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Especially when we could learn so much 。。 。〃 He sighed； as if unwilling to go on。 〃But there is danger；
danger that cannot simply be ignored。〃
No one answered his assertion。 It was dead silent as he continued in a monologue that sounded as if he
spoke it for himself only。
〃How ironic it is that as the humans advance； as their faith in science grows and controls their world； the
more free we are from discovery。 Yet； as we bee ever more uninhibited by their disbelief in the
supernatural； they bee strong enough in their technologies that； if they wished； they could actually
pose a threat to us； even destroy some of us。
〃For thousands and thousands of years； our secrecy has been more a matter of convenience； of ease；
than of actual safety。 This last raw； angry century has given birth to weapons of such power that they
endanger even immortals。 Now our status as mere myth in truth protects us from these weak creatures
we hunt。
〃Thisamazingchild〃—he lifted his hand palm down as if to rest it on Renesmee； though he was forty
yards from her now； almost within the Volturi formation again—〃if we could but know her
potential—know with absolute certainty that she could always remain shrouded within the obscurity that
protects us。 But we know nothing of what she will bee！ Her own parents are plagued by fears of her
future。 We cannot know what she will grow to be。〃 He paused； looking first at our witnesses； and then；
meaningfully； at his own。 His voice gave a good imitation of sounding torn by his words。
Still looking at his own witnesses； he spoke again。 〃Only the known is safe。 Only the known is tolerable。
The unknown is。。。 a vulnerability。〃
Caius's smile widened viciously。
〃You're reaching； Aro；〃 Carlisle said in a bleak voice。
〃Peace； friend。〃 Aro smiled； his face as kind； his voice as gentle； as ever。 〃Let us not be hasty。 Let us
look at this from every side。〃
〃May I offer a side to be considered？〃 Garrett petitioned in a level tone； taking another step forward。
〃Nomad；〃 Aro said； nodding in permission。
Garrett's chin lifted。 His eyes focused on the huddled mass at the end of the meadow； and he spoke
directly to the Volturi witnesses。
〃I came here at Carlisle's request； as the others； to witness；〃 he said。 〃That is certainly no longer
necessary； with regard to the child。 We all see what she is。
〃I stayed to witness something else。 You。〃 He jabbed his finger toward the wary vampires。 〃Two of you
I know—Makenna； Charles—and I can see that many of you others are also wanderers； roamers like
myself。 Answering to none。 Think carefully on what I tell you now。
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'These ancient ones did not e here for justice as they told you。 We suspected as much； and now it
has been proved。 They came； misled； but with a valid excuse for their action。 Witness now as they seek
flimsy excuses to continue their true mission。 Witness them struggle to find a justification for their true
purpose—to destroy this family here。〃 He gestured toward Carlisle and Tanya。
〃The Volturi e to erase what they perceive as the petition。 Perhaps； like me； you look at this
clan's golden eyes and marvel。 They are difficult to understand； it's true。 But the ancient ones look and
see something besides their strange choice。 They see power。
〃I have witnessed the bonds within this family—I say family and not coven。 These strange goldeneyed
ones deny their very natures。 But in return have they found something worth even more； perhaps； than
mere gratification of desire？ I've made a little study of them in my time here； and it seems to me that
intrinsic to this intense family binding—that which makes them possible at all—is the peaceful character of
this life of sacrifice。 There is no aggression here like we all saw in the large southern clans that grew and
diminished so quickly in their wild feuds。 There is no thought for domination。 And Aro knows this better
than I do。〃
I watched Aro's face as Garrett's words condemned him； waiting tensely for some response。 But Aro's
face was only politely amused； as if waiting for a tantrumthrowing child to realize that no one was paying
attention to his histrionics。
〃Carlisle assured us all； when he told us what was ing； that he did not call us here to fight。 These
witnesses〃—Garrett pointed to Siobhan and Liam—〃agreed to give evidence； to slow the Volturi
advance with their presence so that Carlisle would get the chance to present his case。
〃But some of us wondered〃—his eyes flashed to Eleazars face—〃if Carlisle having truth on his side
would be enough to stop the socalled justice。 Are the Volturi here to protect the safety of our secrecy；
or to protect their own power？ Did they e to destroy an illegal creation； or a way of life？ Could they
be satisfied when the danger turned out to be no more than a misunderstanding？ Or would they push the
issue without the excuse of justice？
〃We have the answer to all these questions。 We heard it in Aro's lying words—we have one with a gift
of knowing such things for certain—and we see it now in Caius's eager smile。 Their guard is just a
mindless weapon； a tool in their masters' quest for domination。
〃So now there are more questions； questions that you must answer。 Who rules you； nomads？ Do you
answer to someone's will besides your own？ Are you free to choose your path； or will the Volturi decide
how you will live？
〃I came to witness。 I stay to fight。 The Volturi care nothing for the death of the child。 They seek the
death of our free will。〃
He turned； then； to face the ancients。 〃So e； I say！ Let's hear no more lying rationalizations。 Be
honest in your intents as we will be honest in ours。 We will defend our freedom。 You will or will not
attack it。 Choose now； and let these witnesses see the true issue debated here。〃
Once more he looked to the Volturi witnesses； his eyes probing each face。 The power of his words was
evident in their expressions。 〃You might consider joining us。 If you think the Volturi will let you live to tell
this tale； you are
mistaken。 We may all be destroyed〃—he shrugged—〃but then again； maybe not。 Perhaps we are on
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more equal footing than they know。 Perhaps the Volturi have finally met their match。 I promise you this；
though—if we fall； so do you。〃
He ended his heated speech by stepping back to Kate's side and then sliding forward in a halfcrouch；
prepared for the onslaught。
Aro smiled。 〃Avery pretty speech； my revolutionary friend。〃
Garrett remained poised for attack。 〃Revolutionary？〃 he growled。 〃Who am I revolting against； might I
ask？ Are you my king？ Do you wish me to call you master； too； like your sycophantic guard？〃
〃Peace； Garrett；〃 Aro said tolerantly。 〃I meant only to refer to your time of birth。 Still a patriot； I see。〃
Garrett glared back furiously。
〃Let us ask our witnesses；〃 Aro suggested。 〃Let us hear their thoughts before we make our decision。 Tell
us； friends〃—and he turned his back casually on us； moving a few yards toward his mass of nervous
observers hovering even closer now to the edge of the forest—〃what do you think of all this？ I can
assure you the child is not what we feared。 Do we take the risk and let the child live？ Do we put our
world in jeopardy to preserve their family intact？ Or does earnest Garrett have the right of it？ Will you
join them in a fight against our sudden quest for dominion？〃
The witnesses met his gaze with careful faces。 One； a small blackhaired woman； looked briefly at the
dark blond male at her side。
〃Are those our only choices？〃 she asked suddenly； gaze flashing back to Aro。 〃Agree with you； or fight
against you？〃
〃Of course not； most charming Makenna；〃 Aro said； appearing horrified that anyone could e to that
conclusion。 〃You may go in peace； of course； as Amun did； even if you disagree with the council's
decision。〃
Makenna looked at her mate's face again； and he nodded minutely。
〃We