing darkness in his eyes proved to work for him, allowing him to wander along untroubled while others squinted, leaving his mind to concentrate on other matters.

He groaned inwardly as he thought of what waited for him at the end of that corridor. The peace negotiations were not going well. The House Leaders, unusually in agreement for once, seemed determined to throw away all of Thundera's assets in an effort to secure peace. Not that the Mutants seemed to notice, having spent most of the proceedings arguing amongst themselves. The only interest as far as Lion-O was concerned was in seeing Slithe tussle with obvious challenges to his leadership from Scalex, the Serpentoid Leader, and Hyenara of the Canine Contingent. Any chance to quibble over details with the reptilian became a major struggle.

And what details they were, Lion-O thought bitterly. He found the demand that Thundera should have no off-world colonies particularly galling. The others regarded such a concession with disinterest. They had argued that Thundera was a large planet with enough sustainable resources to support the population. He had accused them of being short sighted. Their numbers were low now, but what about in the future, he had said. Then Lyssorian had reiterated his staunch views on the evils of reliance on technology, which would inevitably be needed in maintaining colonies, and had carried the day. As far as the others were concerned, that was an end to the matter. They had seemed to forget that Third Earth could be considered a colony and Lion-O's attempts to emphasise the importance of the planet in terms of alliances and trade had fallen on deaf ears. He had persisted, however, and in deference to the Third Earthers, he had managed to get the planet declared neutral territory, home to neither Thunderian nor Mutant. He owed them that much, the Warrior Maidens and Berbils and every other being who had made their exile bearable. Even if he could never go back, at least their safety would be assured. Probably. It remained to be seen whether the Mutants would keep up their end of the bargain.

The current sticking point was the issue of trade. The Mutants, with their insistence on Thundera following an insular policy, had demanded that the Thunderians should give up all their off-world trading interests. Caracio, of the Caracal Allied Traders, in declaring that this requirement was poison to his fellow merchants, had caused such an uproar that the negotiations had broken up to give both sides time to reconsider their positions. It was a welcome break in a tense morning and Lion-O found himself decidedly reluctant to step back into the affray.

"Are you prepared, Lord Lion-O?"

Lion-O turned to see the bulky form of Polaris, the elderly white bear, ambling towards him. Nominal head of the Ursan Federation, he had volunteered to oversee the negotiations. Thus far, he had proved himself to be just and wise.

"About as prepared as I'll ever be," he answered with a half-hearted smile. "It would help if I knew what those Mutants are up to. What is it that they really want?"

The bear surveyed him with calm, intelligent eyes. "What is it that you really want?"

Lion-O sighed. "Straight answers to straight questions and not some lie they've made up earlier."

Polaris laughed heartily. "In an ideal world, perhaps, but our existence is far from that." His amusement faded and a grave expression came over his face. "Even so, it does grieve me to see Thundera concede so much to the Mutant Alliance. My fur is not so grey that I have forgotten the lamentable wars between your peoples."

"Frankly, Polaris, I'm inclined to agree with you," said Lion-O. "I can't say that I'm happy with the concessions that the others are giving the Mutants, but what else can we do? We need this peace."

The bear nodded thoughtfully. "Then let us hope that an agreement can be reached over the trading conditions for your people and that the Mutants do not have other demands."

"Other demands? What else could they want from us?"

"Perhaps my years have made me cynical, Lord Lion-O," said Polaris, his bushy white eyebrows twitching with suspicion. "Yet I feel that Slithe has other demands and is biding his time until the point when you have gone so far that you cannot refuse. The Mutants have been surprisingly compliant, especially in agreeing to forsake all claims to Third Earth. Like you, I cannot help but be suspicious of their motives. Therefore, take this as a friendly warning from one who had much admiration for your father, Lord Claudus, and Lord Jaga."

They had reached the massive doors to the hall. Polaris pushed them open with ease and led the way in. Two guards snapped to attention at his entrance and a hush fell over the gathered parties. The bear made his way to the raised dais from where he watched over the proceedings, while Lion-O slipped in beside his uncle. Once at his chair, Polaris surveyed the gathering and cleared his throat.

"The time granted to consider your positions has now passed," he began. "I trust that both parties can come to some agreement over this matter?"

"We have allowed Thunderian traders a passage through Mutant space," Slithe said grudgingly.

"I should think so too," said Caracio.

Slithe hissed under his breath. "Understand this, Thunderian. Any deviation from that trade route will be seen as a violation of this treaty. Trespassers will be shot down, yesss!"

"We will take a similar view of anyone attempting to prevent us using the passage," returned Caracio.

Sensing the growing hostility between the two sides, Polaris raised his hand for calm. "At least we have agreement. Perhaps now we can seal the Mutant-Thunderian peace treaty. These last days have been difficult, but I am glad to see that it has been possible to lay aside old feelings and move forward in a new atmosphere of peace and co-operation."

"Not so fast," Slithe said. "We have one final condition. Unless it is met, there will be no peace."

At his words, Lion-O sat up and listened with bated breathed. Polaris' words echoed in his mind. Yet I feel that Slithe has other demands and is biding his time until the point when you have gone so far that you cannot refuse. That wily old bear had been right. With peace within their grasp and their proven willingness for settlement at any price, whatever Slithe's final demand, he was likely to get it. Lion-O found himself dreading the reptilian's next words.

But it was Polaris who spoke. "You speak out of turn, Slithe," he said, clearly annoyed at this turn of events. "This demand should have been presented earlier. The Thunderians have the right to end negotiations if these new terms are unacceptable."

"Then there will be no peace! We will destroy their pathetic planet, yesss." A twisted smile curled Slithe's lips as his eyes settled on Lion-O. "But I'm sure it won't come to that. After all, it's only a small thing we ask as proof that the Thunderians' enthusiasm for this peace is not a mere sham." He took a deep breath, savouring his moment, and his eyes twinkled with evil glee.

"I want the Thundercats."

"Never!" Lion-O yelled, leaping to his feet. He would have easily rounded the table and grabbed the Mutant by the throat had not Saturnus' restraining hand held him back. Instead, insults flashed back and forth between the two tables as both sides raged.

A loud roar sounded from the dais and, in the startled silence that followed, Polaris rose from his chair and regarded both sides sternly. "This behaviour does no one any credit. Once again, I suggest we adjourn proceedings to allow you to consider this demand. Remember, Thunderians, you have the right to veto over this."

The gathering broke up amid muttered insults and dark looks. The other Mutants marched out of the chamber, leaving Slithe to wander over to Lion-O with a look of triumph on his face.

"You know you'll give me what I want," he sneered.

"Go to hell!" Lion-O growled.

"We'll see," said Slithe, turning to follow his fellow Mutants out of the hall.

Lion-O watched him go, feeling a sinking feeling in his soul. Slithe had been too sure of his success. How he longed to wipe the smile off his unctuous features. As he gathered his thoughts, he became aware that the Leaders were looking at him, waiting for his pronouncement. He would never agree to this, not while there was strength in his sword arm or breath in his body.

"Completely out of the question!" he raged, angrily banging his fist on the table. "We will not surrender anything more to them." If he expected agreement, he was disappointed. Dread started to bite at his soul as he looked from one face to another. "Surely you aren't seriously considering this?" he said.

"To lose the Thundercats will be a blow, but you can always recruit others," Lyssorian said mildly.

A gasp of disbelief slipped from Lion-O's lips. "What are you saying?"

The lynx sat forward and leant his elbows on the table. "There is more to Thundera than Thundercats," he said, fixing Lion-O with a stern look. "As long as the Lord of the Thundercats continues, then so does the tradition. One set of individuals does not define the entire organisation."

"Do you know what you're saying?" he said, staring at the old lynx in horror. "That we hand our countrymen, our friends, our relations, over to the Mutants? No, never. What say the rest of you?" The uncomfortable silence continued, in which none of Leaders were able to meet his eyes. "Someone, say something, anything. Vex, do you agree to this?"

The panther sighed heavily. "The Thundercats are our pride, the best and most accomplished of our people. Yet each who takes up that mantle knows the day will come when they will be called upon to lay down their lives for Thundera. I will grieve to lose my cousin. I have known Panthro since we were cubs. However, my people hold that it is better to live for a second as a hero than a lifetime as a coward. If that day has come, then so be it. They will comply for the good of their people."

"I don't believe it," Lion-O said hoarsely. "How can you say that? You know that the Mutants will kill them." In his desperation, he found himself turning Mardak. "What do you think?"

"Many tigers have given their lives for Thundera," he replied. "If the price of peace is another, then it must be done, for the sake of all our people."

"Peace? At any price? Do we then seal this treaty with the blood of our friends?"

"Don't be so melodramatic," said his uncle. "Given the accounts of the time you spent on Third Earth, Lion-O, I can well understand why Slithe would have a grudge against the Thundercats. However, I think we can come to a compromise. I see no reason why we should hand over any of our countrymen to the Mutants."

He got to his feet, pushing Lion-O back down into his chair as he did so, and addressed his fellow leaders. "This is a matter of honour. Mutant honour, if you can believe in such a thing, has been slighted. An eye for an eye, as the old saying goes, or in this case, honour for honour. We will offer to divest of their status those Thundercats who stood against them on Third Earth and only those."

"No!" Lion-O protested. "We spent too many years fighting the Mutants to give in to them now!"

"And that is why it is only fitting that those who caused this problem should now provide the solution."

"You make it sound as though it was our fault. Slithe and the others wanted nothing better than to wipe us off the face of Third Earth forever."

"That was in the past. We must look to the future. If we are to rebuild our lives, we need peace."

The emphasis was not lost on Lion-O. Yes, they needed peace, a respite from the constant attacks. But more than that, his uncle meant that he needed peace. How much longer could he hold off the Mutants, how much longer before his eyesight failed completely and Thundera was left without adequate protection? But at the cost of his friends? The price was still too high.

"I don't know, uncle. Divest them of their status as Thundercats? I thought that only happened to traitors like Grune."

"We will know the truth of their sacrifice. In our eyes, they will bear no disgrace. They will retain their position in our society," said Saturnus, with a nod to Histor.

Lion-O caught the gesture and a nagging suspicion at the back of his mind suddenly made sense. "You knew," he said slowly. "You knew the Mutants would come up with this. You were prepared for it!"

"We did anticipate such a request," Saturnus conceded. "We had discussed various possibilities."

"And you didn't tell me."

"No, because of your reaction. We knew that we would never get you here if you thought that your friends were going to be part of the negotiations."

"Too right," Lion-O said, struggling to contain his anger. "You seem to forget that, without them, we wouldn't be here today having this discussion."

"Indeed, Thundera owes them a great deal, which is why we have suggested this compromise," Lyssorian said. "We are in agreement and now await your judgement, Lord Lion-O."

Lion-O hesitated. The lynx was almost daring him to defy the will of the Leaders. Unknowingly, he had allowed himself to be backed into a corner from which there was but one way out. This was the part of leadership that he was beginning to hate the most. In truth, he had no actual power. His presence seemed to be tolerated only as a nod to tradition. The Leaders set policy and made the decisions to which the Lord of Thundera gave his consent. This was the way it had always been done. Someone had to be unpopular and that lot fell to him. He could refuse his consent at the risk of being accused of acting against the interests of Thundera, which would give the Leaders grounds for a challenge of his position. He walked a tightrope between diplomacy and his conscience. Usually, he had some leeway, but on this occasion there was no room for negotiation.

"Gods forgive me," he murmured, "for my friends never will."

Saturnus gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "They will understand. It is for the good of Thundera. No one is above that greater good. Besides, I think we can minimise the damage. I leave that to you, Mardak. You have a careful way with words, so I understand." He grinned at the tiger's evident displeasure, then turned to Polaris. "We are ready to settle this matter with the Mutants. Then, gods willing, we can seal the treaty."

The bear motioned to the guards, who opened the doors to allow the Mutants back into the hall.

"Well, Lion-O?" demanded Slithe, as he took his place at the table. "When are you going to hand your friends over to us? I've been looking forward to this for a long time, yes!"

The Leaders looked expectantly at Lion-O, waiting for him to respond. But he was numb. The words would not come. Instead, it was Saturnus who spoke in his place.

"We will not give you the Thundercats. True, we wish for peace and the Thundercats do represent our military might. But they are still our people. We will not place their lives in your hands. Instead, we offer to divest of their status the Thundercats who opposed you on Third Earth."

"What!" Slithe raged, hammering the table with both his fists. "What game is this, Thunderian?"

Saturnus remained calm in the face of the reptilian's fury. Contempt burnt in his bright eyes as he held Slithe's gaze, forcing him to back down. "I suggest you give this serious consideration. This is a more than satisfactory compromise."

"Watch it, lion," growled Slithe. "One day you will push me too far, yesss."

Lion-O shot a glance at his uncle, interested in his reaction at such a threat. Saturnus seemed unperturbed. When he spoke, it was in even, measured tones that set Slithe back on his heels.

"Must I remind you that the reason you have never been able to defeat us is because we hold the Sword of Omens? We come to these negotiations as your equals, so do not rattle your spears and clubs at us!"

"Forgive the thoughtlesss reptile," spoke up Scalex, pushing the suitably humbled Slithe down into his chair. "Yearsss on a godsssforsssaken planet have dulled his witsss. Please continue, Lord Saturnusss."

A moment passed as Saturnus continued to glare at Slithe before he spoke. "Divestment of status means that they will never be able to stand against you again. They will retire from public life. They will no longer answer to the Sword of Omens nor enjoy its protection."

"A loss of honour, interesting," said Hyenara, curling her lip to reveal her glistening canines. "And we all know how highly cats value their honour."

"Thisss isss acceptable to usss," said Scalex. "Let usss conclude our busssinesss."

"Wait!" Slithe interrupted him. "Not so fast. I want to be there when they are stripped of their precious Thundercat status, yes. I want to see the look on their faces when you tell them. My fellow Mutants will want proof that the deed is done."

A snarl wrinkled Hyenara's muzzle as she turned on him. "You test my patience, reptilian. I do not have the time to engage in the petty ceremonies of mangy cats!"

"What makes you think we'll allow you on Thundera?" Lion-O growled, rising to his feet.

"If you want this peace, then you will!" returned Slithe.

"Maybe we don't need this peace as much as you think we do!"

"Want to put it to the test, Thundercat?"

"Any day, Slithe!"

Before Lion-O could say any more, Saturnus grabbed his arm and pulled him to one side. "Take a deep breath and calm down."

"Over my dead body will they come to Thundera!"

"Truer perhaps than you realise, nephew, given what you told me about your condition. Come now, put this in perspective. What does it matter? We all know the truth."

Lion-O bowed his head in defeat. There was nothing he could do. As he sank back into his seat, he heard his uncle telling the Mutants that Slithe's demand would be met.

"Your ships may accompany us back to Thundera and we will hold the divestiture ceremony as soon as possible," added Saturnus. "Now, let us now make our peace."

Continued

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