"We're not that low on numbers," Mr. Worthington said, standing so he could be spotted. "Sirs, while we have taken heavy losses recently, my hunters can adapt. We've done this before, when the Dragons began fighting back."
Mr. Saunders made a warning noise at the leader of the hunters. Mr. Worthington had just come a little too close to the truth, and that was not to be done inside the compound. The Dragons attacked us. We did not attack them. We merely defended ourselves while trying to gather food for the compound because the Earth was a dangerous place. Nothing more, nothing less. It would not do to cause concern among the Righteous, after all.
But I listened. I kept my head down and silently noted the numbers the Elders discussed. Nearly one hundred dead in the last two months. Too many widows. Not enough boys in the children's wing. I had to fight the urge to scoff, because fewer children meant fewer mouths to feed, but that wasn't the real concern.
Back and forth, the elders bickered about how to solve our problem. Numbers. That was the answer they finally came down to just before they opened the floor to any men with a concern. I sat a little straighter at that, feeling my guts twisting with nerves.
But before I could lift my hand to be recognized, a man stepped forward, taking his place at the end of the row, directly before the Council of Elders. He was thin, tense, and just starting to grey. I wasn't familiar with him, at least not from this angle.
"I would like to ask the Council of Elders for permission to transfer from the fungus farm to gathering. I am not so old, sirs, as to be unable to carry the bags."
"Why?" Mr. White asked, dragging out the word. "Tell me, Mr. Galloway, what do you think this will do for you?"
"It might make me more appealing to the girls," Mr. Galloway replied. "I've been turned down twice now. My first wife has been dead for three years, and I have yet to find a lady willing to accept my proposal, sirs."
"Then look at the widows," Mr. Saunders grumbled. "We are not in need of gatherers, Mr. Galloway, and you are not strong enough to serve as a hunter. Denied!"
The man dropped his head and shuffled back, but now was my time. Shoving to my feet, I banged into the chair in front of me, making the man in it grunt. I lifted a hand in apology, then stumbled a little more, making my way to the aisle.
There, I hurried forward, aware all eyes were on me. Dear God, I hated this, but it was necessary. That man had just given me the opening I needed, so I couldn't dawdle. I had to do this now, and get this right!
"Sirs," I mumbled, clasping my hands before me. No, on second thought, I should clasp them behind me, showing my size. "I would like to formally ask the Council of Elders for permission to court Callah Atwood."
My heart was pounding against my ribs. My skin felt too cold - and like it was tingling. I could hear my breath rasping against the inside of my ears. Everyone in the room was now looking at me, and I was too damned big to hide anywhere. Instead, I lifted my chin a little more.
"Tobias Warren?" Reynold Saunders turned his acidic gaze on me. "Are you not a child of a quarantined woman?"
"I am, sir," I said, wondering if I should sound like an idiot now, or just keep it simple.
He replied before I got the chance to decide. "And Miss Atwood is also from a mother in quarantine?"
I opened my mouth to answer, but it was too dry to make a sound. Swallowing desperately, I just nodded, hoping that would be enough.
"Mr. Warren, are you not worried about the risk to your children?" Mr. White asked. "Both of your mothers have been corrupted by the Devil. What would you do if your children were possessed because of the pairing?"
"Have I not proven myself?" I asked. "I carry all the bags I'm told to. I bring back as much as two men. If you need me to do more, sirs, then list it. I will gladly serve the Righteous. I just..."
"What?" Mr. Saunders demanded. "Spit it out, boy!"
"Callah's really pretty," I mumbled. "And she doesn't think I'm dumb."
That made a man at the side laugh. A few more in the crowd behind me chuckled as well, but not as obviously. I could feel my face heating up, but I wouldn't back down now. This was my one and only chance. If they refused me...
"Tell me, Mr. Warren," Reynold Saunders drawled. "Are you willing to join the hunters in order to prove yourself?"
"Yes, sir!" I said quickly. "I'd be happy to, sir. I wanted to be a hunter when I was a boy, but I didn't make it. I got put with the gatherers instead." And I smiled. A big one. "You'd let me be a hunter too?"
A few of the Elders nodded, showing their agreement, but I'd already set the hook. By saying "too," I'd put it in their minds that they would let me court Callah. A sacrifice for a reward. It made sense, and all I needed was for them to agree to it.
Surprisingly, it was Mr. Myers who leaned forward. "Then you should report to Mr. Peterson for a team assignment, Mr. Warren. Now when does Miss Atwood turn?"
"November," I said. "She'll be twenty early in the month."
"Then you still have time to persuade her," Mr. Myers assured me. "The Council gives you permission to try. We will have you added to her list." He lifted a hand. "And Mr. Galloway? It looks like there is a spot available with the gatherers now. This means double shifts at this time. Are you still interested?"
"Yes, sir!" Mr. Galloway called from the back of the room.
"Then you should report to the head of the gatherers. Now, do we have anything else?" Silence met the question. "Meeting adjourned!" The gavel cracked on the table again.
I stayed where I was for a moment longer. I had permission to court Callah Atwood. That meant we'd be allowed to walk together without a chaperone. It meant time to talk to her with no ears trying to listen in.
Most importantly, it meant a chance to have an honest conversation about what we both knew, because somewhere out there, the Phoenix was waiting. Unfortunately, so was the Wyvern, and I was now about to become their enemy.
I just hoped we could figure out a way to make all of this work, because the Phoenix wasn't the only woman the Righteous should be afraid of.
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Check out Another Series…
Rise of the Iliri: BloodLust: Book 1 - Chapter 1
Weaving through the large, dark-skinned bodies of the soldiers around her, Sal touched the paper in her pocket like a talisman. It gave her the chance to apply to the Black Blades. They were the best of the best, but the last people she thought would take her seriously. At least they'd given her a chance. Now, she just had to prove that an iliri could be as good as any human. Easier said than done.
Distracted by her thoughts, she didn't see the blue-clad shoulder until it slammed into her, pushing her against a man on her other side. Her head snapped up, craning to see the soldier's face, and a growl almost slipped out. The human's dark eyes glared into her white ones. The scent of his fear was pungent.
"Out of the way, scrubber!" he snapped.
