Their weakness knows no bounds.
I stand by my seat and scan the table, seeing: Grixis, Ulof, Fenrick, Jacek, Orvell, Elena, Nori, Araelya, and Kairi.
Meg and Eddard enter last.
Grixis begins with, “Jacek, Orvell, and Kairi, you are allowed to sit in on this council meeting as guests. Please, everyone, take your seat.”
The woman named Kairi stands in a daze, only snapping out of it when Elena speaks.
“Kairi, it’s come to my attention that Meg has told you a shocking truth regarding our kidnapping.”
Kairi turns to look at Elena, giving a slight nod.
Elena continues with, “Back on Penticar, Meg was about to be forced into a most unfortunate union. In order to avoid her fate, she hired a man to take her away without knowing that he and his friends would raid the preparation for the Age of Eligibility soirée.”
A few of the women gasp, and I find myself annoyed with their frail emotions.
“I’d considered keeping it to myself,” Kairi says, sneering at Meg. “I was terrified of upsetting things with the Tempest men, but after thinking on what we’ve been through, I had to tell you so that some justice might come of it.”
Penticari justice confuses me, for Meg was doing what she thought was necessary.
“And what would this justice you speak of look like?” Elena asks, which is admittedly a suitable reply given the situation.
Kairi shrugs, looking suddenly weak. “I…I don’t know. Women died—our friends died. We’ve endured countless hardships, and now we must…” She looks at the Tempest men, then down at her hands, which are folded on her lap. “I don’t even know how to begin making this right.”
Grixis rises from his seat and walks around the table to the girl, placing a hand on her small shoulder. “Sometimes you are unaware of the blessings bestowed upon you. I understand your anger and why you feel Meg must pay, but let me tell you what would have happened had she not made her sour deal.”
My spine straightens, as I had not expected Grixis to reveal such a truth.
“Tragedy befell your people when you were taken by the slavers, but what you do not know is that if you had not been taken, you would have all surely perished.”
The women look at each other, confused.
“I…I don’t understand,” Kairi stutters.
“Your world is changing, and it will continue to until your kind can no longer survive the harsh conditions. Soon, the climate will grow colder and snowdrifts that were once small will triple in size. Then, as the seasons change, the cold season will grow longer and longer until eventually the snow no longer melts completely in the mud and hot season. Your food will dwindle and animals will die. Your people will die, as they are weak. But not you. We will keep you well.”
The room is silent as no one, even the men, did not expect Grixis to say what he had.
And while I am furious at Grixis for revealing a truth that should have remained hidden, I am no longer surprised. There is no point in fighting him, for he has already resigned himself to dishonor.
It is Araelya who speaks first.
“No!” She pounds her fist on the table. “That doesn’t make sense.”
Meg looks at Eddard, her expression stricken. “Is this what you meant when you said I’ve done my people more good than harm?”
“I should not have spoken about what was not mine to speak about,” Eddard says, “but I was desperate and did not know what to do.”
“Does this have to do with that place you took Nori, me, and Asha to?” Elena asks.
To my relief, Grixis huffs, “We will not speak of that in today’s meeting.”
“No!” Araelya shouts again, near panic. “You’re lying!”
“And why would we do that?” Grixis asks.
“Because you’re scared we’ll find a way off the island.” She looks to the other women. “Everything is going to be fine back in Penticar.”
